to automatically ignore value brands

[somedayma]

I probably am BU because I could definitely do with saving some cash on my grocery shop. But I've had some v bad tesco value items in the past (soft rice crispies, plasticky tasting chocolate etc).

I was looking at value chicken breasts today, thinking 'they're probably going to taste the same as the other slightly more expensive ones once it's in a stew anyway'. but for some reason bought the more expensive ones anyway.

Value ready salted crisps taste the same as branded ones. Just FYI

Loo roll- I bought Sainsbo value rolls for a Hallowe'en game (wrapping DH in bogroll to turn him into a Mummy) .It was useless, ripped far too easily. Not worth the money.I certainly wouldn't use it to wipe with, my fingers would go right through it. I bulk buy in Costco.

Tesco Value Mushrooms- massive punnet. Bit mishaped and ugly, but I'm going to cut them up anyway.

We live near a LidL and the quality of the dairy and cold meats is much higher than any other UK supermarket.I don't think continentals would tolerate the crap the British get sold!

Oh, that's interesting dandelions - I've heard before that it's all in the packaging. I'm sure the butter for example all comes from the same, famous, butter-mountain

jugglingwithsnowballs.. when I'm in a financial position where I have pots of money then I will start caring about animal welfare, if its a choice between buying cheap chicken breasts and expensive ones and I still have to get a fiver of gas to cook them then cheap stuff it is!

I buy quite a few things from the like range like bacon, eggs, yoghurts, cheese, biscuits, beans, tinned spaghetti, dried spaghetti tinned toms, fruit, Pure orange/apple juice, veg and chicken

Things I won't buy cheap and have to be branded are Tom ketchup, bread, cereal, teabags and hot choc.

obviously from the value range

Apparently crumbling half an Oxo cube into cheap beans makes then yummy. Yet to test this though.

Things I won't compromise on:
*Tetley tea bags and Nescafe Coffee
*Decent loo roll - fanjo would never forgive me getting oneply cheapo stuff
*Cathedral City cheese - heaven

I find second-cheapest of everything usually works well for me

Why is it unpleasant seeker just because I care more about feeding my family than animal conditions? You have to realise that not everyone will think the same as you.

Although I understand completely that some principles are affected by the money in your pocket, I think it does matter how we treat animals bred and reared for consumption.

Surely something is either right or wrong? Generally, it's considered wrong to cause an animal suffering, which is punishable by a fine, ban or even prison in extreme cases. We've all seen cases on the news and been saddened. So why doesn't apply to livestock, despite the proven fact that it does cause suffering? The animal neither knows nor cares what its purpose is, but it definitely experiences and knows about the suffering that builds up to it, regardless.

I think the onus should be on legislators and producers to deal with this problem, since consumers will always vote with their pockets, especially in a time of recession, no matter how much it goes against their feelings. It is possible to breed, rear and slaughter meat in humane conditions and to do so at a cost to the consumer that is marginal (and may ultimately be cheaper do to the focus on locally sourced). But it requires legislation and motivation. While profit is king, nothing will change.

sunshineandbooks not in any butchers I know.

value everything is fine apart from ( for me) mince.

value chicken would be fine if it existed without salt and water added.

value soap powder, washing up liquid and dishwasher tablets - shit

value chicen stock was something ridic like 30p - its fine

I would never, ever buy value meat - mainly from a welfare perspective but also because value chicken/bacon etc is absolutely pumped full of water. It's not "value" if half of it ends up at the bottom of the grill pan.

I buy value versions of most other things though

We're pretty broke too ATM but we're a veggie family - eat loads of pasta with tomato sauce and cheese, and baked potatoes with hummous, cheese or beans.

Only really realised this Christmas how much cheaper it is, with threads on here about the price of turkeys or a goose etc.
Even though we have a great, festive Christmas dinner, I don't really have to factor in the cost of it into our costs for Christmas - just a few extra jars of chutney and sauces and we're away !
Money spent on booze does creep up a bit though

aldi/lidl - keep trying to buy in there but sorry its still crap and far too much hard work to find anything decent.

Never buy value meat of any kind especially mincemeat and dont bother with chicken breasts as they are full of water to make them plumped up. Crisps and snacks are generally higher in fat and use lower quality produce.
value orange juice is quite acidic so if you get acid reflux stick to brands.
Tinned tomatoes are safe for me along with any dried goods like pasta, rice, dried apricots, raisins. Dont really have much luck with everything else.

oh and definately not cheese - its turns into a big sweaty lump of fat on your food!

I do buy Waitrose basics of meat though as they only use freedom food certified meat

We have a Lidly near us which Im not too impressed with, maybe its just this one. Never been to Aldi - are they both much the same or is one better than the other?

Sainsbury Basics soap is great and lasts for ages. But I like unscented soap.

Another one for their flour, toilet roll and butter (for cooking, it's all right but I prefer other butter on toast and the other day the Basic butter was £1.19 while President was £1.21).

Kidney beans, bags of peppers and aubergines though I haven't seen them for a while.

Value garlic is terrible. Tiny, brown and musty.

My mum keeps on at me to get Basics kitchen roll instead of Plenty so I will next time.

The thing to do with mince is to buy less mince but of higher quality, and mix lentils in to add bulk. It's cheaper, healthier and better for animal welfare, so everyone wins.

Aldi is ace, especially for parties.

lidly

Cheap bacon. Might aswell throw a glass of water in your griddle pan. Pile o crap.

Morrisons super concentrated laundry liquid in various types (I have Bio) is very often on offer for about £1.30 for 980ml which is supposed to be 28 washes.

It's brilliant and smells nice. Thanks to whichever kind MNetter tipped me off. Sorry, I've forgotten your name.

"A Waitrose Value chicken is still a battery chicken that has lived a short and miserable life and is stuffed with antibiotics. It just has a posh accent and a bit of green on the packaging"

That is bollocks. Waitrose do not use any products of battery farming. All egg products used in their pre-cooked products are non-battery. As I said in my previous post, their value chicken is RSPCA freedom-food endorsed.

Most Lidl stuff is just foreign, not cheap crap. Some of their stuff is far superior to mist supermarkets.

Glittertwins, being kept in a cage so small you can't turn round, pissing over your own feet, never seeing daylight and suffering from numerous health conditions could hardly be described as being given a feather bed.

Buy battery if you must but don't try and pretend that the animals aren't treated in any other way than absolutely inhumanly.

Personally I'd rather have macaroni cheese than an animal that has been intensively farmed