The cost of living... what can we do?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Fat Controller, Aug 26, 2022.

  1. Jiffy

    Jiffy The Match is on Fire

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2011
    Messages:
    11,609
    Occupation:
    Pyro
    Location:
    Retired Next To The Bonfire in UK
    Ratings:
    +33,525
    You can save just by shopping around, luckly we have 4 different supermarkets and with a bit of internet looking can save pounds, last shop i saved £5 which isn't much but over a year it add's up
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • redstar

      redstar Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Aug 6, 2008
      Messages:
      7,395
      Gender:
      Female
      Occupation:
      Domestic Goddess
      Location:
      Chester County, PA, USA, Plant zone 4 & 5
      Ratings:
      +11,550
      Both my parents lived through "the great depression" here in the USA. my dad born in 1905 and mom born in 1915. So along the way growing up they would simply do certain things "normally" to save and be frugal. Those things are in my head to do naturally today. So with the economy as it is, I just naturally continue to do all those things, nothing has changed for me.
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • shiney

        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

        Joined:
        Jul 3, 2006
        Messages:
        63,473
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Retired - Last Century!!!
        Location:
        Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
        Ratings:
        +123,760
        If I need to do a big supermarket shop I first do a search on the internet at the sites of the two nearest supermarkets. Last time I saved about £9 by breaking my shopping between the tow and the previous time it was £11. As it only adds 2 miles to my journey to visit both it becomes cost effective.

        I always go to Tesco first and then Sainsbury as Tesco open an hour earlier. I'm then home before the rush hour starts.

        The internet search takes me 10-15 minutes whilst I'm having an early morning cuppa. :)
         
        • Like Like x 1
        • Informative Informative x 1
        • noisette47

          noisette47 Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Jan 25, 2013
          Messages:
          6,450
          Gender:
          Female
          Location:
          Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine
          Ratings:
          +15,731
          Shopping around has long been a necessity here, not a lifestyle choice. It really pees me off having to spend a whole morning trawling around Lidl, Intermarché and Leclerc just to fulfill a basic shopping list. Life's too short!
           
        • pete

          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

          Joined:
          Jan 9, 2005
          Messages:
          51,038
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Retired
          Location:
          Mid Kent
          Ratings:
          +93,734
          I have too many childhood memories of being dragged around the town for a couple of hours and going in every shop to save tuppence here and a tanner there.

          I cant be bothered, I use Morrisons for most stuff and might go to Waitrose once a month for things that are crap in Morrisons.

          I've never tried Lidl, we dont have one near, nor an Asda but we have an Aldi, I have to pass Morrisons to get to it.
          You kind of get used to what you like and if you go to other places often they dont do the same stuff or different brands, which I guess you have to buy to find out if its any good.#
          I dont think Aldi deliver anyway.
           
          • Agree Agree x 2
          • noisette47

            noisette47 Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Jan 25, 2013
            Messages:
            6,450
            Gender:
            Female
            Location:
            Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine
            Ratings:
            +15,731
            Ha! That brings back memories of my Dad, bless him. Our family holidays were shaped by his need to economise. So no Cornish cream tea in Cornwall because it was too dear. As for his subsequent holidays with my Mum, she walked rather more kilometres than she wanted to in order to save a few drachmas on a pint :roflol:
             
            • Like Like x 1
            • Funny Funny x 1
            • redstar

              redstar Total Gardener

              Joined:
              Aug 6, 2008
              Messages:
              7,395
              Gender:
              Female
              Occupation:
              Domestic Goddess
              Location:
              Chester County, PA, USA, Plant zone 4 & 5
              Ratings:
              +11,550
              Yes, you can, as long as you take into account cost of gas in car to get places. So the proximity of the sale versus location etc. is a factor.
               
              • Agree Agree x 1
              • redstar

                redstar Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Aug 6, 2008
                Messages:
                7,395
                Gender:
                Female
                Occupation:
                Domestic Goddess
                Location:
                Chester County, PA, USA, Plant zone 4 & 5
                Ratings:
                +11,550
                Since retirement my mind games have been to memories cost of things in different stores. But, also cost of gas. So it has to be a really low cost item than anywhere else for me to go there and spend the extra gas money getting there. And that, that place has to have "several items" of good sale cost.
                 
              • pete

                pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

                Joined:
                Jan 9, 2005
                Messages:
                51,038
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Retired
                Location:
                Mid Kent
                Ratings:
                +93,734
                Just seen on TV.
                They were going round a cut price warehouse type place and spoke to a woman that appeared to have a trolly full of water and said its not £1 a bottle anymore its £1.25.

                Why is she buying water I just dont understand it.
                Must have money to burn.
                 
                • Agree Agree x 2
                • redstar

                  redstar Total Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Aug 6, 2008
                  Messages:
                  7,395
                  Gender:
                  Female
                  Occupation:
                  Domestic Goddess
                  Location:
                  Chester County, PA, USA, Plant zone 4 & 5
                  Ratings:
                  +11,550
                  Aldi's is 2 miles from me. Walmart is one mile, a few Amish Markets about 2-3 miles. Some stores offer Senior Discounts, 5% off entire bill, and if you bring you own bags get 5cents off each bag. Walmart and Aldi's does not offer senior discounts, Walmart no bag discount. So I go to the stores with the Senior Discount on those special days.
                   
                • Victoria

                  Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

                  Joined:
                  Jun 9, 2006
                  Messages:
                  31,434
                  Occupation:
                  Lady of Leisure
                  Location:
                  Messines, Algarve
                  Ratings:
                  +56,045
                  As I live in the country the nearest supermarket is perhaps 5 miles.
                   
                • john558

                  john558 Total Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Feb 14, 2015
                  Messages:
                  2,522
                  Gender:
                  Male
                  Occupation:
                  Retired
                  Location:
                  Ramsgate, Kent
                  Ratings:
                  +8,948
                  10% off on Tuesday for over 60's at Iceland if you show your Iceland card.
                   
                  • Like Like x 1
                  • Informative Informative x 1
                    Last edited: Aug 30, 2023
                  • shiney

                    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

                    Joined:
                    Jul 3, 2006
                    Messages:
                    63,473
                    Gender:
                    Male
                    Occupation:
                    Retired - Last Century!!!
                    Location:
                    Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
                    Ratings:
                    +123,760
                    Mine are a little bit further. :noidea:

                    I do also frequent Aldi for some items that I prefer to branded products but no longer buy veg there. At one time the veg worked out cheaper but it now doesn't when I'm able to pick and choose from the whole new stock of veg at Tesco at 6 a.m. At that time of the morning they have just finished their overnight stocking of veg and, for the same price, the sizes in the same boxes can vary considerably - sometimes almost twice the weight advertised. Even their items prepacked in plastic can vary by over 50%.

                    For an example:- Tesco broccoli (excellent for diabetics) loose is £1.92 per kg and their wrapped in 'plastic' is advertised as 375g for 72p (which comes to £1.92kg :rolleyespink:). I looked in the box, just arrived that morning, of wrapped ones, sorted through them for quality and size and came away with a 912g pack for the 72p. It must have taken me almost a minute to sort that out so you must expect a little extra time for shopping :heehee:.

                    As we had guests coming and we wanted some grapes
                    [​IMG]

                    Tesco had them on offer per kg box at £2.90kg. The box I got was 300gm more than most of them.

                    Scales are all over the fruit and veg dept. and never more than a few paces away.

                    All the staff know the peculiar man than is always weighing things :roflol:
                     
                    • Like Like x 2
                    • Upsydaisy

                      Upsydaisy Total Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Apr 26, 2017
                      Messages:
                      17,442
                      Gender:
                      Female
                      Occupation:
                      Living in hope of world wide peace.
                      Location:
                      Hampshire. Zone 8b
                      Ratings:
                      +54,386
                      I can supply you with grapes @shiney , it definitely been a good year for them.:biggrin:
                       
                      • Like Like x 2
                      • Informative Informative x 1
                      • redstar

                        redstar Total Gardener

                        Joined:
                        Aug 6, 2008
                        Messages:
                        7,395
                        Gender:
                        Female
                        Occupation:
                        Domestic Goddess
                        Location:
                        Chester County, PA, USA, Plant zone 4 & 5
                        Ratings:
                        +11,550
                        Save all old bread, use food processor to make bread crumbs, then freeze, use later for meatloaf. Take home any bread from a restaurant, and ask for more, take that home, they will throw it out anyway. Let dry, make bread crumbs, freeze.
                         
                      Loading...

                      Share This Page

                      1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                        By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                        Dismiss Notice