Does any one else do this? I don't mean real hunting and gathering I am afraid. I mean, going to multiple stores to do your food shopping, just so you can take advantage of as many offers as possible? This is especially, in my case, about fruit, vegetables, or any other fresh foods, that are just about to pass their sell by date. It's become a really fun game to me.
I have been doing it for about a month now, and have worked out roughly when each supermarket in my area reduces it's fruit and veg to the very final reduction (generally, an hour before the store closes, on the sell by date). I also know which things tend to be more popular so never make it past the first or second reduction (morning or mid-day). Some days, I'll pop into three stores on my way home from work, buy what won't last until the evening, and then just make a note of what else is there. Then I go home, sleep and when I get up, I'll go to the stores again before work and collect my treasures.
The store-baked breads are usually massively reduced in the evening too. I also take advantage of the 'damaged' stuff. The dented cans and smashed boxes are also often quite a lot cheaper.
Although I won't go crazy, because I like to leave some for other people who might also be struggling on little money, I sometimes buy two or three of something so I can freeze it for weeks when I really have nothing.
It's really hard not to boast about my hunts on Facebook, but I don't want any competition, but I can here! My entire shopping last week only came to 19 pounds and I had LOADS (enough to feed me, and JP on the 4 nights he spent with me). One trip cost me 2.70 and when I got home and worked out what I WOULD have spent, it would have been almost 12 pounds!
I don't drive either, so I'm doing all of this on foot. It's time consuming but I'm getting a great deal of exercise by going between 3 stores and carrying those heavy bags home.
Does anyone else do this? If so, are there any good hints and tips I could benefit from?
UPDATE: Just realised I hadn't clarified that I work nights so 'on the way home' means about 8:15 am... in case I sounded a bit insane.
I have been doing it for about a month now, and have worked out roughly when each supermarket in my area reduces it's fruit and veg to the very final reduction (generally, an hour before the store closes, on the sell by date). I also know which things tend to be more popular so never make it past the first or second reduction (morning or mid-day). Some days, I'll pop into three stores on my way home from work, buy what won't last until the evening, and then just make a note of what else is there. Then I go home, sleep and when I get up, I'll go to the stores again before work and collect my treasures.
The store-baked breads are usually massively reduced in the evening too. I also take advantage of the 'damaged' stuff. The dented cans and smashed boxes are also often quite a lot cheaper.
Although I won't go crazy, because I like to leave some for other people who might also be struggling on little money, I sometimes buy two or three of something so I can freeze it for weeks when I really have nothing.
It's really hard not to boast about my hunts on Facebook, but I don't want any competition, but I can here! My entire shopping last week only came to 19 pounds and I had LOADS (enough to feed me, and JP on the 4 nights he spent with me). One trip cost me 2.70 and when I got home and worked out what I WOULD have spent, it would have been almost 12 pounds!
I don't drive either, so I'm doing all of this on foot. It's time consuming but I'm getting a great deal of exercise by going between 3 stores and carrying those heavy bags home.
Does anyone else do this? If so, are there any good hints and tips I could benefit from?
UPDATE: Just realised I hadn't clarified that I work nights so 'on the way home' means about 8:15 am... in case I sounded a bit insane.
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