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What do you not buy anymore because you’ve found a cheaper/better alternative?

270 replies

fateisdestined2025 · 22/08/2025 11:43

Cakes for me. Homemade cakes taste better.

OP posts:
muddyford · 23/08/2025 15:59

Hellmann's mayonnaise got ridiculously expensive, tried Sainsbury's and can't tell the difference.
Ditto Nescafé Gold Blend so swapped to Sainsbury's Gold Roast on advice from a coffee-loving relation.

Mumofsoontobe3 · 23/08/2025 16:14

AlertEagle · 23/08/2025 13:16

I agree Aldi nappies are great, I love the big package as well.

Oh me too! Even the swim nappies are fab. I was sceptical but haven't run into any issues with them and 1yo is very active! Such good value for money.

RightOnTheEdge · 23/08/2025 16:18

Heinz beans and ketchup.

When I was younger I wouldn't buy anything else when the alternatives were like Daddy's sauce and cheap rubbish.

Supermarket own brands have got so much better now though that I'll happily buy their versions of most things.

I really dont like Aldi ketchup though.

Sheknowsaboutme · 23/08/2025 16:21

Always make my own cakes. Cant stand the thought of using cheap cages hens eggs. Boils my piss.

Jibberjabba · 23/08/2025 16:28

Aldi almat non bio liquid smells lovely

caringcarer · 23/08/2025 16:39

No longer buy branded strawberry jam like Bon Maman now but Aldi own. Taste ok on toast. Also I buy mostly supermarket own brands even though I could afford more branded products. I just don't see the point of paying more for similar product. I prefer Aldi Soupreme tomato soup to Heinz. Nutoka seems just as good as Nutella and ds never even noticed switch.

greengreyblue · 23/08/2025 16:41

All brands in supermarkets.

greengreyblue · 23/08/2025 16:42

RightOnTheEdge · 23/08/2025 16:18

Heinz beans and ketchup.

When I was younger I wouldn't buy anything else when the alternatives were like Daddy's sauce and cheap rubbish.

Supermarket own brands have got so much better now though that I'll happily buy their versions of most things.

I really dont like Aldi ketchup though.

I prefer Aldi/ Lidl ketchup to Heinz. Most blind taste testers do too.

Ratafia · 23/08/2025 16:47

I go out of my way to stock up on Asda toilet paper, as I much prefer it to branded stuff.

Annielou67 · 23/08/2025 16:55

Yoghurt . I add jam to make fruit yoghurt. Much cheaper these days.

the biggy is BREAD. Once I learned high water, no knead, bread - it is quicker, cheaper, healthier and much nicer than shop bought. Ok you can buy a cheap loaf for under a pound - but 3 big loaves from 1 bag flour and a small amount of yeast, sugar and salt. You can then get rid of the yeast and make sourdough.

Sgtmajormummy · 23/08/2025 17:01

I make my own Nancy Birtwhistle laundry liquid, limescale remover/toilet duck and window spray. Something like 80% reduction in cost, eco and more efficient cleaning.
Washing up liquid is the cheapest I can find and I use it with gay abandon! I only wash pans by hand and the eco stuff wasn’t good at cutting through grease.

No more fruit yoghurts in wasteful tiny pots, just jam on 1kg Lidl plain Greek yoghurt that does for cooking and baking, too.
Lidl fine porridge oats are almost as good as Quaker at a third of the price.

If you’re putting time and energy into creating a tasty meal, you can start with basic products like cheap dried herbs, pulses, flour and rice. No need for spice packets and cook-in sauces. Mutti tinned tomatoes are great but cheap ones are fine for lasagne.
We’ve also done away with vegetarian meat replacements like “bean sausages”. You always feel cheated. Just make real food, and if a recipe calls for something expensive, use an alternative (eg. turmeric instead of saffron, frozen peas instead of fresh asparagus).

I still buy plain cheap cakes like sponge or marble cake (not Mr Kipling syrupy waxy stuff) because my time and ingredients would cost more.

greengreyblue · 23/08/2025 17:07

Annielou67 · 23/08/2025 16:55

Yoghurt . I add jam to make fruit yoghurt. Much cheaper these days.

the biggy is BREAD. Once I learned high water, no knead, bread - it is quicker, cheaper, healthier and much nicer than shop bought. Ok you can buy a cheap loaf for under a pound - but 3 big loaves from 1 bag flour and a small amount of yeast, sugar and salt. You can then get rid of the yeast and make sourdough.

Why not add fruit instead of sugar laden jam? Frozen berries in the microwave are lush stirred through Greek yoghurt.

Allseeingallknowing · 23/08/2025 17:07

Tabitha005 · 22/08/2025 14:49

I've stopped buying cheap/cheaper scented candles and now only buy good quality - Diptyque mainly. They last a longer and give off much more scent. I reckon I spend only fractionally more overall. Everyone who comes into the house always comments on the scent - whether the Diptyque candle is alight or not - it still smells great even when not in use.

Are you Liz Jones?

Annielou67 · 23/08/2025 17:10

greengreyblue · 23/08/2025 17:07

Why not add fruit instead of sugar laden jam? Frozen berries in the microwave are lush stirred through Greek yoghurt.

you are right. I do make my own jam as well - not as much sugar as bought. I do like homemade jam in yoghurt. Seeds and fruit is good too though.

SecretNameforMN · 23/08/2025 17:32

I used to buy fresh orange juice until i discovered sainsbury's mango smoothie. It is like nectar from the gods.

greengreyblue · 23/08/2025 17:59

Annielou67 · 23/08/2025 17:10

you are right. I do make my own jam as well - not as much sugar as bought. I do like homemade jam in yoghurt. Seeds and fruit is good too though.

I microwave frozen blueberries and raspberries until jammy. I find it sweet enough but if not little honey helps. Or a tsp cinnamon.

ImGoingUpstairsToTakeOffMyHat · 23/08/2025 18:03

Pizza

Bases are pennies to make and I buy good ingredients like burrata and nduja to use on them and the quality is 100x better than the £5 pizzas for sale in the supermarket (and it’s cheaper per pizza)

MrsPositivity1 · 23/08/2025 18:11

@HeatingFiddler that sounds great. Can you share the Etsy seller please?

Cinaferna · 23/08/2025 18:21

StupidRules · 22/08/2025 14:22

I agree about the Jo Malone candle dupes, they are fantastic. Not all the Aldi candles are amazing though, you do have to be careful. The JM dupe handsoap pumps are also really good. They smell amazing and are so cheap.

How do you know which are the JM dupes?

HeatingFiddler · 23/08/2025 18:23

@MrsPositivity1 https://www.etsy.com/shop/ BattleFragrance

(Just remove the space between / and 'Battle' when you copy and paste)

If you like wax melts, all the scents she sells are the same ones you can get on Jo Malone (Pear & Freesia, Lime/Basil/Mandarin etc).

And 'Winter Woodland Walk' is definitely the same scent as 'Fir Tree' (White Company) and 'Christmas Night' is definitely 'Winter' (White Company)

No fancy packaging, but for a 1/3 of the price I am more than happy to find a nice box to gift it in!

MrsPositivity1 · 23/08/2025 18:24

Thank you 🤩 pear & freesia is my absolute favourite

NotABrokenClock · 23/08/2025 18:33

Peggydragon · 23/08/2025 15:30

Only on MN would someone be economising by shopping in Waitrose - this did make me smile 😉

Their essentials range is actually well priced tbf

Sheknowsaboutme · 23/08/2025 18:41

Annielou67 · 23/08/2025 17:10

you are right. I do make my own jam as well - not as much sugar as bought. I do like homemade jam in yoghurt. Seeds and fruit is good too though.

I also make my own jam. Blackberry. I have 24kg of berries in my freezer.😂😂😂

Auburngal · 23/08/2025 18:41

Lidl's sweet pickle is better than Branstons

Greenwriter76 · 23/08/2025 18:59

Haven’t bought jar pasta sauce for years - make my own. Sometimes make my own curry, pizzas, biscuits etc rather than buy, and agree that most is better than bought stuff.
Nearly everything own brand unless there’s a label I fancy on offer: ketchup, beans & tinned stuff, peanut butter, biscuits, loo roll, some cleaning products, fruit, bread etc.
I prefer branded tea (Yorkshire or PG Tips) and instant coffee (Kenco or Nescafé) & buy Lavazza for coffee machine - but currently have Tesco gold instant decaf coffee. Also tend to buy branded non-bio washing powder & conditioner, but have used own brand in the past.
Beauty stuff like skin & hair care, shower / bath, I tend to buy branded.

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