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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Maireadplastic · 01/07/2017 20:11

Don't have a car. Live in London, don't need one.

AndTakeYourHorseWithYou · 01/07/2017 20:12

So what do you do with the lettuce or strawberries that's 6 days old?

You don't have any that are 6 days old, thats the point!

Pagwatch · 01/07/2017 20:14

Clean laundry

If it helps - I don't have six day old lettuce or strawberries. They get eaten within a few days. Then I buy fresh.
I don't buy 2 kg of strawberries and try to make them last six days . It's a question that makes no sense unless you try to make strawberries last a week because you only shop once a week.

tabulahrasa · 01/07/2017 20:14

"So what do you do with the lettuce or strawberries that's 6 days old?"

Nothing, I buy them the day or the day before I'm going to use them.

Confusedandintrigued · 01/07/2017 20:15

Clean laundry... it's not rocket science.

It's eaten before then, whilst fresh. One punnet, one small lettuce etc. If you prioritise freshness you don't buy huge amounts, you buy smaller amounts that are consumed quickly

BoraThirch · 01/07/2017 20:16

cleanlaundry - you buy a lettuce (or strawberries or bread) and eat it within a couple of days, and then if you need more fruit/veg/bread/milk later in the week you go and buy some.

Hfdmousey · 01/07/2017 20:17

We are forced to top up shop by where we live as the dates in the supermarkets are shockingly short I went to do the weeks shop today to find none of the salad stuff was dated any further than the 3rd so even if I took some today I would have to go back later in the week to get more it's the same with the meats too 😕

cleanlaundry · 01/07/2017 20:25

Dear Lord read my post people. SOMEONE said upthread they don't like days old lettuce or strawberries! I was replying to that! It's either they don't finish their lettuce in the week so buy more because it's old, or they use it up and need more! So someone clearly could have produce that old! I don't leave strawberries that long personally, they get eaten before that.

eulmh · 01/07/2017 20:26

I like fresh fruit so yes I do a top up shop!

tabulahrasa · 01/07/2017 20:30

"So someone clearly could have produce that old!"

They could, if they were buying food only once a week to use throughout the week.

But they don't do that, so they don't have them - that's what they meant.

AndTakeYourHorseWithYou · 01/07/2017 20:31

Clean its you that hasn't understood the post you were replying to nor the posts replying to you. Read them again.

Pagwatch · 01/07/2017 20:31

Clean laundry

Still not sure what point you are making.
I said I don't like old lettuce or strawberries. My point being that that is why I buy fresh mid week.

It's ready not difficult. Asking about food wastage after I said I buy fresh is a bit.....really.....

BoraThirch · 01/07/2017 20:32

cleanlaundry - the point is if you eat 2 lettuces a week, you can either buy 2 on a Monday and potentially be eating a 6 day old one by the weekend, or you buy 1 on a Monday, eat it and then buy another on Thursday. No need to throw anything out.

BarbaraofSeville · 01/07/2017 20:34

People don't take note of dates on fruit and veg do they? That's insanity.

Here's what cauliflower and satsumas look like over a week 'out of date', ie just like they were bought yesterday. I don't know what date was on the potatoes but they've been there since well before we went on holiday on 12 June.

To wonder why people do "top-up" shops
To wonder why people do "top-up" shops
To wonder why people do "top-up" shops
dontcallmethatyoucunt · 01/07/2017 20:35

If I have to darken the door of a supermarket more than once a week (or have a delivery), I consider it a failure of the system! I have a milkman and a very large fridge. Can't see the need

Anatidae · 01/07/2017 20:35

My goodness, it's amazing the kind of stuff people use to feel superior to others isn't it?

It's ok, op. The stuff in the supermarket is the same price all week round Grin

AndTakeYourHorseWithYou · 01/07/2017 20:36

Can't see the need

I don't get this. YOU don't have the need so you can't see why anyone else does? You have to be singularly lacking in imagination to think like this, don't you?

Pagwatch · 01/07/2017 20:38

Buy some strawberries today with a sell by of tomorrow or Monday. Then show us those next Saturday

Do the same with fresh lettuce

Cauliflower and potatoes are nothing like fresh berries. And satsuma taste shit quite quickly.

tabulahrasa · 01/07/2017 20:38

"People don't take note of dates on fruit and veg do they?"

Not particularly, if it's ok it's ok, but I don't see any point in buying them 5 days before I want to use them just so they can hang about in my house and then see if they're still fresh when I can buy them when I actually want them.

Anatidae · 01/07/2017 20:39

How does the thought process go here?

Right, I clearly believe I'm superior. Ok but wait, I haven't produced a literary work of staggering genius... or a cure for cancer...or saved the lives of fifty orphans... nor am I stunning beautiful, mind bogglingly rich or .... wait! Wait! I shop once a week! yes those fuckers that'll show 'em (fires up mumsnet...)

dontcallmethatyoucunt · 01/07/2017 20:43

Ok, not 'can't see the need'. Perhaps: Choose to spend my precious time in another manner.
I can see plenty of other ways to achieve a veggie diet without spending lots of time, I see as wasted, in a shop.

dontcallmethatyoucunt · 01/07/2017 20:44

...although it doesn't actually agitate as much s it clearly does some of you

squoosh · 01/07/2017 20:44

Wait! I shop once a week! yes those fuckers that'll show 'em (fires up mumsnet...)

GrinGrin

Wait until I start my thread asking why some people plump for chicken breast when I personally prefer a drumstick.

The gauntlet will well and truly be thrown down then!

Anatidae · 01/07/2017 20:46

A drumstick?? How very dare you....

AndTakeYourHorseWithYou · 01/07/2017 20:48

Ok, not 'can't see the need'. Perhaps: Choose to spend my precious time in another manner

Well thats grand for you. But you get that other people do choose to do that and thats perfectly valid too?

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