To ask your "same but cheaper" hacks?

[Fishface77]

I've read that
Blue tin Nivea is a cheaper version of creme de la mer so I've bought 3 tins!

Please can Anyone recommend anything that is as good as the branded version but cheaper?

Great thread. We love Aldi although not everything is great. Basically we try all the copies of brands, anything we don't like we then revert to another supermarket or brand. The mayonnaise is good, dishwasher tabs, nappies, wipes, some of the beauty stuff. I don't have very expensive taste anyway though which probably helps!

Nip + Fab skincare is the diffusion cheapy line from Rodial, one of the most expensive skincare companies in the world.

Not a better than product but Primark's "climate control" tights are amazing!! Keep you warm when it's cold and cold when it's warm. They're nice and thick, but silky smooth and only like £5ish for 4 or 5 pairs. Oh, plus they have a label on them so you know which is front and which is back.

For those that buy matte lipsticks, stop - just buy matte finishing powder and dust it over your favourite lipsticks instead!

Primark new gym make up range, £2.50 lipstick in the black pouchy tube goes on smooth, dries matt and lasts all day, way cheaper than the maybelline 24 hr one I usually buy.

Meant to mention earlier. Sleek's blusher in 'rose gold is a well known dupe for NARS 'orgasm'.

Thanks for the Natural Collection blusher recommendation - picked some up this morning and it's very similar to Dandelion - goes on very nicely and only £1.99!

I second the Lidl jam recommendation. The sour cherry one is amazing nicer than Tiptree /bonne maman

I second the Lidl jam recommendation. The sour cherry one is amazing nicer than Tiptree /bonne maman

morrisons savers strawberry jam is really tasty and at 26p (I think) really good value we go through a lot of jam

Second the primark lipstick

Really hoping someone is going to give a dupe for Lancome Teinte idole foundation.

I think Lido's formula washing liquid is as good as any I have tried and i like it as the smell isn't too strong.

When I used to have periods I discovered that Boots own brand sanitary towels with wings were every bit as good as Always and far cheaper. However I've not used them for 2.5 years now so couldn't tell you if this is still the case.

I agree with someone upthread who said they just buy nearly everything own brand / basics version. Me too. I hardly buy anything branded.
I watched that Shop Well for Less programme with incredulity that people can be so stupid as to only buy expensive brands, when by their own admission they can't afford a holiday.

I buy all the cheap stuff and still can't afford a holiday so the programme was useless for me.

I'm always amazed that anybody buys Nurofen when you can buy own brand ibuprofen for a few pence and it contains exactly the same amount of the same drug. I always buy own brand medicine wherever possible.

Co-op bakery products are dead ringers for M&S ones and about 2/3 of the price.

Primark makeup got a very good review from Times beauty editor today.

Supermarket brand ibuprofen and paracetamol.
Lidl & Aldi - practically everything, but specifically Lidl's Serrano ham.
Baylis & Harding sweet mandarin & grapefruit handwash - smells exactly the same as Molton Brown but £12 cheaper

Nivea Soft in the tube or the tub is the best kept secret in whole wide world.

Nothing beats it.

Waitrose blackcurrant squash tastes like Ribena for less than half the price. I also prefer Waitrose tea bags to any branded ones. I was at a friend's house and thought I must be drinking some fancy brand so I asked. Never drunk a branded one since. Tbh, most of their own brand products are as good or better than branded ones. My dh loves shortbread. The only things I've found aren't as good are cola, frozen peas and baked beans.

Oooh! Must keep this thread!

I'm a big fan of Nivea Soft. The blue tin one is too heavy, but Soft is great.

Nyx make up is excellent.

Does anyone know if the Aldi fake 'Nespresso'coffee pods are any good ?
Just bought DH a machine for his birthday as it was an amazingly good price ...this may have been a mistake
He doesn't like Aldi own brand dishwasher tablets
I think their granola and biscuits for cheese are great .Ditto the chocolate .
A lot of their wine is very drinkable The ones with a lizard on .And Torro Loco.Gavi . I'm experimenting with others .
Haven't bought much meat there but DH says the steak is fine .
Nescafe is usually cheaper there .Their Irish whiskey cake could be passed off as home made
We prefer their version of Pringles (less salty)
Fruit and nut packs are really good
Their lemon and orange sorbets have bits of fruit in
And their plants are a bargain
Will try the mayonnaise as DD2 seems to put it on everything
Wish we had a Lidl near us

caged battery eggs taste identical to the local farms organic ones and are a lot cheaper

Isn't that practice illegal now?

Aldi Racer bars are just like Snicker bars (although a tad smaller) but you get about 6 or 8 in a pack for under a £1!!!

Also, their version of Baileys is just as good as well the original Baileys, my sister couldn't tell the difference, think it was £6.99 for a bottle!

I find buying the products in the Ethnic aisle so much cheaper than the shop's own brand. Things like coconut milk, rapeseed oil, chopped tomatoes etc. For example coconut milk is 40p instead of £1+ !!