Budget swaps that are better than the expensive, branded versions.

[CommanderBurnham]

I confess I now have very little supermarket loyalty, and as result will shop at virtually any supermarket, and I tart around buying what's on offer and trying different things.

So my question is, what do you buy that's budget/cheaper than the real thing but better?

I'm not a particular brand snob so I will buy own brand Greek yogurt, cream cheese etc but they're just cheaper, not better per se

So far I've only got:

Sondey Jaffa cakes
Asda coleslaw mix
Aldi brioche burger rolls
Aldi pineapple cheese roulade
Asda ready made pizza dough

I'd love to hear what other's recommendations are

Lidl’s multipurpose bleach mousse spray in the pink bottle (own brand version of Cillit Bang).

I have a Fragranite composite resin sink which can stain badly (teabags etc.). I tried everything, including pure bleach, Vim powder, Barkeeper’s Friend, bicarbonate of soda and ordinary C.B. None of them had any long lasting effect.
One application of this did the job and keeps the stains away for much longer.

Their dishwasher liquid and transparent eco washing up liquid (when they have it) are good, too.

Asda Stax (Snax?) Instead of Pringles. Unfortunately only in a couple of flavours. Plus the tube is recyclable.

Sainsbury's cheese curls - Not quite as crispy but far cheesier than Quavers!
Asda jaffa cakes

Ooohh. You've just reminded me. The black scoured from Wilko's is amazing. Lifts off all naked on crud with minimal effort. It's the equivalent of the damp dishwasher tablet. It's defunct so many sponges and chemicals:

Lidl potato salad
Morrison own brand mash

Love Asda shades coconut toilet roll, the fragrance is lovely. Also love their washing capsules

Aldi bagels
Aldi snickers and Mars bar copies
Aldi 0% fat Greek yoghurt
Aldi lighter cheese triangles
Aldi half fat mature cheddar cheese
Aldi reduced fat sausages
Aldi salad dressing
Aldi cat food (So I'm told by the cat)

After a thread on here a few months ago about best supermarket finds I bough some mayonnaise recommended from the world foods polish section in Tesco.
It really is the best! Creamy not cloying, tasty and thick. And about £1 for a decent sized jar. It's called winiary or something similar.

Tunnock caramel wafer anyone? Aldi’s version is nicer (a bit crispier) and cheaper and I think you get one more bar in the packet.

I love Aldi's flavoured gins-the violet, blood orange and pink grapefruit and there's an other pink grapefruit one that are lush.

I prefer Aldi baked beans to Heinz.

Sainsbury's own is often better than branded.

I don't like asda brand anything.

I used to prefer Tesco value crisps. And Morrison's crisps.

I prefer Iceland pringles.

Aldi’s baileys-Bally castle about £3.75 a bottle as aposed to the real stuff at £15/20 a pop

Tesco stock wells Mayo

@CommanderBurnham are the scourers their own brand? I can't see any black ones

@lilacmoon78

the lidl dupes for twix bars are better than real twix!

And their “Bounties” are better than the real ones.

Aldi Fruit and Fibre is loads better than Kellogg's.

I would really recommend getting a Costco membership, if you're eligible. Our experience of their own brand products (Kirkland) is very good - especially the toilet roll, dishwasher tablets, bin bags and other household stuff. Food-wise - peanut butter, pancake mix, bread products, tinned tomatoes, tinned fish, are all very good quality and good value (although everything is in bulk).

All of them. Same things in a different packet.

I bought Lidl's 59p roll on last week. I'd managed to run out and thought it would be better than nothing until I could get to a shop that sells my regular brand. It's been excellent. I don't know about better but less than 1/3 of the price.

Mind you, re PP I think Lidl mayo is practically the same as Hellmans.

[quote Gatekeeper]@CommanderBurnham are the scourers their own brand? I can't see any black ones[/quote]
They're made by marigold.

Aldi tonic water is better than Fever Tree!

I like Waitrose Essential tonic water best. The Fever Tree cans are too small, but the WE cans are perfect and its low sugar with no sweeteners.

My kids are very happy with the Lidl ready salted crisps that I bought instead of Walkers.

@AgeLikeWine

Lidl Greek-style natural yogurt is the best and the cheapest. Lidl Snickers equivalents are superb. Lidl mini-Magnums, called mini mix are better than the real thing.

100% agree on the Lidl mini Magnums, so much nicer than the actual ones.

DO NOT buy the Aldi version though - they look identical to the Lidl ones but taste awful - watery ice cream and waxy chocolate.

I never would have thought I would have thought I would say this but
Lidl mayonnaise.... happily go with out Hellmans for this only