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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to food shop where I chose?

52 replies

crystalgh0st · 27/04/2014 18:34

DP and I are trying to save for a big holiday and trying not to spend unnecessarily. Food shopping is an area that we could probably cut back on (buying basic products etc.).
I really feel comfortable (any one else have this when at a supermarket?!) shopping somewhere that sounds like "Mainsburies". I like their produce, I think they are reasonably priced and it is easy to get to from home. I also have a nectar card to collect points for money off shopping.
DP thinks it's too expensive. He suggested we try to shop at an alternative store, one that sounds like "Mazda". We went today and saved about £3. I didn't get any points and I didn't feel comfortable, didn't really feel like I "belonged". Sounds ridiculous, I know...

AIBU to want to shop at my usual? Should I compromise with DP and save the odd pound whilst longing to shop at my old haunt?

Bit of a preposterous question, I suppose, but I thought I'd ask on here!

OP posts:
Original poster
crystalgh0st · 27/04/2014 18:35

Clearly, I meant choose!!! Bloody predictive phones.

OP posts:
Tinkerball · 27/04/2014 18:37

Well I'm not shop loyal I shop around and overall I do think Sainsburys are more expensive than Asda.

dexter73 · 27/04/2014 18:37

I would go back to shopping at Sainsburys if the savings at Asda aren't that much.

LineRunner · 27/04/2014 18:38

Asda is a shit hole where I live and not that cheap.

Tinkerball · 27/04/2014 18:39

If I have time I tend to split my main shop between Asda and Aldi and use others eg Morrisons for top up shops.

ineedausername · 27/04/2014 18:39

How about a compromise? I buy a lot of ingredient type things (passata, tinned stuff, biccies, whole chickens etc) from Aldi and buy other specific things from Tesco?
Are you doing a meal plan? We started to really notice a difference by planning and then freezing batches. One batch of ragu sauce will do us 3 meals, same with chilli. A roast chicken will do dinner one night, the leftovers do chicken sandwiches and a chicken pie the night after. Plus the carcas makes good soup stock. If you can save £20-30 a week by shopping more carefully then it is worth it :)

Needadvice5 · 27/04/2014 18:40

shop wherever you want! I aren't you allowed to name the shops on here??
I think sainsburys is really expensive! that's just my personal opinion.....

MagnaCharge · 27/04/2014 18:40

I can't stand Asda the quality of their food is not up to scratch IMO they aren't as cheap as they make out either.

They often advertise something as being cheaper than sainsburys or tesco but it is the same as in the other one.

JeanSeberg · 27/04/2014 18:40

I also save a lot by shopping at Maldi and topping up at Mesco.

MrsDavidBowie · 27/04/2014 18:42

I couldn't be arsed to shop at different supermarkets. By the time you've added up time, petrol.... .
My local is Maitrose.

Morgause · 27/04/2014 18:42

I shop as Asda quite a lot. Hate Saisbury's, quality poor in the one near here. Neither are as good as Tesco or M & S.

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 27/04/2014 18:43

Buy the stuff that's cheaper in sainsbo's, in sainsbo's and buy the stuff that's cheaper in asda, in asda. Sorted. Also check out lidl or aldi. You'll grow to be comfortable in them all with spending more time and getting to know the layout.

Topseyt · 27/04/2014 18:43

I am not committed in my own mind to any particular supermarket, though Tesco has a near stranglehold around here. Be open to trying them all, as they all have their pluses and minuses.

Sainsbury's can be a bit more on the pricey side, but not too bad these days.

Why not online shop using a comparison site like mysupermarket? This lets you compare the prices at a glance as you go along, so you can see where the best value is (Aldi and Lidl were not on there the last time I looked, but all the other major supermarkets are). You might be surprised at how much difference there can be sometimes.

I can't wait until Aldi opens near us later this year.

Original poster
crystalgh0st · 27/04/2014 18:44

@ineedausername - that's a really good idea!
@Magna - I have to agree with you. Their meat is a good price but there is something about it I just don't like the taste of.

Am I being a snob to not want to shop at Masda? Thanks for all of your input.

OP posts:
Greydog · 27/04/2014 18:45

Loathe Asda, poor quality, just detest it. Tesco - just dislike them. Aldi, cheap and cheerful, Sainsburys - not bad, M&S - shop carefully here and there can be bargains!

Bunbaker · 27/04/2014 18:45

Quite frankly I just don't understand supermarket snobbery. I shop mainly at Tesco and Morrisons because they are the most convenient. I might add that my nearest Morrisons is also an extremely good one.
I rarely go to Asda because it isn't convenient, not because I think I am too good to shop there. I go to Sainsburys even less because it is a 46 mile round trip. I never go to Waitrose because it is too far and takes too long.

I also shop in Lidl, Aldi, Budgens and the Co-op.

Joules68 · 27/04/2014 18:46

It's your dp's money too....not just down to you is it

FunkyBoldRibena · 27/04/2014 18:47

Shop where you want.

The best way to reduce spending on food though is to drop a brand across the board.

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 27/04/2014 18:48

Its snobby if you are refusing based on nothing other than thinking asda is for people who are further down than you in the pecking order of life.

Where i live we only have asda and Lidl and all sorts of every class shop in both. People would look at you funny if you said you just wouldnt shop in asda.

Owllady · 27/04/2014 18:48

If you do the shopping go where you like and tell him to muck off

joanofarchitrave · 27/04/2014 18:49

I think Nectar is a rip-off tbh but that may be because I am gullible and for a while used to shop specifically for things that gave me lots of nectar points.

I would agree that meal planning, portion control etc will do far more for your food budget than racing between supermarkets.

But really this is an ideal situation for Shopping Idol! One month you shop, next month your dh shops, the family each have a vote on Price, Satisfying Hunger and Tastiness, see who wins...[disclaimer; I would never be organised enough for this...]

SpiderNugent · 27/04/2014 18:49

Cant be doing with sainsbury, checkout people are always hopeless
asda is full of 25 stone tattooed wimmin with at least 6 kids they scream at incessantly
tesco is meh but I save the vouchers for xmas
waitrose is just too hyacinth bucket in jodhpurs

morrisons seems nice but I can't be bothered to go that far

dorathedestroyer · 27/04/2014 18:51

I find that buying my yoghurt, cheeses, pasta, cleaning products, salad, milk chocolate, fancy pants bottled fruits, oats, etc at Widdl not only saves me money, but also makes me look a bit more closely at prices elsewhere.

ineedausername · 27/04/2014 18:52

Plus there is nothing easier than just taking something homemade out of the freezer and knowing you only need to cook pasta/rice to add to it :)

FrillyMilly · 27/04/2014 18:52

Shop where you want and can afford. I shop at aldi and Asda as they are close by and the cheapest. Surely most of the food is coming from the same places to all the supermarkets so can't see how it matters where you shop.

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