Shopping!

I'd arranged to go shopping with Katie today.  Katie suggested we went to Mercadona, rather than Lidl, as we usually do.  At home I was a terrible shopper, spending way too much money on food, each week. In Spain I have learned to be a lot more economic, with the food budget. It is literally a case of having to.  Money is a lot tighter here, for everyone, so we have to look closely, at how much we spend!

Anyway, this week we went to Mercadona.  Mercadona is owned by a Spanish family, having started off as a small butchers shop, in the Valencian region in 1977.  Mercadona has around 1150 stores nationwide and was voted 9th most reputable company, in the World by forbes in 2009.  

Last week I spend about 36€ in Lidl, for Jamie and myself, for a week. That is cheap.  I bought everything I needed and even had some left when I went shopping today.  I was highly doubtful, Mercadona could match that 'good value'!

Well I have to say I was right.  I spent a lot more in this typical Spanish supermarket this week.  I spend 60€ here, not buying anything out of the ordinary, and a further 16€ in Dialprix.  I literally spent over double, what I usually would.  I will most certainly,  go back to Lidl, next week!

Part of the reason, anyone of us, spend more money in one place, than another, is the range and variety available.  Mercadona has far more choice, but also far more temptation! Unlike in the UK, there are also no weekly offers, to lower ones grocery bill, and supermarkets do not compete against one another.  For that reason, although prices are much lower, than in the UK, there is literally every reason, to shop around; using local markets and shops,  as one used to in Britain, in the past, the good old days.

We took Jamie out with us, as Jamie 1 was still in bed, sleeping, as he usually is.  It was early, so we popped into Barloko for a coffee first, and said hello to Roger, who was grafting hard as usual!  A leisurely few hours shopping, then back home to Casa Caprice.  Jamie and Jamie have gone into Alicante, I've decided to avoid the city and catch up with some work!

​Peace and love, always!