Food splurges and food saves

[FlatteredFool]

The Co-op didn't have my favourite orange juice today and I had to get a more expensive one. It got be thinking about what foods I splurge on and what I save on. I've included household too. Waitrose is my usual shop but I'd happily have Tesco own brand too and miss shopping there (I no longer have the ability to get there in person and Waitrose gave me priority access in the lockdowns and have been excellent so I've stuck with them). Some things I'm not too fussy about, like cheddar will be whatever is the cheapest at the time

Save:

orange juice. I prefer basic, from concentrate orange juice

Tea - I'm happy with Waitrose own brand after loving Tetley previously

Laundry detergent - I use Waitrose essential brand and love it

Weetabix -Waitrose own again. Dc can't tell any difference

Tonic water- any generic one has been fine.

Chocolate spread

Splurge:

butter. Kerrygold has just gone up at Waitrose but having tried others I'm happy to spend more to get the one I prefer.

Passata and chopped tomatoes have to be Cirio. I never believed there'd be a noticeable difference in something so basic but there really is.

Soap Nesti Dante because it lasts months and smells great

Jam and marmalade tends to be Bonne Maman

Golden syrup. Tried the Tesco version once and it was dreadful.

Baked beans - have to be Heinz

Hot chocolate doesn't have to be twinnings but it's our favourite

Cheerios and other cereals apart from
Weetabix and porridge are branded.

I'm sure there's lots more. What are yours?

What’s your AIBU

I bought some Nesti Dante soap after reading about it on mumsnet. It's lovely and creamy and smells divine!

Must haves:
Bon maman jam, heinz ketchup, nutella chocolate spread, decent butter, Homepride pasta bake, decent oven chips, schwartz cheese sauce sachets, laundry and cleaning items, heinz spaghetti/beans/soup, decent canned tomatoes/passata, cadburys hot chocolate. Imperial leather/radox shower gels and aussie hair items.

Saves:
everything else! I am with you on tonic water. Sainsburys own is actually better the Schepps so I either get that or fever tree when its on offer.

Schweppes low cal tonic is vile. All own brand are better. Sainsbury’s own brand ketchup ditto but Tesco ok. Most cleaning products can use own brand but must be Persia washing powder. Alpro almond milk Sainsbury’s is very salty. You have to try own brand sometimes to discover what’s acceptable. Prefer Machu Piccu or Taylor’s coffee but Sainsbury’s is ok.

Must haves: lurpak, Branston beans, Bonne Maman,Fairy wash up liquid,Napolina lasagne sheets.

Swapped ketchup and mayo for morrisons own brand
Washing powder/liquid either tesco or morrisons.
Chopped tomatoes- Asda, tomato puree- whatever supermarket.
Kids low sugar cereal- any supermarket.
Dishwasher tablets-any supermarket.

@iwillalwaysloveyou

What’s your AIBU

Without fail. There's always one

Oddbutnotodd yep - Schweppes is appalling!

Must haves
Fevertree tonics
President butter
Proper cocoa powder for hot chocolate
Philadelphia soft cheese
Pretty flexible about most others I think?

Have you seen the program Eat Well for Less? I’ve been watching some episodes on YouTube - they swap families’ branded stuff for unbranded or different brands in plain packaging, and also do a blind taste tests of 5 or so brands of a different product each episode. It’s interesting seeing where the brands win and where the cheaper versions are better. In the majority of cases the family can’t taste the difference or think the cheaper one is nicer.

I think the only things we really buy particular brands of are Ribena and Ecozone dishwasher tablets. Everything else I’ve tried different versions and I’m happy with the supermarket brands - just not the cheapest chopped tomatoes as they (Sainsburys ones at least) are too acidic. I have preferred supermarket brands but they are more due to the specific product characteristics eg I buy baked beans from Tesco because they have no added sugar own brand ones (which are nicer than Heinz) whereas Sainsburys’ ones are only reduced sugar.