Author Topic: UK frugal eating resources  (Read 5794 times)

kt

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UK frugal eating resources
« on: June 04, 2013, 03:15:45 AM »
There's a lot of information on here about eating frugally in America, which makes sense obviously. But I know there are a number of Brits on here too and I thought it might be helpful to collate resources for eating cheaply and healthily in the UK. What is cheap and available here can be quite different to what is cheap and available in America so I often find American resources aren't hugely helpful.
It would be great to have links to cheap recipe sites for the UK, any smaller chains which are cheap or offer loose, bulk foods (like Costco in the USA I think), perhaps share your notes on the cheapest you can find certain products.

These have been linked previously but they are useful for recipes and ideas:
http://agirlcalledjack.com/
www.cheap-family-recipes.org.uk

Perhaps also tips and experience with coupons which don't seem as useful or widespread here.

One of my favourite money savers is reduced to clear. I find it best for bread and meat.
At my old house Sainsburys at 8pm had meat reduced down to 10-50p. Last night I went to waitrose just after 7. I didn't save money as such but I got better quality/nicer meat/fish for the same price I'd normally expect to pay (duck for the price of chicken, lamb mince for less than beef mince usually).

martynthewolf

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Re: UK frugal eating resources
« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2013, 03:35:50 AM »
I do pretty much all of my shopping at Lidl and Aldi. In my experience the meat at Lidl is very good quality and I believe sourced as locally as possible. I tend to go later on on in the day and often find excellently priced meat at Lidls full price reduced by 30% for example last Wednesday I bought 3 packs of lean british beef mince 500g £1.60 per-pack, or thereabouts.

I also picked up pork belly and pork steaks 30% reduced. Bang it all in the freezer or cook it up straight away and you cant really go wrong. Beats the main supermarkets hands down.

I also get all my bulk spices, lentils etc when I go to see my mum in Nottingham, she has a large asian food store nearby and I picked up 2kg of red lentils and 2kg of chana daal for £5. Which works out to half the price of what I would have paid for the same amount of product in one of the big four supermarkets.

I'm always on the lookout for getting stuff at better value though :)

kt

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Re: UK frugal eating resources
« Reply #2 on: June 04, 2013, 04:29:07 AM »
Thanks for the note on Lidl, I have an Aldi 10 min walk but rarely see meat or anything reduced there but I now have my bike so can reach a Lidl and will look.
(though I just got 2x 500g lamb mince for £1.50 each from waitrose so will keep that one in mind too).

martynthewolf

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Re: UK frugal eating resources
« Reply #3 on: June 04, 2013, 05:04:22 AM »
Thanks for the note on Lidl, I have an Aldi 10 min walk but rarely see meat or anything reduced there but I now have my bike so can reach a Lidl and will look.
(though I just got 2x 500g lamb mince for £1.50 each from waitrose so will keep that one in mind too).

I'm genuinely surprised that waitrose discount that heavily. I might have to have a late night run to waitrose and see if I can pick anything up myself.

kt

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Re: UK frugal eating resources
« Reply #4 on: June 04, 2013, 05:39:29 AM »
the duck breasts were down from £6.49 to £1.99. I was very surprised by that.
Not cheap or money-saving as such because I would never pay £6.49 but I love duck so it'll be very nice!
And this was around 7 when the shop shuts at 10, so I'll be going around 9 next time to see if the discounts are better or it's too picked over to be worth it.

claire.harris

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Re: UK frugal eating resources
« Reply #5 on: June 04, 2013, 05:44:37 AM »
The moneysavingexpert.com Old Style forum/board is excellent for meal-planning etc, the other boards are also helpful.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=33

daverobev

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Re: UK frugal eating resources
« Reply #6 on: June 04, 2013, 04:33:37 PM »
There are cash-and-carry places. You have to "be" a business in order to get membership, but it's not tremendously difficult.

Booker is one. There is another that my mum had membership for and I forget. And probably plenty more.

http://www.booker-plc.com/home.aspx

As to how good they would actually be, I don't know.

With Lidl and Aldi - just check the salt content of things. Do that anyway... I just seem to remember hearing most stuff from Iceland was seriously salty. Not wishing to slander Lidl or Aldi (though I have never been impressed with their offerings!).

Sainsbury's it is for me. Things are not expensive, IMHO. And not 'grotty' like Tesco (again.. no slander intended! Personal choice!!)