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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Went back to Ocado from Asda aibu to use both? Thank

65 replies

stopbeeping · 09/03/2023 09:08

Full disclosure I know this is privileged but it's not a goady post, I know shopping is an emotive subject because who wouldn't want to spend more money on food for their family. So this is not about me complaining or even half pretending ny life is difficult so please don't see it as that .I have been having threads about shopping for months as it's important to me and I've been thinking about making our money work harder that we spend
I am a sahm so o have the time to do the shop that way ( I do it online)

I was not convinced we were saving any money we bought a lot of stuff that wasn't good quality a lot of things mouldy or crushed and the refund process is not like with Ocado
I resent their subs but I had no missing items and one sub which was fine and a good price
The Asda shop I did for crisps etc frozen things branded and some bits that are good from there and I used Asda points card, it was £139 and I used £107 in points so I don't feel upset but I had 14 missing items and 5 substitutes which were nothing close to what I wanted

I did use both apps at the same time and it is a fiddle but I did £230 on Ocado to stock up a bit as I had a voucher for 25% off
It's still been the same cost for our weekly shop at Asda but with a few things that make a difference from Ocado

Has anyone done something like this and do you get used to it? If I did all on Ocado shop would be at least £400 every week

Thank you

OP posts:
Stomacharmeleon · 09/03/2023 09:35

I am a shop whore.... I go wherever I fancy and mix it up all the time.

Booooot · 09/03/2023 09:36

How are you spending so much? We’re a family of 4 who thankfully don’t have to watch our pennies and buy what we like and I don’t think I we’ve ever spent more than £150 in a week.

AviMav · 09/03/2023 09:36

Why don't you just try doing a full shop online in other supermarkets OP? Sainsbury or Waitrose if you like the quality of Ocado. I agree with @Lastnamedidntstick though OP needs to cook things from scratch if she's spending £400 a week blimey!

Oopstheregoesanotherrubbertreeplant · 09/03/2023 09:47

I rotate my weekly deliveries from 4 different supermarkets. Depends on who has the best offers on my preferred foods. I currently shop slightly more often with Tesco because their dietary requirements filters work well which makes browsing for something different to try much easier. Sainsbury's has been promising theirs will be back up and running forever it seems.

Nogreens · 09/03/2023 09:49

I have zero loyalty to any shop. They seem to reward me for it. If I haven't been to a particular shop in a while I get sent vouchers. I don't know if they do that to everyone or just customers they are trying to entice back.

JunkinDonuts · 09/03/2023 09:53

I don't understand the issue.
I have deliveries from three different supermarkets.
So far, the police haven't put my door in and arrested me.

Oopstheregoesanotherrubbertreeplant · 09/03/2023 09:54

Good point @Nogreens. If I don't use Sainsbury's for a while a get a voucher code for a high value shop. None of the others have done this so far.

Original poster
stopbeeping · 09/03/2023 09:57

welshpolarbear · 09/03/2023 09:21

This is a very odd question op.

A lot of people shop around, I remember as a kid 35+ years ago going round four different ships with my Mum as she needed to buy the cheapest things in each.

Ocado (or any of the others) won't be loyal to you, shop for what you what/need, where you want. That shouldn't even be a question?

God thank you for this it's an understanding response

I want to use the apps but it is fiddly
I need to shop around if we want to carry on with this type of food it's not sustainable to do it every week it's got to be more like £300 a week

I have three kids, that's what I spend, I don't want to justify it to anyone, thank you for replying to me your response was helpful

OP posts:
Original poster
stopbeeping · 09/03/2023 09:58

welshpolarbear · 09/03/2023 09:21

This is a very odd question op.

A lot of people shop around, I remember as a kid 35+ years ago going round four different ships with my Mum as she needed to buy the cheapest things in each.

Ocado (or any of the others) won't be loyal to you, shop for what you what/need, where you want. That shouldn't even be a question?

Ocado used to send a lot of free things but do it less often as the years went by

I have got another voucher for 25% off they are trying to get me back.

Apparently we were the top customer in Kent year -21-22

They have too much of our money 😅😂

OP posts:
Original poster
stopbeeping · 09/03/2023 09:59

Lastnamedidntstick · 09/03/2023 09:22

Has anyone done something like this and do you get used to it? If I did all on Ocado shop would be at least £400 every week

wtaf? For 5 people?

I don’t think your issue is where to shop, but what you’re buying.

we’re a family of 4, kids are older teens. My budget is about £150-200 every 10 days. I use ocado as I find it’s as cheap as anywhere else but with better subs, service, free delivery slots etc.

what are you buying for £400/week? I don’t think I could manage to spend anywhere near that!

Oat milk is really expensive and three drink that
Formula for baby
Lots and lots of fruit
A lot of snack food

OP posts:
Original poster
stopbeeping · 09/03/2023 09:59

IncessantNameChanger · 09/03/2023 09:22

I used to shop in just one place, but now I use sainsbury's, Tesco and Lidl across the month. Things I need from Tesco home delivery are regularly out of stock online, Lidl is normally half bear. Sains is fine but somethings are a bit cheaper elsewhere. I have no brand loyalty any more.

This is what I want to do, does it take up more time?

OP posts:
Original poster
stopbeeping · 09/03/2023 10:00

flutterbyebaby · 09/03/2023 09:30

Has anyone noticed Ocados flash sales have gone rather down the pan?

Yes and I am annoyed

OP posts:
Original poster
stopbeeping · 09/03/2023 10:02

BarbaraofSeville · 09/03/2023 09:31

OP, I'll tell you what I do, but you might want to sit down as it will blow your mind.

I don't do a regular weekly shop.

I don't stick to one, or even two supermarkets.

I don't buy the same things each week.

What I do is rotate around available supermarkets to get the best price for the things we buy and, for non perishables, keep a stock in so everything is bought when on offer/from the cheapest supermarket.

Instead of a regular big weekly shop and a top up shop, it probably averages out at two medium sized shops a week, that consist of a top up of bread/milk/fruit and veg, plus anything we like/need from where I feel like going/are passing/have vouchers for etc etc. Over time, it probably saves hundreds of pounds a year, and that's when we're only shopping for two people, who don't spend very much. If you're spending £400 pw Shock, you could probably cut that down by about £100 pw or over five grand a year.

But what on earth are you buying? You sound like the people on Eat Well for Less, that's an insane amount of food. Do you waste a lot?

Another really helpful post

Yes I want to spend max £300 a week but it's been hard breaking habits

I want shopping for £250 a week if we can.
But food is our hobby too.

I like the stuff on Ocado because I like cooking

It's just so annoying doing two shops

It was £400 this week because I stocked up on cheese and expensive things for cleaning as I had the voucher for £107 for Asda which was the rewards from end of august til now

Then Ocado voucher for 25% off so I used that too and I did it on the cash back website too so I could make the money work harder

OP posts:
stuckonpills · 09/03/2023 10:03

AviMav · 09/03/2023 09:36

Why don't you just try doing a full shop online in other supermarkets OP? Sainsbury or Waitrose if you like the quality of Ocado. I agree with @Lastnamedidntstick though OP needs to cook things from scratch if she's spending £400 a week blimey!

It's usually £250-300 in 7 days
I have to order the shopping every six days

We also buy a lot of fresh juice probably 10 bottles a week

Original poster
stopbeeping · 09/03/2023 10:03

Nogreens · 09/03/2023 09:49

I have zero loyalty to any shop. They seem to reward me for it. If I haven't been to a particular shop in a while I get sent vouchers. I don't know if they do that to everyone or just customers they are trying to entice back.

I notice this too x

OP posts:
flutterbyebaby · 09/03/2023 10:06

I have just had a amazon morrisons delivery, got all the veg and salad I ordered, but everything seems to be doll's house size. I know they call them baby gems but it's ridiculous 😁

Aixellency · 09/03/2023 10:11

Also, regarding comparative shops, this week Ocado sent me a voucher for £1.60 to make up for my last delivery having been that amount more expensive than Tesco!

BarbaraofSeville · 09/03/2023 10:11

OP, you're probably buying the 'naice' versions of everything. So probably worth having a think about whether they're actually worth the extra cost. Sometimes they are, sometimes not.

As for cleaning products, if you're serious about saving money, have a look in Home Bargains or B&M, often a fraction of the price of supermarkets. Also think about whether you need so many cleaning products. If you're one of those people who's forever buying bleach, sprays etc, you're almost certainly buying and using far more than you need.

If you're eligible, Costco could work for you. You have to shop in person, but they can be good for cleaning products, toilet rolls, snack food and fruit, which we don't buy because the quantities are too large, but the quality looks very good.

sashh · 09/03/2023 10:13

Zebedee55 · 09/03/2023 09:14

I use a mixture of Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury and Ocado...depending on what I need that week, and any special offers going.

I thought that was normal?

You don't have to remain loyal to just one shop.😗

Yep.

I've even been known to have Iceland and Sainsbury's turn up together.

Norriscolesbag · 09/03/2023 10:16

I shop at Ocado and have three children- how on earth will it cost you £400 a week? That’s rather exaggerated I think unless you are eating far too much?

Lastnamedidntstick · 09/03/2023 10:35

stopbeeping · 09/03/2023 09:59

Oat milk is really expensive and three drink that
Formula for baby
Lots and lots of fruit
A lot of snack food

Show quote history

Two of mine are dairy free as well. I was having a whinge yesterday that what was once cheap margarine is now “vegan spread” and costs 5 times the price 😂. Do you use ocado’s offers? Recently there was 3 for two on vegan food, and currently there’s a deal on buy 3 breakfast items which includes non dairy milk. Stock up while the deals are on if you have storage space.

so you’re spending £200 a week on fruit, formula and snacks.
How much fruit do you buy? Does it all get eaten? Have you a fruit and veg shop/market stall nearby where you can get it cheaper?

snacks the rule in my house is if you want crisps/biscuits etc you walk to the shop and buy it. It doesn’t come on the ocado shop. Funnily enough when it takes effort the amount of snacks eaten drops drastically.

as to buying from different online shops, usually once you’ve done a couple it’s easy enough to go down your favourites and takes minutes. You’re a sahm so it’s your decision as to whether the cost saving or the time saving is more important. I work ft so for me anything that saves time is key so I stick with one.

Dixiechickonhols · 09/03/2023 10:41

I swapped to Ocado from Asda. If you are careful on Ocado and use offered and their essentials it’s ok price plus the flash sales.
Things like oat milk I buy longlife when it’s on offer.
If you are sahm is making more an option eg do a tray bake or cake and portion for snacks not buying snacks.

Aixellency · 09/03/2023 10:51

A lot of snack food

Whatever happened to sandwiches and homemade cake?

Someone can do a comparison of the negligible cost of flour/butter/eggs/sugar + fuel against shop bought snacks. But there’s the nutrition element as well …

MrsRinaDecker · 09/03/2023 10:57

I’ll often get my big shop delivered (usually from Tesco, I have their monthly delivery pass and I prefer their subs policy) with cupboard stuff and heavy items like cat food, then a recipe box from HelloFresh or Gousto for most of the dinners, then top up in Morrisons or Lidl (love Lidl for meat / fish / cheese / bakery, prefer Morrisons for fruit and veg).

Chocolatetadpole · 09/03/2023 11:03

Oh god lay off the OP of that's what she wishes to spend that's up to her. We spend a lot on food, we cook from scratch but spend a lot of fresh stuff, dairy free alternatives for one child etc.

Shop in as many places as you fancy OP. Although, as you've said you're buying lots of fruit have you seen if your local fruit shop does a delivery service? Ours does and the fruit tends to taste better, last longer and come in cheaper as we buy what's in season. Same with the butcher's we get a weekly delivery from there and get some lovely cuts of meat.