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Original poster

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

765 replies

Earbogeys · 28/01/2022 01:31

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

What gems are in your life?

OP posts:
CarrieMoonbeams · 31/01/2022 07:51

@Ineke

So this is the opposite of what this thread is about but Felipe I had to share it. In Asda the other day I came across an item which really aroused my curiosity, it was in a tetrapak type packaging and not in the milk chiller but with other types of milk, believe it or not it was Camel’s milk. When would this be used, is it good for allergies maybe. It was not cheap, about £3.00 but I just got to thinking of the work and air miles generated by a small drink sized portion of Camel milk. I bought it as I was curious about the taste. Not yet tried it though.
Have you tried it yet?

I had a glass of camel milk on holiday in Abu Dhabi a couple of years ago. It's strong tasting and quite salty I thought. I did drink it all, but didn't go back for a second glass, put it that way!

00100001 · 31/01/2022 07:56

@AmberPig

Love all the Aldi recommendations, I have a store right opposite where I work so I know what I’ll be doing tomorrow lunchtime!

Aldi biscuits are great. Their chocolate oaties are indistinguishable from Hobnobs, as are their Lotus Biscoff dupes. I prefer their version of Jammy Dodgers, although they are more raspberry jammy rather than strawberry.

I think a lot of these tips might be down to personal preference. I like Sainsbury’s baked beans, but DDs insist on Heinz.

A couple of my favourites are Asda mattifying facial sun cream, which actually doesn’t make my oily skin look shiny and is the only kind I’ll use on my face. It’s one of those I always think I should bulk buy in case it’s discontinued, and about a third of the price of branded ones. Also Creightons Frizz No More Curl Cream is great for defining DD2s unruly ringlets without crispness, which she hates.

Jammy Dodgers are raspberry....?
catwomando · 31/01/2022 08:04

Truearth detergent strips. £90 for a whole years' washing with no plastic at all.

They are little sheets that you bung in the washing machine or drawer. Work brilliantly, smell nice but not too much. And take up no space in the kitchen as they are in a small box.

We do a lot of washing and it's been a game changer.

catwomando · 31/01/2022 08:10

[quote PolaDeVeboise]@FooKingDong - no, no, no - Cheese Tasters used to be the best, but now they've shrunk and are nowhere near as good. Giant Wotsits are where it's at![/quote]
I'm still mourning the loss of Sainsbury's cheese footballs. They were even better than wotsits, and I love wotsits

netflixfan · 31/01/2022 08:13

Oh dear this has made me a bit fed up. I’ve been using the cheap options for so long, I’ve got nowhere to go with this! 😂

Amoriamo · 31/01/2022 08:43

I do hope this thread isn’t finished, I’m loving it.
I recommend Primark 3 in one eyebrow pencil, fantastic gel in one end, pencil at the other end and powder in the middle, all for £3.

Body care do a pencil for£1, fine point and a brush, gives great results on my thin eyebrows, although the colour is slightly auburn, used sparingly, it’s great.

gungemonster · 31/01/2022 09:08

Aldi skin on fries. 99p a bag and the best we've found.

GastroNuisance · 31/01/2022 09:18

@catwomando

Truearth detergent strips. £90 for a whole years' washing with no plastic at all.

They are little sheets that you bung in the washing machine or drawer. Work brilliantly, smell nice but not too much. And take up no space in the kitchen as they are in a small box.

We do a lot of washing and it's been a game changer.

Never heard of these. They look fabulous but as with soap nuts I'd worry they don't work.

I really liked smol detergents and they definitely did the job but I'm intrigued by these!

speakout · 31/01/2022 09:23

I spend around £36 a year on LIDL Formil laundry detergent, comes in a cardboard box, so no plastic either.

ollobololo · 31/01/2022 09:27

hi all, tagging onto the detergent ideas, I also use Lidl formil, but have realised that I only need a very small scoop of it to get a decent wash (I use a coffee scoop). I usually use 1 scoop but 2 for extra dirty. This works fine and a box lasts months and months. I probably spend about £15 per year on detergent!! Try using a lot less, you might be surprised how little you can get away with. I guess having a decent machine helps too.

Gonnagetgoing · 31/01/2022 09:51

I tried Smol but found the Fairy non bio liquid better.

They used to - a few years ago - do a big plastic bag refill but then stopped it. Why?

Gonnagetgoing · 31/01/2022 10:00

If any of you are in South London area - there's a factory shop for Rococo Chocolates there - found it by googling and they were favourites beforehand... not cheap or basic but really good!

Mine are the sainsburys cheeselets (not the jacobs ones) and the Tescos potato chips.

CoppidwellNan · 31/01/2022 10:02

Lots of recommendations for electric rice cookers. Could some please add the make they buy.
I have a very old Lidl electric one, was perfect for a while but now the bottom rice gets burnt or crispy. Thinking of getting a better one but unsure which to go for.

HaveringWavering · 31/01/2022 10:06

@Ineke

Felt not Felipe
I’m picturing a camel-herder called Felipe. He is Spanish but decided to cross the Straits of Gibraltar to Morocco and spends his days chatting to the lady tourists and wooing them with camel milk cocktails.
CoppidwellNan · 31/01/2022 10:11

Please say which electric rice cookers you have and love. My old lidl one now burns the rice at the bottom

TatianaBis · 31/01/2022 10:30

The cheapest rice cooker is a saucepan.

I never knew rice cooking was difficult before MN.

catwomando · 31/01/2022 11:00

@GastroNuisance they really do work. We had an eco egg for a while but found that there was a dirt build up. Not so with these strips. I'm a real convert. It's like real detergent but delivered in a much more convenient way.

Ineke · 31/01/2022 12:23

@LakieLady Yay! Picpoul de Pinet has been recommended to me before and I found it in Tesco’s. Agree that it is a very nice white wine and not expensive, glad you can get it in Aldi as I don’t normally shop in Tesco’s.

PeeAche · 31/01/2022 13:03

I came home yesterday with some Alberto Balsam shampoo (bar) and conditioner (bottle).

You lot better be telling the truth about this product because I didn't buy a back up. Trialling it tonight! 😅

uncomfortablydumb53 · 31/01/2022 13:08

@bossybloss
My neighbour works in the labs and I posted upthread.. a poster thought I should report my post!

Cissyandflora · 31/01/2022 13:27

@CannelloniMacaroni

Why the hell do some of you rinse cooked rice..?!? You’re supposed to rinse the rice before you cook it, or even let it soak for a few hours to remove debris and starch.
Lols. So cross
ICouldHaveCheckedFirst · 31/01/2022 13:44

Asda have rice cookers for £11, currently. That's the one we use. Normal price is £16.

Bluesheep8 · 31/01/2022 14:11

The cheapest rice cooker is a saucepan.

Quite

SocialConnection · 31/01/2022 15:18

Aldi sushi packs for a no-bread lunch is very lovely, and has the cute little sauce packets. (Sounds like a term of endearment ... hello my cute little sauce packet ...)

megletthesecond · 31/01/2022 15:27

Poundage fleecy shoe liners.
Primark halter neck sports bras. I live in them.

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