Avoiding supermarkets; what are the alternatives?

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Avoiding supermarkets; what are the alternatives?
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Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 2:47 pm Post subject: Avoiding supermarkets; what are the alternatives?

As discussed here there are many reasons we may want to boycott supermarkets and we all know (well, nearly all) how easy it is to buy meat direct from the producer, but what about all those essentials that even the most determined downsizer finds themselves popping into the supermarket to buy? How can we do without/find alternative sources/cut the cost (cost savings can help fund those products that it really is worth/necessary paying more for). Contributions on both sides (asking and answering) are most welcome...

bagpuss

Joined: 09 Dec 2004
Posts: 10507
Location: cambridge

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 2:48 pm Post subject:
Its probably the non food items which are more difficult than the food items So what about toilet paper toothpaste soap (I know you can make your own but not everyone wants to) washing powder cleaning fluids

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 2:51 pm Post subject:

bagpuss wrote:

Its probably the non food items which are more difficult than the food items

So what about

toilet paper
toothpaste
soap (I know you can make your own but not everyone wants to)
washing powder
cleaning fluids

Daily Bread, its at our end of town, and its great for nearly all of those. And best of all, when you empty out your cleaning fluid, you can take it back for a refill.

And our toothpaste normally comes from Boots.

The only one of those we get from the supermarket is toilet paper. Dunno why we've never bought that from Daily Bread. Will investimagate...

paul1963

Joined: 15 Nov 2010
Posts: 2161
Location: No longer active on the forum

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 2:53 pm Post subject:

bagpuss wrote:

Madame Paul's hair dye, sanitary products, elmlea, booze.

bagpuss

Joined: 09 Dec 2004
Posts: 10507
Location: cambridge

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 2:55 pm Post subject:

cab wrote:

bagpuss wrote:

which of course does pose the question is buying from boots better than buying from the supermarkets or is that a debate for another time

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 2:56 pm Post subject:

bagpuss wrote:

which of course does pose the question is buying from boots better than buying from the supermarkets or is that a debate for another time

Dunno. She's absolutely adamant about a particular brand of toothpaste that she's always used, and I know we can't get that in a shop like Daily Bread. So we get that from Boots. Is it more ethical than Tesco or Asda? I would say so, but as you say a matter for another discussion.

bagpuss

Joined: 09 Dec 2004
Posts: 10507
Location: cambridge

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 3:03 pm Post subject:
what about branded items like Ribena

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18415

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 3:05 pm Post subject:

bagpuss wrote:

what about branded items like Ribena

in what sense ? whether not to buy them ? Or just not to buy them at a supermarket ?

I've been using the supermarket more for things I don't grow or make myself, because it's easier, and there aren't alternatives locally : tea+coffee, sugar, baking ingredients, etc.

The last time I bulk-bought flour from a sustainable etc supplier, I never used all of it and had to bin it in the end. Wasteful.

I make my own soap; toothpaste, shampoo etc from Boots and various non-supermarket shops;

Last edited by gil on Wed Dec 22, 10 3:14 pm; edited 1 time in total

nats

Joined: 12 Jun 2007
Posts: 2374
Location: Swindon but not a Swindonian

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 3:05 pm Post subject:

paul1963 wrote:

bagpuss wrote:

Madame Paul's hair dye, sanitary products, elmlea, booze.

Hair dye I can't help with, but a moon cup, real cream, and wine merchants?! Mind you having said that we'd go broke if we bought beer and cider from wine merchants....

bagpuss

Joined: 09 Dec 2004
Posts: 10507
Location: cambridge

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 3:09 pm Post subject:

gil wrote:

bagpuss wrote:

what about branded items like Ribena

in what sense ? whether not to buy them ? Or just not to buy them at a supermarket ?

where to buy them which is not a supermarket or are there some things that we have to accept that we buy for supermarkets as I severly doubt my ability to wean my husband off Ribena

shopgirlsue

Joined: 26 Jul 2006
Posts: 197
Location: Nr Shaftesbury

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 3:11 pm Post subject:

Every so often I attempt a supermarket free shop but I struggle with :-
small quantity of organic meat - I dont have a big freezer so can't buy half a sheep

all I want each week is a couple of chicken fillets and some mince/sausages
fresh fish - again small quantities are a problem to get online
good quality fresh veg
Fairtrade tea/coffee
tinned pulses in water
wholegrain pasta/flour/rice

The other problem I have is access. The nearest farm shop (which is expensive and not very good) is further than my normal supermarket - Waitrose, the nearest health food shop is the same distance and doesn't do food

bagpuss

Joined: 09 Dec 2004
Posts: 10507
Location: cambridge

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 3:13 pm Post subject:
Do you have a local butcher?

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 3:16 pm Post subject:

nats wrote:

paul1963 wrote:

bagpuss wrote:

Madame Paul's hair dye, sanitary products, elmlea, booze.

Hair dye I can't help with, but a moon cup, real cream, and wine merchants?! Mind you having said that we'd go broke if we bought beer and cider from wine merchants....

No, you'd just consume less or brew your own, we only (generally) drink so much because we can afford it, as it's not essential, so cutting down and making it into a treat really improves the value you get from it, I find.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 3:17 pm Post subject:
There are other brands of blackcurrant cordial. And you can, I believe, get ribena from some of the ethnic shops down on Mill Road (I think I saw it in Al Amin, an excellent independent grocer).

frewen

Joined: 08 Sep 2005
Posts: 11405

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 3:17 pm Post subject:
When I feel a bit better I'll jot a bit down about food groups - although I'm not running one at the moment...

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