I know we're all meant to hate Tesco but....

[JellyBelly10]

... I cannot believe how cheap, and how good, some of their Value range is. It is making a massive diference to my weekly shopping bill, some items are literally a quarter of the price of the things I used to buy. So here's a list of some of the Tesco Basic Value range that I would recommend (just in case anyone else cares about my opinion on this ) :
Cornflakes - 31p for a 500g box (yes that's 31p!!!)
Branflakes - 88p for a 750g box
Yogurts - 33p for 4 (a bit watery, but at 33p I'll put up with that!!)
Flour
-Peanut butter (really good! Cannot tell the difference)
-Apple Juice
-Orange Juice
-Chopped tomatoes (ok a bit full of skin sometimes but they are a third of price, so just pick out the skin!)
-Butter (not that much cheaper than branded alternatives, but you save 20p a pack or so)
-Tomato Ketchup
-Jaffa Cakes
-Eggs...
....ok I got bored putting all the prices in, but they are all dramatically cheaper than the normal Tesco range of similar products! Does anyone have any other suggestions about what I should be trying from the Basic Value range? I'm already buying some of the Tesco Market Value fresh produce such as apples and grapes and peppers and courgettes etc but haven't tried any other of the Basic Value items. What's good and what's awful? I need to reduce costs further, so other recommendations gratefully received.

eggyblackett, yes I really should do more Lidl shopping as it's much nearer to me than Tesco! I'm one of those people who likes what they know and knows what they like! So I get a bit scared of trying a whole different shop with lots of labels in languages I don't understand!! .... but yes, I really should go there as it's by far my closest supermarket. I don't think I could do my whole shop in there though, I've been before and they just don't seem to have everything I usually buy.

If the issue was about people on job seekers working there for pretty much nothing, i would have done that purely for experience and where i am theres a high chance of getting a job after

If im getting it completely wrong please tell me

Well for some people its the whole giant corporation taking over the world thing...various other issues to do with suppliers etc

Me personally its the workfare thing, not just people on jobseekers but people who are on ESA [formerly incapacity benefit] sick and disabled people etc ......

I love Tesco. Especially the club are points. We have a weekend away / Xmas shop saved up already.

Im with TalHotBlond - gotta love clubcard - we have a week in the isle wight booked in june thankyou Mr Tesco. Saying that, i find their staff disinterested and surly and much prefer sainsbury, but im not THAT rich!

oh and i never buy branded products, always supermarket own - my DP, many moons ago used to work in a sausage factory - the only difference between the brands alot of the time - the labels! Saying that, i PREFER tesco beans/ketchup etc etc - i really find heinz much to twangy

Jelly I mix and match..I try to do a Lidl or Aldi shop at least once a month for the staples that they do well. I popped my Aldi cherry this week - currently munching on some hot cross buns that are half the price of Tescos and I really can't taste tge difference.

I agree that it would be hard work to shop only in Lidl or Aldis though as there are some things that they just don't do.

Tesco peanut butter is like vaguely nutty lard. Blurgh.

Some of the prices are cheap, but that's at the expense of suppliers and workers. Some of the prices aren't cheap, they just pretend they are - like the pre-Christmas Big Price Drop con. Went very badly wrong because customers aren't stupid and noticed it was a big fib.

I dislike Tesco a. because they lie about their prices and b. because they behave like bullies - they have been aggressive about building new stores, for instance, and killing other local businesses. It's good to see them stumble for once, and not be the best in the business according to the City. I shop in Sainsbury's where they have a price guarantee on brands - if you could get the same stuff in Tesco or Asda cheaper, you get a voucher for that amount of your next shop. I do buy value where the product is OK, though.

Sorry. You won't convince me. When I have to go to tesco (when we visit Cornwall, thats all there is, there is no choice :o( I feel that their superior brand is only as good as sainsburys normal one, I really can't see how their value range is going to be any better.

I will admit I'm a brand kind of girl when it comes to cereals, beans, ketchup etc but pasta and tinned toms, things you mix with other things to make something, I'm all up for cheaper budget ranges, but you'll never convince me about tesco - or Asda come to think of it, the fruit and veg it awful

tesco canned/frozen value stuff is, i am told by someone who worked there at very senior level, sometimes the same as the other tesco branded stuff. you can't tell or predict because they have decided to run the lines and buy what best fits the spec at the time - so some times you might get equiv of berterolli tomatoes and sometimes equiv of tesco branded, it just depends on market at the time. Different for baked goods cos they always use lower grade flour etc. bread fine for kids parties! but not for my lunch...

we use one can value baked beans one can tesco normal baked beans mixed (we are family of 5). we use good tuna for salad but value for tuna mayo sandwiches or in recipes. so mix and match and yes, you can save masses. Veg and fruit also fine - we have got our weekly shopping bill down to about £60 inc packed lunches and dinners. breakfast always cereal/porridge tho

I know mrsm but that is my experience of tesco and I don't like them. You may love them and that's great for you,however I'm entitled to my view and to express it

Just had tesco delivery-included was our first purchase of value range shaving foam at 26p a can (almost bought the usual Gillette at £3 each or 2 for £4 on offer). Same size, ingredients the same and like for like seems as good (will report back in morning if passes the razor test. If no good I'm sure it'll still be fine for my legs. When I get round to doing them!)

Only difference is not paying for formula one sponsorship or footballers advertising fees!

I'm an ex food snob (can't afford to be anymore!) and with each shop I add one or two switches from brand to own brand, or ob to value. Online shopping gives me the time to browse I feel, as I do a shop and reserve the slot/checkout at start of week and keep revisiting throughout the week to sense check & have a good rummage (and remove half the chocolate!).

Sorry that sounded a bit narky, not in great mood this morning, shouldn't take it out on mn.

Still hate tesco though :o)

I loathe Tesco with a vengeance. They built a Tesco Metro in a town near me that was so vigorously opposed it was untrue. (riots etc) They did a survey of the local residents and 93% opposed it vehemently. Did that stop Tesco? No. They carried on and opened the Store, no-one goes in it, they don't stock alcohol and most of the time they have security guards on the door.

www.tescopoly.org/this is worth looking at.

I use mysupermarket.co.uk and it price checks the major supermarkets, except one. Useful to see how much stuff is in each shop and then if I have time, will get cheapest stuff accordingly or get it online and delivered. Some days of the week some stores offer free delivery, but means don't have to bring toddler to a store who won't sit in trolley happily for long. We've saved money by not adding in the extras you didn't intend to buy.

Yay, I like it when we're all friends :o)

Agree Mrs M. In an ideal world wouldn't we all like to shop at Waitrose?! (love their food!) But we can't. However, I would rather go down the Sainsbury's or Morrisons route than Tesco whose aggressive way of ignoring public opinion is not for me.

Talking of , that's another way of reducing your shopping bill! I used to buy 6 bottles of wine every time I did my shopping , my rationale being that it was best to buy 6 so you got the discount that Tesco give on 6 bottles. The last few weeks I have just stopped buying wine altogether which is saving about £35 a week, or £140 a month! This week I treated us to a 3 litre bottle of Tesco cider for £3.50!! So we've had alcohol this weekend but still feel sort of virtuous!

We are getting one 40 miles away (nearest town) and can't wait! We have been held hostage by Morrisons for years who, as the only supermarket, take the piss on prices etc. They apparently rank areas ABC, depending on demographic, and quality of produce 123 depending on what they can charge (prices are different in different branches, shockingly) and we have a C1 so worst produce and most expensive. I don't really care which other big supermarket comes as long as it forces some competition on prices and quality. Also, we are hoping we will get deliveries here as a round trip to the supermarket costs £££ in diesel and time. Love the chance to go to a really big Tesco or any other chain and see what you can buy.