What’s something you buy which is cheap/basic that is really good?

[Earbogeys]

Mine is bars of unscented soap from (predictably) Aldi, and also Waitrose own salt and vinegar crisps.

What gems are in your life?

The Pure range from Waitrose is cheap and wonderful. Great cleanser.

If haven't already been mentioned…. Sainsbury's Hubbard range, particularly the 35p tinned potatoes.
Not delicious on their own, but quick and easy to add to a crock pot, or even roast them...

I like the Camomile bath foam from Waitrose Essentials and the hand wash. Both just over a £1. Also M&S nappy pants for £3.

@zingally they’ve just brought a shampoo bar out. It smells lovely and is £2.50 so more expensive but apparently 70% more washes than their standard bottle. DH use sit this morning and reported; fine.

chateaudusavon.com/products/125g-savon-de-marseille-fanny?variant=15537585291331&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_campaign=gs-2018-11-14&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2onjjaTZ9QIVWertCh3JmgDMEAQYASABEgJvovD_BwE
Anyone tried this?

@BlackAlys
It’s full of stuff that you’d find in the supermarket but near the Best Buy date. Things are massively reduced, all the major supermarket brands are there from Aldi/Lidl to Waitrose/M&S and everything in between. It varies every week. We got a membership through my husband (firefighter) but police, nhs staff etc are eligible

@CrimbleCrumble1

Nivea Q10 when it on offer. Nice and Easy root touch up, I used to pay £50 a month to get my roots done. I’ve done my own colour since the first lockdown and it looks exactly the same.

I've found Boots own brand Q10 stuff is as good as (if not better than) Nivea, usually half the price and on a 3-for-2 offer. The anti-ageing serum is especially good.

Aldi moisturising shampoo and conditioner are good and very cheap, and their cleaning stuff (esp bathroom cleaner, shower spray and window cleaner) is excellent.

Aldi Picpoul de Pinet is lovely if you like a dry white that's a little citrussy and only £5.99. (My best bargain wine is Tesco Finest Cotes de Gascogne - bloody lush, not citrussy and only £6.50, sometimes £5.50 if you have a Clubcard.)

But best of all are Titan bars. They're like Mars bars used to be, before they put something horrid in the chocolate.

Some Waitrose essentials (or whatever they call their cheaper stuff) are good. Their essentials sausages (2 packs of 6 for £5) are as nice as butchers' sausages, their tea bags are nicer (and stronger) than Tetley, their mature cheddar is as good as Sainsbury's mature farmhouse stuff, and I echo what a PP said about their crisps.

@Benjispruce5

chateaudusavon.com/products/125g-savon-de-marseille-fanny?variant=15537585291331¤cy=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_campaign=gs-2018-11-14&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2onjjaTZ9QIVWertCh3JmgDMEAQYASABEgJvovD_BwE Anyone tried this?

That's a reference to Marius & Fanny by Marcel Pagnol, one that most people living where the soap is made would be expected to recognise. It goes with this one: savons.com/savonnette-marseillaise/58-marius.html

[quote catwomando]@NightmareSlashDelightful is it this one please ?

www.marius-fabre.com/en/black-soap-for-cleaning-and-home-care/65-liquid-olive-oil-black-soap-3298659558813.html

Do you dilute it? [/quote]
Yes, a little amount in a lot of hot water goes a long way.

@AuldAlliance yea I gathered it wasn’t soap for the nether regions. Made me laugh out loud though.

LakieLady thank you for the Q10 tip.

Yes @LakieLady and Racer bars. Like Snickers but better and just big enough to satisfy without too much guilt.

###Moisturiser update###

Went for a day out yesterday and went to a Superdrug. Asked about their own brand sensitive moisturizer and, despite a very helpful assistant, it appears they don't do it anymore ( or this particular shop didn't stock it anyway). BUT, they had Okay sensitive on offer so bought that.

Typo! Autocorrected OLAY to Okay ......🤣🤣

[quote flyingdream]@MrsTophamHat thanks for that. I rarely wear makeup but when my DD plays with it...I always have to keep a bottle of makeup remover just in case. I'll just use the coconut oil next time...much better for her skin! [/quote]
It may not be, depending on your skin type as its highly comedogenic. I'd personally never use it on my skin.

@LoisLane66

Thanks everyone for the rice cooking tips. I shall cook it tomorrow. 😁 I plan to learn how to use chopsticks too.

You also need the right sort of rice! Long grain probably isn't going to stick together in the same way.

www.ocado.com/products/yutaka-sushi-rice-408234011?ds_rl=1291426&ds_rl=1291534&gclid=Cj0KCQiAi9mPBhCJARIsAHchl1yNd85Cfsttx9ATFcn0Vj8ggpV9NWx9-UBFZP84i0k8c-4rm-Rz-asaAj5-EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds is kinda expensive but is great!

@loloballlolo

For any dry shampoo addicts - a box of cornflour is a very cheap substitute and better. I put mine in an empty herb jar to allow easy sprinkling. One box cornflour is about 35p and lasts about 2 years! One can of dry shampoo is about £2 and lasts about 3-4 months.

Bacteria feeds on cornflour. You are better off using talcum powder.

Iceland frozen paella in a bag. £2.50. You fry it from frozen and it tastes a million times better than the £8 M&S/Tesco’s finest meals.

@mixum I cut the bars in half or even quarters. Started doing it while travelling and never went back. Just wish I could find a bar soap that doesn't irritate my already dry skin!

I use bicarb to clean my bathroom - it brings the hard water marks off the shower glass brilliantly! Just make a thick paste and rub it on.

Is it only me who thinks this thread has been a wealth of handy money savings tips and belongs in classics?

agree with waitrose essentials sausages, so tasty

@Positiveyearaheadplease

Oh Asda, own brand toilet paper, much better than Andrex, Shades or something.

YES! We get the quilted Asda Shades, it soooo nice!

Boots Glow eye cream, it’s £4.

Ok a lot of talk of rice..here’s a foolproof risotto recipe that is so easy and so delicious, anyone can make it. It’s in my oven now! 😂

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/oven-baked-risotto

@MrsLargeEmbodied

agree with waitrose essentials sausages, so tasty

Waitrose essentials Brussels pate, so good.

@thisplaceisweird

I say the same, but how did we get into the habit of calling it "full fat Coke"? There is no fat in Coke or Diet Coke! It comes from saying 'full fat milk'. I really hate when people say this!

I thought it came from fat coke, ie Coke makes you fat as it has a million spoons of sugar in? Never heard it called full fat coke