To be scared to go food shopping?

[dottypotter]

It's not pleasurable at all with all the costs rising?
No wonder lots of people can't afford food?
I saw a box of cereal for £4!!!!!!!!!
Anyone else dread it?

I meal plan and purchase own brand items albeit a few branded, before I shopped a few times a week and we were spending more than we could afford, we are spending less now. We don’t buy much meat, as two vegetarians in the house, so we do save on meat. Chickpeas, lentils, etc are cheap, they’re a great source of protein with minimum fat and better for the environment.

Why would they. There's still inflation, not deflation. Even when inflation drops, prices will rise, but slower.

I dread food shopping but not for the reason the OP gives. I mean, I don't like rising prices but it's they way it is. No, the thing I hate is the other shoppers. It was great during the first lockdown when you had limits on numbers but it's carnage when it's a free for all. I get that some supermarkets have worse customers than others (Lidl, Morrisons, Asda and M&S have the rudest customers and Waitrose probably the politest - obviously there are exceptions) so I tried going to Waitrose last year, that's so expensive I mean £2.70 for a packet of fucking back who the fuck can afford that, so I've had to go back to the cheaper (and scummier) shops now. I try going in when they're quieter but it's weird, a Monday afternoon (for instance) can be practically deserted one week and rammed the next.

Agreed. I went to my in-laws local one to pick up stuff for a picky lunch. I wasn't careful about what I bought but hardly went crazy -we had two small pizzas, some pasta and pesto, a little cheese (cream cheese and feta) some bread and a few other bits and pieces (sliced meats and salad mostly). Even with 10% discount (student card) it came to £42. I was absolutely gobsmacked. I know I could buy a lot less and a lot cheaper but the point is that I don't normally have to. - but at that rate shopping would bankrupt me. So much for being for the people!

"fucking bacon" obviously not "fucking back"

£2.70 is fine for 8 slices of bacon

Also just for anybody that wants to know,
Asda's pizza counters, they had an offer when I went in the other week (and said the offer is always on) 2 medium pizzas (you choose toppings) & a big bottle of pop for £6. Which I thought was good, considering I looked in the fresh pizza section in other shops and smaller ones were between £3-4 each.

We now get this deal instead of getting pizza takeaway. They were really good!

Cereal is a nuts price for basically no food value just sugar! a large box of porridge is much better value......but yes l flinch every time l do the food order.

I agree. I have taken to buying my meat and fish and a couple of other items from Lidl. I then portion the meat out into three or four and freeze them individually. We have not noticed any difference in portion sizes as I bulk out with veg. The rest of the time I shop in sainsbury as I prefer the brand, but also they have a car park in an area with no parking. As a result people are drawn to the area which is in south london, so spend money in the other smaller shops. This has kept the are alive and quite buzzy. If sainsburys goes then so do all these nice little shops which includes a book shop, arty shops, and loads of lovely restaurants and very few chicken or takeaway places!

Convenience stores have always been expensive - try and save up for a larger shop at Aldi / Lidl and you'll save a fortune.
By planning ahead I can make do with visiting our local Aldi every 2 weeks - just have to be careful with dates on fresh stuff and plan meals etc ahead of time.

👆nails it.

One thing that can make a difference is avoiding waste - a few PP have mentioned veg going off, but most things can be frozen if they look like they are going to “turn”, or use slightly spongy apples in a simple sponge cake for example. Food waste stats are shocking. Many towns have community fridges where anyone can turn up and take food to avoid it ending in landfill (different MO to a food bank which is for emergency support). And finally I recommend the website Motatos which sells stuff close to best before date and other household items really cheaply, again to avoid waste

If this is any help:

Limp veg can go in the pot for an unglamorous meal or two of soup. Or fling its sorry arse into the freezer to fight another day.

I think much of the problem is people don’t think ahead. I’m 50 miles from a supermarket. I don’t “run out” of stuff and I don’t throw stuff out. I’m always mystified by those who choose to shop daily.

I agree their prices are horrendous. I'm sure they're more expensive than Waitrose.

Co op do fabulous reductions though and quality of food meat & veg is great. It’s because no one can afford it full price. I deliberately go to little co op 7 ish and stock up. It’s down to 25% and sometimes to literally pennies.

Yes it's scary, if you eat cereal every day.

I dont need to tell anyone the idea is plan your meals and snacks. Check brands and decide which are worth the money or down grade to a cheaper option.

I have switched to Lidl for most items.
Only 2 of us and saving £20 weekly.

For the items I have left, and assuming I dont need them in a hurry, I look up the costs of them online for that week or fortnight, and travel[I have to travel whereever I end up going] to which supermarket mya suit me best.
[Waitrose and Sainsbury are too far away to go to and seem to be expenisve relatively where I am anyway].

@WagyuBeef that infographic was for the cost cutting loss leading that went on in the run up to Christmas Day. Prices aren't at that level now and weren't for very long.

No because I saw the price of Kellogg's and bought a box of supermarket own brand instead. No one at home has noticed the difference.

I’d recommend trolley app if you buy branded products you can compare prices.

Realising that own-brand Weetabix aren't much worse than the official Weetabix was a minor breakthrough for me.

Online discount stores like approved food and best before its gone can help bring the household food bill down. I find good yellow ticket deals at my local coop. I drop in if passing and put it in the freezer.

My local coop is being replaced by Nisa. I'm sure it's about prices. Coop is f... expensive, probably doubles supermarket prices.