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Original poster

To wonder why people do "top-up" shops

549 replies

RedSkyAtNight · 30/06/2017 09:01

Just as the title says really. I've read a few threads where people either mention a fortune doing a top-up shop or mention doing a top-up shop as a job that needs doing in the week.

We shop once a week and buy enough food for the week. We then don't buy any more food until the following week. Other than folks who have very little storage (or possibly very large families?) I can't really understand the need to do a top-up shop. I mean obviously if you want to go and get something different to what you have in, that's fine. But why do it if you see it as a chore?

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 30/06/2017 15:42

"There's a lot of people on here with no understanding of fixed budgets or 'when it's gone it's gone'"

Not if that's how you plan to do your shopping...

Increasinglymiddleaged · 30/06/2017 15:45

I do fully understand that not everyone has lots of storage space. We have a large fridge freezer and enough room in cupboards for everything we need. I usually buy 16 pints of milk per week sometimes 20 and can store this easily but that is only because my fridge is massive.

I agree barbara I'm relatively well off really but I still think when it's gone it's gone and you can't have everything in all of the time.

TrickyKid · 30/06/2017 15:46

Because salad etc doesn't last a week. Because there's 5 of us and we have a small kitchen with not much storage. Also I'm just not that organised.

Giddyaunt18 · 30/06/2017 15:47

Bags of salad may not last a week but an whole lettuce will and so will cucumber and tomatoes and celery etc.

Groupie123 · 30/06/2017 15:47

Exactly @barbara. Apart from milk and the odd special meal I just don't get this need for regular top ups. I could afford to now but I just don't see the need. And this whole idea that teenaged boys stuff themselves is rubbish - rich teenaged boys probably do. But my brothers only had 2 square meals per day and no snacks and grew up with no issues.

Giddyaunt18 · 30/06/2017 15:48

I agree Groupie and said teenage boys need to be taught portion control.

Increasinglymiddleaged · 30/06/2017 15:50

Bagged salad should actually be eaten the same day: www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38026695

noeffingidea · 30/06/2017 15:57

You probably won't understand me at all then, OP, because I go shopping virtually every single day. I would like to do one weekly shop but I can't, for various reasons.
And it's not really to do with budget either. I can do it just as cheaply as meal planning for a week.

saltandvinegarcrisps1 · 30/06/2017 15:59

RedSkyAtNight...............

Is that you mum?

Uhtred · 30/06/2017 16:01

We eat a lot of fresh food and things like fruit runs out or goes off if I buy enough to last the week. I like salads at lunch and that doesn't last all week. I freeze bread and milk though. Plus there's always something I've forgotten or run out off. Also sometimes plans change and you change your mind and want to eat something else.
I also get my weekly shop on a Monday but I don't like meal planning for the weekend as I like to see how I feel and what we're doing. We may get a takeaway or something. It's a pain because it's another shop and I always end up buying crap I don't need.

bananafish81 · 30/06/2017 16:08

No one has said strawberries last for a week but you don't need everything every day.

But that's exactly what's been said on this thread.

"I don't understand why people are saying things don't last a week."

The question was why people were saying things don't last a week, as though everything must last a week

We like to eat berries most days. You don't buy prepped vegetables or bagged salad. We do

So the stuff you buy lasts more than a week. That doesn't mean everything that everyone else buys therefore must last a week

The question expressed bewilderment at what people were buying that didn't last a week. My post answered that question by setting out stuff we buy that doesn't last a week

It's almost as though people like to buy different things!!

Pagwatch · 30/06/2017 16:13

My DD is an athlete and has smoothies every day. She uses strawberries and/or raspberries pretty much every day.

It really doesn't take much imagination to understand that your life is not exactly the same as everyone else's so people might make slightly different choices.
Seriously

Pagwatch · 30/06/2017 16:14

And lol at people eating too much..

bananafish81 · 30/06/2017 16:16

@Giddyaunt18 I prefer bagged salad as it's easier and nicer to have different kinds of lettuces than buying 4 different kinds. I'm happy to top up shop but apparently others here find the idea of smaller shops instead of larger shops utterly ridiculous

OP asks why people top up shop

Posters say they prefer to buy stuff they like fresh and more frequently

Other posters express bemusement and say they don't understand what doesn't stay fresh for a week

Posters explain what they buy that doesn't last a week

Other posters say no no you must buy other stuff because the stuff you're buying isn't the right stuff. If you shopped like us and bought the stuff we do (even if you don't like it) you would only shop once a week

Confused

Some of us like to top up shop as we can buy what we like when we fancy it. Apparently some folk on here can't get their head around that?!

Increasinglymiddleaged · 30/06/2017 16:19

Banana have you actually read the first comment I made years back which is 'each to his own'

The odd thing about your post was the idea that all of the bagged-germ type stuff / daily strawberries/ fresh prawns was a necessity, through 'What about....?'

People have different ways of cooking, some people have shit diets who shop daily some people eat well and shop weekly. One isn't better than the other but shopping weekly is perfectly possible.

DreichAgain · 30/06/2017 16:30

The notion that if you spread your shopping you are an overeating, overspending wastrel is odd. I find it helps me to pick up bargains and offers if I shop more often.

Each to their own.

Giddyaunt18 · 30/06/2017 16:34

Yes Dreich but I do have the right to tell those that think that weekly shoppers are eating food that has gone off, is slimy or only eat processed beige food that they are wrong. A lot of us are saying it is possible to eat good food bought once a week that has not gone off.Each to their own eh?

Iamastonished · 30/06/2017 16:36

Some people are a little too worthy and sanctimonious about food shopping.

Violetcharlotte · 30/06/2017 16:36

I live 2 minutes from Asda and pop in most days. At the weekend I go to Lidl and stock up on basics, meat, etc, but they don't sell everything I want, so I prefer to top up midweek. I then end up nipping in for other bits I might need/ fancy for lunch or for treats . This is what I choose to do, I don't have small children so it's no hassle for me. I don't see why it's an issue for other people to do things the way it suits them.

Cailleach666 · 30/06/2017 16:39

I don't get why some are so concerned about other's shopping habits.

I do some shopping most days for stuff that doesn't last a week. I spend more proportionally on food probably than many families.
I use a lot of fresh herbs and berries, crusty loaves and fish.

If others do too- fine, if you want to live of stored apples in the cellar or frozen pizzas and only shop once a month then I really don't care.

Pagwatch · 30/06/2017 16:41

Between work and home I can go past an M&S and then either Waitrose or Sainsbury's.
I also pass a market once a week.
Why wouldn't I top up?

bananafish81 · 30/06/2017 16:41

People just HAVE to have punnet of strawberries or chilled prawns, fresh crusty bread on hand 7 days a week? talk about first world problems! I buy berries once a week(3 types) they get eaten within 3 days but my little darlings will not be bought anymore as there is other fruit to be eaten. Same goes for the one packet of biscuits I buy per week. There is a lesson to be learnt here. Not difficult to see how people are eating too much!

Who said it was a problem? I like to buy what I buy when I want it. It's not a problem at all. Posters who shop once a week have expressed incredulity that others might buy stuff that doesn't last a week

I don't have a first world problem because I don't have a problem!

I don't HAVE to have them on standby. That's what I like to eat.

I don't have little darlings to feed because we sadly can't have children

I don't cook meals and just prefer cold stuff like fruit and salad because I don't have any appetite because of medication I take. I'm underweight because I don't eat enough, not because I eat too much

I'm not sure why my shopping habits are so offensive to you or indicative of a national obesity crisis!!

Pagwatch · 30/06/2017 16:42

The 'little darlings' thing is seriously wanky.

MitzyLeFrouf · 30/06/2017 16:43

If I'm walking past Waitrose at 7pm there's no way I'm not popping in to see what delights they have in the reduced section.

Giddyaunt18 · 30/06/2017 16:45

Yes banana you ARE the only person on MN who doesn't have a perfect life.The award goes to you! Hmm