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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:
pastypirate · 02/02/2022 07:46

@megletthesecond

Poundland. Not poundage ffs.
I like poundage. I might adopt that
Billandben444 · 02/02/2022 07:52

I like poundage. I might adopt that
Ha!
I've adopted Pets R Us

Tyredofallthis1 · 02/02/2022 10:02

@Vampirethriller You may like to check out Marriners Yarns. I've had great customer service from them, their basic dk (£1.25 for 100g) knits up beautifully, and I'm doing pretty well with some 4ply.
www.marrineryarns.com/

To be fair, I'm not thrilled with their patterns, but I look at their yarn first now.

Tyredofallthis1 · 02/02/2022 10:06

@pastypirate I remembered seeing this on Marriners Yarns

www.marrineryarns.com/knitting-yarns/marriner-midget-dk-bumper-pack-20x25g-14.asp

20 x 25g balls in assorted colours for £9 plus p&p

I usually scrounge around charity shops or eBay for mixed lots for that sort of thing.

Vampirethriller · 02/02/2022 10:34

@Tyredofallthis1 thank you for that, I'll have a look! I have a terrible yarn addiction.

Tyredofallthis1 · 02/02/2022 11:10

@Vampirethriller I also have a yarn addiction and Marriner Yarns don't help. It's the bottom end of the market, but everything I've had from there works and the DK knits up lovely.They have a pack of their value DK 20 mixed balls for £25 and one day I will be able to justify getting it!

(I was thinking of casting on around 200 stitches and then knitting every row in a different colour until I got bored. I think it would look awesome)

Linky to the pack - www.marrineryarns.com/knitting-yarns/marriner-dk-bumper-20x100g-25.asp I could get anything in the mix!

And to add to the bad influence, Yarn Paradise is based in Turkey and sells all the yarns. I mean, weird fluffy/metallic/loopy stuff with alpaca or mohair or cashmere as well. The prices can be really keen but the postage is steep and I have never managed to get it combined when I've got involved. But sometimes I just look for the temptation.
www.yarn-paradise.com/

SydneyCarton · 02/02/2022 12:39

@tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz I find it best not to bring the kettle to a full boil, otherwise it tends to go berserk and spit lemon juice everywhere Shock. I usually flick the kettle off before it reaches the boil, leave it to cool a bit, then give it another go if the limescale is still there. If there's just a layer on the bottom of the kettle I pour neat lemon juice (about 100 ml) in and leave it for about ten minutes, then just pour away and rinse Smile

InTheNameOfAllThatIsHonest · 02/02/2022 13:16

White vinegar to descale kettles. Fill it up, leave overnight, then pour back in the bottle (which is only used for this purpose). Rinse the kettle a couple of times. Back to new! Much more effective than lemon juice I have found.

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 02/02/2022 14:02

Does the limes scale not go back in the bottle that way though?

BibBib · 02/02/2022 21:50

They go through the dishwasher too, so stay clean and last forever!

lborgia · 02/02/2022 23:27

Still on the rice! I didn't read it that way.

She was talking about how to reheat the rice. She wasn't talking about when you'd just boiled it.

You're welcome (although I smiled at So Cross too 😊)

InTheNameOfAllThatIsHonest · 03/02/2022 12:58

@tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz

Does the limes scale not go back in the bottle that way though?
Yes but that doesn't affect the vinegar's ability to clean again and again and again. Just mark the bottle so nobody uses it for cooking purposes :-)
tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 03/02/2022 13:13

Wow! That's so useful to know, thank you!

harrystylestaylorswift · 03/02/2022 19:19

Home Bargains Indi Grand curry sauce pouches !!

pastypirate · 04/02/2022 21:17

[quote Tyredofallthis1]@pastypirate I remembered seeing this on Marriners Yarns

www.marrineryarns.com/knitting-yarns/marriner-midget-dk-bumper-pack-20x25g-14.asp

20 x 25g balls in assorted colours for £9 plus p&p

I usually scrounge around charity shops or eBay for mixed lots for that sort of thing.[/quote]
Thank you so much!!

Twattergy · 04/02/2022 22:13

The little £1 metal balls you put un the kettle to stop scale...fab!

Whatwouldnanado · 04/02/2022 22:37

Love a brown mascara and the one from Rimmel innthe blue tube is waterproof and lovely. Just £6.

howardmoonseyebrow · 05/02/2022 15:38

Superdrug’s own label products, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel , moisturiser etc, all cheap as chips and cruelty free

BooneyBeautiful · 05/02/2022 18:45

@Lampzade

Astral moisturiser. I have extremely dry skin and used to pay a fortune for expensive ‘ hydrating’ lotions. Most were crap Started using astral and my skin looks great. May not work for everyone, but it worked for me.
I believe Joanna Lumley has always used Astral moisturiser and she looks amazing for her age.
BooneyBeautiful · 05/02/2022 18:47

[quote Tyredofallthis1]@Vampirethriller You may like to check out Marriners Yarns. I've had great customer service from them, their basic dk (£1.25 for 100g) knits up beautifully, and I'm doing pretty well with some 4ply.
www.marrineryarns.com/

To be fair, I'm not thrilled with their patterns, but I look at their yarn first now.[/quote]
I agree! I only ever knit using chunky yarn (occasionally super chunky) and their chunky yarn is lovely! Some beautiful colours.

BooneyBeautiful · 05/02/2022 18:57

@InTheNameOfAllThatIsHonest

White vinegar to descale kettles. Fill it up, leave overnight, then pour back in the bottle (which is only used for this purpose). Rinse the kettle a couple of times. Back to new! Much more effective than lemon juice I have found.
I use white vinegar as a base for all sorts of things - organic weed killer, fabric softener, leather upholstery cleaner and laminate floor cleaner. Much better for the environment than manmade chemicals and also much cheaper than branded products.
Mrsjayy · 05/02/2022 19:09

When we had a dog I used to put white vinegar in the wash when I was washing his bedding. No wet dog smell when it was drying!

Coconuttts · 05/02/2022 19:43

Also the Aldi caviar night cream. It's fantastic.

MrsClatterbuck · 05/02/2022 21:15

We have moved from Heinz beans to M&S beans. 35p for large tin. dh approves he didn't like the Branston ones also their digestive biscuits which are cheaper than Mcvities 65p per 400g packet.

Also now use Sainsburys own brand liquid and fabric conditioner for washing clothes. I like their non bio with fabric conditioner but haven't seen it on the shelf for a few weeks now.

I also buy the large bags of Tesco finest crisps if none of the branded ones are on offer.

Insanelysilver · 05/02/2022 23:53

Collection concealer from boots. The one like a pen that you twist to get the stuff out and has a little brush at the end. It’s so cheap but I think covers way better than many of the expensive ones. It’s creamy but not greasy. Great for under eyes and anything else you want to conceal. I am quite fair but my skin doesn’t have a pinky tone , so I go for number two which covers rather than highlights my lines / shadows