What are your supermarket bargain tips

[Lemonthyme]

With all of the chat about the food industry going on and inflation, I thought it might be useful to bring in some quick tips to learn from each other on cheaper foods or what always gets into your shopping basket.

My food bargains:

Obviously the bargain fruit and veg at the front of Aldi and Lidl (I have no supermarket loyalty, I'm shopping for bargains). This week they've obviously got to crazy numbers just before Easter. I think we're down to 4p now which means all you can get is a cheap bag of potatoes (welcome but no point when you actually wanted shallots.)

Chicken drumstick fillets - says on the packs suitable for slow cooking and look a bit sinewy but don't be bothered with that. Actually they taste pretty close to chicken thighs and can be cooked in the same ways without them being tough or stringy. I think I'm one of the few people buying them because they don't look great when raw.

Salmon fillets - used to be an expensive protein but I'm finding these haven't gone up as much as most meat has and if you hunt through the savers / value packs, sometimes you can find some decent ish fillets at a cheaper price still.

Beans and pulses - I've always eaten loads of these but I'm certainly continuing. It's a way to pad out a meal.

Swapping proper 0% fat Greek yogurt for either 0% fat Skyr or 0% fat high protein yogurt.

I've pretty much switched all Sunday lunches to chicken. I very rarely cook beef, pork or lamb nowadays. Then if I do, it's probably brisket in the slow cooker but that's still a crazy price now. Then every part of the chicken gets used for stock, salads etc.

I always check the price per kilo/100g of most items. It’s easy to think a bigger pack of something might be cheaper but that’s not always the case so it’s worth taking a minute to compare.

If something non-perishable is on offer it pays to stock up if you can afford to and have the storage space.

Frozen veg can be cheaper and less wasteful if you have freezer space.

Apologies if these are obvious!

Lots of cheap offers in my local asda (although told even cheaper at aldi have to drive there but can walk to asda).
Whole legs of lamb £7 kg.
Side of salmon £9 (800gr) which is freezable, I portioned up individually and froze.
Slab of silverside £7.70 kg, cost £11 for piece large enough to chop in half so two roasts and the potatoes, swede, carrots, broccoli five for £1. I still have small amount of xmas cheap veg in freezer and potatoes will last for weeks in cool place. Penguins £1 a packet too.

Unless I need it now I'll wait for items to come on offer and stock up then. Obviously this is only non perishables and freezable items.
Make the most of meal deals but only as long as they are all things I like.
Remember to use any vouchers.
Remember to scan my store cards at the start of the purchase so I don't forget before I pay.
Lemonthyme I actually got shallots for 9p in Lidl earlier this week.

They're down to 4p now but completely sold out. 😢

We really like those drumstick fillets, they’re fab in a curry

I've started using my local farm shops. The eggs are cheaper than the supermarket and the meat is only £2-3 a kilo more expensive, but lasts longer because we don't need so much of it. They don't sell all the rubbish that the supermarket sells, so I don't get distracted by 'deals' and adding an extra £60 to my shop!

Pork shoulder is your friend, the larger joints often cost less per kilo. A shoulder costing under £7 in Lidl will provide 3-4 main meals plus extra for sandwiches (only the two of us) or more if you use meat stretching tricks like leftover pork, onion, peppers, can of black beans and can of tomatoes with wraps or rice as you only need half the meat. Similarly on the stretching technique, 2 lamb steaks £4 ish plus a can of chickpeas, bag spinach and 2 chopped onions can be turned into an amazing curry serving 6 people, tastes amazing (I’ll post my curry recipe at some point) but costs are in check, ok too much for those on the tightest budgets but with all trimmings it comes in under £1.50 a head and is healthy too plus gluten free

To be fair I'm doing pulled pork tomorrow. That's with pork shoulder. I tend to slow cook it though. How do you do it?

I used to buy frozen lamb pieces which were cheaper but I can't seem to find them anymore.

You're right, veggies in Lidl are reduced, I bought a packet of parsnips and carrots for 4p each earlier - potatoes and I think swede and shallots available. On way back bought a white cabbage from Tesco for 15p, so other offers there. Ideal for freezing and if you make soup, it's generally cheap, filling and warming anyway (you can add some lentils/similar for protein).

Shops own are cheaper, and look out for offers that you regularly use and stock up for a few weeks then. Lidl are cheaper for chicken and fish (we don't buy any other meat, so can't comment on that). It's worth looking for meat/fish on clearance, that can be frozen.

I used quorn mince, but you can substitute some of it for red lentils, and you don't really notice a flavour change.

I often have salad with cold mackeral, but canned tuna or boiled eggs are cheaper. If you like a sweet treat, have a couple of biscuits instead of buying or making a cake.

Don't go shopping when you're hungry, you're more likely to buy extra treats or go for something a bit more expensive.

Great thread

If you have a teenager get them part time in a supermarket and get staff discount

Obviously if old enough, not the 13 tr old 🙄 😒 😜

I find the supermarkets alternate their specials. We like a certain coffee and this week it might be cheapest at Asda, next week on special at Sainsburys etc. I try to buy a few when its on special because we drink a lot of it.

We used to live in central London, but now further out. We still travel back to go to Smithfield and Billinsgate markets for meat and fish. Some things you need to buy a box of, but for some you can choose say 1 shoulder of lamb etc. We share it with the in laws but have made great savings by stocking the freezers with mince, chicken thighs, smoked bacon, lamb chops, sides of cod/salmon, sausages etc. I always go armed with prices per kilo though, because unless its much better quality, 'sometimes' the supermarket specials are better value (legs of lamb this time of year for example).

I use this site to check what is in season. Most veg are cheaper when in season and grown in Britain.
https://www.eattheseasons.co.uk/

I also use this app to check for free, local food. I've also put food on their myself, and seedlings, indoor plants, clothes I'm giving away.
https://olioapp.com/en/

Yellow sticker food & non food

Two of my bank accounts gives me cash back for supermarket shopping & petrol & various other cash back deals

Olio food waste reduction app for free food, which we distribute into our local area & the free community pantries

Too Good To Go waste reduction app (small cost)

Don't waste food once at home

Lidl or Aldi I cannot remember which one, have an app

After spending a certain amount in the shop, cluck the app. We have received

Free huge sack of potatoes
Free pastry
Free fruit

Over 60s discount at Iceland

Make sure the price of the item on the shelf matches the price on the till. So many times I have been caught out thinking I was getting a bargain but it went through full price when at the checkout.

Today, I wanted to buy something that was reduced to 50p - at the till it was priced at £2. In the end, the supermarket worker asked me to show the price on the shelf to prove that I was not lying!

I bulk buy, chicken, meat, mince from halal butchers. We are muslim and find that Birmingham is much better value wise for us. I have a big freezer so definitely more economical. I also bulk buy tomatoes and freeze whole. I crush and freeze garlic, coriander.

When l make a curry, always have leftovers which l freeze into portions.

I also use Tesco Club card, Lidl a d Morrisons to collect points where l can.

It's Lidl. I have got far more savvy on using my vouchers wisely. The free nuts one I got some hazelnuts last time. Over £4 worth. Genius!

I have got so annoyed with Sainsbury's with that. I've had that loads of times and them not honour the price. I've taken the item off and left it in the end.

I have been stocking up on the reduced Veg this week. I have cooked and frozen parsnips, swede and lots of potatoes!

I like to buy a whole chicken to use in curries, or stirfry/fried rice. I also make up stock cubes with the carcus. I've bought 3 in Sainsbury's today as they are in offer! So will all go in the freezer portioned up.

We will often have our roast with either chicken or sausages as other meats are alot more money now.