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Ethical living

Discover eco friendly brands and sustainable fashion on our Ethical Living forum.

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Original poster

I have a free veg box token for Abel & Cole and this got me thinking...

39 replies

objectivity · 25/07/2008 12:41

Would, as a lone parent with very little income just now, it be cost effective to buy all my edible shopping from Abel & Cole, producing menus for the week and using every last scrap and then buying laundry stuff and toiletries from Wilko.

This way we could enjoy quality organic food and no processed packaged stuff, although it would come at a premium.

It would sort of force me to really ensure EVERY meal was planned and cooked from scratch, whereas now that is the case maybe 70-80 % of the time.

I don't know if this is a really silly idea. What do you think?

OP posts:

littleducks · 25/07/2008 12:50

ooh where did you get the voucher from? maybe try for a fortnight or a month

Original poster

objectivity · 25/07/2008 13:18

There was a missing '?' in that first sentence - oops!

Voucher code is FREEBOX - to be used by 31st July

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Original poster

objectivity · 25/07/2008 13:19

...but you have to spend £40

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cyanarasamba · 25/07/2008 13:26

I think you could be being a little hard on yourself. This would leave no leeway for times where say due to illness or being busy say fishfingers and chips would be the order of the day.

Having said that if you are already cooking from scratch much of the time and have a freezer it would probably be possible to plan ahead for such times.

Not sure about getting all your shopping from them though, think it would be worth still getting dry goods elsewhere.

Fennel · 25/07/2008 14:03

I don't know in your situation, but I have found that our organic veg box is actually cheaper than buying non-organic veg, especially supermarket veg. I think ours might be cheaper than Abel and Cole though, it's a local one.

But it's been a pleasant surprise that it's not actually been more expensive. and we have to be more adventurous in our cooking.

zippitippitoes · 25/07/2008 14:04

i got that offer through the letterbox and thought it was crap after i looked at the website

very expensive

Romy7 · 25/07/2008 14:12

i had the same thought six months or so ago. did it for 3 months and it's really really difficult.
you have to spend a long time making sure they don't send anything your kids are def not going to eat - we were overrun with fennel and jerusalem artichokes for months... it was sort of nice, in that it got me well out of my comfort zone with utterly unexpected veg, but actually not that kid friendly. we used up all the leftovers from the week before in a 'vegetable surprise' soup which i made every saturday (box was delivered on a fri) which makes me sound like some sort of demestic goddess, but you couldn't get further from the truth lol.
ultimately i cancelled because it was too expensive. i looked at the free box offer this time around, but just don't have the cash to commit to an abel and cole box every week at the mo.

Romy7 · 25/07/2008 14:13

demestic is presumable a bit like demonic, which is closer to the truth than domestic clearly...

Original poster

objectivity · 25/07/2008 14:37

Hmmm...

I've been really trying to reduce the supermarket bill but even with mostly fruit and veg and a few dips and pitta breads for me plus one or two meat items each week (usually chicken/a joint or sausages) it is VERY expensive. I find even Asda fruit and veg quite expensive but haven't properly cost it out.

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zippitippitoes · 25/07/2008 14:38

i only buy meat and bread products that are reduced to half or less and put them in the freezer

value bananas and bags of pears from tesco sem the cheapest fruit

and frozen veg

Klio · 25/07/2008 16:03

I'm glad this thread has come up, I have been thinking the same for a while too. One thing I was thinking is that it may get us out of a food rut where I always seem to be buying the same fruit and veg, week in week out. I also like the fact that they do supply recipe ideas which coincides with each veg box. What I am wondering however is there honestly enough stuff in one to last a week or do people find they have to supplement?

Romy7 · 25/07/2008 20:03

i had to supplement staples - but have 3 dcs and a hungry husband... there's also no guarantee that you'll get spuds, or carrots, or bananas, or whatever, so it's quite difficult to work out which extras to order - you either have to chance getting double carrots, for example, or order carrots and put 'no carrots' down for your veg box...

i still quite like the idea but the actuality was a bit more living in the moment than i was really prepared for, and recipes or not, you still have to make sure you've got the rest of the stuff on the list, cos they sure as hell don't put all the ingredients in the box...

don't get me wrong, it was a nice thing to try, but not very practical living my life!

zippitippitoes · 25/07/2008 20:06

i am certain that as an economy measure it is a total non starter

more of a food luxury

if the produce is good

sophy · 25/07/2008 20:50

I think it's a great idea and I am sure you could make it work.

Klio · 25/07/2008 22:45

I think the Able and Cole let you know what to expect in your veg box or at least that is the impression I got from the blurb, how right that is I'm not sure?

I usually spend about £25 a week on fruit and veg at the market each week for non organic stuff so was wondering if it was about the same amount but for organic stuff then it would be better generally for us. Also I love cooking so thought it would help get me out of a rut, Hmmm not sure whether it would be a false economy or not

Original poster

objectivity · 25/07/2008 22:48

I have just logged onto their site and 'bought' a week's shopping without yet entering my discount code and the total is just under £60.

This includes everything bar cleaning products,toilet rolls, and toiletries.

Am still procrastinating over whether to proceed to checkout though..!

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HarrietTheSpy · 25/07/2008 22:50

NO NO NO
If you are trying to save money, please don't use Abel and Cole. We found them such bad value for money, the farmer's markets are so much better. Are you anywhere near Islington, for example? We used to fill up our bags with veg and even got some meat there for very close to the price of the family box each week. I really don't recommend them. Our veg went off soo quickly, I even had broccoli arrive that was already yellowing. When I complained they spun some yarn about it. Really not a satisfied customer. I think you can do better elsewhere, for high quality veg.

zippitippitoes · 25/07/2008 22:52

no you will not in any way save money

Klio · 25/07/2008 23:02

I live in South Yorkshire, no farmers markets anywhere near us and although the markets are good it is impossible to buy anything organic.

Shame you have had bad experiences Harriet, maybe I should look around for other veg box suppliers in the area

Lalisa · 25/07/2008 23:10

If you love cooking, definitely go for the veg box, though I don't think abel and cole's are as good value as others. You may find living on just the box a challenge, but in a good way. I definitely spend less on organic veg than i did by buying from the local supermarket, plus you end up with so much less wasted packaging.

That said, a bag of someone else's frozen peas got mixed into our normal grocery delivery yesterday and I was so inordinately excited about being able to make a meal with a vegetable that didnt require any cleaning or chopping and could be thrown in the pot with the spaghetti...

Klio · 25/07/2008 23:27

I have been doing some more research and have found a more local company that appears a lot more competively priced for pretty much the same box (£16 as opposed £23) so I think I may give it a try. It is part of the Riverford franchise if anyone is interested!

Romy7 · 26/07/2008 13:56

abel and cole do post what you should 'expect' in your veg box, but there are last minute substitutions very frequently as they run out of stuff or it isn't of sufficient quality etc... maybe it was just us as our delivery was at the 'end' of the week...

ThatBigGermanPrison · 26/07/2008 14:29

I think if you are a lone parent on very low income, you can kiss organic goodbye, to be honest. It tends to be twice the price. From a farmer, I have been told to buy organic carrots, organic potatoes and organic milk and sod everything else as it makes little difference.

HarrietTheSpy · 26/07/2008 17:31

Romy - Ours was on a Monday and the quality wasn't great either. Can you tell I've obsessed over this? It's just that it makes me really angry because they are supposed to be such a 'right on' company in theory, but I felt very over charged for what they sent us. Like a mug, to be honest.

I've heard the same thing about what;s important to buy organically - especially dairy products, because of the hormones in non-organic milk.

Objectivity is an allotment out of the question? I know one friend who has really made it work for them. If anything it could be a learning experience for the DCs.

nannynick · 26/07/2008 18:03

To save money, I would be tempted to just buy what veg you need, on an as per needed basis, from the supermarket or independent retailer.

Another option could be Frozen Organic veg, as that will keep a lot longer and will be far more regularly available - thus making menu planning a lot easier. Graig Farm has Organic Veg available Frozen. If you order £50 or more at a time, then you get free delivery. Their organic children's sausages are freezable.

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