So, the basics, if you're on a budget, where exactly do you carry out your food shopping? I'm going to give my thoughts on all of the major supermarkets, their pros and cons and what exactly they can offer you; a food lover on a budget.
Aldi - I love this place, and I think it's popularity has really grown over the years. Aldi pretty much has everything you'll need (other than some herbs and spices and some more uncommon ingredients) in only four aisles, which is great for a quick weekly shop. They have weekly deals on; the Aldi Super 6 is a selection of 6 fruits and vegetables priced at either 39p or 69p which is always amazing value. I often devise my weekly meals around this because no other supermarket provides value quite like this! They also have weekly meat deals which are great value too; from 99p bacon to £2.99 organic chicken breasts.
Asda - I think Asda is great for branded products and is brilliant when you need to stock up on your basic cupboard supplies (soup, baked beans etc) or for cheap cleaning products which is always appreciated! However, I don't think the quality of their fresh produce is always that great. I often find it difficult to find basic items such as red onions or rocket there, which is annoying as you then have to go somewhere else to get any items you weren't able to. I do love their deli counters as they have a range of them; from fresh meat and cheese to curries and pizza. These are especially great for a cheaper alternative to a take-away and the choice is vast. You can even create your own pizza there which is great, especially for children.
Co-Op - Where I live in Plymouth, I can reach three different Co-Ops within a five minute walk. It is a pretty good convenience store and after living opposite one for a year I definitely appreciated it, especially if I had forgotten to pick something up during my main weekly shop. I do think that the Co-Op can be overpriced, although you have to pay for convenience, but I must say that they do regularly have some deals that I have to take advantage of like half price cheese or coffee. I think you'd be very hard-pressed to buy a whole weeks worth of food there but it has it's benefits.
Marks and Spencers - The king of ready meals! One or two aisles of fresh produce and the rest made up of ready-prepared options. Don't get me wrong, I love M&S, they must be the only supermarket able to produce ready meals where the packaging resembles the product. It is incredibly expensive but then you have to pay for quality, don't you? Their Two Dine in for £10 is great for a treat when you're budget won't exactly stretch to a meal out in a restaurant.
Morrisons - Morrisons is the main supermarket in my home town and I think 80% of residents must do their shopping there. I think their fresh produce, especially fruit and vegetables, is great, they have a wide range of produce and stock items you may not be able to get anywhere else, especially more exotic fruits. Their salad bar is a great idea, and I have taken advantage of it on many a lunch break as it works out so much cheaper and healthier (as long as you stick to the right things!) than a fast food option.
Sainsbury's - I think Sainsbury's is becoming better value all the time. They currently offer a 'Brand Match' on all branded products, meaning that if their products are not cheaper than the other big four supermarkets you get money off your next shop. They also provide some great meal plan recipe cards which are aimed at eating healthier for less, I have taken advantage of these many times. Sainsbury's is also great when you need more exotic ingredients but don't have an ethic foods store nearby (luckily for me, I live next door to one), their world foods section contains so much more than fajita dinner kits and pasta sauces.
Tesco - Tesco is slowly taking over the world. Apparently every 7th pound is spent at Tesco, which is a pretty scary statistic. I personally find Tesco to be a bit inconsistent with their produce, I often can't find the things I need, even in their superstores. I think more and more emphasis is being put on their 'other' ventures rather than the food, which is great if you want a 42" flat screen LCD TV, but not so great if you just want a bag of sweet potatoes. However, their meat and fish offerings are great, one of the best of all the big supermarkets.
Waitrose - The supermarket of footballers' wives everywhere (and I must admit, I've seen a couple in there!). Waitrose is amazing, you can't deny that. It is the place for what I like to call Food Porn, food so good it turns you on a little bit. Waitrose is so overpriced it's almost ridiculous, but when you have the money, why not? £6.99 fish pie ready meal anyone? However, their new Essentials range is a lot cheaper than you'd imagine, but without skimping on the quality they're known for. Waitrose is the king of organic produce and supports British farmers more than any other and if you truly are an ethical shopper then this is great.
So that's my, rather long, guide on all things supermarkets. I personally split my shopping between Aldi and Sainsbury's. Aldi for the main bulk of my items and Sainsbury's for everything else. This is due to convenience as well as personal preference; they are the supermarkets nearest to me and as I don't own a car, the ones with the cheapest taxi fares!
Any thoughts?
Hayleigh x
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