For most of us, the weekly shop is not something that we cared about before arriving at university. Personally, the independence and freedom that I gained from my own shopping was such an exciting experience. Selecting the best supermarket for me consisted of a few things; convenience, quality and cost.
"Selecting the best supermarket for me consisted of a few things; convenience, quality and cost"
Having a busy social life, spending time on your studies and sometimes having a job can often be quite a time management task. Luckily for Newcastle students, we have the benefit of having a Co-op situated in our Student’s Union. At the end of a long and tiring day of lectures many students will take a trip here. However, this is sometimes more expensive than other shops, yet it is still by far the most convenient shop to either grab something delicious to cook for tea or to treat yourself to a scrumptious (and well deserved) snack for the way home.
Many students may be used to a high-end quality of food whilst living at home. This lifestyle can in some cases still be achieved whilst surviving on a student loan. Just a short walk into Newcastle City Centre or West Jesmond, you’ll find the classy supermarkets Waitrose and Marks and Spencer. These premium supermarkets are often thought to be too far out of people’s price ranges, but this may not always be the case. Many people online have reported the bargains that they have found in M&S in both the meat and vegetable departments. Sometimes you just have to dig a little bit deeper to spot the top deals. It’s also important to still spoil yourself as a student from time to time, with some of my personal favourites being the tubs of chocolates that both M&S and Waitrose sell. Indulging on the odd expensive treat never fails to make me happy when I find myself swamped with university work.
"Indulging on the odd expensive treat never fails to make me happy when I find myself swamped with university work"
Some students will still argue that the quality of the food has to be sacrificed in order to fit the student budget. The majority of my shopping takes place in Aldi. Simply hop on the metro and travel to Gateshead stadium, it’s easy to get to and requires little walking. Whilst some will claim that Aldi products aren’t always up to the same standard, I would say that you can still have a healthy diet full of delicious, quality food whilst shopping at Aldi. Awarded with the label ‘cheapest supermarket’ by Which?, I believe that Aldi is the best supermarket for student shopping.
By: Kate Egan
