Hi all,

Not around here that often but I receive all the updates and still like to keep my hand in.

Just done a dummy shop on-line at Asda at a total cost of £60, the same shop at Ocado was £95.   That's why I've shopped at Asda for the last 17 years, tried Tesco and Sainsbury at points in between but not worth driving there for the odd bargain or offer of the week.   I shop on-line and get free delivery with Asda.

BTW - no I don't work for them, I work in a school.   In fact I bumped into another member of staff in Asda last Thursday who normally does all her shopping at M&S.   Another bargain of theirs is a £5 pair of trousers which I've been living in for the past three months in between washes of course, in fact I bought my second pair two weeks ago.   My iron was £7, my kettle, £5 and my clock radio £3.50 - all full price and not in the sale.   The electric can opener I purchased 3 years ago or more was around £7 and is just starting to play up.

Dozey.

Hi Dozey,

That fab, so good to have a shop you can rely on and you know you're going to get a good deal. Unfortunately Asda doesn't stock all the stuff we usually buy, but I do agree there are some good prices and great staff. We've had some of the household stuff from there and I can't fault it - I never thought I'd ever love a potato peeler but the Asda smartprice one I got about 4 years ago is brilliant.

In fact my MIL was giving the big thumbs up to the tea towels we bought for drying up the dishes after a funeral a few years ago. I think they were 30p for 2 and they're only just getting a bit threadbare now, so they have a new lease of life in her house as floor cloths!

I couldn't agree with you more that paying more doesn't mean getting better stuff, in the same way that buying somewhere cheaper means you're getting the best deal (I'm looking at buying a new espresso machine and John Lewis is cheaper than Argos for the model I fancy!)

I have to say I love asda. I go to Tesco as its a bit closer to get to. But I do think its worth spending the extra time to go there. They dont deliver here which is a shame & they dont always stock everything I need but there is a Lidl close too so I can get all of my shopping between the two.

Yesterday I got 2 boxes of Pampers nappies for £18! So thats about 198 nappies a bargin. They are also doing trays of meat 3 for £5 i think - things like chops etc.

(No I dont work for Asda either I work in a vauxhall / chevrolet dealership lol)

Hope you love the new espresso machine, it's surprising how Argos isn't always the cheapest.  

I have a fancy for a breadmaker but never owned or used one before.   If you have any advice or know of a good buy, then please let me know won't you?

Cheers (when you taste your first coffee from the espresso).

Dozey.

Hi Dozey,

It's going to be a while before I get the new coffee machine, have a bit of saving up to do first! Our current machine is about 8 years old and it seems the pump is going a bit so it's probably time to say goodbye...

In terms of breadmakers I know alot of people like the Panasonic machines, they seem to come out top in Good Housekeeping and places like that too. I had just a really basic one from Argos, "Cookworks" brand and it was fine, the bread was very nice. I got out of the swing of using it though as our kitchen is so cold the bread didn't rise! So I now just make it by hand so I can put the bowl of dough into the warmer lounge to prove.