Isn’t it great when something turns out better than you thought. Since working from home the only thing I have really missed is the exercise I got walking to work. Although I make sure I move around a lot during the day, my work is mostly sitting at a laptop and so by the end of the working day I am itching to get moving.
To make sure this idea to take exercise happens I thought I would try stopping the supermarket ‘big’ shop in the ‘van or using home delivery and instead get out on the bike two or three times a week to get all our shopping.
Previously, I have always done a bicycle shopping trip once a week mainly for fresh fruit and vegetables. In addition about once a month we would do what we call round here a ‘big’ shop to get store cupboard essentials and cleaning materials. We are lucky to have five supermarkets within easy cycling distance of home [no farmers market nearby unfortunately as we don’t live in that sort of an area] and I vary which one I visit to add variety to my trips.
I honestly expected this method of shopping to be more expensive, as I am visiting the shops more; however, the spreadsheet doesn’t lie and I am pleased to say I have found the opposite, it has actually saved us money. It helps that I do plan meals, make a list and stick to it as I hate to waste food and I mostly use the cheaper supermarkets. Also, I am limited to how much I can fit in to my [very roomy] Ortlieb pannier which stops some impulse buys.
So … the figures. For the first four months of 2016 our supermarket shopping [all our food and household items] average was £248 per month. For the last two months, since working at home and shopping by bicycle the average monthly spend in the supermarkets has been £212 per month, a saving of £36 each month. In May and June we were mostly on holiday, so different rules apply and these months are not featured.
We are saving money and I get out on my bike – a win-win, as they say.
Back on the road again 