saved myself loads of money today

[4getmenot]

Normally I go to Tesco or Waitrose for a food shop and even when not doing a huge shop I spend £80-£100 a week and come home with not many meals at all. Ivejust walked uptown and round the market. I bought 2 bags full of different fruits, apples, grapes, malon, mango, bananas for a fiver, loads of different meats and then popped to Iceland for some frozen stuff. I have spent £30.00 and have got loads. Think I may do this every week and just go to waitrose every now and then for toilet roll and tinned products. Am amazed at how cheap the market is and probably better quality too.

[ummmm]

I know. I really should make the effort to go more often. We have a good greengrocer near by but even they are expensive compared to the market. Also, there is a Sainsbury's right next to the market. I'm def doing that next time.

[sir.prize]

And right now you can take Tesco to the cleaners - literally. If you use Persil soap powder, they are selling the 25wash (£7.15) at £5. But three packets will only cost you £10. Good value when you consider the 50wash costs £12 per packet.

[4getmenot]

was lovely to walk up there, bit of a task getting bags back as I'm about half a mile out of town, but took the bloke which was handy and he was happy he got an egg and bacon bap while I shopped lol

[ummmm]

I think I might drive :-)

Sainsbury's is right next to a multistorey...

[4getmenot]

I guess it stopped me buying all those silly things I dont need that I pick up in supermarket

[hc4361]

Aldi for toilet roll and tinned goods, and detergents and cleaners. Their washing up liquid is far better than Fairy and half the price, according to Which?

[Maydup]

We shop at our local market quite often and love the atmosphere, the variety, and chosing different produce from the different stalls. You do have to be prepared to carry the bags, but we take strong shoppers and share the load. If I go on my own and need to buy spuds I take the small suitcase on wheels! (Not up to an old ladies shopping trolley just yet)

Once a month or so we go to the supermarket for tins, loo rolls and dry stuff.

[JonnyBoy12]

For all of you who live in Brum there are a number of good markets there in the city centre. Take a shopping bag with you and then buy up for the week or the month whichever is the more convenient.

[4getmenot]

hc I would but lidl is about 20 miles away. Used to have a netto but now have an asda. I loved the atmosphere too, was a bit worried about how I asked for stuff but then found a stall with baskets so I could just choose and then take the basket to the counter.

[mojay]

I need to top up on washing powder -I'm nowhere near a Tesco - but did I hear that Aldi's came out well in tests ?

[gingejbee]

mojay; it was Lidl's Formil Washing powder that was a Best Buy in Which?- but Aldi's liquid did well.

[mojay]

thank you Ginge - I can get to Lidl too - so might give Formil a whirl

[hc4361]

I like Aldi's 2 in 1 liquid detergent capsules. Much cheaper than brands, effective and not overly scented.

[Ann]

Talking of Aldi - have you tried their part baked dinner rolls, just pop in oven for about 10 mins and they are absolutely fantastic, the pumpkin and poppy seed toppings are great. A bag of 8 so you can use some and freeze the rest. Can't remember how much they are - lost the till receipt.

[Dee Sa]

welcome to the world of thrifty shoppers.
Asda is great for toilet/kitchen rolls and booze. Aldi 's gel detergent is wonderful , their conditioner is good so is their dishwasher tabs, frozen fish good too.Also hooked on their brown cornflakes with dry freeze berries and hazelnut heaven chocolate really does have loads of hazelnuts.I got a full leg of fresh lamb in Aldi for £ 12.99 and it was freezable couldnt believe the price!
Lidl is good for veg and frozen fish too the Thai fish cakes are nice,cat litter's very cheap, its a bit of trial and error but you will find your own favourites and because of the recession the stigma has gone from shopping "el cheapo" everyone uses these stores now.Good luck
Dee

[pastafreak]

I like most of the stuff I've tried from Aldi...except their gel laundry detergent. It left a most peculiar scent/odour behind. :-(

[237SJ]

2011 was the year I discovered Aldi. I love it. I like going there and seeing what they`ve got. I still shop at Sainsburys but not half as much. I get fruit, veg and fish from the market if I can. It took me years to realise that buying brand names is just falling for very clever marketing. People think that if the biscuit packet says "McVities" it must be the best and it`s just not true.

[Tilly2]

I care very much about animal welfare and so still shop at Sainbury's for outdoor rearded pork and free range chicken. I can't bring myself to buy 'foreign' pork. However, I do shop at Lidl for most other things and have managed to reduce my weekly spending by about half. Have noticed that Lidl are now selling lots of Freedom Food meat but haven't bought any yet.

What does irritate me about S/bury's though, is that I am still getting vouchers which award me with 150 extra points for spending £90 on one shop. I haven't spent that much, in that shop, in the last six months.

[boxtops]

We don't have a market that I can get to in the week, it's in the day when I'm at work.

I do recommend Aldi's washing tablets, but I didn't find their washing-up liquid half as good as Fairy (although it's a great deal cheaper!)

I go to Tesco or Morrison's for convenience for my big shop, I don't have time to trawl around - then I top up with Aldi for the stuff I can only get there. Their sweets and biscuits are very similar to big brands but half the cost. Their wine's good, too.

[hc4361]

I will not buy pork from any supermarket. My butcher rears his own and it's fantastic.