Do you stock up on bargains?

[Saracen]

By which I mean, on something you buy regularly anyway, do you tend to "stock up", subject to perishability of course, when there's a deal on.

I'm a fairly laxy shopper. Or rather, as lazy isn't quite right, I value my time, so don't expend loads of it shopping around for a few pence better price at this or that store.

By and large, I like Waitrose product range, especially fresh meat and veg (though most meat comes from a local butcher or farm shop), but it means I'm usually to be found in Waitrose, which perhaps isn't the cheapest shop. It is, however, my nearest, which comes back to hassle-avoidance. I can walk there, whereas most supermarkets mean a car journey.

However, I like to save money just like anyone else. So, when my favourite brand of tinned tomatos are on offer, often at nearly half-price, I syock up. By which I mean 6, 8 maybe 10 packs-of-four. My current reserve is about 30 tins but the result is I end up paying about the same, per tin, as Waitrose own-brand "budget" line. And yes, I can taste the difference, in sauces, ragu, etc.

I do similar on all sorts of things ftom Basmati rice to washing powder. If I decided to set up a small corner shop, I've probably already got about half the necessary stock. Well, nearly.


So, do you stock up on bargains? Or do you "just-in-time" shop?


Oh, and once again, I don't mean buying something you normally wouldn't, because it's "cheap". That's fair enough, but not what I'm asking about. I mean, buying things you'd buy anyway when you've run out, but buy in bulk to avoid having to buy at 'normal' price.

[peterb]

Yes, if I see something I normally use is on offer, I'll buy more of them, subject to space constraints!

[scaryjim]

... So, do you stock up on bargains? Or do you "just-in-time" shop? ....

Can I answer "both"?

Because let's be honest, the best food bargains out there are usually to be found late in the day with yellow stickers on them. So it's a mix of just-in-time and stocking up! Having a decent sized freezer really helps, and being flexible with meal planning; plus having three decent cooks in the household so there's usually someone available to cook properly So an evening of yellow-sticker shopping will usually end with lots of stuff in the freezer plus a couple of things to meal-plan around the following day. On a good day we'll end up with as much shopping as we can reasonably carry for only a few quid

As to things I'd buy regularly, anything that can keep reasonably well - dry pulses, rice, etc - gets bought in bulk, and I've recently started using Amazon's subscribe and save service. So stuff like detergents, toilet roll, coffee beans, cat food etc. just arrives at my door every month or two!

[ik9000]

[Lanky123]

Yes, certainly things like rice, the aforementioned tinned goods and so on.

One thing I feel like I should be able to bulk buy is dried pasta...but I'm not sure I've ever seen good quality dried pasta in a pack larger than 500g (the supermarket 3kg bags are horrendous quality...and even the 1kg packs normally aren't the best stuff). I don't mind buying a trolley-load of those 500g packs when they're half price but it feels like I might be missing a trick as I'd be quite happy to get through a 10kg sack of the stuff. What do restaurants do, make their own fresh every day? I find that hard to believe. Anyone have a good source?

[Ttaskmaster]

I end up paying about the same, per tin, as Waitrose own-brand "budget" line. And yes, I can taste the difference

That'd be Sainsbury's, mate...

I don't bulk-buy during sales or anything, really. I tend to just find somewhere that sells stuff for a consistently acceptable price. If they have a deal, then I may buy more, but I'm generally not that fussed.
The wife might do it differently, as she does the boring regular shop, usually in Aldi.

[MrJim]

I have a Costco membership, and if you shop there, you basically have to buy in bulk! You do have to be a bit selective about what you buy there, however - some things are just cheaper at the usual supermarkets. But quite often they do have some items that are a lot cheaper than elsewhere.

[Hoonigan]

Tinned foods and things like soaps and deodorants, yeah, all the time. I spent about £20 on shower gels and deodorants yesterday because my usual brand was half price in Asdas.

Things like chopped tomatoes, tinned tuna, soups etc, whenever they're on offer, I'll grab a load. Might bump up the cost of that shop a fair bit, but it eventually brings down the total cost, plus they're handy to have in the cupboard for meals.

Also, in an arguably rather unique situation, where Irn Bru was destined to change forever because of the sugar tax, we stocked up on the "good stuff" before the change. Even buying four of the 1L glass bottles to stick on ebay in a few years time

[g8ina]

Definitely.

Ribena when its half price, eggs by the two dozen off the car boot egg man, Sally's Millicano when its half price. etc, etc.

[Saracen]

Can I answer "both"?

Because let's be honest, the best food bargains out there are usually to be found late in the day with yellow stickers on them. So it's a mix of just-in-time and stocking up! Having a decent sized freezer really helps, and being flexible with meal planning; plus having three decent cooks in the household so there's usually someone available to cook properly So an evening of yellow-sticker shopping will usually end with lots of stuff in the freezer plus a couple of things to meal-plan around the following day. On a good day we'll end up with as much shopping as we can reasonably carry for only a few quid

As to things I'd buy regularly, anything that can keep reasonably well - dry pulses, rice, etc - gets bought in bulk, and I've recently started using Amazon's subscribe and save service. So stuff like detergents, toilet roll, coffee beans, cat food etc. just arrives at my door every month or two!

Of course you can answer both. I'm not likely to punch you on the nose if you do. Firstly, you're too far away, and secondly, you might punch back.


That said, it was specifically the "stocking up" I was after, not just buying a spotted bargain, and certainly not bulk buying at normal bulk prices. Both are valid, good ideas and I do them, too. It's just not what I was asking about.

I do agree about bulk buying, batch cooking and smart utilisation of freezers. Agree absolutely. Different thread, really, though.

[Saracen]

That'd be Sainsbury's, mate...

I don't bulk-buy during sales or anything, really. I tend to just find somewhere that sells stuff for a consistently acceptable price. If they have a deal, then I may buy more, but I'm generally not that fussed.
The wife might do it differently, as she does the boring regular shop, usually in Aldi.

But she doesn't buy salt in bulk.

Sorry to everybody else. Private joke(-ish) from a different thread.

[Saracen]

Yes, if I see something I normally use is on offer, I'll buy more of them, subject to space constraints!

That, indeed, is a significant constraint, especially on bulky items. Like big boxes 8f washing powder.

[Ttaskmaster]

But she doesn't buy salt in bulk.

"IT'S GOT ENOUGH NATURAL SALT IN IT ALREADY, YOU DON'T NEED TO ADD ANY!!!"

[Zak33]

i buy loads of things when they're cheap if they have long shelf life

Torches. batteries, screws and fittings.... tins of tuna, bottles of vino......antifreeze (do you like what I did there?) and oil......deodrant and socks.....

if it's cheaper than normal, the amount I buy extra is inversely linked to the price. .. the cheaper.. the more

[Saracen]

"IT'S GOT ENOUGH NATURAL SALT IN IT ALREADY, YOU DON'T NEED TO ADD ANY!!!"

Doesn't have ANY in it. Flour (00 'Tipo', maybe with semolina), yes. Eggs, sure. . Basil, maybe. Tomato, maybe. Even squid ink, maybe. But NO SALT. That's why you add it.



And round we go again.

I'm gonna get dizzy.

[Saracen]

"IT'S GOT ENOUGH NATURAL SALT IN IT ALREADY, YOU DON'T NEED TO ADD ANY!!!"

Though, with concern for your blood pressure, maybe you're better off with it bland, and no salt.


Of course, you couod use potassium chloride. Chemically, it's a salt, but not what it meant normally by salt.

Tell the wife it's "seasoning" and "not salt".

Just don't send me the divorce bill.