Food has become so expensive. How is it sustainable?

[Prunnhilda]

I've noticed a real change in the past couple of weeks: everything seems to have gone up by 10 or 15%, suddenly. (Except junk food, which is always on special offer, naturally )

We can't go on being blasé about nipping into the supermarket for a few bits and pieces. What foods are you cutting back on to save money?

Ah yes, a greengrocer, we used to have one or two of them but now....... we are stuck with supermarkets and very little else. The only farmers' markets around are on weekday mornings when I work and the farm shops tend not to be the cheap sort but the sort where you buy fancy jam and pickle.

Think is, if you want to buy toiletries with no parabens, eggs that aren't from battery hens and foods that aren't high is saturated fat, suagr and salt, then generally, you do have to pay more.

Eating healthy and ethically isn't cheap!

make your own and freeze - add extra can tomato bulk out meals
iceland is bargaintastic
last hour or so before supermarket closes bread and near sell by items plummet in price
tesco value stuff is ok,the peppers,courgettes,onions etc are fine

I buy half decent shower gel (branded, but cheap from Semichem, Dove or similar) and then Asda smartprice and mix the two.
I do the same with washing powder, soap, washing up liquid and so on.

The one thing I am fussy about is tea bags. I need my Twinings Earl Grey, but I stock up when on offer, and reuse bags as I drink tea constantly and like it weak.

iceland do half doz free range large for a pound. think you get about 18 for one-fifty if it's battery medium.

I live in a rural area, so the eggs are from up the road about 2 miles. I know the farm, the brothers who run the petrol garage, it's their parents'. Their boys go to school with my girls. £1.10 for six. I just go down to the shop and get them. They're not 'Lion', though. I don't much care, I boil them to use in egg mayos or tuna mayos or to cook in meals or to bake.

yes I agree with Franca. the VAT has gone up. I prefer to spend more on the BEST food and less on other stuff. i eat organic for the farmers, for the flavour and the world!!