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Supermarkets

(64 Posts)
Visgir1 Wed 27-May-26 16:26:48

HelterSkelter1

It may not be true. If on social media people invent stuff. Did they itemise their £38 big shop?
I shop at my local supermarket which is also Waitrose. I only buy what I need. When I look in our local Tesco the prices arent a lot less.

I like Waitrose. I like the staff, the space, today the coolness, the cleanliness. I don't need to drive and park and fight my way in.
I am very lucky it is close. It's my early morning walk with a free coffee. Their offers are good and the loyalty card works in my favour mostly.

If it closed I would be really upset. We used to have 3 bakers, 5 butchers, 2 fish shops, a wonderful ironmongers and 2 green grocers. All gone now years back. So Waitrose it is.

My local Waitrose shut a couple of years ago, I was like most in the area "bereft" (I know Drama queen!) but I had my Saturday job in Waitrose in the early 70's, it's in my DNA 🤣
this area had one of the first outside of London.
However, I still shop there but have it delivered OK tad more expensive but, the offers, quality is excellent.
I do have a local Tesco at the top of my Road, so yes we use that for bits. I also pop into Lidl and do a fruit and veg shop in M&S, so I too use 4 supermarkets.
We have no local Butchers ( nearest 15 min drive away) My local town, has a Fruit and Veg shop, but unless I have to go into town which isn't often then I might check them out. There is no food shopping there unless you want Greg's. Such a shame

Marmin Wed 27-May-26 16:22:11

I read recently that in the 50s the average family spent 35% of their weekly income on food. Now, that figure is just 11%.
Just a thought.

Greyduster Wed 27-May-26 16:15:04

I’m another who can’t imagine a monthly shop at Aldi costing thirty eight pounds!! I spend more than that a week and there’s only me, then I have to supplement what they don’t stock from a nearby Morrisons. We also have a Co-op and a Sainsburys nearby.

Shel1951 Wed 27-May-26 16:10:48

Have you tried online shopping at Tesco or a cheaper shop? You have to get to€50 here but you can do 2 weeks at once? Here its free for over 65 though there are specific time slots but worth it.
Especially tinned food ,potatoes, heavy goods.

keepingquiet Wed 27-May-26 16:04:55

I have a little Tesco nearby which I use several times a week. The staff are friendly and they will open a till when there's a queue. Using the self serve I always mess up and the staff know this and we have a laugh when they come over! I tend to shop in the evening when it's quiet and the discounted goods are around, I but most of my bread this way- sometimes it is more than half price.
There is also a Heron foods on the High street where I am not averse to using as they also have some frozen foods I can't get in Tesco.
I always use my Club card in Tesco and if I forget they will refund it at the desk.
Once every two or thee weeks I go to 'big' Tesco and do my main shop- spending around £70-£80 for two of us.
We have no Asda, Aldi or Lidl nearby but if I ever shop there I still have to go to Tesco for things they don't have.
I find Waitrose (where I used to sometimes) expensive but also not too friendly.
For special treats, birthdays, Christmas etc- I go to M&S but probably only four times a year. I find the layout and the staff there very unhelpful and also they have very few tills.

Jane43 Wed 27-May-26 15:18:08

We use M&S, Aldi, Sainsburys and Asda, they are the closest supermarkets to us.

Jaxjacky Wed 27-May-26 15:13:34

We have groceries delivered, usually Tesco, but have had Asda, Sainsburys and Ocado, we also buy some veg from the farm shop and some meat from the butcher in the village, we’ve no pets,
Spend is roughly £75pw for two, I use our slow cooker a lot, we cook from scratch six days a week, this week at least two bbq’s.

Sago Wed 27-May-26 15:11:06

If you want to save money then meal planning is key

Could you find a cheaper source for pet food?

If you are on a bus route could you try Lidl/Aldi to get basics in?
Waitrose and Booths are my preferred supermarkets but they are pricey.

JamesandJon33 Wed 27-May-26 15:02:04

We have Tesco, Morrisons and Aldi and Lidl here.
We eat a lot of fruit and veg and I cook from scratch everyday. We try to shop every ten days at the cost of around £130-50 pounds each time, and there is usually just the two of us. I cannot imagine what they might eat on £38 a month, unless it is mostly tinned food.

Wheniwasyourage Wed 27-May-26 14:47:12

Calendargirl

We go to Tesco once a week. It varies what I spend. No Aldi, Lidl, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsburys in the town. I loathe shopping, so no desire to travel to buy groceries.

Also use the local butchers and bakers and fish stall.

I feel we’ve got to the age when I don’t worry too much about the cost as long as we can afford it, which hopefully we can.

This is almost exactly what we do, Calendargirl! Tesco weekly and no other big supermarket nearby. Local baker, butcher, fish van and deli.

I hate shopping too, and we don't have a car, so no temptation to go elsewhere for a big grocery shop!

HelterSkelter1 Wed 27-May-26 13:54:38

It may not be true. If on social media people invent stuff. Did they itemise their £38 big shop?
I shop at my local supermarket which is also Waitrose. I only buy what I need. When I look in our local Tesco the prices arent a lot less.

I like Waitrose. I like the staff, the space, today the coolness, the cleanliness. I don't need to drive and park and fight my way in.
I am very lucky it is close. It's my early morning walk with a free coffee. Their offers are good and the loyalty card works in my favour mostly.

If it closed I would be really upset. We used to have 3 bakers, 5 butchers, 2 fish shops, a wonderful ironmongers and 2 green grocers. All gone now years back. So Waitrose it is.

Fallingstar Wed 27-May-26 13:39:42

watermeadow

Apparently the average family uses four supermarkets each week. I have access to only one, Waitrose, which I like but it’s the most expensive.
I just read about someone’s big monthly shop costing £38 at Aldi. I live alone and spend about £65 each week, rising all the time. I buy own-brands and reduced food and no luxuries but my bills include feeding 2 cats and a small dog. I don’t drink or eat meat.
Fruit and veg come from the market.
Today’s bill in Waitrose was £53 and I shall need to shop again on Saturday. Gas and electricity are about to rise too. I feel I shall have to live off beans on toast for the rest of my life.
How are others coping with rocketing prices?

We go to Aldi, Lidl and Tesco, can’t imagine anyone can live on a monthly shop for £38. I try to save a bit on my shop but usually end up failing miserably.

Calendargirl Wed 27-May-26 13:19:29

We go to Tesco once a week. It varies what I spend. No Aldi, Lidl, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsburys in the town. I loathe shopping, so no desire to travel to buy groceries.

Also use the local butchers and bakers and fish stall.

I feel we’ve got to the age when I don’t worry too much about the cost as long as we can afford it, which hopefully we can.

watermeadow Wed 27-May-26 13:11:51

Apparently the average family uses four supermarkets each week. I have access to only one, Waitrose, which I like but it’s the most expensive.
I just read about someone’s big monthly shop costing £38 at Aldi. I live alone and spend about £65 each week, rising all the time. I buy own-brands and reduced food and no luxuries but my bills include feeding 2 cats and a small dog. I don’t drink or eat meat.
Fruit and veg come from the market.
Today’s bill in Waitrose was £53 and I shall need to shop again on Saturday. Gas and electricity are about to rise too. I feel I shall have to live off beans on toast for the rest of my life.
How are others coping with rocketing prices?