To ask your suggestions what it's ok to cheap out on?

[lettymoo]

I recently saw a thread about things it's worth spending more on to get better quality, but I was hoping to start a discussion about what things it makes absolutely no difference at all with and the lowest priced versions are just as good.

Some of the things I'll buy the cheapest/value version of include:
painkillers
medications
tortilla chips
cleaning products (although I'm starting to wonder about this)
printer paper
disposable razors
cotton wool pads

Would love to hear your suggestions!

Definitely medicine, I was cross the other day. Most cleaning stuff and soap/shower gel.

Cream crackers, custard creams, bourbons, sometimes cheese but it can be hit and miss, same with cheese spread.

Otherwise I find most cheap unbranded stuff is inferior.

Definitely medicine, I was cross the other day.

Why?

I tend to agree with other posters, there are more things where brands don't matter than where they do.

Tea & branded coke are some of my few exceptions, along with a decent brand of complete or total toothpaste.

I changed to a water filter from Wilkos this week (we are in a hard water area) as the cartridges are half the price of the Brita ones, it's a saving even though I've bought a new jug. I prefer the design of the Wilkos one too.

There was s poster on the other thread espousing the virtues of various make up products. I use astral moisturiser and baby wipes to clean it all off!

Shampoo or conditioner - the aforementioned Aldi brands or dove from Wilkos / home bargains.

Medicines - always generic brands, and if I have to ask at a pharmacy counter - I always ask for the cheapest brand.

Most raw ingredients are just that, ingredients. But some things I cant scrimp on.

Instant coffee. Has to be either kenco or l'or.
Tinned tomatoes makes a massive difference if they are cheap or expensive, you definetly get what you pay for.
Washing powder has to be big box Persil bio. I don't find anything else gets clothes as clean.

As for everything else I buy whatever is the best value. Sometimes its brands on offer, sometimes its own brand.

I have to say, I really disagree re. pasta. I generally buy supermarket brand and it's fine, but I definitely notice when I'm eating either the cheap/smartprice/basic version or the super-nice expensive version. If you eat a lot of pasta, fair enough not to buy the expensive kind, but it's not just the same.

I heard a tip on the radio the other day that you can add a teaspoon of sugar (oh the horror) to cheap tinned tomatoes for the same results. I've not tried this one yet as I bought some cirio ones on offer recently, but will definitely give it a go.

The key is to a avoid branded goods, and buy your fruit and veg in a market.

I recently bought my DCs some revision cards. I has little change from £5 in the high St but bought exactly the same online for £1.69

tinned tomatoes
passata
flour
dried fruit
frozen veg
houmous
peanut butter
strawberry jam
part bake baguettes
general-purpose cheddar (not other cheeses though, and do buy decent cheddar for some things)
pasta
mayonnaise
sugar
apples
onions

I use the rule of "second shittest" for thing like loo roll, squash, butter etc. And there are things I won't cheap out on, like minced beef, chicken, mozzarella, olive oil, certain spices/sauces

@Birdsgottafly kallax units.. b&m... why can't I find these?!

I heard a tip on the radio the other day that you can add a teaspoon of sugar (oh the horror) to cheap tinned tomatoes for the same results

Years ago I saw a live version of Ready Steady Cook (remember that?) and one of the things they said was that if you cock-up when you're cooking a dish, put in a teaspoon of salt (if it's a sweet dish) or sugar (if it's a savoury one) because that mixture of salt/sweet tricks your taste-buds into believing that it tastes nice.

That’s interesting redhats

Goes off to frame that advice...

Posh toilet roll blocks my toilet,I always but cheap

The best cotton wool cleansing pads I've found are the Aldi ones. Round, embossed on both sides , IIRC about 85p for 2 packs.

I used to buy the Superdrug oval ones (usually on a BOGOHP) but the Aldi are miles better .

Coffee otoh has to be Nescafe Gold Blend

Sanitary products
Towels
Shower gel/soap
Mascara
Notebooks
Cleaning products
Free weights
Underwear and socks

I'm sorry but I would definitely spend more on tinned tomatoes. The difference in taste between branded and unbranded is very noticeable.

I never buy chopped tinned tomatoes. It only takes seconds to chop the whole ones when you've added them to the dish. The whole ones are much better quality, and they're the same price. They use the sub-standard leftovers for ready-chopped because once they're cut up, you can't see the difference. I can taste it though.

I used to scrimp on chopped tomatoes and couldn't taste the difference until I tried expensive Italian finely chopped and now I can't use anything else.

Otherwise most own brand tinned goods are fine. Ditto frozen veg, chips, biscuits, cereal, cleaning products, loo roll, hand soap, yoghurts, cheese etc.

Everyone has their non negotiable items of branded food, but can other wise make savings by switching.

Re the tinned tomatoes - the programme I heard explained that the better brands use sweeter varieties and there clearly is a difference, hence the suggestion to try adding sugar to cheaper brands.

Reusable sanpro expensive to begin with but saves a fortune in the long run

a little - very little- sugar added to tinned tomatoes takes away the tinny taste.
Why do people buy bottled water? apart from the horrors of single use plastic, is the tap water not drinkable in some areas or something? Genuine question by the way.

Cheap (value) - tin foil, cotton pads, squash, sultanas

Own brand - pasta, butter, flour, ketchup, tampons, oats

Label - Mayo, tinned toms, loo roll, washing powder, washing liquid, cereal, crisps, beans, soup, bread.... omg and I had thought I was fairly frugal!

The Sainsbury’s version of head and shoulders shampoo is the only shampoo I like really and I have tried loads of expensive ones. It is perfect for my hair and my sensitive skin, moisturising but not greasy. And it is REALLY cheap!

We buy potoatoes straight from the farm in paper sacks. Soooo much cheaper than buying spuds in the supermarket - even if we don't use the whole sack before they start going soft it still works out cheaper (but the keep for a couple of months in the garage)

@dementedma

I very rarely buy bottled water but much prefer it to the tap water. I honestly do think the tap water in our town isn't as good as some. My dp and my friend both lived in the same town when the were younger (about 6 miles from here), my dp lives here with me now and won't drink the tap water because he says it's rotten compared to where he came from. My friend still lives in the other town but her gran lives here and she says exactly the same as dp. I think it probably does differ depending on where you are from.

@Mummadeeze

I'll have to try that. I like head and shoulders but refuse to pay the prices they want for it so only buy it on special.