"Arri London" wrote

Hehe just to let you know, this message got 3 lurkers

LOL TY. I know what it's like. Some groups are just mean to newbies.
Lots of groups I just lurk on and I'm relatively thick-skinned (as
opposed to just being thick of course )

Yeah, I dropped one pet echo (doesnt matter which one) over this. Seemed to
be a bunch of folks all with the same ideas and if you strayed even
slightly, they got really nasty and made fun of you.

BTW, OT but have to crow! Cash (my beagle mix) passed his EKG and Xray tets
for enlarged heart after the heartworms! He's also what we all think now if
pretty much optimum weight at 45.4 lbs but they say if he gains a little
more not to be shocked or worry as long as his tummy stays flat or slightly
concave like it is. He may still need to gain just a touch as he's bulking
out with muscles. We are now cleared to take him on *short* jogs if we want
to. Cash is a rescue pet, considered unadoptable due to heartworm
infestation with evident heart complications (EX$PEN$IVE) but he's beaten
the odds and though he will need annual heart checkups and definately need
to be on preventive lifelong, he should be ok.

*Chuckle* Pet food is one spot I do not economize on much. Oh I'll get a
sale type, but only of the better types and I've checked up so am pretty
knowing of the names of the better ones at my local places.

Side topic: Be very very careful with economizing on cat food. Especially
with male cats and absolutely with dry food and male cats. It will cost you
far more in vet bills and longevity than you will save.

The supermarket ads come out on Tuesdays here. They are gone over
carefully for what's genuinely on sale, as opposed to being advertised
as a 'special' while still being the usual price. Milk is always on
'sale' at one of the local markets as a loss leader; vegetables vary as
well.

Yes, one of the lurkers asked about the 'special' and I explained how a
grocery store just before a markup in price, will sometimes use the old
price as a 'special' then raise it the next week.

Precisely. You must shop at some of the same places we do! Or else sell
something at a 'reduced' price, when it's a smaller size than it was the
week before.

Oh that one too. The 15oz can that just went 13.5 for example.

Seasonal produce is usually cheaper and better quality than
out-of-season things.

I'd add 'amost always' for both IMHO.

'Usually' or 'almost always'; same church, different pew LOL.

Ok, got me ;-)

In Japan, I took to seasonal shopping
like the locals do and it makes a big difference. I liked the shift in
foods over the seasons once I got used to the idea.

Yes... it's such a treat when something comes into season. Strawberries
in January (Northern Hemisphere of course) just don't do it for me.

In Japan, such eating
is considered 'more healthful' as you get eat item at it's peak. They
have
a point in that. They shop frequently (compared to USA folks, not sure
of
UK).


Depends on where people live in the UK. Most Londoners shop frequently
because there is such a wide variety of shops to be had in the
neighbourhoods. When I lived out in a rural district, most people
outside of the two small towns nearest me shopped once or twice a week
when the 'shopping bus' ran through the villages. Since I had to cycle 5
miles or so each way, I didn't shop more than once a week. The villages
shops weren't all that well stocked but one wouldn't starve shopping
there. The dairy farm I lived on wasn't licenced to provide liquid milk
(it went to cheese production) to I had to get it at the shop but most
places in the UK can have milk, bread and various items on the same
'float' delivered daily.

As opposed to many USA folks who make one 'big trip' a month then 1 smaller
between one it seems. Even folks who live right by big markets and pass
them daily. I can understand that too, as though who hate shopping find
this more efficient and those without much time around work hours may not
have as many options. It also leads though to tossing out veggies and
things because they go bad. Like getting one of the bigger tubs of sour
cream because you know you need aboutthat for a month, then having to toss
1/2 of it as it grew mold.

In Sasebo and every other Japan town I saw except the rural farms,
there were grocery stores on practically every street with some small
seller. They are rarely very large places. Often 3m by 5m or so with
the
sidewalk being part of the selling space. A big store there might be 20m
by
30m. I knew of only 2 that were larger in Sasebo.

Most city people will find one on their route as they walk or bicycle
home,
so shop a small amount daily. Packages tend to be small and amounts of
most
things are fresh and by weight (in metrics). It is common to see a
person
heading home with 1 carrot, 100g minced chicken, 100g kangkoon (asian
spinach, also spelled kang kong etc), and a tiny packet of tea for use
next
morning.

Nodding. Shops near my home, more shops near my work, shops near every
Tube station. No need to lug home large quantities of anything. Spent
about 30 minutes a week shopping; just not in one go. Only for the
larger catered affairs was more time needed.

I'll do a big trip every 8-10 weeks or so for the various frozen or dry
staples, but mostly shop weekly here for the rest, getting only a weeks
worth.

Yes, and only a savings if you store it right. (One of the lurkers asked
me
to mention he uses leftover glass jars with tight lids for this and
stores
on his porch in a small cabinet. He's in a small apartment upstairs but
has
a nice 1m by 3m covered porch).

We use our north-facing porch as a freezer in the winter. Also good for
storing some things but the temp variation the rest of the year
procludes too much food storage.

I gather in his case it was sugar and things like that which didnt need
refridgeration.

Using less meat and cooking 'ethnic', which of course will vary with
what each person regards as such. Most of the world's best foods don't
use a lot of meat but still are excellent. Shopping in local ethnic
markets can often turn up bargains.

Definately but I don't reduce meat for cost reasons. I do it because of
health reasons. Super high cholestrol problems in my side of the family.
In Japan, I reduced this partly due to cost though and took to more
seafoods
(which are good for me). Fish or other seafoods hit our table at least 3
times a week and there, was apt to be 6 times a week grin. There,
seafood
was cheap.

Jealous jealous!!! Virtually no genuinely fresh fish here in the desert.
All frozen or previously frozen and thawed. We stick to the frozen
stuff; no idea how old the thawed out stuff is. And of course it isn't
all that cheap. So only a once a week 'treat'.

Grin, far enough away yes it will all be frozen. Get still frozen. Never
defrosted previously frozen (which may not be apparent until you ask). Once
you freeze seafood, most of it has to be cooked within about 12 hours of
defrosting or it gets mushy and all sorts of negative stuff like that.

Breadmaker here. I prefer the quality of my own and no preservatives. It
doesnt last as long but with 2 good breadkeepers, I can make it work
before
it becomes birdfood or breadcrumbs g.

We have a breadmaker (a gift), but it is rather primitive. Gave up on
it. Went back to doing it the old way. It all freezes well (wrapped
airtight) and a loaf of bread a week is my usual 'dose'. Cakes are baked
either as cupcakes or loaf cakes, then cut in half for freezing. We just
don't eat all that much at one time. Wasting food never saves money.

Well, my breadmaker died after something like 12 years of twice a week hard
use. We do have the bits that go dry sometimes before being eaten, but we
like to feed the birds so save it for that.

Although I notice I save money by making my own, I actually make it for
other reasons.

We do too. Just tastes better!

Definately! And i can make all sorts on interesting spice additions.

Yup! Great way to get the cholestrol down is to start looking at meat as
more of a condiment to a dish.

Exactly. The two of us eat a pound or less of meat in a week. Bacon is a
'treat' for weekends only.

We probably average 6oz chicken and 6oz pork or beef a week each, then 16oz
or so each of seafood (might be closer to 24oz each on seafood plenty of
times). Bacon? I bought a 3 lb box 2 months ago and 2lbs are still there
(frozen).

By economizing reasonably (and this time it includes 'economizing on
cholestrol intake') we can have a domestic fatty duck once a month and still
fit the dietary needs. I'll then use the duck fat over the next month with
a few fat added dishes for us, and for augmenting pet food. Duck fat is
very good for spring fur-shedding cats and dogs. (Hairball remedy is
actually just a laxitive and not particularily good for them long term, but
their natural diet had fat to take care of this and it works).

;-) Thanks for the splendid ideas!

LOL my pleasure. Shopping and eating cheap is a science with me as well
as a game.

Yeah, me too g. I like to have *fun* with my shopping.