Insane grocery bill! What in the world? | Page 2 | ExpatWoman.com
 

Insane grocery bill! What in the world?

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EW GURU
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 17:39
Part of the problem may actually have to do with your fridge. We replaced our fridge a year ago and the new one has a much better cooling system and it's impressive how much longer our produce, including lettuce, last in the fridge. Spinneys and Organics do have better produce overall, but most of Carrefour's produce isn't bad. They quite often get produce flown in from France and occasionally have a fabulous selection of mushrooms. In general I avoid produce from the region in favor of European produce (Spanish broccoli over Iranian broccoli). For the past two months Carrefour has had a very good selection of imported lettuce at excellent prices which has lasted a week in our fridge. I have tried to save money by shopping at C4, but every time I buy produce there it goes bad in two days. The apples are always bruised, no matter which C4 I visit. What is the secret to getting good stuff, C4 shoppers? edited by FrancieBrady on 16/03/2011
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 17:39
I have tried to save money by shopping at C4, but every time I buy produce there is goes bad in two days. The apples are always bruised, no matter which C4 I visit. What is the secret to getting good stuff, C4 shoppers? Buy fruit and veg at spinney/waitrose or organic supermarket. Use C4 just for cleaning supplies, non perishable goods, canned stuff, cheese, cold cuts, dry pasta, etc..I avoid the meat the veg there-its always in bad shape it seems. and if it is good, it lasts about 24 hours I buy the fruit and veg at Spinney's, meat at Choitrams (the butcher out near my place is fab and the meat is always fresh because of the high turnover) and bulk stuff Car4. Gosh I miss Costco :(
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 17:36
Interesting! How long is the season here? Also, what's the maximum amount of time you can leave them to soak if the weather turns bad after the pots are dropped? <em>edited by Sanddy_Dogg on 16/03/2011</em>
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EW GURU
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 17:33
I thought you caught your own lobsters!we do but the last few months we have had problems with getting the sea calm enough to drop the pots....really been some bad weather, and when the sea is calm we don't have time to get the boat out. Or we don't have time to go back out to collect the pots. We need 2 days free....ugh...busy lives. Shame the season is almost over too.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 17:06
Tip ...c4 weekly shop....3 adults 2 kids and a dog ...8 to 9 hundred same shop in hyperpanda or lu lu 5 to 6 hundred
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 17:06
Tip ...c4 weekly shop....3 adults 2 kids and a dog ...8 to 9 hundred same shop in hyperpanda or lu lu 5 to 6 hundred
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 17:04
I have tried to save money by shopping at C4, but every time I buy produce there is goes bad in two days. The apples are always bruised, no matter which C4 I visit. What is the secret to getting good stuff, C4 shoppers? Buy fruit and veg at spinney/waitrose or organic supermarket. Use C4 just for cleaning supplies, non perishable goods, canned stuff, cheese, cold cuts, dry pasta, etc..I avoid the meat the veg there-its always in bad shape it seems. and if it is good, it lasts about 24 hours
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 16:57
I have tried to save money by shopping at C4, but every time I buy produce there it goes bad in two days. The apples are always bruised, no matter which C4 I visit. What is the secret to getting good stuff, C4 shoppers? <em>edited by FrancieBrady on 16/03/2011</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 16:44
I thought you caught your own lobsters! How does one catch their own here? Do people really do that? All this talk of food and shopping has made hungry...
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 16:42
I thought you caught your own lobsters!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 16:40
hmmm, at a rough guess, between 2-3,000 per week, plus an extra 800 pw for Saturday lunch out. 3,000 pw on grocery shopping??! and 800 for a lunch out??! can i live your life please??!Well we always go for a buffet lunch on Saturdays, and we buy a lot of shellfish (prawns & Lobster crazy house), plus we often cook on Fridays for the extended family. I think our berries and fruit must bump up our bills a bit too. I rarely shop in Spinneys, I find their meat putrid, plus they re-date things. I do a couple of C4 runs a week at about 800 each, then Choithrams for meat at about 400, then market for fish and other stuff...then runs to Aswaaq etc....yep, near the 3,000 mark.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 15:20
Its annoying enough paying a fortune for basic items at the supermarket but whats more annoying is when you pay a fortune (i.e. 20 dhs+) for mixed 'fresh' berries and when you get home and open them they are squashed, old and mouldy. This happens ALL THE TIME with fruit here I find!! grrrrrr. I wonder how long it has been sitting there on the shelf or in storage somewhere.....miss the lovely fresh produce at home, I know exactly where it came from and how fresh it is! here you just fork out the cash and hope for the best!... I know what you mean- we love our berries and many times by the next day or even the same day we open up the container and they are mouldy and yuck !- so frustrating at times!! I thought it was just me - now I buy the frozen ones.. ooh frozen.... that's a great idea!! :)
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 15:06
Its annoying enough paying a fortune for basic items at the supermarket but whats more annoying is when you pay a fortune (i.e. 20 dhs+) for mixed 'fresh' berries and when you get home and open them they are squashed, old and mouldy. This happens ALL THE TIME with fruit here I find!! grrrrrr. I wonder how long it has been sitting there on the shelf or in storage somewhere.....miss the lovely fresh produce at home, I know exactly where it came from and how fresh it is! here you just fork out the cash and hope for the best!... I know what you mean- we love our berries and many times by the next day or even the same day we open up the container and they are mouldy and yuck !- so frustrating at times!! I thought it was just me - now I buy the frozen ones..
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 14:42
Its annoying enough paying a fortune for basic items at the supermarket but whats more annoying is when you pay a fortune (i.e. 20 dhs+) for mixed 'fresh' berries and when you get home and open them they are squashed, old and mouldy. This happens ALL THE TIME with fruit here I find!! grrrrrr. I wonder how long it has been sitting there on the shelf or in storage somewhere.....miss the lovely fresh produce at home, I know exactly where it came from and how fresh it is! here you just fork out the cash and hope for the best!... I know what you mean- we love our berries and many times by the next day or even the same day we open up the container and they are mouldy and yuck !- so frustrating at times!!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 14:31
Carrefour is always going to be a lot cheaper than Spinney's (NYCDoll, I buy Rachel's organic yoghurt at Carrefour). The prices for dry goods and packaged goods are better at Carrefour. I get to Carrefour at promptly 9 AM when it opens so there's usually lots of fresh fruits and vegs so the produce picking isn't bad either. Prices for cheese and dairy products at Carrefour are also excellent. We consume huge quantities of reggiano parmiggiano and it's half the price at Carrefour compared to Spinneys. I go to Spinneys for the meat and pork products, some of the produce and for a few special packaged goods such as Waitrose's canned organic tomatoes. Waitrose, however, does have slightly better meat. Once a month I stop at Organics market for the chicken. NYCDoll, that's interesting, I buy all the household basics in Spinneys, as well as food, maybe I should try Carrefour for those. Does anyone know whether things are cheaper still at Geant? edited by Tallybalt on 16/03/2011 <em>edited by Tallybalt on 16/03/2011</em>
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 14:30
NYCDoll, that's interesting, I buy all the household basics in Spinneys, as well as food, maybe I should try Carrefour for those. Does anyone know whether things are cheaper still at Geant? Yes for sure !!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 14:27
NYCDoll, that's interesting, I buy all the household basics in Spinneys, as well as food, maybe I should try Carrefour for those. Does anyone know whether things are cheaper still at Geant? Hi Simple, no joke, just buying the household basics at C4 has saved me a fortune. remember that C4 will also run 2 for one specials. CoOp does as well. I think Geant is the cheapest place, (and they have really good steaks for some reason) but its too far a drive for me. Try doing it this way once and see if it makes a difference. By the way, the cheese and deli counter at c4 is just as good or better than spinneys. But spinneys produce and meats are far better. Seafood at c4 is good.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 14:25
Its annoying enough paying a fortune for basic items at the supermarket but whats more annoying is when you pay a fortune (i.e. 20 dhs+) for mixed 'fresh' berries and when you get home and open them they are squashed, old and mouldy. This happens ALL THE TIME with fruit here I find!! grrrrrr. I wonder how long it has been sitting there on the shelf or in storage somewhere.....miss the lovely fresh produce at home, I know exactly where it came from and how fresh it is! here you just fork out the cash and hope for the best!...
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 14:23
NYCDoll, that's interesting, I buy all the household basics in Spinneys, as well as food, maybe I should try Carrefour for those. Does anyone know whether things are cheaper still at Geant?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 14:21
Well, I'm spending far too much! 800 - 1000 each week at least for a family of 4, but I usually shop at Spinney's or Organics. I figured that saving afew dirhams here and there wasn't worth the inconvenience of doing the shop at several different stores, but maybe I should think again! Does it really make a difference? I think Waitrose own brand items are pretty reasonably priced and I often see some goods, the big pots of organic yoghurt for instance, that are more expensive in other stores? Maybe it's just that I'm buying brands or goods that are expensive everywhere, salmon for instance, and I can't bring myself to buy chicken anywhere other than organics!! I used to do the same thing. Buy at just spinneys-everything. Figured it wouldnt make that much of a difference...but it does. I think you are right-somethings I wont compromise. Organic chicken, good meats and fresh fruit and veg, or as fresh can be in Dubai, and a few luxuries like Rachel's yogurt. I get this stuff at either waitrose or spinneys, end up spending about 350 for the week. (we are 3 adults, baby and dog). Then later in the week, I will pop into carrefour for dried pasta, canned items, cleaning supplies, dog food nappies and formula. that will come out to 200-300. It does make a difference, it is a little annoying to have to go to different places, but with your savings-you can go get a nice massage or facial ;) <em>edited by NYCDoll on 16/03/2011</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 14:19
the price of berries etc in spinneys/waitrose is ridiculous. i've seen punnets of strawberries in spinneys for 38 AED..... while there are boxes in C4 and Union Co-op for 5... (maybe depending on season) :\: even things like the little bags of carrots, some supermarkets have them for 5/6 and others are 11/12! Strawberries from the States and Holland are expensive everywhere but the punnets from Eygypt are always very reasonably priced, even in Spinneys (when they're available)! that's the problem, a lot of the time, things are not in stock at all- I have experienced this with so many products and once even paid a fortune for potatoes lol :)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 14:17
yeah we thought that it was easier too to just go to waitrosse as it's closer to home- literally next door and both me and DH despise going into C4- it's always a zoo of some sort in there :) and it stresses me out :) But some things at waitrosse are grossly overpriced- like some yoghurts e.g. But I guess convenience and my sanity wins with me and buying ham :)
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 14:15
the price of berries etc in spinneys/waitrose is ridiculous. i've seen punnets of strawberries in spinneys for 38 AED..... while there are boxes in C4 and Union Co-op for 5... (maybe depending on season) :\: even things like the little bags of carrots, some supermarkets have them for 5/6 and others are 11/12! Strawberries from the States and Holland are expensive everywhere but the punnets from Eygypt are always very reasonably priced, even in Spinneys (when they're available)!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 14:11
Well, I'm spending far too much! 800 - 1000 each week at least for a family of 4, but I usually shop at Spinney's or Organics. I figured that saving afew dirhams here and there wasn't worth the inconvenience of doing the shop at several different stores, but maybe I should think again! Does it really make a difference? I think Waitrose own brand items are pretty reasonably priced and I often see some goods, the big pots of organic yoghurt for instance, that are more expensive in other stores? Maybe it's just that I'm buying brands or goods that are expensive everywhere, salmon for instance, and I can't bring myself to buy chicken anywhere other than organics!!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 14:07
We are just 2 adults and a baby and our grocery bill comes to 600-700 a week! we shop at waitrosse and actually had a chat about this the other day and discovered the 3 types of berries we buy comes to 100 on their own ! LOL and if we buy scottish salmon its 70-80 for 2 pieces! yikes and then ham too and nappies for baby.. sometimes it comes to more than 700 if we include toiletries etc.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 14:07
Interesting comparison. Weird that it is the same in the US. Well surprising. I remember groceries being quite cheap there when I was there (eeeep that was 8 years ago... my life is flying by!) TBH i just googled online groceries USA to find a site, so it may be more expensive than other shops.... Just a note as well on the UK, most of the products included were on sale for 2 for 1 as well, so for eg you were getting double the Nappies and still a lot cheaper!! will do the other sites quickly to have a look :)
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 14:06
So I was a bit bored, and read this thread and out of curiosity did a quick online shop for the items listed, since I don't know what they were exactly this is approximate however if you were to buy these items in: Tescos (UK): you would pay 25 pounds Woolworths (Australia): 69 dollars Netgrocer (US): 63.50 US dollars So basically the UK is a lot cheaper, australia more expensive and the US about the same! Interesting comparison!!! Do you fancy doing a quick comparison with the Swiss Coop?! Will do it now!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 13:57
check out freshdirect.com enter 10013 for a zip code.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 13:55
Interesting comparison. Weird that it is the same in the US. Well surprising. I remember groceries being quite cheap there when I was there (eeeep that was 8 years ago... my life is flying by!)
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 13:52
So I was a bit bored, and read this thread and out of curiosity did a quick online shop for the items listed, since I don't know what they were exactly this is approximate however if you were to buy these items in: Tescos (UK): you would pay 25 pounds Woolworths (Australia): 69 dollars Netgrocer (US): 63.50 US dollars So basically the UK is a lot cheaper, australia more expensive and the US about the same! Interesting comparison!!! Do you fancy doing a quick comparison with the Swiss Coop?!
 
 

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