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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Supermarket shop really expensive all of a sudden

126 replies

Lockdownhair · 10/05/2020 17:14

I have a very good husband who normally queues for the supermarket shop so I admit I have not really realised how expensive it has all become. Today I did it for the first time in weeks, in Morrisons & Sainsburys, and have certainly woke up & smelt the coffee! Is it just me or are they taking advantage of the situation? My supermarket shop seemed so expensive today. Even the Co op has become as dear as Waitrose for some things. Once this is all over & greedy consumerism returns they're going to have to become a bit more competitive with each other. There doesn't seem to be a shortage of most things like I imagined there to be, so why the big hike when a lot of people are going to be struggling financially? I meal plan & don't waste food. Is anyone managing to keep their supermarket shop reasonable?

OP posts:
topcat2014 · 10/05/2020 17:16

Pre covid, 20 per cent of shopping was 'on offer'. in order to avoid panic buying, the supermarkets said, all multibuys were removed.

Plus 20 percent of meals were outside the home, and now need to be bought instead

Pika09 · 10/05/2020 17:17

There has definitely been price rises in my local Tesco

Sparklesocks · 10/05/2020 17:20

I haven’t noticed personally, individual items seem about the same but we are buying more than we normally do (sometimes pick up lunches at work, would go out for dinner a couple of times a month etc) so we are spending more in that regard. There also aren’t as many things on offer/multi buy offers as part of curbing panic buying.

Could you maybe keep your receipts and compare?

ParkheadParadise · 10/05/2020 17:23

Tesco prices are up. During lockdown I was buying everything in tesco. Yesterday I went to savers for our toiletries and cleaning supplies and knowest the massive difference in price.

Chanel05 · 10/05/2020 17:26

Definitely! I've had a number of shops over the last few weeks around £70 and usually it's £35-£40 per week for two of us! We always take packed lunch to work so no changes there and only ever eat dinner out a couple of times a year.

Bolshybun · 10/05/2020 17:28

Not the supermarkets, but our local butcher has large packs of chicken breasts that we buy and freeze. They were £20 pre lockdown, now £22.50.

pinkrocker · 10/05/2020 17:29

Definitely. My usual weekly shop at Tesco is £75 and now it's £90, I'm buying pretty much exactly the same stuff. DS and I were talking about this yesterday. Possibly down to special offers not being available?

AgeLikeWine · 10/05/2020 17:30

I haven’t noticed many like-for-like price increases but I have noticed a big drop-off in promotions and special offers, which means I am buying lots more items at full price. I used to visit several different supermarkets each week to cherry-pick their best deals, which I can’t do now. I have also noticed shortages of own-brand products meaning you have no alternative but to buy expensive branded products if you need them.

HeresMe · 10/05/2020 17:31

Coop isnt a cheap supermarket andis really expensive in my area normally.

OldEvilOwl · 10/05/2020 17:31

Yes I'm spending a fortune on food. Got an Asda delivery coming tomorrow that just under £100 - doesn't seem to be that much on it!

Longdistance · 10/05/2020 17:31

I do think they have taken back ‘offers’ ie 3 for 2, two for £1.50 etc.
I am though doing a bulk shop with absolutely everything. I only go out once a week for milk/bread. I usually get fed at work which isn’t happening, we have take away once a week and go to a restaurant about twice a month.
My Sainsbury’s and Tesco shops have been pricey, but Lidl has been the best. Coop for top up shops. The local shop has upped their prices for sure, so they won’t be getting future business.

reluctantbrit · 10/05/2020 17:33

I think there are several reasons:

no more or hugely reduced offers

delivery issues, items take longer to come, prices for wholesale have risen due to shortages and no labour for picking fruit and vegetables

Cheaper items (own brand items) are often gone first so I buy the more expensive brand

You can't shop around. I normally buy from 2-3 shops but don't have the time to queue 3 times so stick with one supermarket. I never buy toiletteries from Waitrose, also where I see it on offer but obviously that's imposssible as Boots is virtually closed apart from the pharmacy area.

bobstersmum · 10/05/2020 17:36

Fish fingers have doubled in price at asda near me.

OmgThereAreNoPlanesAboveMeNow · 10/05/2020 17:44

The supply became more expensive. The wholesale chicken was about 25% more expensive at one point at the beginning of the lockdown.

PumpkinP · 10/05/2020 17:45

Yes! I’m spending a fortune at Tesco’s. My shops is £30/40 more a week.

Ghostlyglow · 10/05/2020 17:51

Yes, lots of things have increased in price, and no offers either.

theseriousmoonlight · 10/05/2020 17:53

Special offers are certainly few and far between. I tend to shop at Aldi pre covid but have used Tesco since lockdown as we can get click and collect. I have also noticed that the cheaper options of stock are more likely to be not available when ordering.

Tiredmum100 · 10/05/2020 17:55

Funny enough I've really noticed an increase in prices. Pre lock down we shopped in morrisons, however since lockdown our local Tesco has been better stocked and better social distancing etc so I've started going there but I've been spending about £100 a week for a family of two adults and two dc 6&8. There would be a few treats in the trolley, some birthday cards etc but still. So today I decided to go to morrisons to see if it was any better. I still spent over £100 and that was with NHS 10% discount. I've noticed there's very few offers on as well.

Willowkins · 10/05/2020 17:57

I buy pretty much the same every week. Now I am back using Sainsbury's, the cost has gone up by 13%. Anyone know what the latest figures for inflation are?

SpiritEssence · 10/05/2020 17:57

I work for a supermarket and the prices have risen quite a bit on so much stuff. So glad I get a discount tho Smile

Bubblysqueak · 10/05/2020 17:58

I've noticed this, I am buying exactly the same (use the same saves list on the app) and it's gradually crept up to almost £20 per week extra . That's before I add extra snacks and lunchtime meals which mean overall my shop is about £40 a week extra.

yellowbrickwhorl · 10/05/2020 18:00

It's come in by stealth hasn't it, I've notice it too.

The only plus point I've found is that if you go in our local supermarket at about 6ish, they have reduced a load of stuff, and there's no bunfight to get at it because there's hardly anone in there. I've had quite a few bargains that way. The only trouble with going at that time of day is that they've sold out of other things you need. So swings and roundabouts really.

Connie222 · 10/05/2020 18:01

We’ve found the same. We have a Very strict budget with no wriggle room so we are having to cut back on what we eat - always went for value stuff anyway. Nothing has changed for us - DH has always worked from home and the kids took packed lunches, we never ate out. It’s been really difficult.

OneandTwenty · 10/05/2020 18:01

Definitively gone up - if you compare even the price of basics like eggs, things have gone more expensive.

Add the fact that some cheaper options no longer exist, and the identical trolley costs a lot more.

I am still happy we get deliveries, so won't stop using them any time soon, but it's becoming very pricey.

BackforGood · 10/05/2020 18:04

Coop isn't a cheap supermarket and is really expensive in my area normally.

This ^

I haven't noticed item for item price rises.
My bill has doubled as
a) I'm paying for twice as many meals now - in terms of 5 adults eating at home for EVERY meal. This is a BIG change from our usual way of living.
b) my (adult) ds is doing the shop and is more inclined than me to put a few more treats n the trolley Wink
c) Everything is bought in one place, in one shop, so things I would normally get elsewhere (say toiletries and cleaning stuff) we're just getting with the supermarket shop.