Food bank query

[clare8allthepies]

I usually just put a couple of bits in my trolley for the food bank collection, often just grabbing stuff that’s on offer. We got a letter from school today saying that they are doing a collection with a list of stuff. I suggested that we pop to Aldi the night before and get some of the list items.

My daughter who is 13 thinks that this is awful and we should buy brand name foods only, I think that we’re better off going to a cheaper supermarket and getting twice as much stuff. Who is right? It’s not like we don’t eat the cheaper stuff ourselves on a regular basis.

You are!

Twice as much stuff!

Our local food bank has requested that their donors buying food for them but own brand and value lines to maximise the amount you can donate

You are, why is branded important to her

Twice as much is better, and Aldi stuff is perfectly good.

Always twice as much stuff. Your daughter is coming from a privileged position and I think id be saying, if she wants branded stuff to look cool at school, then she's welcome to buy them herself.

Nothing wrong with own brands, especially if that's what you use yourself.

Nothing wrong with Aldi. If its good enough for me and my family then its good enough for the food bank.

Thank you, I’m glad I’m not losing the plot! It’s not that she wants to look flash taking it in as it’s her little brothers school not hers. I think she thinks that we only have expensive branded food and it’s unfair to only donate a cheaper version. I reckon I’ll have to get her to start helping more with the shopping!

I personally only buy food for the foodbank that I'd be happy to eat myself. So that rules out a lot of really cheap 'Tesco Basics' stuff or nasty (IMO) things like tinned spam. However I would be perfectly happy with Aldi products or standard Tesco own brands, so don't see any issue there at all. I usually pop in a couple of nicer 'treat' chocs/crisps etc. that are on offer as well (again, stuff that I would generally only get for myself on occasion!).

Not saying my way is the right one, but it makes sense to me 🙂.

Tesco.
1 tin heinz baked beans with sausages 415g. £1.40

Aldi
1 tin own brand baked beans with sausages 420g. 40p

Ask your daughter, if she was desparate enough to go to the food bank and she had a choice between 1 meal or 3 and a half meals which would she choose?

Its a valuable lesson in real life applied maths.

Btw, I have had this argument with DH before.

Its only due to a change in circumstances that hes now praising the virtues of Aldi...

I donate every week and try to provide nothing I wouldn't eat myself however that doesn't always mean buying the same stuff. I'm conscious about how stuff I buy for the food bank could be cooked so will buy stuff that I wouldn't buy such as instant mash. However I take care with my choices. I found that the cheaper one required milk adding so I buy the more expensive one as it just needs water.
I always do a mix of basics and treats plus some sanitary/toiletries.
I buy basics stuff that I buy for myself and tend to err for more expensive stuff when I buy stew or tinned pies, stuff with meat in.

Just donate money, then the FoodBank can buy wholesale cheaper and possibly even get it delivered.

Aldi is perfectly fine.

As a PP mentioned, maybe get your children involved in the shopping and show them how much more you can buy at a lower price.
A good maths lesson indeed.

We shop at aldi. It’s great.

Brand snobbery for food is bonkers in times like we are in. Teach her how to budget and that brands don’t always mean better.

People who need to use a food bank surely won’t care about brands they’ll just be glad they can eat.

This is a great time to teach her why buying brands is an expensive waste of money. Own bends are just as good and much cheaper.
I always puzzle why anyone buys branded goods.

My daughter who is 13 thinks that this is awful and we should buy brand name foods only,

Ah, I remember those heady days when I only had to listen to mum moaning about prices but didn't have to worry about them myself!

Don’t buy it if you wouldn’t eat it yourself