shopping around

[smilingthroughgrittedteeth]

We are struggling financially at the moment and so that we continue to have well stocked cupboards/fridge/freezer we shop around, therefore we have food from tesco,asda,aldi, iceland and the local farm shop, this way we can still have good quality food but none of it costs full price iyswim?

We had friends over yesterday and they kept making sniddy comments about how we are disloyal customers, cheap skates, scrooges etc, my DP was quite upset by it, I on the other hand just found them irratating especially since I know they are in a great deal of debt.

We surely aren't the only people that have to do this?

They are idiots. Try not to take their comments on board. I wish I was as organised as you.

No, you're just being clever and making your money go further. Ignore them.

We are the same here smiling. Our freezer only 'cheapie section' bargains and bargains DH finds on hot deals.

DH's brother takes the mickey out of us for shopping this way but we then can justify / afford the odd luxury because of this!

These are tough times but people still have to eat so the supermarkets are not going to go bust. Why would a shop deserve loyalty? That was a weird comment.

I find my dinner tastes much better when it's cost less than a couple of quid!!

The loyalty comment was because DP works for morrisons so gets a discount, but even that doesn't mean it works out cheaper.

We spend about £100 month on food for me, dp and 2xDSC (who are here every school holiday and one weekend a month. If we spent more we wouldn't be able to afford to ever have a takeaway (1 per month on pay day) or have money to do nice things with the SC, for us it works to shop around, I work near tesco, we live near asda and aldi, my oh works in morrisons and the farm shop is within walking distance so if its on offer in 1 shop that's where we but it, rather than having to adjust brands (we have for many things) we buy our normal brands on offer. I have eczema so can only use certain washing powder, toiletries, washing up liquid etc or I would happily buy shops own.

The friends in question spend £250 - £300 per month on food for just the 2 of them and then moan constantly about being in debt (fwiw they are DP's friends not mine)

I should point out the £100 includes washing powder and cleaning products but not toiletries.

Tip.... don't share details of your budget, income, shopping habits, spending patterns or other financial matters with anyone else. People being what they are, they'll always have an opinion. BTW... they are not 'friends'.

I didn't share any details with them, they popped in on their way somewhere and I was in the middle of making dinner, they sat in the kitchen chatting to DP and must have noticed that the packaging for the various ingrediants were from different shops and started making snide comments, DP started to defend the reason for it and got a bit embaressed whilst I simply said 'its not really any of your buisness where we shop is it' they left soon after, I think they know I don't like them much but I'm usually polite, tbh they are no longer welcome in my house and although I won't say they can't come in (they are DP's friends after all) they certainly won't be finding a pleasent host in me!

They're snobs then. Nasty. Well done standing up to them. Would recommend DP gives them a wide berth if they only show up to take the piss.

The thing is its not even like it was tesco value range it was just tescos so nothing to be snobby about in my opinion (not that there is anything wrong with tesco value, we buy that too ) in fact next time they pop in I might just hand out the Value custard creams just to see the look on their faces

you need a selection of different value biscuits (preferably one pack from each major supermarket) and leave them in the packaging to make sure they can tell where they are from.

They are idiots.

I am up to 5 supermarkets plus butchers and a couple of other local shops at moment

Ignore ignore, ignore, we too shop around. Couln'd survive if we didnt.

Couldn't give a fiddlers fart about what people think of this, my money, my diet, my buisiness.

Good mantra that

TheArmadillo brilliant idea I shall add biscuits to the shopping list and invite them for coffee

mrsnesbit I think I will have that printed on a t-shirt with the addition of 'so sod off'

I am flipping amazed that you manage to spend £100 a month on food!! We are more like £350 for a family of four. I would love to bring that bill down, but DH has expensive tastes...

Loyalty to the supermrkets? Did I miss something....when are they loyal to their customers?? We (me and DH) used to do a fortnightly shop at Tesco spending approx £120 a time and then the week inbetween £10, so approx £260/month and I'm sure there were other bits and pieces too. When DD came along and we started paying for nappies too I realised how ridiculous it was. After some careful meal planning and only bringing the bill down by £20 or so I realised that I needed to do more. So we now do a monthly shop and a small one once a week for fresh milk and bread and any fruit and fresh veg (still £10) but the monthly shop costs no more than £100. First we go to Aldi and fill a big trolly (never costs more than £40) and then get anything else from Sainsburys (which is rapidly becoming cheaper than Tesco), Tesco, Iceland and Coop. We also have a cash and carry butchers and a local farmers market. We go on a Saturday morning when the shops open and are home by lunch time. I put a loaf of bread in the bread maker before we go out and then have soup and fresh bread when we get home. Nothing quite as satisfying as having a nice lunch having done the shopping for the whole month and having saved a load of money. We now spend £200/month and that includes nappies and formula too. I must confess to sitting at the computer the day before we go looking up the best deals too!! I have a stockpile and so only buy things (tea bags, toilet paper, toiletries, nappies etc) when on offer. I do think that more and more people are shopping around on a regular basis, so those with huge debts still spending mountains on food shouldn't be so quick to judge others.

tosh to being loyal to supermarkets ! shop where you get the best value, why does it matter where you get your produce from as long as your family are fed !

I buy food from;

Farmfoods
Aldi
Homebargains
Sainsburys
Asda
Morrisons
Farm shop.

Where does being a loyal customer get anyone?

Some people just cant see it though, I know someone who is illegally claiming tax credits, has no mortgage or car payment to make and still cant manage on £1400 a month. But they have an iPhone 4 and sky and fags and wine and use the tumble dryer for everything and buy designer skincare.

But they are just so hard up.