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Original poster

Examples of false economy where cheap means crap

245 replies

unn · 10/09/2025 16:48

. Buying cheap baking trays and tins
. Buying economy washing up liquid. You need half a bottle to produce suds

OP posts:
Kate1234567 · 10/09/2025 19:41

Baby wipes. I don’t want to use 10 and still get poo on my fingers. Ew.

Nextdoormat · 10/09/2025 19:40

None Clarks kids shoes. Clark's shoe are not as good as they were, but my son. 10 years ago, went through a phase when he refused to go into any shoe shops and online shopping wasn't as big. I bout supermarket shoes, the lasted 2 weeks, tried others 4 weeks. Never again, I now buy Clark's shoes for DGD they were still good after 12 months, obviously kept ensuring they were the correct size. Latest ones cost £50, but considering they were worn every school day well worth it.

Bumblebee72 · 10/09/2025 19:39

Lawyers. Always get the best since it gives you more chance of winning. If you win the other side pays the costs anyway so it doesn't matter.

unsync · 10/09/2025 19:35

I bought some Lidl Cien face cream yesterday as people rave about it - OMG the smell of it is horrendous. Double whammy as I bought the night cream too - that also stinks but in a different way.

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 10/09/2025 19:32

Washing up sponges.
Printers

loveawineloveacrisp · 10/09/2025 19:23

Handbags

Itsnottheheatitsthehumidity · 10/09/2025 19:22

Steak.
Pies.
steak pies.
most of my contributions are food actually.
Except knickers. I need strong, not cheap knickers. Sturdy pants. Or they wear out quickly.

Original poster
unn · 10/09/2025 19:16

Blingismything · 10/09/2025 18:53

Wine

Oh yes! See in Sainsbury’s people buying Penguin Sands - their cheap line. It’s bloody awful! For another £1-£1.25 you get better wines. Plus more boozier

OP posts:
Darkling1 · 10/09/2025 19:14

Flat pack furniture and clothes from Shein etc.

MidnightMusing5 · 10/09/2025 19:09

Arlanymor · 10/09/2025 17:28

Toilet paper.

@Arlanymor nicky toilet roll from home bargains - cheap and excellent quality especially for price imo

PruthePrune · 10/09/2025 19:07

Shoes, bed linen and cookware. As a PP said earler, cheap anything really. I really hate cheap bedding though, it goes all bobbly.

PruthePrune · 10/09/2025 19:03

@YouCouldFallOutWithYourselfInAnEmptyRoom

Very good polint about the quality of clothes these days. Even the so called higher end clothes are shabbily made. For those old enough to remember the M&S St Michael label, the stuff they sell today is nowhere near as good quality as that was.

oncemoreuntothebeachdearfriends · 10/09/2025 19:03

unn · 10/09/2025 18:35

@CalzoneOnLegs I agree with the cheese. Those breeze blocks of economy cheddar have no taste in them. A couple of slices of a better quality cheddar - you can taste it.

Another food example- bacon. The cheap stuff has lots of fat and rind to trim off leaving with FA bacon.

Where are you ?

I haven't seen real bacon with rind for years - and the fat is full of flavour.

Sundaymorningcalla · 10/09/2025 19:01

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KnickerlessFlannel · 10/09/2025 18:58

Sausages

SunnieShine · 10/09/2025 18:57

looselegs · 10/09/2025 18:36

Was going to say the same!

Show quote history

I get cheap bin bags and have never had a problem.

CoralOP · 10/09/2025 18:55

Oooo my husband was left to buy a new mattress because he wasn't happy with our thick memory foam mattress. He was chuffed with himself that he found a king sized mattress for £250. I couldn't help but laugh and wait for the delivery knowing fine well it would be the biggest downgrade of our lives.
It came the other day, it was quite funny how disappointed he was with his 'bargain' and very much I told you so moment.
Now we are stuck with it until we get a decent mattress which certainly won't cost £250...and I'll be picking it!

Blingismything · 10/09/2025 18:53

Wine

Flinderskleepers · 10/09/2025 18:52

Tea.
Chopped tomatoes.
Chocolate.

godmum56 · 10/09/2025 18:43

actually most things. I am not talking about "labels" just generally decent quality.

Moonlightfrog · 10/09/2025 18:40

The things you use the most, so…..

bed/mattress
car
washing machine
shoes
sofa

also agree with bin bags

Alhambraeva · 10/09/2025 18:38

shoes and beds - if you’re not in one you’re in the other

BonjourMinou · 10/09/2025 18:38

Paint
Clothes pegs
Bin bags
Tights
Leggings

Original poster
unn · 10/09/2025 18:38

SpottyAardvark · 10/09/2025 18:32

Definitely tyres.

Cheapo tyres are fine for pootling around town at 30mph. But when you need to make an emergency stop on the motorway in pouring rain, you will which you had paid for proper tyres.

I was quoted at the tyre place near me to replace my two front tyres. The cheap tyres were just £8 less than the better ones.

OP posts:
Readyforslippers · 10/09/2025 18:37

The only really rubbish own brand thing we tried was dishwasher tablets, which hardly seemed to clean at all.

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