Tesco reduced to clear

in my local tesco they slightly reduce food earlier in the day and then reduce it quite a bit more later in the day where it has about 80% off the original price. its about 7pmish they tend to reduce it to this low so I always aim to shop at around this time.

I just hate tescos and how they are taking over the world. They treat their customers with the same contempt as their suppliers.

What really annoys me is when there are say, 10 of the same item reduced and one customer takes the lot. I don't think that's right, it's just plain greedy. I always only take one or two and let others have a bargain too.

I've also noticed that Tesco (along with other supermarkets) don't reduce products like they used to. I remember a few years ago, they would reduce some things to 10p or even 1p just to get rid of the stuff. Now I think they would rather throw it away and let customers buy at full price. If they do reduce things, they are such small discounts that it's not worth it (If something is reduced from £2.99 to £2.89, I would rather buy it at full price and have longer to eat it, rather than having to eat it on the same day). I live in London and Tesco Express stores are popping up everywhere. I find that they do sometimes have good bargains as they want to keep the shelves stocked up but as the stores are new, they don't get much custom yet or Tesco haven't worked out what local people like so, for now at least, that's where I find the best bargains.

I'm a student in dundee and must admit that I find this article quite wrong, the riverside tesco usually seems to have a lot of great deals on clearance food. I frequently find tesco's finest products being sold for up to 90% off and will tend to fill my trolley and stock up for about 2 weeks on a 'motherload' day. I'll go home and freeze my beef steaks/bacon/.chicken breasts. I think the problem is that these aisles are usually plundered by students long before anyone else gets a look in.

Bargain hunters are eyed with contempt at the Barnsley Tesco.
The revolting guy who usually does the reducing will purposely slow time customers waiting to pick up a good deal.
They admit to hiding goods for other staff,no problem, I would do the same,but Tesco management want rid of the perishable goods and probably wouldn't appreciate the behaviour of the wierdos with the sticker guns exercising the only power they will ever wield over another person in their lives.

Staff in the Goole Tesco have developed an obnoxious attitude to customers looking to buy reduced items. Tricks like saving reduced items for off-duty staff members, giving reduced items to friends they see shopping and randomly hiding products on the way to the reduced counter if they see known bargain hunters waiting. The store has now threatened to limit reduced purchases to three items because of 'Complaints from GOOD customers' . Such a pity that Tesco seems to encourage their pitiful staff to exercise their rights to deter anyone from looking for bargains on a regular basis. Netto wipes the floor with Tesco on most regular prices and the staff are always friendly and happy to sell reduced items rather than throw them away.

I find the best bargains at our Tesco metro are around 3pm, just before the students get there! Yesterday I got a £4 tray of lovely pork chops for £1.39. Straight in the freezer for when I'm ready to put them under the grill, smothered in hoi-sin sauce (which I got cheap too!)

As I said before, if you're unemployed you could make more of your own food, not buy pre-packed, ready meals or fast food.

Try visiting high street markets (as opposed to farmers markets which are expensive), if there is one near you. Fruit and veg are much cheaper than you'd get them in a supermarket. If you have a garden why not try and grow some of your own?

If those aren't viable options. Try buying own brand or basic goods not big names like Heinz. Often they taste just as good and cost less. Also buy bargains, even if that means not eating familiar meals.

Most importantly, don't waste food and learn to use your nose, not the use by date. There is a use for everything. Veg tops, fruit peels, bread crusts can all be turned into meal ingredients for soups, crumb toppings, biscuits. Food that is supposed to be thrown out is usually good for a couple of days more.

Another suggestion is to try making some vegetarian meals. Meat is expensive, fatty and usually pumped full of hormones - particuarly intensively reared meat. A big bag of nuts, some rice and veg, a block of chees with a good stock - you've got the basics for some great meals.

I do most of these things myself and I'm not poor. So there's no stigma attached to being sensible about not wasting money instead of squandering it on pointless expensive food or food that's not good for you.

I am unemployed and really really struggling and my overdraft is about at its limit. I struggle to make the jobseekers allowance stratch to cover all my bills and once they're all paid I barely have enough to buy food with just a few pounds. I'm trying my best to improve my financial situation, I am getting plenty of job interviews but have not been successful as yet.

Can anyone suggest how to buy food on a very very tight budget?

They're getting smarter all right. If you go looking for bargains these days you won't find them. They don't knock them down till the last possible moment.

I think they've cottoned onto the fact that many people buy goods from the 'reduced' counter even if they can afford the main products, reducing their profit margins accordingly. It is bad news for those on a tight budget, I agree.

The best way to save money, on a tight budget, is to make your own food, not buy pre-packaged ready-meals. I haven't bought a loaf of bread for years now and I don't own a breadmaker either - nor am I on a tight budget. A home made load costs me a third of what I;d pay buying the same sized loaf. And it tastes better too. Same goes for biscuits and cakes.

My experience with tesco reduced items is very different. I always find amazing reductions every week. It might be store specific