Depressing

[itsybitsy]

Well, I've just done a shop that cost me £100, and I haven't got one item for the preps. I am truly shocked at how much the price of groceries and household necessities has gone up in the past 8 weeks.

And only four tins of baked beans in that shop! So I'm still at an all time low in bean stocks.

[KalPrep]

We've had to rethink our shopping and priorities recently too, the cost of a regular shop is getting silly. I still manage to get prep items in but generally I am more inclined to save up week on week and then when some of my prep items drop in price or end up on special, I buy a lot in one go. Sustains us through the times when staple foods are expensive.

[itsybitsy]

We've had to rethink our shopping and priorities recently too, the cost of a regular shop is getting silly. I still manage to get prep items in but generally I am more inclined to save up week on week and then when some of my prep items drop in price or end up on special, I buy a lot in one go. Sustains us through the times when staple foods are expensive.

This IS with a rethink. And I still don't have any meat, fresh fruit/veg or any treats whatsoever. And not even ONE bottle of wine.

It's absolutely ridiculous. Granted, I've got cat food and cat litter in there, but that's no different to other people who have pets.

I am loathe to start depleting my stores, that makes me a bit jittery, given that things are likely to get worse, not better, but I don't see that I'm going to have much choice, soon.

It did really pull me up short when I saw the prices tonight.

[Bladerunner]

I have been waiting months for Branston beans to be on offer at £1 for four. Finally ASDA have them this week. I bought a load on Tuesday and will be buying some more this weekend.

They taste as nice as Heinz and are half the price. Happy days.

Be lucky (and flatulent)

[TeeDee]

Well, I've just done a shop that cost me £100, and I haven't got one item for the preps. I am truly shocked at how much the price of groceries and household necessities has gone up in the past 8 weeks.

Out of interest which store do you tend to use?

[itsybitsy]

Well, I've just done a shop that cost me £100, and I haven't got one item for the preps. I am truly shocked at how much the price of groceries and household necessities has gone up in the past 8 weeks.

Out of interest which store do you tend to use?

I use Tesco for the 'big' shop. I also supplement with Aldi, and a bit of Sainsbury's when they've got stuff I want on offer.

I do check mysupermarket.com to compare prices, but savings by swapping to somewhere like ASDA are normally only about 5 quid - and I don't like their products anyway, so it would be a false economy.

[diamond lil]

Lot of people going to Aldi and Lidl now, but you can't get everything for the whole week there. I'm using hints from wartime and Victorian cookbooks, because they used up every scrap.
How to make meat go further - grate stale bread, keep in freezer and add to HM beefburgers etc.
How to save all veg stalks & scraps in a tub in the freezer then use them to make stock with.
Soup made from "bottom of the fridge veg".
Eggs from hens.
Make your own bread & add nuts and seeds - its more filling and you eat less of it.
I've got a friend coming to teach me how to make cp soap and laundry powder.
I will grow all veg possible this summer.
I read the meter weekly and keep an eye on the bill that way. The only big spend in this house is coal - cos I hate a cold house

[maxilaura]

I normally go to two places now days when I need to do a big shop - Asda first and then Tescos. I don't buy any meat from either of them though - I prefer Sainsbug for that. Can't believe how much stuff is now days though, it is scary.

[Bladerunner]

There are a few links on here regarding own brand products and how good/bad they are.

Most of them are only pennies so it doesn't hurt to experiment and just sling it, if it is not your cup of tea.

Personally, I love ASDA custard powder at 6p a packet. Their Chosen By You custard is about 6 times dearer and Birds is a joke.

Mysupermarket, as you mentioned, is a great place to weigh up prices before you do a shop. We are fortunate that we are close to a big ASDA. Morrisons, Tesco & Sainsbury's are a little further afield.

Be lucky (and anti-depressed)

[DeltaSierra]

I do need to begin rethinking my shopping as over time my even basic shop has gone up at Tesco. I don't buy in huge amounts of things either yet I'm hitting up around the £30 a week mark.

I am sure I could get plenty of what I use weekly from the local Aldi store, then supplement with Tesco as and when needed.