It's no wonder people spend more than normal at Christmas time when the shelves are full of specially packaged food that looks so festive.
Everything is Christmassy red. This is Aldi but all the supermarkets have their aisles of Seasonal items, tons of chocolates everywhere. This was yesterday, so still plenty left for Christmas.
Have to say the thought of Pumpkin flavoured coffee doesn't get me excited!
I went to Aldi to get the bargain pre-Christmas Veg. Despite feeling guilty, as I expect they've cut the price paid to farmers too. But at least it's all British ( apart from the broccoli which I discovered comes from Spain).
Broccoli, carrots, parsnips and potatoes all just 8p a bag! Some years I can't take advantage of these specials as I've needed them a week before, and being on my own a bag of carrots lasts me two or three weeks, and potatoes last me more than a month, but this time it's worked out just right. I don't buy extra to freeze either - it wouldn't be worthwhile.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
Great price on the veg! My sister told me the cost of it and I was gobsmacked. I couldn't even get 1/2 a carrot at that price lol
ReplyDeleteThe supermarkets do it before Christmas and its big competition.
DeleteThe instant coffee isnt what you think it is. Pumpkin spice latte is very popular in North America in autumn. It's flavoured with the spice blend used in pumpkin pie. You loveit or hate it. I like scent but am not a fan of it. Might have one every couple of years.
ReplyDeleteSince I got my coffee machine I don't use these coffees, and pumpkin doesn't appeal at all!
DeletePumpkin spice doesn't taste like pumpkin, it is the spices used in pumpkin pie, as mentioned above. It's cinnamon and nutmeg and sugar.I don't drink coffee but I admit--- pumpkin flavored or just spicy, it sounds unpleasant.
ReplyDeleteyes, it's the spices that make it "pumpkin" flavoured, for it doesn't have much flavour of its own. Now if it was cardamon, that's a whole different seasoning and goes very well with coffee.
DeleteNo pumpkin involved in so-called pumpkin spices. It's a blend, usually cinnamon, allspice, ginger, with a touch perhaps of cloves and/or nutmeg, but whatever you'd like. All the warm spices you might put in a pumpkin pie. And yes, cardamom would work. But I always have a couple of cans of pumpkin on hand either for a pie or for a savory, garlicky pasta sauce. It's great with parmesan or romano cheese.
DeleteThere is finally an ALDI about 35 minutes away - I only go when I have an errand in that town but there are certain things I like to buy there. It also has some random things such as a light-up Nutcracker sort of like a snow dome, which I bought for my sister several weeks ago. She will either love it or hate it! I am hosting brunch on Christmas morning for my mother, two siblings and spouses, and five nieces and nephews, so I should probably make my shopping list now and go on Saturday.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a Happy Christmas!
Constance
The Nutcracker thing sounds a bit .............odd! Hope your sister likes it. Your are going to be busy on Christmas morning. Hope you have wonderful time
DeleteAn Aldi has opened here right next door to Waitrose and across the road from Sainsbury's. I'm astonished that there's enough business for all of them!
ReplyDelete4 miles west, we have Aldi one side of the road, Tesco and Lidl on the other. But 9 miles east there is an Aldi- with Sainsbury's, Iceland Food Warehouse AND M&S on the opposite side. I'm spoilt for choice.
DeleteMy nearest choices are Stowmarket nearly 7 miles away with Asda, Aldi and Lidl. Then Morrisons, Tesco and Aldi 10 miles in Diss in the other direction - all seem to survive. Everything more interesting is too far to bother with very often!
DeleteI'm not saying they haven't cut the prices paid to the farmers, but those bags of bargain veg at 8p a bag are called loss leaders. They are the items that are popular and so reduced in price, often absurdly, on which no profit is made but they bring people in and tempt them with other high ticket, high profit items. The winner is the shopper who only buys the knock down veg! Another example are cigarettes which have a very low profit margin of pennies but its what the smokers buy when they go in for their cigarettes that matters to the retailer.
ReplyDeleteAldi were originally advertising their Christmas veg at 9p, which then went down to 8p when Lidl advertised 8p! It's all a bit silly, luckily I kept to my list so they didn't make a big profit from me!
DeleteWe are going to Aldi to hopefully pick up some of the cheap vegetables today. I always have my fingers crossed that the farmers haven't lost out too much as well.
ReplyDeleteYes it's a worry
DeleteI wonder how much of the loss leader veg actually gets eaten. I know you will use it and other Sue but last year I saw people piling it up in their trolleys just because it was so cheap and therefore to be bought. As we are both still confined to the house, I hope our (full price) food arrives otherwise it will be an interesting selection of frozen and tinned veg to go with our turkey breast. Catriona
ReplyDeleteFrozen peas - always and the children used to prefer tinned carrots for years but hope your fresh stuff turns up
DeleteWe popped to Lidl today for some cheap veg, the Christmas shelves are full and typically for our luck, the one item we wanted was sold out!
ReplyDeleteOh No - how annoying
DeleteYou've got me Googling again, Sue. Digestives for you are cookies for us? Aren't biscuits for you also cookies for us? I've got my grocery list made but haven't headed to the store yet...soon though!
ReplyDeleteDigestives are a type of biscuits that are usually plainer than many other biscuits except when coated with chocolate like those in the photo. McVities are one of the best manufacturers of all sorts of biscuits. Cookies are usually fatter than biscuits. Technically biscuits should only be called biscuits if they have been cooked twice as the word comes from French for 'twice cooked'. More than you ever wanted to know!!
DeleteVery cheap vegetables - how could you resist?
ReplyDeleteOur vegetables are never low in price. Prices seem to have gone up yet again. Today at the grocer shop, I bought less than half a cart full of items and it was $115.
ReplyDeleteThe Christmas display at Aldi is huge with lots of nice choices. Our display might be half to a quarter the size.
I like my coffee, but not the pumpkin spice flavor.