Where to shop?

[Isitbedtimesoon]

We've done small scale prepping in the past but now we've moved house we are in a position where we can jump in with both feet!

We've put together a food list and are ready to do the big shop, but is there any real advantage of places like Costco over the usual supermarket like Tesco? I know things are cheaper but our nearest is 40 min drive away and then there's the £35 card fee. I've never been to a Costco - are they as good as the hype?

We love Costco especially for frozen bits and tinned tomatoes etc.
Iceland is good

@dobbyssoc is Costco much cheaper though? Thinking tuna and pasta but also branded beans and soups etc? I must admit I'm tempted

It's a bit hit and miss. Tinned veg I find is cheaper e.g 24 cans of tomatoes for £4 odd which I don't find bad.
Things like toothpaste etc I think is more expensive. Some things you can search for online and see the prices etc.
I couldn't live without my membership though

I thought places like Costco you couldn’t get membership as just general public. I thought you had to have a trade or business.
Sorry to derail!

@dobbyssoc Thanks for that, I'll take a look online

@dobbyssoc Thanks for that, I'll take a look online

@Wolfiefan if you are in certain professions you can have one. I work in a school so can sign up for one. They have quite a broad list

I was a teacher and was told I couldn’t!

@Wolfiefan how strange. I work in admissions in a school and got one no issue!

The school needed to provide some kind of evidence. It was a few years ago. I asked and was refused.

Costco is definitely cheaper for some things, but not everything. I regularly buy washing powder, toilet rolls, bread, some cleaning products, crisps, cereal, rice, pasta, coffee, tea, sliced cheese, bacon, canned drinks, wine and beer etc. I also buy the occasional gadget which is usually a fair bit cheaper than online / high street. I think you're best going along as someone's guest for your first experience and investigate the costs of things you usually buy before signing up for a membership. You might find it's really worth it and you want to buy all sorts, you might find the opposite is true! I think Aldi is the place for cheap bulk buying in addition to the things I get from Costco

aldi/lidl are good but as I have not shopped in them since early march I can't vouch for prices anymore.

I’ve got an online Costco Subscription as my nearest is nearly 2 hours away. It’s £15 a year and cost £5.99 for delivery, but as it would cost me most of a day to go I don’t mind.

You can get most things delivered it turns out, Krusteaz pancake mix kept us going last lockdown - thanks to whoever on here suggested it!

I’m just clearing space in the sheds to put a big order in for the autumn.

Would probably get an online one too Coughsyrupsucks as live to far away. Do you find you save much, and if so what things are good value? TIA

Wolfie

All I took as proof was my school ID badge

It is case of knowing your prices. EG toilet roll we find cheaper in Aldi but branded goods often cheaper in Costco We can o my use carex soap so buy 5 litre containers also no one looks twice at bulkbuying

That's handy I could bring mine Ginger, we use carex too how much is the 5l containers please?

@Isitbedtimesoon

If you haven't bought a Costco membership yet, have a look at smaller local wholesalers and Asian supermarkets to bulk buy canned goods. I buy canned tomatoes, chickpeas etc from them and very cheap, £8 for 48 cans last month, (kids at university not all for me)

I don't like Costco as the boxes are huge and go stale before you have time to use it all.

I went to a large Coop recently and I think they might have cottoned on to the idea of stockpiling, they had an entire shelf just with tins/long life stuff/beans/sauces/etc. all there together. Pretty good.

I have used most of my stockpile during Covid and starting again, I really like some of the stuff from Asda (pasta sauces, pasta, curry sauces) and other things from Tesco (cereals), and also Iceland is very good for long life milk, tins and frozen chicken/meat/fish. Iceland has free delivery for orders over £40 so it's worth ordering from there.

That's really cheap Minnie I am going to try that.

I have used up lots of my stash during Covid Queen, have to build it up again. Love the Coop too, have used Asda for the first time during Lockdown and have found it good. Have been looking for jam sugar for ages and only tonight found it in Asda. I have had a delivery from Iceland and found it good for lots of things like large bags of pasta, and have had a few C&C from Tesco but find it a little overpriced. My fave is Lidl as they always keep there prices down and the quality I find is always great. win, win

Someone told me today that M&S have discounted flour! going there tomorrow!!

I just like shopping around and not sticking to one shop. I build my stockpile slowly. Some stuff I get from Superdrug and Boots - paracetamol, basic medicine such rehydration sachets and cystitis sachets, plasters, etc. My kids like some of the Tesco tinned stuff (tesco curry is ok), some soups. Still can't get them to eat tinned peas though!! I just try and organise my freezer with essential stuff, not ice cream and cakes!! The difference with Covid and the next supply issue (Brexit I think) is that it has been very easy to get hold of fresh produce during lockdown. Shops usually had plenty of fruit and veg, and meat. This will be different I am guessing, if Brexit causes supply problems, as it's fresh stuff that will not be readily available.

Queen definitely trying M&S then! I just chuck tinned peas in the meals and they don't even realise, such as Shepherds pie, veg stir fry, curry etc. Not looking forward to Brexit at all, slowly trying to build up supplies because just know there will be big supply problems. Slowly trying to get ahead and buy stocking fillers etc for Christmas.