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Supermarkets

(65 Posts)
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?

MissAdventure Sun 31-May-26 10:54:50

No doubt her flat bought in a pretty penny, Maw.
With that money she was able to buy her little cottage.

She's on youtube, and certainly no influencer, simply a woman who decded to see if she could manage for one year without benefits.

She managed, and that year has rolled into about five now, i think.

MT62 Sun 31-May-26 10:33:24

I feel sorry for the young families, but then again it’s them pushing massive trolleys, then ring for a taxi.
Tattoos, eye lashes, Botox, lip fillers, so guess they must be managing somehow.

MawsRosie Sun 31-May-26 10:04:12

MissAdventure

I watch a woman who is single, has arthritis in her knees, and has now lived with no work and no benefits for around five years, i think.

She had an allotment, and also only ever buys eco friendly items.

She is really interesting to watch as she is clever at styling things, patching things.

She had to give up the allotment due to her knees, but has sold her little london flat and been able to buy a cottage by the sea.

When you say “watch” do you mean on the internet? Or in RL?
Her “little London flat” probably fetched a 6 figure sum where the first one was North of 6!
I am sceptical about these so called lifestyle experts or influencers and frankly don’t believe them for a minute.

nexus63 Sun 31-May-26 01:51:57

i am on facebook and look at the posts for reduce your supermarket spend, people use oilo and visit a number of supermarkets each night for reduced items, they batch cook and bulk out things like mince using oats or lentils. i use morrisons for food shopping, i check what i have in and then get what i need, toilet rolls and some other items i buy from amazon, i do a shop with fabulosa every 2 months for laundry and cleaning. i can keep my spending down with fruit from a local stall and some nights i have soup then toast and beans, it is easier for me being on my own but i feel sorry for couples with kids trying to make the money stretch because it is not easy.

Grammaretto Sun 31-May-26 01:06:06

I live in the town centre and have Lidl across the road in one direction and a community store supplied by Suma Wholefoods and Green City and local growers in the other.
Tesco and other shops are further away.
There's a community fridge at the food bank where I sometimes pick up bargains.
Recently tubes of truffle pate were being thrown out. I had to rescue one.

Fish man every Friday. wild halibut this week was £35 per kilo

I would love to have a Waitrose or M&S but that's a bus ride.
I'm usually surprised by how little I spend at Lidl compared to the organic shop.
Scottish strawberries are my current weakness.

£35 a month? You must be joking!

Macaydia Sun 31-May-26 00:21:38

I agree. £38? Lets see that shopping list.
Maybe they are vegetarian and everything grows in the garden?

FranP Sun 31-May-26 00:06:38

My local shop is an Aldi, so I pick up mid-weeks and runouts. I did try to shop there when it opened, but cannot get everything, and the price comparison is a bit false with smaller packets and lesser quality and for me it is not as cheap as the price comparison basket.

Waitrose fresh stuff lasts longer and is nearly always nicer, and the shop is too (plus the free coffee when I remember my mug), so I try to get there when I do not have a big shop that includes the household stuff

My regular main shop is Tesco though for economy, with bananas and fresh fruit/salad from M&S which is right next door. But I have a big Xtra not too far away. Tesco prices are matched to the local area so are not always the same from shop to shop.

Kloppqueen Fri 29-May-26 10:18:05

I get an Ocado delivery once a week, average £45. For anything else have a small Sainsbury's within walking distance, along with a really good butcher/deli. I can also get a bus to Sainsburys, Aldi, Morrisons and M&S. Tesco and Asda are not on bus route and we don't have Waitrose here.

MissAdventure Thu 28-May-26 19:36:35

I watch a woman who is single, has arthritis in her knees, and has now lived with no work and no benefits for around five years, i think.

She had an allotment, and also only ever buys eco friendly items.

She is really interesting to watch as she is clever at styling things, patching things.

She had to give up the allotment due to her knees, but has sold her little london flat and been able to buy a cottage by the sea.

Bea0802 Thu 28-May-26 19:19:37

I watched a lady on YouTube for a while. She'd had some alterations to her house and wanted to top up her savings so was living off her state pension for a year. Very interesting, but blooming hard work. Seeking out bargains, batch cooking and freezing loads. Good to watch but I couldn't do it!

MissAdventure Thu 28-May-26 18:13:55

I used Asda online for a while, but they were often out of stock of things like milk and bread.
Its a shame, because they were good on prices, I found.

henetha Thu 28-May-26 18:12:12

I have Tesco delivery once a week now due to back problems, and shop locally if I run out of odds and ends. We have Lidl, the Co-op, also Sainsbury's and Asda not far away. And still some independent shops which I try to support.

midgey Thu 28-May-26 18:11:40

I have a Tesco superstore and a Tesco Express nearby. The price difference is quite scary, most things are at least thirty pence more in the Tesco Express. Seems immoral to me!

Witzend Thu 28-May-26 18:06:47

I mostly use Asda, but also Sainsbury’s (where I look for Nectar offers), M&S and Waitrose, those two last for a few particular things - among others in particular in M&S, fruit and some veg, Waitrose for U.K. origin higher welfare pork or gammon.

I will soon be looking in M&S for luscious British black cherries, have to make the most of the short season!

MissAdventure Thu 28-May-26 18:04:40

It was indeed. smile
Thank you, re: the name.
It ahould really be MissDoNothingGoNowhere, I think.

WithNobsOnIt Thu 28-May-26 17:59:31

MissAdventure

It's such a shame to see really useful, person centred services go down the drain.
I don't think people appreciate how out of the loop it makes you feel - I didn't, until it happened to me.

If that message was about my post and the Ring and Ride

Thank you very much Miss Adventure. Love your name
😻
X

Mojack26 Thu 28-May-26 17:42:42

You have to shop around. Waitrose costs a fortune

MissAdventure Thu 28-May-26 17:35:20

It's such a shame to see really useful, person centred services go down the drain.
I don't think people appreciate how out of the loop it makes you feel - I didn't, until it happened to me.

WithNobsOnIt Thu 28-May-26 17:27:21

Local ALDI with a little bit of Sainsbury thrown in for treats.
Don't rate LIDL. ASDA and Tesco too far away

Used to be able to get weekly Ring and Ride for shopping. But no longer as Transport for Greater Manchester have made a real mess if this service.

Thank You
Andy Burnham

MissAdventure Thu 28-May-26 16:09:50

Whatever floats your boat, i reckon. smile

Redhead56 Thu 28-May-26 15:32:49

I like to cook everyday from scratch apart from Saturday. I spend alot of money on food with no waste. We are on good pensions worked hard for it. If some people eat out everyday rather than cook that's up to them.
At our time of life live a bit and include whatever drink of choice. One life that's all we get this is not a practice run.

Bazza Thu 28-May-26 15:29:42

We use mostly Ocado although I use all others at times, and buy meat, fruit and vegetables locally. Ocado has a very wide choice and some really good offers. I’ve often had a refund if my shop was deemed more expensive than Tesco.

MissAdventure Thu 28-May-26 15:29:32

youtube.com/shorts/gwCms53Dc58?si=XzdFpy_SThH0qP-6

Jaxjacky Thu 28-May-26 15:27:16

We have one MissAdventure their jacket potatoes are lovely, I have tuna or beans.
Their hotels we’ve stayed in have pristine rooms.
A g&t a day is within guidelines Maw.
We mainly use Tesco, our delivery today included white Magnums half price, that’s pud for after tonight’s family bbq sorted.

MissAdventure Thu 28-May-26 15:26:58

youtube.com/shorts/4sNiecyCWf4?si=trXZBjME_Vm-CqRI

This woman does a weekly shop from a different place each week and spends £35.