What are your shopping list staples?

Tori_Scope

I often think of myself as quite a bad shopper. I buy a lot of convenience food, and do multiple small shops a week. 

This can mean that I sometimes get embarrassed about what's in my basket. I see other people's and think they must have their life together! (I realise this is unlikely to be true...). I feel this especially when they have what I'd consider to be 'staples' in their basket.

What are your shopping list staples? What kinds of things do you buy most weeks or months?

Note: I don't think of anyone else as a bad shopper, and don't negatively judge other people on what's in their baskets!

leeCal

Cornflakes, tuna, marmite, whole meal bread, milk, cauliflower, apples, ryvita. That kind of stuff. 🙂 I’m on a diet you see.

66Mustang

Milk and bread
Eggs
Cheese
Vegetables and fruit
Cooked meats

I don't know what a "good" or a "bad" shopper is? What makes someone "better" at shopping?

66Mustang

Tori_Scope said:

don't negatively judge other people on what's in their baskets!

This made me think..I sometimes look at what's in peoples baskets..I noticed a man a few years ago that looked like he had had a hard life - he had all the absolute cheapest products in his basket but he had posh cat food - I judged him for that but in a positive way, very selfless I thought?

janer1967

Milk , cheese,  butter,  yoghurt , fruit and veg , meat and fish , bread , cerel , bacon,  cookies ready meals for tobg

Tori_Scope

I think for me, I feel that I'm not very cost effective in my shopping @66Mustang. And it's not always the healthiest, either. 

I'm not sure there's an objectively 'bad' shop, as it'll really depend on people's situations! But I think I could do a lot better.

It's hard to explain  

Sandy_123

Milk, bread, eggs, cheese, potatoes, meat, veg and fruit, water and some goodies and not forgetting the crisps and coffee

66Mustang

@Tori_Scope ahh if you go by getting bargains or getting stuff on offer then yes I am a good shopper!! But if something that I want is full price I sometimes don't buy it which is perhaps not wise.

Tori_Scope

Thanks for everyone's lists so far!

I also try to buy stuff on offer @66Mustang And tend to buy own brand stuff where I can. I do have some branded bits that I tend to buy, though!

66Mustang

@Tori_Scope you could try keeping a stock of certain things that are not perishable. Buy more than you need when they are on offer, then in the weeks or months that they aren't on offer, don't buy them and live off of your supply. Rather than just buying what you need each week/month.

I think my biggest mistake is driving to shops because they have something cheaper there. I probably spend more getting to the shops than I save. But I justify that in that I enjoy the drive and it's something to do.

Tori_Scope

I do tend to stock up on some things, but I'm quite limited with space @66Mustang. I agree that's a great tip though! And it's definitely something I'll do when I (hopefully) have more space in the future  

woodbine

Top of our list vodka for sm and chocolates/puddings for me 👀

Biblioklept

I'd say I'm a pretty bad shopper. I do it all online and have a weekly shop and then order from the local shops a couple of times a week too because I never remember what I need or can't manage to make what I'd planned. I eat a lot of convenience foods and I don't know why it's so hard for me to structure my food shopping and meals but it really is. I'd be horrified if anyone saw what I spend on food each month especially with the addition of delivery fees etc

L_Volunteer

Thank you for sharing that with us @Biblioklept. I am hearing that, another way to look at that is that you respond to your needs at the time.

Am I hearing that right? If so, I think that's very positive that you recognise and take account of your own needs. Though, I can hear that makes it more costly 

L_Volunteer

@woodbine Your response made me chuckle and smile