Grocery shopping....anyone else finding it increasingly expensive? What do you pay weekly?

[whispywhisp]

Anyone got any recommendations on Tesco Value products - are they any good? What foods to avoid that are clearly rubbish?

We are a family of four. I have always tried to buy our groceries economically but have tended to avoid Tesco Value products because I've worried about the quality.

Its now become so expensive to buy food and household products that we've got no choice but to buy the cheaper range.

I don't know what everyone else is spending each week but, on average, I'm paying way over £100 per week on everything - food, cleaning materials, pet food etc etc and we simply can't afford to continue like this.

What does everyone else do? Are we all finding it increasingly expensive to buy groceries? Anyone found some of the Tesco Value stuff should be avoided?

I would grow my own stuff but we don't have the room. I would use a local greengrocer...if we had one. I cook all our meals - we are a family who eat a lot of fruit and veg and its those items that I'm finding have gone up so much. I like my kids to eat well, which they do, I don't want them to eat junk (which they'd love to, I'm sure!). Help!

hairybiker...whats Asda smartprice stuff like?

I have gone on a strict economy drive and am meal planning and writing a detailed shopping list, I then check tesco.com to see whats on offer, and what things i can get cheaper by either downshifting or by trying something i havent bought before. The nearest aldi and lidl are 10 miles away so dont go there often but if i need to cut the shopping bill back more these are things I will consider.
Shop once a week and avoid supermarkets in between if at all possible, if you run out of basics such as bread or milk pop into the corner shop because you wont be tempted to buy loads of things you dont need.

You are all so right about what you say about avoiding supermarkets. I've often gone to Tesco to buy some basics...milk, bread, bananas...and end up with a trolley of stuff. I get angry with myself too!

I'm a Sainos girl tho DH is in charge of groceries atm so what we get varies.

I have shopped at Morrisons and they do cheap fairtrade teabags. The thing I really rate from Asda is their longlife, organic soya milk (60 odd pence a litre) and their children's toothpaste which is something bonkersly cheap like 25p a tube. Definitely worth a visit.

Another thing I do - which is hardly rocket science - is always check out the reduced aisle in Sainos and the meat and fish counters for bargains and then freeze them. I then surprise myself weeks later by uncovering bargain fillet steak at the bottom of the freezer drawer!

I ought to have done this thread differently. I wish now I'd asked everyone to nominate one store where they prefer to shop that is affordable and good quality....

Me - I have been a Tesco customer for many years. Recently started shopping in Sainsburys - can no longer afford to go there. In the future...from what I've read on here plus the internet order I have done today and having shopped there before...Asda.

I do that too re the freezing cheap or reduced items. Have just got rid of our tumble drier (because we can't afford to run it) and it is now outside in the shed for emergency use only. In its place we've put a freezer so I can fill it with bargains that I might pick up or for the masses of fruit my Mum harvests from her garden - gooseberries, rhubarb, blackcurrants, plums etc.

Good idea about buying the reduced aisle and instantly freezing.

Is PYO and then freezing it worth it cash wise? We all love fruit and I find frozen ones useful. I suppose it's a nice day out too.

I think PYO is worth it - you tend to take home more fruit than you would normally buy for freezing, it's a day out so you're not out spending on other things, and it's another excuse not to go to the supermarket.

Sorry. This is really boring. Do you freeze the fruit instantly. Wash, dry and freeze? Or is there some sort of blanching stage?

Depends on what it is. Raspberries I just stick straight into the freezer

Thanks.

Can you freeze strawberries? I've never tried because I always thought they'd go mushy when defrosting!

I think they do go mushy but lovely on pancakes or rice pudding or spooned over ice cream.

if you're an online grocery shopper, definitely use mysupermarket.co.uk for the best deals at whichever shop you use, it's good for comparison ie. It'll tell you if it's cheaper to go for 3x 2pts milk against a 6pt milk.

Change of plan!

Have now cancelled my Asda online order which was due to be delivered on Friday.

Have decided to go up to Tesco, on my own, and do a 'normal' shop but buy more of their value stuff and buy simply what we need not what I could do with putting in the freezer or replacing something we ate a few nights ago, iykwim. I've got a till receipt from them which gives me £12 off my next shop so I'll use that. If I go on my own, without the kids or DH, I don't buy so much. I won't know how good/bad their value stuff is until we try it. I know of a couple of bits that are awful...bread and pasta sauces.

Just wish I could go and buy what we wanted from where we wanted and not worry about the cost each time but unfortunately we've got no choice but to cut right back otherwise we're going to be in trouble financially.

Roll on October...dd2 into full-time school and I can go and get myself a part-time job.

You'll have to report back. With your best buys.
My goal is not to go into supermarkets ever again. One big shop a week and that's it.

For shame.
Hope you enjoyed the Pimms though.

I think I say this on many a thread, but Aldi do a knock-off version of Pimms called Austins for £4.99. It really does taste the same! Saves me a small fortune in the summer months.

I'm feeling strong today. Day 2 and no shopping. Well, apart from a chest of drawers. But I can't eat that.

I have gone to aldi this week and tbh I spent £41.20, had no nappies, hardly anything tbh, wasn't v impressed at all. won't go back will stick to asda I think.

am however going to get some pots today and seeds to start growing things with DS in the garden - apparently it's salad stuff at the minute and then root veg etc come the winter, not sure so need to find a book as well.

i'm getting 4 bags of shopping thou and it's £40 surely that's not right???