Getting the best value and price for our weekly food shop

Hi Everyone.

Hope everyone is well and looking forward to the bank holiday weekend.

We have had a lovely day today visiting an ex work colleague and friend who has recently moved house.  We had a couple of coffees, good old natter and caught up on all the gossip. I do try very hard to keep in touch with my friends as I value their friendship and enjoy their company. 

On our way from here we called into Georges fish and chip shop. This is always on our agenda when in the area as they do a lunch time menu for just 99p! You can choose from chips with sausage and gravy, homemade fishcake and chips, chips with either beans, peas or curry sauce and if you really want to push the boat out you can get a small battered cod and chips complete with a tub of tartare sauce for £1.49. It comes in a box with a knife and fork, all very civilised. I really don't know how they do it for the price. There's always a queue which I'm not surprised by. I meant to take a photo to show you but eat them before I remembered! Oops 😋

As we were in a different area we decided to pop into Sainsburys to do some shopping. I was amazed at the inflated prices of some items and in the end just bought a newspaper, coffee and some decaf cappuccino's that we love but can't get locally. 

We headed home and called into Aldi which is in the next town. We had to sit in the car for 20 minutes as the rain and hail were absolutely lashing down.

When I finally was able to get out of the car ( I had stupidly gone out in  sandals and no coat as it was really sunny ) I grabbed a trolley and set off with my list. I always try to take a list otherwise I come home without half of what I need and plenty of things I don't. 

I usually look at what fruit and veg are on offer first and pop those into the trolley. If a fruit is on offer that I've not got on my list I just substitute that one. I do try to be as flexible as I can but obviously there are certain foods that I buy every week as we like them and some foods that even if on offer I wont buy as we don't like them.

I bought a large pack of chicken breasts because they are better value that way and once opened I will freeze the left overs in individual bags to use throughout the week.  

Once upon a time I would of done my shopping in Sainsburys while I was there just for convenience. Nowadays I can't justify paying a third more than necessary just for the sake of going to another shop. I don't think you can beat Aldi prices and I find that the quality is very good too. The trick is to either leave Hubby in the car or keep a very close eye on him as he looks at all the items they sell in the middle aisles. He is always picking things up that we don't need, today it was a £3.99 pair of sunglasses! He won and bought them though so it was wife 0 - Hubby 1 this week. 

The shop was really busy, it amuses me that every bank holiday it is the same. People with huge trolleys full of shopping because of the reduced opening hours.

I've never really understand this, If we run out of something its just tough.

I did a full weeks shopping for three of us and it came to £54. That is for three meals a day including a packed lunch for our daughter. I do cook everything from scratch which I think does save money but I do it as I like to know what is going into my food. We don't eat processed foods or ready meals unless we are caught short which is rare. The majority of my shopping is meat, fruit, veg and yogurts. I do pick up odd bits of fruit throughout the week if we need it or it is at the right price. 

 Until tomorrow

Jules x

Aldi Shopping, cheaper? freeze chicken, fruit on special buy, not buying extras

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