Saturday 12 October 2019

Needing to buy food.

I left it as long as I could. the freezer was almost empty, so was the fridge, only a few packets and tins left, and zilch fresh fruit and veg. What's a girl to do? Go shopping of course.

Bank first to pay my water bill and withdraw cash. Pick up a couple of boxes of cat food and a carton of Coffee Mate from B & M discount store, get petrol from the filling station near town, then off to M & S at the retail park. I want to spend the last £10 on the Birthday Gift Card I received from my bestie friend, in May. Not much in the way of yellow stickers here, maybe 4.45pm is too early, but I did find a bottle of toasted sesame seed oil. Was pleased about that, as it is hard to come by in other shops, and when I do see it, it's very expensive. In M & S it is £1.80 for a bigger bottle than I normally get. A few treats to use up the £10. Cauliflower, seeded farmhouse bread, grapes, pasta pot with spinach and pine kernels, and baby sprouts.

Then on to Tesco across the road. Spent a bit more here. There were quite a lot of yellow stickers, not the full 90% off because I was too early, but 50% off is still good.

So, what did I get. Teacakes, bread, diced onion, potato salad, broccoli, spinach, leafy salad, beetroot, pea & bean shoots, mini carrots, grapes, cucumber. All stocked up again. I don't need to be quite so keen on searching for yellow stickers, but if they are there I will have them. At one time, when I was skint, most of my food was reduced, now I can afford to relax a bit.

Now back to the sewing table. Have a good weekend. Toodle pip.  ilona

26 comments:

  1. Good savings Ilona, yellow sticker shopping is getting harder I think as everyone is at it now, any saving is better than none.

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    1. I don't see many people searching for yellow stickers in my Tesco. One or two stop and have a look what's on the trolley. I think it must vary from area to area.

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  2. Great haul Ilona. I'm going to try yellow sticker shopping next month.

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    1. Yes, try it. Always worth a look. Get to know the times your store mark down, ask the staff.

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  3. Some good savings there. Some yellow stickers I find aren't really worth it, I probably wouldn't have bought the 20p off bread you got as you can get nice bread cheaper than that anyway at Aldi.

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    1. Yes, I agree that Aldi bread is very nice, I would buy it if I was there. It is the same price as this Tesco bread, 79p, so I was happy to get two loaves for 59p each.

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  4. I am not familiar with toasted sesame seed oil, I imagine it gives a great flavour when added to just about anything. That way quite ordinary ingredients taste really good.

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    1. I love it drizzled on steamed vegetables. I don't make gravy, and this gives them a nutty flavour.

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  5. My husband brought home a yellow sticker deli hot roast chicken last night, marked down to £1.50. I have always been wary of these, having been kept warm in store for so long and the worry about food poisoning etc but we ate some of it for supper and I have put the rest in the freezer. We survived overnight and there will be eonugh for another two meals. Not bad for £1.50!

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  6. You have such a healthy diet! I really should try to have more veg. Out of interest do you not eat meat because you don't like the taste, or is it for ethical reasons?

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  7. I didnt know about toasted sesame seed oil..I normally buy just sun flower oil..Maybe because I am a late in life veggie!.I do try!!...Well,you got some good buys with your yellow stickers.Im used to paying just half price at 8am for most of my food bargains now from Aldi.I have started using almond milk for my tea and coffee..maybe sounds daft,but I feel less groggy during the day..maybe my imagination?..Im glad that I buy it from Aldi though because it is a pound more in our Co op.To be honest I only go in there for the book swap and the yellow stickers,which timed right can be great.I got 4 huge baguettes reduced from 94p to 24p.Cut them into 4s and put straight into the freezer.xx

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    1. I like a nice relaxed start to the day. I don't think I could go to Aldi first thing, wouldn't feel right somehow.

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  8. I popped into Tesco Thursday evening on the way back from my holiday at about 7pm for a few things and got reduced bread,cakes,yoghurt,hummous and a bit more.I don't usually go so late in the day but it was nice as I'd come home skint.Sadly the chest freezer in the garage defrosted whilst I was away and stuff ruined.It was a real smelly mess but I have to just remind myself that far more things can go wrong in life .It was a waste though x

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    1. Shame about the freezer, and flippin annoying.

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    2. Thanks Ilona,luckily the freezer seems to be working ok,think there was a power cut x

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    3. Sigh of relief. I think the food would be ok if the power was off for a short period. Mind you, it is more risky to eat meat and fish after this has happened.

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  9. I shop carefully all the time. Brought up not to waste a bit. Not much cash to go around when I was little. Habit has stayed with me. Still get chuffed when I get a real bargain- i.e. something i genuinely need and use at a price less than I expected. I think you are the same, Ilona?

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    1. Same here alice. My mum taught me well. Yes, I get a buzz when I drop on a real bargain too good to pass over. The question running through my mind is always considered though, do I need it or do I want it. I am now in the position that I can afford some of those wants.

      I don't see the point in paying more than I need to, if there are bargains to be had I will buy them, as long as I have money to pay for them.

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  10. Great job, again.

    just passing this on, in case you might qualify/aren't aware of it

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/bills/article-7565749/Elderly-people-urged-sign-new-scheme-secure-140-discount-energy-bills.html

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    1. Thank you for that. My energy supplier is part of the scheme, but I don't qualify because I don't get pension credit. The article says it helps pensioners to pay for their heating. I can afford to pay for mine.

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  11. Its raining here in Belper Ilona, your Blog is a ray of sunshine x

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    1. Thank you. It's raining here as well, I am enjoying my creative sewing.

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  12. I'm going to eat a lot of tinned beans this month with frozen vegetables and spices and rice,pasta or couscous.I have still a well stocked small freezer indoors with yellow sticker food.It's very easy luckily to eat cheaply being vegetarian.This month it's dog food mainly to buy x

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  13. It was a very rainy day here in Leicester today and I nodded off for 2 hours..hate doing that in the day...now Ive woken up and its as though some one has put a shilling it the meter..thats showing my age,lol...now its blue skies and the sun is beaming down!!.After dinner,Im going to have a walk in the garden and see if Ive got any free food still growing.I was amazed to get some tomatoes still coming through last week...only 3 small ones,but still free food!.Hope your all enjoying your Sunday,xx

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