To think supermarkets are cashing in on covid?

[Windchangeface]

Just that really.

Our local supermarket is a Sainsbury’s, covid police would say we should shop there but so pricey, basically no offers or multipacks. Figured I’d compare supermarkets online and journey to whichever was cheapest in local city. Almost tore my hair out.

Have they got their heads together and been like ‘they can’t go to multiple supermarkets anymore so let’s cash in’ makes me rage?

Yoghurts only on offer in Tesco- £2 saving
Bagels twice the price everywhere but Asda- £1.80 saving
Baby food on offer in Morrison’s - £3 saving
Milk and eggs cheaper in Asda- £3.25 saving
Butter on offer in Sainsbury’s- £2 saving
...my list goes on and on and on

It did happen before covid and lockdowns but nowhere near as much, might have been £5 in it at most. If I stick to one supermarket I’ll spend £20 more on weekly shop now.

Get they’re a business but it’s just irresponsible, I won’t be the only budgeting mum who is fed up paying over the odds every lockdown and tempted to just go back to splitting the shop.

Yes you're right, it's all a big conspiracy.

And no, there's nothing to actually stop you going to multiple supermarkets if you need to.

Yeah shopping at the big 4 has been more expensive since Covid started. I was averaging over £100 a week at Sainsburys and Tesco. We moved and my food bill is now £40 a week as I now only shop at Lidl. There's a Lidl app which gives you new vouchers every week as well. It's great.

I go to more than one supermarket for my shopping.

I doubt it is that joined up but certain suppliers may be promoting at different times, just as they always have. Fwiw I alternate shops and find the bill universally higher. However where I can will opt for offers at one and not buy full price from next.

Always been the case, the manufacturers play this game too. Personally I find I can split my loyalties and shop every 3-4 days currently so it usually is Lidl and Aldi alternating (I walk to) but occasionally I go to Waitrose (also walk) and once a month or so we drive to the larger branches in the nearby city (12 mins approx) who sell a far larger range of products. Yes it is better to reduce your trips but as I walk it's only feasible to carry so much, and I think the planet prefers I don't drive except monthly

@NotFabulousDarling

we don’t have a good Lidl or Aldi. They’re really small in our local city and never have much stock in. No matter what time of day I’ve tried.

I've not noticed it being more expensive to shop. I'm spending more because we are home all day. But we are saving on fuel and school dinners.

I think initially companies were trying to keep profits by taking out multi buy offers during lockdowns. People were also panic buying, so cared less for it, just grabbed what they could.

Since Brexit, the shelves have been much more bare, and prices have noticeably increased alongside lack of mulitbuys. I think it's just the way it will be now.

Make your mind up, first you state there's no offers at Sainsbury's & then say they have butter on offer.

Yabu there has always been variation between supermarkets. Even the ones everyone claims a cheap actually aren't for some things.

Welcome to Brexit Britain. And please don't shop at multiple supermarkets

This has always been the case, though. You save on one thing one week, and on something else the next. I just stock up when something long-lasting is on offer.

It really quite shows how much people got used to offers. It's basically a normal price for many.

@Windchangeface ah that's a shame.
There are definitely fewer offers in Sainsbury's compared to a couple of years ago. I know it's never been the cheapest place to shop but when you have no choice, what can you do?

Darting about each and every week to different supermarkets winds me up tbh. Yes you might save a bit but what you'll save in ££ you'll lose in time, petrol and the general faff of it all.

Better by far to shop locally with independents as much as possible then get everything else from your preferred bigger shop when necessary.

They deliberately removed multibuy offers to deter stockpiling. I'm sure I read that in the early days.

@Clymene

Welcome to Brexit Britain. And please don't shop at multiple supermarkets

Budget needs must for many. You feel free to pay more unnecessarily, though.

I shop about.
Tesco is closest. Can't afford to shop there a whole week.
I go to aldi. And then tesco and asda. Because ds has allergies and eating issues and I have to get different foods from different shops that he will eat or he would literally starve.

What does Lidl not have?

Try the market. May be reduced stalls but can still get fruit and veg. For cleaning and toiletries use Savers or Poundland. If you have a big freezer try a meat box delivery service. (Veg boxes also exist but they are a rip-off imo)

This is pretty obviously at least much due to Brexit as to Covid. I've noticed higher prices since 1st January, and more shortages.

Suppliers fund promotions, not the supermarkets. Many suppliers can’t afford to promote as much as they did previously as COVID has hit the profits of many and in many cases retailers are refusing to accept price increases, despite huge increases in cost of goods.

‘Basically no offers’ doesn’t exactly mean I'm lying if there are one or two there’s just loads less than normal.

I get the whole ‘some weeks you save on X and others on Y’ but it seems every week I could save on pretty much everything if I just go to Asda, Morrison’s and Tesco. In our city they’re all super close so no extra petrol, bit of extra time. It’s only covid that’s been stopping me.

What does Lidl not have?

Mini tins of baked beans. Decent tuna. Curry paste/spices. Decent frozen chips. Cat food our cats will actually eat.

I go between Aldi and Sainsburys, between the two I get a very decent balance of cheap and good quality. I go to Home Bargains and Iceland occasionally (once a month).

@Windchangeface

‘Basically no offers’ doesn’t exactly mean I'm lying if there are one or two there’s just loads less than normal.

I get the whole ‘some weeks you save on X and others on Y’ but it seems every week I could save on pretty much everything if I just go to Asda, Morrison’s and Tesco. In our city they’re all super close so no extra petrol, bit of extra time. It’s only covid that’s been stopping me.

But that's always been the case, even before COVID. If you can afford to, then bulk-buy or stock-up when things are on offer.

Oh I miss home bargains so much.

It’s on the other shopping estate on other side of city to us so haven’t been able to justify going in forever