Improbable economics
Jul. 10th, 2011 09:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
inulroIn the epic stew-making process I had going yesterday, a very heavy pan got dropped on my 20-year-old cafetiere. While it's possible to just replace the glass, the metal parts had started to rust a while back so I declared it a write-off and went to Debenham's to get a new one.
The Debenham's brand ones were really cheap and nasty (surprising, because Debenham's is pretty up market), so I looked at the Bodum cafetieres. Until I saw the price. I almost had a heart attack.
I've been coveting a filter drip coffee maker for years but we don't really have space. The most basic model was on sale for £10, less than the cheap and nasty cafetiere.
That has got to be completely Bad and Wrong (yes I know the filter machine was probably made in China by child slaves). How can the electrical unit be cheaper?
Anyway, I have a new toy, although the kettle now has to live somewhere stupid.
Speaking of economics, last week's grocery bill also left me gasping for breath - my comment was "I either have to start buying ingredients and cooking[1] or shopping at Aldi.
Yesterday, we did both. I can be not too miserable if I make up a huge batch of something and freeze it in individual portions, so I cooked up a veggie stew (9 meals worth!). This week's experiment is whether Aldi shredded wheat is edible - it's 100% whole wheat so I don't see how it can go wrong, but in my student days I tried knock-off corn flakes and it wasn't pretty. I'll keep you posted.
[1] This may sound logical, but I loathe cooking to the point that it's a quality of life thing.
The Debenham's brand ones were really cheap and nasty (surprising, because Debenham's is pretty up market), so I looked at the Bodum cafetieres. Until I saw the price. I almost had a heart attack.
I've been coveting a filter drip coffee maker for years but we don't really have space. The most basic model was on sale for £10, less than the cheap and nasty cafetiere.
That has got to be completely Bad and Wrong (yes I know the filter machine was probably made in China by child slaves). How can the electrical unit be cheaper?
Anyway, I have a new toy, although the kettle now has to live somewhere stupid.
Speaking of economics, last week's grocery bill also left me gasping for breath - my comment was "I either have to start buying ingredients and cooking[1] or shopping at Aldi.
Yesterday, we did both. I can be not too miserable if I make up a huge batch of something and freeze it in individual portions, so I cooked up a veggie stew (9 meals worth!). This week's experiment is whether Aldi shredded wheat is edible - it's 100% whole wheat so I don't see how it can go wrong, but in my student days I tried knock-off corn flakes and it wasn't pretty. I'll keep you posted.
[1] This may sound logical, but I loathe cooking to the point that it's a quality of life thing.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-07-14 12:28 pm (UTC)I had a bad experience with Aldi lettuce and tomatoes, for the same reason you outline under fruit. I haven't bought anything fresh from them since, but after I got spring onions from the Tesco next door I discovered that they're 35p a bunch at Aldi so will be giving those a go next time I need any.