indulging my retail therapy needs by buying what I actually need - my groceries

Like everyone I have times when a bit of retail therapy just hits the spot. It's lovely to buy something luxurious like a gorgeous new perfume or beauty product, or something fairly practical, but still fabulous like wonderful Autumn shoes - to transition you from Summer to Winter, but I've found the best way possible. I make a game out of seeing where I can get what I really need such as my groceries for the cheapest price. I live within easy reach of an Aldi, Lidl, Dunnes, Tesco, Superquinn and Centra. After making a careful study of all the things I regularly buy and all the shops' prices, I know where to buy the most reasonably priced meat that suits me (Tesco 3 items for 9 Euro), the cheapest fruit (Aldi 6 items for 49 cents each), which can then be topped up by (Tesco 3 items for 3 Euro). I know that Superquinn is the only shop I can find that sells the ribbon noodles I like which are an extravagance at just over 2 Euro, but so worth it. I buy my facial moisturisers in Boots on 3 for 2 offers and combine that offer with any extra points they have sent me, so I get enough points on my Boots card to buy myself a little unexpected treat when it's coming up to payday and there isn't much cash knocking about.  I use my Tesco clubcard vouchers as well to get myself treats. Sure you can cash them in for groceries in store, but you get 4 x their value if you convert them to days out, restaurant vouchers or what I like best - magazines, so I get my Image magazine now through Tesco, so a year's shopping pays for that.

I suppose with the realisation that more tax cuts are starting in January 2012 and a water charge and a household charge coming down the line. I don't want to have to compromise my lifestyle anymore than I already have over the last few years, so while I've made significant cut backs in my entertainment budget, now it's time for some careful analysis of the best places to get the groceries. It'll also keep the retailers on their toes if no single one gets all my custom.

I do get a buzz out of this, knowing that I'm eating well for as cheaply as I can and managing to save the money for the equally important, but more fun things in life like going on holiday or doing up the house.