Tesco Value Cereal

[SoWorriedPleaseHelp]

We are facing huge financial difficulty so I am looking at ways to cut down. I do already buy mostly Tesco brand products but I am wondering about the value range.

For example - we buy Tesco Multigrain hoops - does any-one know what the value version are like. I don't want to buy them in case they are really disgusting as that will be a waste!!

Also opinions on other value cereals please

They are fine. I switched to them from the own brand stuff and the DC and DH have not said a thing.

Many thanks - do you get any other value cereal?

I always buy tesco's own - to the point where i actually prefer them to the brand names though. We did buy value "wheetabix" though and it was vile :( Watch out for special offers on the own brands though as sometimes these are cheaper than the value ones - DD likes the mixed cereal packs and when the kellogs ones are half price they are cheaper than tescos.

We buy porrige too if you can persuade the kids to eat this, its slow energy release and yummy.

Its pants having no money isn't it - we are constantly on a budget and shopping is a real stressor for me, although i can feed a family of three for £50 a week, with extras wine

PM me if you want more tips, we have struggled so much over the past few years, saving money is second nature to me and also have had to deal with creditors etc, mortgage arrears - your screen name suggests that you are really struggling, happy to help x

Cornflakes just t same just maybe a bit less perfect shaped than kelloggs. Bran flakes lovely and less sugar/salt usually (I haven't checked label) try them they're only about 27p if you don't like them make crispy cakes with kids!
I read a thread on MSE a while ago letting out tesco secrets that the tesco branded range was same as most of the value stuff cheeky buggers

I bought the malted thingys that are like shreddies and they were nice. The 500g cornflakes are 31p and just as good as Kellogg's IMO. Not tried others yet though.

Thank-you everyone. We have been in the very fortunate position until this week of having a very healthy income. It is not for certain (but I am sure it will happen) but my DH will be loosing his job come this Friday. Am so so so worried as my megra salary won't even cover the mortage.

So far the things I have thought to do:

Cancel Sky (or at least reduce the package)
Have already cancelled House alarm service
Cancel gym
Cancel cleaner, ironing lady and window cleaner (as I said I was in a very fortunate position )
Cancel direct debits for saving accounts
Cancel next years holiday
Ask to spread council tax payments over 12 months instead of 10.
Cancel my pension contributions coming out of my salary
Cancel DS swimming lessons

I have already sold all old clothes, toys etc on my facebook selling page so I don't have anything left to get rid of.

Does anyone have any experience of taking a "Mortgage holiday". I am with Santander.

I think the first thing you should do is talk to your mortgage company, depending on who your mortgage is with they may be willing to help you out in terms of letting you go interest only for a while. If you have credit cards etc and you start to struggle with repayments you can get them to freeze inerest, although this does affect your credit rating so only do this if a) its essential or b) you don't have a high requirement for credit in future. Talk to your mortgage company though, you will be surprised how understanding they will be, especially if you have been a good payer up until now - its good to give them a heads up in case you have to miss payments, also, so long as you don't go a whole month overdue, they don't charge anything - so if you can't pay one month, pay somehting, even if its a fiver. That means your account is still healthy.

I am obsessional about checking prices, tesco value tomato ketchup - 23p I actually prefer this to heinz now, its no where near as acidic. Same for the beans.

Start looking into tax credits, if you work over 24 hours a week, or is it 16? Can make a real difference. Look at changing phone contracts to cheaper ones if you can PAYG is often more expensive. Lots of companies offer significantly reduced payments for first six months but do the maths and make sure the savings add up over the year. Of course you cna only do this at end of contracts. Do you NEED a landline? can you run broadband from your phones? We can and are planning to do that as soon as bt contract up.

Hopefully this will be a temporary blip and your DH will find a new job soon xx

crossed posts there. We are with barclays/woolwhich and they have been great to be fair. I have heard that Santander can be less flexible although i think the key is to talk to them BEFORE you get into difficulties. Banks are bound by new laws to be accomodating to people in your position and offer solutions to problems so i think you will find that they will be understanding.

You sound really resourceful, you will get through this x

oh and get onto comparison websites for things like car insurance etc, you would be surprised how much you can save.

Do you have any income protection policies or redundancy insurance? You mentioned savings - is there enough to cover the mortgage for a few months?

Fortunately I have just paid for my next years car insurance so that is sorted. We do have income protection but I am not sure what it covers - will check the details.

We are already on 0% interest for credit cards - my DH does move them around to ensure we get that.

I am just hoping that the mortgage company will help us - if not we are completely screwed as I only earn £900/mth and the mortgage is more than that!

Look out the income protection policies. If the don't kick in for a couple of months, your savings might help until then, or the mortgage co might allow the holiday. You sound like you are dealing with it all the right way. Hopefully the unemployment won't last too long.

You can make reduced payments on the credit cards but it will screw your credit rating, its good to know you can do that.

Was thinking abuot you this morning as i was spreading my value jam on the toast At Tesco, look out for "Daisy" and "Oakdale" lines, they are tesco value in disguise - Daisy for household stuff - so the equivalent of dettol spray = 50p, Dishwasher tablets 40 for £2.50, they are not as good as finish but they do the job however they are much better than tesco's own which are more expensive. Oh and look at the "ethnic" isle if you have one - its mostly all tesco in disguise but significantly cheaper than the english stuff, and the dodgy "foriegn" names of stuff are good for a laugh too.

Can you tell im used to this!

The multigrain hoops, malted wheats (shreddies) and bran flakes are fine. The rice crispies are not fine. The corn flakes taste of nothing.

Mortgage company has said it's our own fault and so won't help us.

We will now loose our home. My poor poor boys :-(

Why is it your fault?

Will the mortgage company not let you switch to interest only? Do you have some sort of redundancy protection for you mortgage?
Will your DH get any redundancy payment?

I tend to buy aldi's own cereals of "cheerios" "shreddies" We much prefer them. But we found Lloyds very unhelpful when dh became unemployed last year. We could take a 2 month mortgage holiday but no longer or change to interest free for a year. I'd had people tell me that you could get mortgage holidays for 6 months. But apparently we didn't take that option when we took the mortgage out.

Definitely get claiming on the income protection and check any other policies you may have.

Op can you pm me please im out just now the mortgage company cann9t do that I can advise

Because my DH is probably being sacked - which means it is our own fault.

Our policies only cover illness.

In fairness it is his own fault as he has been accused of bullying and unprofessional behaviour BUT there is two sides to the story - however I don't think they will listen to his.

This is the link to the employment thread : www.mumsnet.com/Talk/employment_issues/1812830-Suspension

If they are anything like their dishwasher tablets and peanut butter then it will be exactly the same as branded cereal.

I have PM'd you soworried. Having read your other thread i would say, don't do anything YET, wait until you know what the situation will be as it could be that he actually isn't sacked (fingered crossed) i would put my neck out and say he will be ok but of course i don't have a crystal ball. Try and distract yourselves until friday x