Here are today's best bargains!
(Note that this is in Whitehaven - prices across the country may vary)
Morrisons:
4 pints of 1% fat milk (Purple Top) 50p
Flora Buttery Spread, 84p (Until 31st August)
Cathedral City 200g Grated Cheese, £1.59 (£1 less than ungrated)
Alpro Original Soya Drink 1l, 83p.
Morrison's 'Softer' Toilet Tissue, 16 roll pack, £4.95
Bernard Matthews wafer thin Turkey Ham 340g, £1
Aldi:
Square White Sandwich Loaf (Thin slices= more slices!) 30p
French Torchon Ham, 200g, £1.49
Beetroot (cooked) 39p
Spring Onions125g, 39p
2Little Gem Lettuce, 39p
6 Tomatoes, 39p
Punnet Strawberries £1.19
BM:
Skinny Cow Mint Hot Chocolate 200g, 79p (long date )
Bean Meal (Adzuki, Soya and Mung) 400g tin, 15p (long date)
2 x 1kg sugar £1 (long date)
Bake At Home Baguettes, 2 pack. 25p (short date)
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
Shopping Day - A Little Method Helps Avoid Some Madness!
Today being Wednesday, we did our weekly shopping. Wednesdays have proved to be a reasonably quiet day for shopping here in Whitehaven, so we can avoid the hordes who need to save time rather than money. I have nothing against them, but prefer to keep out of their way, and since it takes a little more time in order to save money,it seems to work pretty well.
We often find that there are some good bargains to be had because we are hitting the mid-point between weekends. Certain remaining items that were bought in for sale the previous weekend are often reduced now to clear the shelves or freezers before the next weekend's shopping circus begins, and we find that large joints of meat can be cut down and frozen, and large trays of smaller items can be divided and frozen into more couple-friendly quantities. This almost always works out cheaper than buying the smaller packs although we always double-check any mid-week promotion prices just in case a better deal is available. You need to be a bit canny however, in order to avoid finding the freezer full of pork, say, in various guises - variety is the spice of life, remember!
Slightly stale bread is fine for toasting, and many baked goods can soon be refreshed by popping in the oven for a few minutes.
Don't ever assume that the larger pack of anything always offers the best value, because it just isn't the case. Today, for example, we found that 2 small 300g tubs of Custard Powder worked out a good bit cheaper than the large 600g tub. Check the shelf-edge price per kilo or per item, but mentally double-check that the store has done its sums correctly, as you may find the odd discrepancy which may or may not be in your favour.
We already have at least 10 days worth of main meals in our (small) freezer, as well as the makings of several more meals in the pantry, so today we were able to take advantage of offers we would normally have had to think twice about yet still remain within our budget. This helped to build up the stocks in our pantry so that we are not desperate for supplies if the weather turns against us later in the year, or if ill-health or circumstances prevent us from going shopping as usual.
One of the most valuable contributions towards efficient and frugal shopping has been the making of our Core Shopping List. Spend a week or two assessing your basic needs and writing them down, then working out where the best places are for meeting those needs and getting the best possible value.
In our experience, we have found that we can stretch our money most effectively by using several different shops and market stalls, but we also check the supermarkets' own websites for current promotions, as well as using sites like Hot UK Deals to tip us off on good value items.
The main thing is to keep it relevent to you - it's no good buying marrows because they're only 30p if no-one in your family likes marrows! Likewise, if you are having to travel miles to pick up a bargain, the cost of fuel to get there may be negating any savings, so learn what represents a good deal for you.
So, on to the Core Shopping List.
Yours will be tailored to suit your personal requirements, but to give you an idea, ours reads as follows:
Bread - 2-3 loaves (less if we're making our own)
Milk - dried, unless fresh milk is on special offer.
Eggs or Margarine (We buy them on alternate weeks)
Cheese, depending on promotions.
Coffee, ordinary/decaff/filter - 1 per week on 3-week cycle
Soya Milk
Fruit and Veg, fresh / frozen. (Seasonal, promotional)
Cereal
Jam/Marmalade/Spread (as required)
Stores - ie Dry Goods, tinned goods etc
Drinks ie Squash
Main Meals and Lunches (leftovers will make further meals)
Laundry/Cleaning Supplies/Paper Goods
Biscuits
Savoury Snacks ie Crisps.
Now, not everything needs to be bought every single week. This week, for example, we didn't need to buy much in the way of main meals or lunches, so were able to concentrate on replenishing our stocks of rice, tinned tomatoes, custard powder etc. Also, we didn't need jam or cleaning materials. The bottom two (biscuits and crisps) are non-necessities, but we might pick them up if they are on offer.
Our Core Shopping List serves as an aide memoire, and I print it out each week. I have space on the sheet to write notes about current bargains of relevance to us as gleaned from the shopping websites we use, or from store fliers that come through the door. I also use it to tot up our spending as we go round the store as we withdraw the exact amount of cash we have budgetted for our shopping needs - currently £40 but hopefully this will go down as we build up our supplies and become more adept at spotting the bargains.
In the UK we don't have the coupon system promoted by stores in America, and money-off coupons are not as widely-available as they were when I was young, when there seemed to be three or four in any magazine you picked up. Occasionally they come through the door, or can be printed off from websites. They are also issued by supermarkets as part of their loyalty incentive schemes, or printed in the 'magazines' given away in some stores.
Of course, they are only of any use if they are for items that you would normally buy anyway. It may be worth trading them with friends if you tend to acquire lots that you can't use.
We find that we use two or three local supermarkets (Aldi, Tesco and Morrisons) plus a few other shops (ie BM, and Poundland with care - sometimes things sold for a pound in Poundland are 99p or even less elsewhere, so don't allow yourself to be seduced!).
We can also get free-range eggs from a man at the local market (Thursdays and Saturdays) who is currently selling a dozen huge eggs for £1. We buy vegetables wherever they are cheapest (if the quality is acceptable) so it varies between the market, local greengrocer and the supermarkets. We prefer to buy Fair Trade coffee, so try to stock up when Ethical Superstore has on-line offers. And we buy our tea (bags and leaf, tasty and very economical) and occasional 'treat' biscuits once a fortnight from Andrew, our trusty Ringtons man.
Lastly, be aware of the power of marketing, and the positioning of 'bargains' within shops and supermarkets. The supermarkets' aim is not to give you the best possible value for money, whatever their adverts may claim, but to make huge profits for their shareholders (with the possible exception of the Co-op, I grant you.)
Loss leaders are great, but they can serve to tempt you into a store where they hope you will then do all your shopping under one roof, possibly paying much more for certain items than you might elsewhere, so be aware of how they are influencing your shopping habits.
Lastly, anything that you have ever seen an ad for will cost more, but may not be any better than the store's own brand, or another brand which doesn't spend on advertising or pass the cost on to the consumer.
So, make a Core Shopping List and try to stick to it.
Be prepared to go to more than one shop/store/stall if you want or need to save money.
Look at how marketing methods sway you, and break free of their hold.
Remember that a penny saved is a penny earned, so have the occasional treat, without guilt.
And remember that The Simple Life is about quality of life, not mere penny-pinching, although it is great fun to out-smart the marketing men and still live well!
We often find that there are some good bargains to be had because we are hitting the mid-point between weekends. Certain remaining items that were bought in for sale the previous weekend are often reduced now to clear the shelves or freezers before the next weekend's shopping circus begins, and we find that large joints of meat can be cut down and frozen, and large trays of smaller items can be divided and frozen into more couple-friendly quantities. This almost always works out cheaper than buying the smaller packs although we always double-check any mid-week promotion prices just in case a better deal is available. You need to be a bit canny however, in order to avoid finding the freezer full of pork, say, in various guises - variety is the spice of life, remember!
Slightly stale bread is fine for toasting, and many baked goods can soon be refreshed by popping in the oven for a few minutes.
Don't ever assume that the larger pack of anything always offers the best value, because it just isn't the case. Today, for example, we found that 2 small 300g tubs of Custard Powder worked out a good bit cheaper than the large 600g tub. Check the shelf-edge price per kilo or per item, but mentally double-check that the store has done its sums correctly, as you may find the odd discrepancy which may or may not be in your favour.
We already have at least 10 days worth of main meals in our (small) freezer, as well as the makings of several more meals in the pantry, so today we were able to take advantage of offers we would normally have had to think twice about yet still remain within our budget. This helped to build up the stocks in our pantry so that we are not desperate for supplies if the weather turns against us later in the year, or if ill-health or circumstances prevent us from going shopping as usual.
One of the most valuable contributions towards efficient and frugal shopping has been the making of our Core Shopping List. Spend a week or two assessing your basic needs and writing them down, then working out where the best places are for meeting those needs and getting the best possible value.
In our experience, we have found that we can stretch our money most effectively by using several different shops and market stalls, but we also check the supermarkets' own websites for current promotions, as well as using sites like Hot UK Deals to tip us off on good value items.
The main thing is to keep it relevent to you - it's no good buying marrows because they're only 30p if no-one in your family likes marrows! Likewise, if you are having to travel miles to pick up a bargain, the cost of fuel to get there may be negating any savings, so learn what represents a good deal for you.
So, on to the Core Shopping List.
Yours will be tailored to suit your personal requirements, but to give you an idea, ours reads as follows:
Bread - 2-3 loaves (less if we're making our own)
Milk - dried, unless fresh milk is on special offer.
Eggs or Margarine (We buy them on alternate weeks)
Cheese, depending on promotions.
Coffee, ordinary/decaff/filter - 1 per week on 3-week cycle
Soya Milk
Fruit and Veg, fresh / frozen. (Seasonal, promotional)
Cereal
Jam/Marmalade/Spread (as required)
Stores - ie Dry Goods, tinned goods etc
Drinks ie Squash
Main Meals and Lunches (leftovers will make further meals)
Laundry/Cleaning Supplies/Paper Goods
Biscuits
Savoury Snacks ie Crisps.
Now, not everything needs to be bought every single week. This week, for example, we didn't need to buy much in the way of main meals or lunches, so were able to concentrate on replenishing our stocks of rice, tinned tomatoes, custard powder etc. Also, we didn't need jam or cleaning materials. The bottom two (biscuits and crisps) are non-necessities, but we might pick them up if they are on offer.
Our Core Shopping List serves as an aide memoire, and I print it out each week. I have space on the sheet to write notes about current bargains of relevance to us as gleaned from the shopping websites we use, or from store fliers that come through the door. I also use it to tot up our spending as we go round the store as we withdraw the exact amount of cash we have budgetted for our shopping needs - currently £40 but hopefully this will go down as we build up our supplies and become more adept at spotting the bargains.
In the UK we don't have the coupon system promoted by stores in America, and money-off coupons are not as widely-available as they were when I was young, when there seemed to be three or four in any magazine you picked up. Occasionally they come through the door, or can be printed off from websites. They are also issued by supermarkets as part of their loyalty incentive schemes, or printed in the 'magazines' given away in some stores.
Of course, they are only of any use if they are for items that you would normally buy anyway. It may be worth trading them with friends if you tend to acquire lots that you can't use.
We find that we use two or three local supermarkets (Aldi, Tesco and Morrisons) plus a few other shops (ie BM, and Poundland with care - sometimes things sold for a pound in Poundland are 99p or even less elsewhere, so don't allow yourself to be seduced!).
We can also get free-range eggs from a man at the local market (Thursdays and Saturdays) who is currently selling a dozen huge eggs for £1. We buy vegetables wherever they are cheapest (if the quality is acceptable) so it varies between the market, local greengrocer and the supermarkets. We prefer to buy Fair Trade coffee, so try to stock up when Ethical Superstore has on-line offers. And we buy our tea (bags and leaf, tasty and very economical) and occasional 'treat' biscuits once a fortnight from Andrew, our trusty Ringtons man.
Lastly, be aware of the power of marketing, and the positioning of 'bargains' within shops and supermarkets. The supermarkets' aim is not to give you the best possible value for money, whatever their adverts may claim, but to make huge profits for their shareholders (with the possible exception of the Co-op, I grant you.)
Loss leaders are great, but they can serve to tempt you into a store where they hope you will then do all your shopping under one roof, possibly paying much more for certain items than you might elsewhere, so be aware of how they are influencing your shopping habits.
Lastly, anything that you have ever seen an ad for will cost more, but may not be any better than the store's own brand, or another brand which doesn't spend on advertising or pass the cost on to the consumer.
So, make a Core Shopping List and try to stick to it.
Be prepared to go to more than one shop/store/stall if you want or need to save money.
Look at how marketing methods sway you, and break free of their hold.
Remember that a penny saved is a penny earned, so have the occasional treat, without guilt.
And remember that The Simple Life is about quality of life, not mere penny-pinching, although it is great fun to out-smart the marketing men and still live well!
Monday, 16 August 2010
The Weekend 'The World' Came to Whitehaven...
Saturday dawned grey and overcast, but as the day wore on the weather would improve radically, and the sun would come out to greet our visitors...
'The World' is a Norwegian-designed luxurious 12-deck cruise liner, aboard which 150-200 guests, all staying in private accommodation, live on what is said to be the world's only private sea-faring residential community (since the days of prison ships, at any rate - presumably these inmates are somewhat more willing than some of our ancestors may have been!)
The passengers and captain of the 43,000-tonne vessel choose where the liner stops and what they do ashore, and this visit to Whitehaven on the North-West coast of England had come about as a result of talks between Cumbria Tourism officials and cruise companies in a bid to entice more liners to dock in the county.
Residency prices on 'The World' range from £500,000 to £13,000,000, (although a couple might enjoy a holiday aboard, paying between $1300 and $4750 per night for the privilege) and the 644 foot long ship boasts four restaurants, a 7000 square foot spa, and onboard nightclubs, and has a crew of 250 souls drawn from 40 countries. Local businesses were praying that some of the incredibly wealthy visitors would splash some cash in this historic Georgian town, which is not known for being inhabited by wanton, well-heeled Champagne Charlies, and whose local community would benefit from an injection of cash!
A Continental-Style market had been laid on, and a 'Made In Cumbria' marquee showcased some of the arts, crafts and local produce on offer in this beautiful part of the country, as well as promoting some of the attractions within the area. Indeed a party from 'The World' would enjoy an excursion into the Lake District once the tide was high enough to allow them to board the tenders that would bring them from the ship into the harbour itself!
Needless to say, there would be plenty of free entertainment to be had,so David and I decided to take a day off from working on the house and went to see what all the fuss was about...
We walked from our little house across to the cliff tops, from where we got our first look at 'The World'. Luxury liner she might be, but to my unsophisticated eyes she bears more than a passing resemblance to a Roll-On Roll-Off Ferry...the result of super-efficient modern Scandi-wegian design rather than Titanic-style Edwardian elegance, perhaps. Undoubtedly the interior is rather more awe-inspiring!
By now the weather was beginning to brighten up and sunlight began to gild the clouds. The view down onto the Harbour from this area is quite spectacular, and the tide was the lowest I'd seen, with vast expanses of sand glistening below us. Ideal bait-digging territory! Across the Solway Firth, the distant hills of Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland were clearly visible.
We wandered down the path toward the Harbour, stopping to pick blackberries. We had of course remembered to bring a plastic container, just in case. Freely foraged food is not to be sneezed at!
We got another great view of 'The World' from this path, close to The Candlestick, a local landmark. This was a ventilation 'chimney' for the Wellington Coal Mine, which was sunk in 1832. This was known to be a very 'fiery' pit, and was the site of numerous accidents including the major disaster of May 1910 which claimed 132 lives. The Wellington Pit finally ceased working in 1932.
All that is left is the Candlestick (said to be based on the design of a silver candlestick belonging to the Earl of Lonsdale, who was the major local mine- and land-owner) and Wellington Lodge, a castellated building (now used by the Coastguard) which formed a fraction of the above-ground part of the Wellington Pit complex. You can just see the edge of this now white-painted building on the extreme right of the above picture.
After we had enough of 'brambling' we walked down onto the sands, and along the massive wall that divides the outer harbour from the inner harbour and marina basins.
The harbour wall is encrusted with mussels, barnacles and seaweed, which have a beauty all of their own.
We walked the length of the wall and back, then ascended the steps to the Old Quay that edges the inner harbour. The inner wall is punctuated every so often with a pillar of the local sandstone; these have weathered dramatically over the centuries.
We walked along the Old Quay and over the Sea Lock Gates which ensure that the inner harbours are areas of permanent water and no longer dependent on the tides. We walked round the dog leg known as The Devil's Elbow, and watched a fishing boat from Fleetwood being prepared for its next trip.
We then walked round onto the North Pier, and again saw 'The World', now moored off the Harbour. Lots of people had come into town to see her, both locals and folk from further away, such is the novelty of a cruise ship in the Solway Firth!
After marvelling at the nature of such an itinerant lifestyle, we walked back along the North Pier and along the North wall before walking along the Millennium Promenade to admire the continental market. German sausages, French, Italian, Danish and Polish bread, herbs and olives from Provence, and assorted cakes and pastries made our eyes widen and our mouths water, but not sufficiently to part us from our money!
People-watching was quite delicious enough and didn't cost a
penny!
We wandered then along the West Strand, pausing to peer into the waters of the marina to try to spy the elusive fish that we know lurk there. One gentleman suggested that they might be grey mullet but I really couldn't say. What I do know is that they are pretty big, and I may have to go down with a hook and a line one dark night...!
We retraced our steps towards home. By now the tide was coming in fast, and the outer harbour looked quite different.
Time to wander home having had a thoroughly enjoyable few hours. Total Expenditure: £0.00.
Wouldn't swap days like this for the millionaire lifestyle, thanks!
'The World' is a Norwegian-designed luxurious 12-deck cruise liner, aboard which 150-200 guests, all staying in private accommodation, live on what is said to be the world's only private sea-faring residential community (since the days of prison ships, at any rate - presumably these inmates are somewhat more willing than some of our ancestors may have been!)
The passengers and captain of the 43,000-tonne vessel choose where the liner stops and what they do ashore, and this visit to Whitehaven on the North-West coast of England had come about as a result of talks between Cumbria Tourism officials and cruise companies in a bid to entice more liners to dock in the county.
Residency prices on 'The World' range from £500,000 to £13,000,000, (although a couple might enjoy a holiday aboard, paying between $1300 and $4750 per night for the privilege) and the 644 foot long ship boasts four restaurants, a 7000 square foot spa, and onboard nightclubs, and has a crew of 250 souls drawn from 40 countries. Local businesses were praying that some of the incredibly wealthy visitors would splash some cash in this historic Georgian town, which is not known for being inhabited by wanton, well-heeled Champagne Charlies, and whose local community would benefit from an injection of cash!
A Continental-Style market had been laid on, and a 'Made In Cumbria' marquee showcased some of the arts, crafts and local produce on offer in this beautiful part of the country, as well as promoting some of the attractions within the area. Indeed a party from 'The World' would enjoy an excursion into the Lake District once the tide was high enough to allow them to board the tenders that would bring them from the ship into the harbour itself!
Needless to say, there would be plenty of free entertainment to be had,so David and I decided to take a day off from working on the house and went to see what all the fuss was about...
 | |
| 'The World' , moored off Whitehaven Harbour, as viewed from the cliffs. |
We walked from our little house across to the cliff tops, from where we got our first look at 'The World'. Luxury liner she might be, but to my unsophisticated eyes she bears more than a passing resemblance to a Roll-On Roll-Off Ferry...the result of super-efficient modern Scandi-wegian design rather than Titanic-style Edwardian elegance, perhaps. Undoubtedly the interior is rather more awe-inspiring!
By now the weather was beginning to brighten up and sunlight began to gild the clouds. The view down onto the Harbour from this area is quite spectacular, and the tide was the lowest I'd seen, with vast expanses of sand glistening below us. Ideal bait-digging territory! Across the Solway Firth, the distant hills of Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland were clearly visible.
 |
| Jonathan Swift's childhood home is to the left, and The Candlestick just beyond. Below lies Whitehaven's outer Harbour. |
We wandered down the path toward the Harbour, stopping to pick blackberries. We had of course remembered to bring a plastic container, just in case. Freely foraged food is not to be sneezed at!
We got another great view of 'The World' from this path, close to The Candlestick, a local landmark. This was a ventilation 'chimney' for the Wellington Coal Mine, which was sunk in 1832. This was known to be a very 'fiery' pit, and was the site of numerous accidents including the major disaster of May 1910 which claimed 132 lives. The Wellington Pit finally ceased working in 1932.
All that is left is the Candlestick (said to be based on the design of a silver candlestick belonging to the Earl of Lonsdale, who was the major local mine- and land-owner) and Wellington Lodge, a castellated building (now used by the Coastguard) which formed a fraction of the above-ground part of the Wellington Pit complex. You can just see the edge of this now white-painted building on the extreme right of the above picture.
 | ||
| The Candlestick, a symbol of old wealth. The World, a symbol of new wealth. |
After we had enough of 'brambling' we walked down onto the sands, and along the massive wall that divides the outer harbour from the inner harbour and marina basins.
 | |
| Looking across the sands to the harbour mouth. |
 |
| Harbour wall. Note the pillar above, and the old Watchtower at the far end. |
The harbour wall is encrusted with mussels, barnacles and seaweed, which have a beauty all of their own.
 | |
| Seaweed, mussel shells, cockleshells, barnacles, an oyster shell...Nature's own collage. |
We walked the length of the wall and back, then ascended the steps to the Old Quay that edges the inner harbour. The inner wall is punctuated every so often with a pillar of the local sandstone; these have weathered dramatically over the centuries.
 |
| Weathered sandstone pillar on Whitehaven's Old Quay |
We walked along the Old Quay and over the Sea Lock Gates which ensure that the inner harbours are areas of permanent water and no longer dependent on the tides. We walked round the dog leg known as The Devil's Elbow, and watched a fishing boat from Fleetwood being prepared for its next trip.
We then walked round onto the North Pier, and again saw 'The World', now moored off the Harbour. Lots of people had come into town to see her, both locals and folk from further away, such is the novelty of a cruise ship in the Solway Firth!
 |
| Juxtaposition of ancient and modern |
After marvelling at the nature of such an itinerant lifestyle, we walked back along the North Pier and along the North wall before walking along the Millennium Promenade to admire the continental market. German sausages, French, Italian, Danish and Polish bread, herbs and olives from Provence, and assorted cakes and pastries made our eyes widen and our mouths water, but not sufficiently to part us from our money!
People-watching was quite delicious enough and didn't cost a
penny!
We wandered then along the West Strand, pausing to peer into the waters of the marina to try to spy the elusive fish that we know lurk there. One gentleman suggested that they might be grey mullet but I really couldn't say. What I do know is that they are pretty big, and I may have to go down with a hook and a line one dark night...!
 |
| Can you see it? Just under the boat, beside the seat... |
 |
| This one is near the surface...the patterns on the water beneath look like a hungry shark! |
 |
| Now you can see it! Dinner at Eight? |
We retraced our steps towards home. By now the tide was coming in fast, and the outer harbour looked quite different.
 |
| This dinghy has just passed through the Sea Lock from the inner to the outer Harbour. North Pier beyond. |
 |
| The Old Lighthouse on the Old New Quay, and the Red and White Lighthouse on the West Pier |
 |
| The Old Quay separating the outer and inner harbours and a view of Whitehaven. |
Wouldn't swap days like this for the millionaire lifestyle, thanks!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)