Waitrose shopper brags about being the ‘unhealthy winner’ and their reduced haul that leaves others green with envy
WITH the cost of everyday essentials going up and up, most of us are looking to save at the supermarket right now.
One shopper, however, has divided the internet after they cleared the shelves of reduced bits at their local posh supermarket.
Though we all love a bargain, especially stumbling across a yellow stickered item while doing the weekly food shop.
Instead of finding odd bits though, one shopper found fifteen discounted ready meals in Waitrose and decided to clear the shelf.
Among the reduced selection was chicken breasts with bacon and cheese, meatballs, fishcakes, prawn spaghetti and even some schnitzels.
That wasn’t all they grabbed, with the thrifty shopper also adding a pre-made chicken sandwich, milk, oranges and apples to their haul.
Even more amazingly, they paid less than £2 for most of the items – despite being in Waitrose.
Thrilled with their shop, they later shared pictures in the Yellow Sticker Shopping Tips, Tricks and Hauls group on Facebook and joked that they were the ‘winner’ this week.
In the caption, they wrote: “5:00pm…the unhealthy winner.”
GREEN WITH ENVY
Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take long until other members of the group began to complain about the huge haul.
One complained: “Wow…I wouldn’t have the room. If I did I’d be right in there…”
Another moaned: “I’m usually the one who might be lucky and see one item amongst half a dozen left, that I might like, but then someone will be standing with a full shopping trolley full…”
They added: “Yes, there will always be some greedy people.”
Meanwhile, others couldn’t understand why they didn’t get similar discounts in their local Waitrose.
“I never catch the deals – what are the times they do reductions?” a third revealed, with a fourth saying: “Our Waitrose only reduces stuff by about 50p.”
SUPERMARKET SWEEP
This didn’t stop the huge haul from going viral in the group though, with the anonymous post received over 180 like in less than 24 hours.
In fact, most of the comments congratulated the savvy shopper about how many discounts they’d found in the posh supermarket.
“Yay!!! Great work!!! Get that haul in the freezer!!” excitedly wrote another Facebook user, to which a sixth said: “Naughty but nice, you can’t be good all the time… well done.”
Some even defended the shopper, arguing that people shouldn’t be judged for bagging so many bargains at the supermarket.
“Oooh look the green eyed jealousy crew lol…If u have nothing nice to say scroll on people,” pointedly wrote one member, adding: “No one knows other people’s personal circumstances.”
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
If you are planning to get some yellow label items during your next food shop, it’s best to work out what time the discounts are put on shelves.
Every supermarket is different, so it’s worth speaking to staff whenever possible.
Alternatively, the Fabulous team have put together this handy cheat sheet which will help make the most of the discounts in store.
When do supermarkets put out yellow-sticker bargains?
The time supermarkets reduce their products vary across stores.
Here’s a rough supermarket-by-supermarket guide:
Aldi
Aldi uses a red sticker to show reductions on fresh products such as bread, meat, fruit and vegetables.
This is when they have reached the last day of shelf life.
Red stickered items are most commonly found at opening and closing times.
M&S
Reduction times can vary from store to store but is most likely to occur near closing time.
Asda
Asda told Which? that yellow stickers are applied twice a day – in the morning and evening.
Co-op
Co-op told The Sun its reduced-to-clear prices are generally applied about four hours before the store closes.
Lidl
Lidl has a similar procedure to Asda and Aldi with reductions twice a day.
However individual stores may opt to reduce prices throughout the day.
Morrisons
Shoppers online have said that Morrisons does the best bargains first thing in the morning.
However, the store told Which? that there are no specific times for yellow sticker price cuts.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s told The Sun it’s at the store manager’s discretion whether to offer discounts.
However, shoppers have reported that the best deals are in the evening from 6pm.
Tesco
Tesco has said there is no specific time for reduction, but again most people found that prices were reduced from 6pm.
Waitrose
As with most of the other stores, Waitrose shoppers have said the best reductions are found before closing.
However the store stated that there is no specific time for yellow stickers to be applied.