As a new student at Essex, you may be shopping in the UK for yourself for the first time. In this blog, we’ll explain differences in food shops, price and where to find home comforts.
CLOSEST FOOD SHOPS TO CAMPUS
- The Store, on campus, Square 3
- The Mini Store, on campus, near The Meadows, The Pastures and The Copse
- Tesco, less than a mile
- Co-op, Haven Road, 1 mile
- Starry Mart, 1 mile
- One Stop, 1 mile
- Lidl, 1.5 miles
- Waitrose, 1.5 miles
- Aldi, 2.1 miles
- Co-op, Wivenhoe, 2.2 miles
WAYS TO SAVE MONEY
Lots of supermarkets now have a ‘card’ which gives you access to deals.
We recommend signing up for one of these at any shop you visit to help you get the most out of your money.
SUPERMARKET PRICES
According to Which, the cheapest supermarket is Aldi. Full list is below.
- Aldi
- Lidl
- Tesco (with clubcard)
- Asda
- Sainsbury’s (with Nectar card)
- Tesco (without clubcard)
- Sainsbury’s (without clubcard)
- Morrisons
- Ocado
- Waitrose
ONLINE FOOD SHOPS
Not a fan of shopping in person? Supermarket food deliveries are very common in the UK. Shopping online is also a great way to stick to a budget, as you are less likely to add unnecessary items to your trolley.
You will need to set up an account with your chosen supermarket and submit your address to complete an online order. You must be at home for the chosen delivery time and date.
If you live on campus, you can order your delivery to North Towers Taxi Rank or South Courts Taxi Rank.
OTHER TIPS
- Offers - check regularly to buy bargains week on week. They also help you to have some variety in your meals and try new foods
- Lidl is the cheapest for fruit and vegetables
- Frozen vegetables and meat is usually cheaper than fresh (and lasts longer!)
- Plan your meals to help you spread ingredients across multiple meals. This will stop you wasting food and make your money stretch further!
- Supermarkets will offer an ‘own’ branded item that is usually cheaper than an external brand e.g Sainsbury’s Microwave Rice Basmati – 45p compared to Uncle Ben’s Microwave Rice Basmati - £1
And our final tip... DON’T GO SHOPPING WHEN YOU’RE HUNGRY!