Frugal Friday

I finally went to the supermarket to do a Big Shop this morning - having been delaying for as long as I could, and eating up odd Christmas leftovers from the freezers. I'd carefully prepared a list beforehand, and I was generally very pleased with the stuff I put into the trolley. I like the convenience of the Sainsbury's Self-Scan System, not least because it gives me a running total as I go round the store, so I know what I am spending. In fact, it is better than that, because the money off' stuff is not deducted till the end, so I know that the real total is less than the one showing.

There were loads of things on offer, and I was being very careful not to buy things simply because they were reduced. But one thing [which was on my list] mystified me.

Sainsbury's Liquid Rim Loo Cleaner.

These were £1.44 each.

Or £1 for two!

I thought I must have misread it - I asked another shopper what she thought it said. She agreed.

WHO in their right mind would buy only ONE if TWO were cheaper? I slung two in the trolley.

I noticed the refills were on offer as well. £2.04 for a twinpack, or £3 for two. I was halfway towards putting a couple of packs in the trolley as well when I did some calculations...

Two complete things for £1 - that is 50p each. Two twinpacks of refills for £3 - that is 75p each. So it is cheaper to buy the complete units than faff about putting refills in.

Similarly with the loo-rolls - on the 18roll pack, it was labelled "Bigger pack, better value" - but the 12roll pack [this month 16 for price of 12] actually worked out almost 16% cheaper.

 

I buy mostly Sainsbury's 'own-brand' goods, and a lot of it is from their 'basics' range. But sometimes that isn't the best value. Today the Laughing Cow Cheese Triangles were way cheaper than Sainsburys own.

 

  "La Vache Qui Rit" is a French company, and I had never come across their products till I went to Bob's parents in the 1970s - his mum used to bring them back from Belgium. The website is fun - not at all cheesy ! [here]

I was very pleased to discover large pots of cherry yogurt on sale again. That is just about our favourite flavour, and it is an economical way to buy it.

Sainsbury's own brand tea, coffee and sugar is Fairtrade, as are many of their flowers, fruit and veg. And much of the meat is sourced from farms where the animals are properly cared for. I am grateful for the fact that we can buy good quality food at low prices- but I am concerned about some aspects of supermarket shopping...

- the 'BOGOF's and three-for-two offers that encourage us to buy much more than we need, and then food goes to waste

- the multipacks of crisps/ sweets/chocolate bars which contribute to our nation's obesity.

- the ridiculously low priced alcohol, which cannot possibly help people to be responsible about their drinking habits.

These things do not help people to shop sensibly!

On the subject of alcohol, isn't it madness that an alcohol-free Red Bull drink costs £1.50 in some pubs - but they reduce the price to 89p if you have a shot of vodka in it! [see here]

...anyway, my trolley was full and at the checkout I discovered I had to have a Total Re-scan - but it didn't take too long, and all was well. There was an assistant on hand to help me with re-packing everything. My various coupons and offers resulted in the final bill being 12% less than that initially shown on the scanner so I was Very Happy.

All is packed away in cupboards, fridge and freezer.

Now to plan some intelligent menus for the next few weeks!