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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask for help being sneaky...

115 replies

OpalFruitsMarathonsandSpira · 24/02/2017 23:08

...and AIBU to do this?

We are on an economy drive. Already we are pretty good but I know we can get better still!

I want to refill the containers with similar but cheaper product - family won't notice, but will piss and moan if the bottle is different. I want to keep morale up.

E.g:

Listerine sensitive clean mint
Laundry powder
Dove men shower creme
Aquafresh kids mouthwash
Fairy liquid

OP posts:
BusyBeez99 · 25/02/2017 08:09

I tend to stick to one supermarket but I do change brands depending on what's on offer

Wheresthattomoibabber · 25/02/2017 08:11

My dentist told me never to use mouth wash until I had a gum infection and then she recommended using anything BUT Listerine because it's crap.

Megatherium · 25/02/2017 08:21

My problem with things like Fairy washing up liquid is that DH squirts the same amount in whether it's Fairy or supermarket cheap stuff. Reminding him just doesn't work. So it doesn't last any longer and costs a fortune.

Original poster
OpalFruitsMarathonsandSpira · 25/02/2017 08:22

I will definitely confess after a while. I just don't want to spoil the morale - especially of my husband. We have finally really got a good handle on things, and I don't want him to feel like there are no luxuries.

He is working long hours out of the home and I think it might be a bridge too far at the moment.

I am not a fan of brands per se, but he associates it with a lifestyle (80's and 90's advertising did a number on him!) and he needs time to adjust to new perspectives.

Maybe I should LTB Grin

We don't have Aldi here but we do have Lidl and Home Bargains and Poundland and B&M.

I love the gradual switch idea for the mouthwash - absolutely genius!

OP posts:
monkeysox · 25/02/2017 08:26

Probably don't need to swap brands just buy from home bargains or b and m or poundstretcher etc. Our spar had 110 finish dishwasher tabs for £7!

Original poster
OpalFruitsMarathonsandSpira · 25/02/2017 08:32

I've just checked the listerine in Asda app for colour and it is half off!

So I'm going to stock up but then switch it out on April fools day, along with the other stuff... If he notices I'll say "April fools!"

OP posts:
omnishamblesssssssssssssss · 25/02/2017 08:32

Maybe you could put away the cash saved and do something fun/silly with it when you come clean and own up?!

Maybe hire someone to make a cake which looks like a massive bottle of listerine? And sing 'happy brands-free day to you'. Blow out candles

Lordamighty · 25/02/2017 08:34

Lidl washing powder scored highly in the last Which tests, it came out near the top along with Ariel which is almost double the price. They sometimes have it on offer as well which makes it even cheaper.

ToastyFingers · 25/02/2017 08:38

Aldi's power washing up liquid.
It is, in my opinion, better than fairy.

Original poster
OpalFruitsMarathonsandSpira · 25/02/2017 08:39

Lordamighty I will try it. I've also been using less powder per wash and it makes no difference either!

OP posts:
fourquenelles · 25/02/2017 08:42

Am I the only person who was very disappointed with Fairy platinum? I usually use Aldi Magnum but bought the Fairy as it was on offer. Rubbish. Very little suds which disappear very quickly. Back to Aldi for me.

Trills · 25/02/2017 08:44

For food stuff (not toiletries so much) you can do a blind test pepsi challenge.

Here are two bowls of cornflakes, which do you like best?

Nobody can complain about getting the cheaper ones if they said they liked them best.

Chloe84 · 25/02/2017 08:49

My top tips:

ASDA Moments chocolate ice cream bars (£1 per pack of 3) are exactly the same as Magnum ice cream bars (but without the 'M' trademark). I wonder if the same factory make them for both Magnum abd ASDA?

Tesco Sensitive toothbrushes (£1 or so) are exactly the same as Sensodyne toothbrushes (£3 or so).

pink1173 · 25/02/2017 09:08

I do this with ketchup. Husband insists on Heinz. For the last three bottles I have bought From Lidl instead and decanted in to the Heinz bottle. He has never said a word!

Nanna50 · 25/02/2017 09:12

Rinsing your mouth after brushing your teeth is like putting on face moisturiser and washing it off. Why would you rinse the protection off your teeth? My dentist only recommends mouth wash for gum disease and then only certain ones as many can stain your teeth.

228agreenend · 25/02/2017 09:12

I've tried using Aldi washing up liquid and it was rubbing. Fairy really does last longer. Tesco washing up liquid is better than Aldi.

Also,did a Lidl shop,the other day. I expected dh and dcs to comment on the toilet paper or cereal. Wrong! The only thing they noticed was difference was the mince! (Usually buy Costco).

I think Msrtin Lewis et al say that if you go,down a brand in products (ie. Kellogg's to tesco), you will probably find amthird you like the old brands, but can change the rest.

Be careful with pound shops as they are not always cheaper. Ie. They may sell have an offer where you buy two Walnut Whips and get a third free. Ie. Three for £1, but that may be the normal selling price in Asda anyway.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 25/02/2017 09:24

My dh is a brand junkie. I kept the plastic boxes from fairy dishwasher tabs and fairy non bio capsules- we've been using own brand for about a year! With certain brands I did like they do on that programme- save per tin/packet = save per year. For example on lidl's oven chips (50p per bag) vs McCain oven chips (£2 per bag) it would save £78 a year. On chips. Needless to say, we switched.
I switched to lidl's shampoo and conditioner and it's honestly the nicest my hair has ever been. It pains me that dh won't switch from his l'oreal which is four quid a bottle and he's bald.

ToastyFingers · 25/02/2017 09:36

Aldi standard washing up liquid is crap, I really like this one though.

AIBU to ask for help being sneaky...
fourquenelles · 25/02/2017 10:29

Agree Toasty That Aldi Magnum is the way to go.

JaceLancs · 25/02/2017 10:41

I regularly refill bottles especially if the container itself is better
A few weeks ago someone at work pointed out that my sweet chilli sauce was a bit out of date (2012) oops
I was actually quite lucky as there is a policy about out of date foods and food sweeps are done every week
I just keep turning it round now so date doesn't show

Glastonbury · 25/02/2017 11:01

Savers and Wilkinson are great for cheap toiletries.

S1lentAllTheseYears · 25/02/2017 11:19

Hmm... I feel you pain but... I use faith in nature handwash as anything else leave my poor hands red and dry. I am positive tight wad DH tops it up with water to make it last longer as I will go to squirt some and it's way runnier than it's meant to be and I can see it sloshing around in the bottle when it's meant to be thicker. I have not said anything to him but I've added it to my mental list of things to add to the divorce petition!

Mrsmorton · 25/02/2017 11:26

I'm chuckling at OP resolutely ignoring all of the advice that almost all mouthwash is a waste of money. It is a waste of money. But don't let that stop you trying the gradual switch in order to waste slightly less money on it op.

CBA to give any more tips lest you ignore them as well.

Good luck!

Darlink · 25/02/2017 11:31

I've been putting lidl ketchup in a Heinz bottle for ages. No one notices

Original poster
OpalFruitsMarathonsandSpira · 25/02/2017 11:52

Mrsmorton Shock

Where did that rant come from? Dare I ask, did you mean to be so rude?! Grin

Should I just ban mouthwash from my home on the say so if a few pp? That's very silly, the point of the thread is balancing harmony and morale with pinching a few pennies here and there, and ethics.

I don't get vetos on my husbands minor purchases nor does my husband on mine.

OP posts: