What products do you prefer the cheap version of?

[Fink]

I went to Fortnum and Mason this week (part of our exercise cycling around London) and treated myself to their hot chocolate powder. To my disappointment, at £20 a packet it's nowhere near as nice as my usual brand (Options), which is around £6 for an equivalent amount (and not because it tastes more like actual hot chocolate rather than powder, because I occasionally make real hot chocolate at home and it's nothing like that). My Dad prefers Sainsbury's own brand, which is even cheaper.

Is there anything you get where you think the cheaper brand is actually nicer?

Oh, Tescos salted caramel Baileys equivalent is just gorgeous and, imo, nice than the original.

Which is not necessarily a good thing as it goes down rather too easily!

Aldi's version of penguins (seals? Perhaps) are much better than the real thing.

@Nailsneeddoing yes I think so too but they've stopped it in my local lidl! Seems to be replaced by a yellow one which is also good but I loved the green one

We prefer the Lidl version of monster munch in our house

The supermarket cheapest tins of mushy peas that are usually about 15p are better than the branded ones

Pure orange juice as well - the cheapest cartons that are about 50-60p are better than the fancy Tropicana version in my opinion

We only ever buy the cheap toothpaste, mouthwash, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner etc as well because we don't really notice the difference

I don’t know how much cheaper but I much prefer Schweppes over Fever Tree tonic

Richmond sausages are so much better then premium ones

I like cheap cheese slices on burgers and I like cheap burgers to, proper nice expensive ones make my heartburn so much worse

Aldi baby wipes
M & S Doritos
Co op lemonade
My kids prefer Aldi chocolate hoops to wheetos

Lowering the bar a bit: Branson Baked Beans at Home Bargains beat Heinz hands down, Aldi Fruit and Fibre is much tastier than Kellogg’s. A handcream called Karmil, 99p in HB, is far superior to Molton Brown, l’Occitaine, etc.

Sainsburys do a big bar of white chocolate with almonds and hazelnuts in. Better than the Ritter one with hazelnuts or the Lindt one with Almonds and you get double the amount for less.

Also M&S Swiss mountain bars are better than Toblerone, especially the white one. Not hugely cheaper though.

Supermarket own brand ‘weetabix’ are much nicer than the ‘real’ ones.

Also own brand slab of dark chocolate is nicer than Bournville

Collection 2000 fast stroke liquid eyeliner - I’ve tried expensive ones in the past from Mac/Nars/Chanel etc but they all either took ages to dry, smudged or stung my eyes, the Collection 2000 one is £2.99, lasts for ages and stays put, it never smudges, I’m a big fan. Also the Revolution conceal and define concealer is excellent - in my option , it is just as good as the Nars concealer but about £15 cheaper!

What on Earth am I reading??? Sorry but some of these are just NOT nicer! Pampers wipes are much nicer I’m my opinion. Cheap coffee and chocolate is also definitely not nicer sorry!

My favourite lip crayons are Revlon. I love ELF’s concealer and Soap and Glory’s eyeliner pen.

Asda own brand tea bags (I'd swear they are Tetley in a red box).

I have to second/third/fourth Nicky toilet roll, never buy anything else.

Interesting to read about Asda own brand sanitary towels, I will have to give them a try.

Aldi Gold coffee

Lidl basic porridge oats (huge oats)

Asda’s version of Special K is superior to the real thing

Any supermarket own brand of lightly salted tortilla chips...usually under 70p a bag and absolutely delicious! Sainsbury’s are the best I think...

Aldi’s 17p lemonade. And supermarkets own, cheapest you can get salted tortilla crisps.

We don’t have an Asda nearby but I’ll make a special journey for their red label tea bags, and own brand sanitary towels (because they’re not perfumed) and non applicator tampons

I only drink tea and Diet cola. I much prefer the Lidl one. It goes flat quicker but I don’t mind that.

Aldi Night cream. I’ve got really dry skin and use it night and day

Morrisons ginger bits and Jaffa cakes

Jive bar fake twixes. They’re either Aldi or Lidl, can’t remember. The Morrisons ones are nice too.

Nicky loo roll from home bargains but have seen it in Lidl before.

Waitrose own brand tomato ketchup came out top in the Eat Well For Less blind taste tests.

Waitrose essentials bath foam is £1.10 for 750ml and it is really good. Lovely scents like bluebell or pink grapefruit or seamoss or chamomile.

Waitrose essentials baby wipes are something like 75 pence for 80 wipes and they are by far the best baby wipes I’ve ever used.

Aldi Coconut milk 🙌🏼🙌🏼

Aldi moisturizer is lovely and much cheaper than the brands. I go there especially to buy it!

One of the French supermarkets - I think it’s Super U- does brilliant own brand milk chocolate, far nice than Lindt.

Tesco or Sainsbury's own brand wine gums are way better than Maynard

Sainsburys crisps - way better than Walkers.

Nicky is so good Sainsburys stock it now so there the one with the mini travel toilet roll in each middle is a winner lol!!

Some of Sainsbury’s own soups are decent and their beans and sausage cans are too.

Would rather use a cheap eyeliner from Rimmel than Mac though!