Value over branded?

[Maryshoppins]

Hi, not exactly an aibu, but...
I would like to reduce my food shopping bill to save a bit of money. I'm a little inspired by Jack Monroe's food blogs and would like to opt for value and store branded foods over big brands.

For anyone that has tried both, do you notice a big difference? And what about health wise. Are the lower branded products filled with crap to add flavour. I don't intend on buying meat products at all. Just tinned goods and dishwasher tablets etc..

Thanks

I'd agree with the simpler the better too. We get a mix of things. I mainly shop in Lidl and Morrisons. Morrisons own/ value lines tend to be good. Can't stand ASDA.

Check the labels and compare products. Some things are just as good. Some have cheap fillers. Some are deceptively sized and poorer value than suggested.

When DS's milk allergy was the strictest, we found that he could eat value apple crumble, but not own brand because it was made with oil not butter. Double winner!

I buy most things value if there's the option. Supermarket own meat free is never as good as quorn though! I don't buy cheap eggs either as they aren't free range.
Tesco value veg is just as good and I'd never buy branded cereal!

I have to admit, I don't buy value products. I'm frightened that the nutritional quality is lower. But then I have massive food issues so what do I know.

Sainsburys value products are great.
I think they are better quality than value products in Tesco - e.g. their value pineapple chunks are in juice rather than syrup.
When I have taken the time to compare some dried products e.g. custard their value packets nutritional info is exactly the same as their normal products.
Their value fruit/veg is fine, fruit is fruit it just doesn't always grow to a perfect shape.

A lot of the time it is the more expensive packaging that is the only discernible difference.

Value bread is minging though, don't go there. I think the rule about the simpler the product the better it will be is a good one to stick to.

I'm an Aldi/Lidl convert and I agree that you get quality products for the same price as value or basics products. The cleaning stuff in particular is excellent value.
If I can't get to Aldi or lidl then I prefer Sainsburys basics (I actually prefer some of there basics range in terms of taste to their higher 'quality' ranges) or Waitrose essentials (they seem to not skimp on quantity so you get proper value for money).
I hate Tesco and Asda budget ranges.

Sainsbury's basic flour makes lovely cakes and scones as well.
Their basic jaffa cakes are gorgeous. I really like the basic sliced peaches , I have them every day with greek yoghurt.

Yes, basics Jaffa cakes are one of the things I prefer over the branded version. Delicious!

Just to add, for cleaning/hygeine products, it's always worth looking in pound shops if you don't like what's in the supermarkets (I have cheap shower gels and shampoos can be very watered down).

I shop in Sainsbury's and buy a mix of basics, own and branded.

We have to have Heinz baked beans, spaghetti hoops and ketchup and decent kitchen/loo roll (although we buy that in cash and carry), but not fussy about anything else.

I buy the large basics cheese & tomato pizzas and add extra toppings

Basics biscuits
Tinned tomatoes/sweetcorn
Pasta/spaghetti/rice/flour
Potatoes/fruit/veg
Coffee - I like my coffee to look like dirty dishwater and find the Basics one isn't strong or bitter

I don't buy basics eggs or chicken (although the Sainsbury's basics eggs aren't caged now)

I cook a lot from scratch, so by the time it's mixed in with something else, it doesn't really taste any different

The basic mince is fine as well, though not as cheap as it was.

sainsbury's value bananas are fair traded too (starting to sound like an advert now!).

Some things I just wouldn't buy at all. Like pies and such. God knows what is in them, you can make a Cornish pasty using cheap cuts of meat in half the time. I am always a bit when I see adverts for cheap deals at all supermarkets- not just Aldi- and all I can see in the basket in the advert is coloured cardboard. It's all ready made stuff in packets. My shop is mainly green as it is cabbage (dirt cheap, cabbage) and so forth.

S buying value basic ingredients has to be right if only as it makes us cook

Not to bash, but I would also put a reusable bottle of water in their packed lunch and an apple. Fruit juice is a waste of money and bad for their teeth anyway.

first, no-one should drink smoothies, they are solid sugar and incredibly wasteful. It is a huge con to sell them as 'health drinks'. If you have teeth, eat fruit.

second, most value products are exactly the same as the branded stuff. Same factory, same product. Read the label if in doubt. The only possible exceptions are coffee, bread and things like that.

Just make sure you check out the price/per label beforehand I normally buy Sainsburys Basics, but noticed a while back that the Sainsburys own brand was cheaper per ml than the Basics range of Apple sauce.

We've also found that buying bigger packs is not always "bigger pack better value" when two smaller boxes of, say, teabags works out cheaper per teabag than a large box containing the same total amount.

And the shop brand pears are definitely cheaper per bag than the Basics - we always weigh to make sure.

It's a case of being reading all the details and weighing fruit/veg as they might try to confuse you deliberately with per bag/per unit/per kg/

Tesco's value kidney beans are awful - really undercooked & spoilt my last chilli!!

On the whole it's trial & error & trying.

Anything made for the German market by Lidl is nearly always great.

Due to very low income we have opted for value or Aldi for most things.
Tesco Value items worth trying are:
Carrots (unless Aldi have them at 69p)
Potatoes
Tinned tomatoes, tinned mushy peas
Tinned kidney beans
Rice
Pasta
Flavoured rice in packets
Tomato pasta (a great snack lunch)
Biscuits (especially bourbons and cookies)
tea cakes / breadcakes (though I find the loaves very dry the bread cakes are fabulous and great for packed dinners)
Orange / apple juice
The kids also like the value fish fingers and chips.
Also the value dishwasher tabs have been good.

I liked Aldi washing powder and softener, but they changed ingredients and I now can't use them (eczema) but you might be fine with them.
Fresh whole chicken is nice from Aldi and a lot cheaper than Tesco etc.
It's all trial and error really.

I dont mind value products at all, though like most things you will find something you dont like. With us its coffee (Douwe Egberts Pure Indulgence) so we are always on the lookout for it as a bargain and buy a few. Currently Co-Op has it half price.

I also dont like Aldi fabric softener (like the Pure) but the powder is ok.

The Aldi cream cheese and Goats cheese are ace as is the baked German ham

A rule of thumb for value stuff: the simpler it is- the less it will matter

This, basically.

I cook everything from scratch, and one you bung a load of herbs/spices in it, you don't notice.

Some things will be dodgy, but, if you check the label, a lot of the value goods are actually lower in calories, salt and sugar than the branded equivalent.

Potatoes, carrots, onions etc- no difference.

I make a lot of bread, and I find the Tesco value plain flour doesn't make me bloat as much. Make of that what you will.

My DC love cereal and seem to eat boxes in no time ~ I have tried all the value brands of corn flakes and rice crispies and none compare to Kellogs ~ I've even tried putting the value brands in Kellogs boxes but they know its not the real thing!!

No problem with pasta and flour though.....

I buy a fair number of value products. Everyday Value flour, tinned tomatoes, tomato puree, pasta, spaghetti, teabags, jaffa cakes, chocolate digestive bars (for packed lunches), value bananas, value tinned kidney beans, value rice, value cartons of apple juice or orange juice. I also buy value washing powder, or one of the other discount brands now availabIle. No problem. Value yogurts and chocolate mousses too. Also, I find that there is little wrong with value garlic bread.

I found value part-baked baguettes in our Tesco recently, and very nice they were too. As good as any other.

I used to buy value dishwasher tablets and had no problem with them, but our local Tesco has stopped stocking them.

At the moment we have little choice other than Tesco round here, but an Aldi is planned to open in about 18 months. I can't wait.

Amongst the few items that I don't buy in the value range are meat (I usually prefer it from the local butcher), and eggs (prefer free range for taste and ethical reasons).

I do check out what the offers are each week and work out whether or not it would be economical for us, and do sometimes end up with branded products that way.

In general though, I see most branded products as much the same thing in a more colourful and eye-catching packet, and a correspondingly higher price.

You do have to look a bit harder to find the value/basics/essentials range in many supermarkets. They do so often make sure that what you see at eye level is the most expensive stuff, and there's a reason why they do that.

I have smart price and morrisons value vanilla icecream as it has less fat in it. it tastes good to me. i did not like the iceland fake strawberry cornettos.

I love morrisons value wholemeal bread. tesco is good. asda do not do wholemeal.

aldi do cheap free range eggs.

i can also vouch for the value garlic bread from asda.

Then it will be free range eggs from Aldi when we get ours.

Tomorrow we will be having Value yorkshire puddings with our Sunday roast - 49p for 15 of them, and they are fine.

I adore the value/basics Yorkshire puddings, the Aldi ones are lovely.

Many value items are exactly the same as branded. Porridge oats, flour, sugar and bourbon biscuits for example. I buy Morrison savers or Aldi everything, Morrison savers bread is the best IMO and wholemeal is only 47p. I've cut the food bill from £90 per week to £60 buying savers and Aldi.