I do the ‘big shop’ once a month & only pay £126 – I raid an often forgotten supermarket & buy all our veg & meat frozen
A SAVVY shopper has revealed that rather than nipping to her local supermarket every week to stock up on groceries, she does one huge monthly shop.
Jessica, a bargain hunter from the UK, raids an often forgotten shop, where you’ll find impressive deals on all things from biscuits and crisps, to frozen meat and vegetables.
Whilst Jessica loves shopping in Asda, Aldi, B&M, Lidl and Home Bargains, posting on social media, the young woman documented her recent trip to Farmfoods – the Scottish frozen food and grocery supermarket chain.
Alongside her four-minute clip, Jessica wrote: “Come do the monthly shop with us, part one.”
She then confirmed that some of her buys, which she nabbed in the Burnley store, can last her up to 12 weeks, as she added: “This will last more than one to three months for a lot of things.”
Jessica and her partner eagerly ensured their trolley was packed full, as they took advantage of the three for £1 offer on custard creams and large variety packs of crisps for £2.49.
They also nabbed baguettes for 69p a pack and fruit juices, which were just two for £1.60.
But that’s not all, as Jessica also made sure to stock up on vegetables too – all of which she found in the frozen section.
Jessica got her hands on petits pois, baby sweetcorn, cauliflower florets, broccoli florets, mixed vegetables, as well as mixed peppers for only £1 a bag.
As well as this, she made sure her cupboards would be full to the brim as she bought 24 packs of flavoured waters for £6.99, as well as 500ml bottles of Vimto, which cost £8.50 for 12.
Jessica then found sauces and spice kits, as well as cereal bars and 1kg packs of rice for just £1.69.
Not only did Jessica nab a large selection of cupboard items, but she also stocked up on meat too, which she found in the large Farmfoods freezers.
Jessica grabbed lamb steaks and beef burgers, which were included in the three for £10 deal, as well as fish fingers and chicken nuggets, which were part of the three for £5 on BirdsEye items offer.
And to ensure her freezer would have countless options for all cravings, Jessica even nabbed three for £5 frozen pizzas, as well as a selection of ice cream tubs too.
We often find it cheaper for frozen food and a lot of snacks. They always have really amazing deals on
Jessica
After bagging her purse-friendly buys, overjoyed with her huge haul, Jessica beamed: “It came to about £136.
“Then we used vouchers that you get on their emails and it went down to about £125.”
Bargain hunters beam
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @treats4all, has clearly impressed many, as it has quickly racked up 743,100 views.
Social media users were left gobsmacked at the affordable food shop and many eagerly flocked to the comments to express this.
How to save cash on your food shop
Money saving experts at HSBC UK have revealed their top tips to saving cash on your food shop.
1. Set a budget
Creating a budget will help to stretch your budget. Start by working out how much you spent on food over the last three months, then each month you get paid, set aside a certain amount for food.
2. Plan your meals
Make a list of your main meals for the coming week, including the ingredients you need, and stick to it. Don’t get drawn into offers for things that you don’t need. If you already have some food leftover from the week before, try to see what you can do with that first.
3. Think about when and where you shop
It’s best to shop on a full stomach so you don’t get tempted. Shopping less often can help you to think about what you buy and it may help you to stick to your budget.
4. Go online
Shopping online is a good and easy way to manage your budget. It can also help to track expenses, whilst also preventing impulse buys.
One person said: “Those prices are fantastic!”
Another added: “£136 is really good for all of that!!”
You can’t beat Farmfoods. I do the same each month
TikTok user
A third commented: “Never shopped there, you might need to try it especially for cupboard and freezer items!”
Meanwhile, someone else claimed: “You can’t beat Farmfoods. I do the same each month.”
Hacks for Keeping Food Fresh in Your Fridge
IF you want your food to stay fresh, you'll need to try out this useful hacks...
- Herbs in Water: Store fresh herbs like parsley and coriander in a glass of water, then cover with a plastic bag to keep them fresh for weeks.
- Wrap Greens in Paper Towels: Wrap leafy greens in paper towels before placing them in a plastic bag. The towels absorb excess moisture, preventing wilting.
- Use Mason Jars: Store salads, chopped vegetables, and even leftovers in mason jars. They are airtight and keep food fresher for longer.
- Revive Stale Bread: Sprinkle a bit of water on stale bread and pop it in the oven for a few minutes to make it fresh again.
- Baking Soda for Odours: Place an open box of baking soda in your fridge to absorb odours and keep food tasting fresh.
- Freeze Herbs in Olive Oil: Chop herbs and freeze them in olive oil using an ice cube tray. This preserves their flavour and makes them easy to use.
- Keep Cheese Fresh: Wrap cheese in wax paper instead of plastic wrap. Wax paper allows the cheese to breathe, preventing it from becoming slimy.
- Store Avocados with Onions: Place a cut avocado in an airtight container with a slice of onion. The sulphur compounds in the onion slow down oxidation, keeping the avocado fresh.
- Use Vinegar Wash for Berries: Rinse berries in a mixture of water and vinegar (one cup of vinegar to three cups of water) before storing. This kills bacteria and mould spores, extending their shelf life.
- Egg Freshness Test: To check if eggs are still fresh, place them in a bowl of water. Fresh eggs will sink, while old ones will float.
Implement these clever hacks to maximise the freshness of your food and make the most of your groceries.
Not only this, but one bargain hunter asked: “Is Farmfoods cheaper than other shops?”
To this, Jessica replied: “We often find it cheaper for frozen food and a lot of snacks. They always have really amazing deals on.”
But despite this, one shopper wasn’t all that impressed, as she wrote: “That trolley has obesity, diabetes and heart disease written all over it.”
However, Jessica was keen to clap back, as she responded: “This lasts us more than a month so I highly disagree.”
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