A thread for comparing branded and non branded goods; switch and save!

[itspeanutbutterjellytime]

Following on from another thread on this forum, I thought it would be useful to have a thread that compares branded and non branded goods. Everyone has been in a tight spot and wants to save some money, but can you buy cheaper/basic ranges that taste good, or even better? I've certainly tried to save pennies in the past but been disappointed with the results.

The aim of this thread is to 'try before you buy'. I'm going to switch one or two of my branded products (self confessed brand addict) for own brands or basics ranges each week. I'm going to taste them and try them on my poor unsuspecting husband too. Then I'll put the results on here.

If you'd like to join in the taste testing, please do and share your thoughts! I hope everyone can gain something from this. Happy comparing everyone!

Waitrose wheat biscuits taste just like Weetabix IMO. Aldi version terrible, however Aldi jam is in a similiar shaped bottle to Bonne Maman and tastes just as good.

Sainsburys Cola Zero, currently 12 cans for £2 instead of Coke Zero. It is really nice, tastes like Pepsi and has no aspartame :)

Sainsburys basic kidney beans 16p, absolutely fine if perhaps a bit softer.
Sainsburys basic chopped tomatoes 33p, fine as long as its a base for flavours to be added. A touch liquidy but just brought it up to simmer to thicken.

I used Boots own nappies once. Went back for a refund. DD wet once and they leaked. Pampers all the way for me. But I read on this forum that Lidl nappies are good. Havent tried them though.

Agree with you Rath, Sainsburys nappies has caused nothing but leaks in the PWB house. Back to Pampers for us.

Lidl nappies are fine IMO. Never had any leaks.

Aldi nappies are very good, as are Wilkinsons

Honestly cannot tell the difference with sainsburys own crunchy nut cornflakes or their shreddies.

I also prefer their orange juices and the basics garlic bread, oh and agree with the value bourbons. In fact all the value biscuits are lovely.

Sainsburys Basics tortilla chips are about 50p a packet and way, way superior to the much more expensive Doritos for slathering in nacho sludge and guzzling on a Friday evening.

Oooh I think I may be the only Lidl/Aldi hater on this thread! I'm sure there are some good ones, just not near me.

Asda tomato ketchup is better than Heinz IMO
Also asda own chosen by you cream crackers are exactly the same as Jacobs and about a third of the price. Most of their cereals are good too I've tried rice krispies, cornflakes and fruit and fibre, they all get thumbs up in my house.

OP don't worry I seem to be the only person in the world who doesn't like Primark!

is anyone in the 'know' about products that are actually the same but branded differently? Like Clarins is the same as something else but a quarter of the price. This may be wishful thinking I know

Dolly do you mean like certain Mothercare pushchairs are manufactured by the same company that manufactures Quinny. But sticking a Mothercare on it makes them cheaper?

yes that's exactly what I mean SurprisEs
like some make up is very expensive with one brand but cheap as chips as another, but they're made in the same place

Come on all of you in the know, let us all know!

I'm really curious too! Maybe tomorrow someone will let us know. It is getting late...

Would also like to know this! Just a note though about Sainsbo's cheap garlic bread, last time I bought some DH pointed out that it was cheaper to buy two single packs than the double one. Crafty sods tried to trip me up! Always worth checking!

Moodykat I spotted that, recently looks like the same price but you do have to be careful.

It's also worth checking that anything you are buying to put in the freezer, check the price of frozen and fresh

Another vote here for M&S sausages! We don't have Sainsburys, Lidl etc just a Tesco and independent stores and I find M&S great if I make the most of the offers. The Dine In for a tenner can get us a big chicken (two main meals and at least one soup meals), some sort of veg for a risotto or frittata type thing another day, something like apple pie, plus a bottle of wine for general slurping and caserole. The packs of 20 sausages can be had as part of a regular three for a tenner deal which often includes gorgeous thick bacon, mince and and chicken thighs which can be used in various ways to feed DH and 2 DDs for the rest of the week.

I'm an aldi nappy convert. I did use huggies but the aldi ones are just as good if not better IMO. Also the wipes are fantastic too.
Tesco value chocolate digestives are just as tasty and around 40p a pack

nice idea for a thread :)

I like the sainsbos basics hummous much more than the regular stuff.

Also, their basics plain flour seems just as good as their own brand.

Tesco butchers choice sausages are as good as sainsburys taste the difference pork sausages, and didn't give off nearly as much water as I expected. Will be trying Sainsburys cheap sausages too, and see if they are any good.

We have tried all the nappy brands on sale in Sainsburys too, and the eco ones leak like a bloody sieve, totally useless. We now only use huggies or Pampers, depending on which is cheapest on the day - Huggies currently have good deals in Sainsburys (£6.65 for a big pack) and are cheaper than the 2 for £15 Pampers deals!!

Sainsburys tomato ketchup is the best we've tried - DH won't eat any other kind now.

I'll second the Sainsburys' basic chocolate, the milk is quite nice too!
Don't ever buy the turkish delight Sainsburys' chocolate, its vile.

I find that all the basics stuff that is just a single ingredient. e.g. porridge oats, flour, oil etc is just as good.
And value veg, especially those giant punnets of mushrooms and bags of peppers are great as long as you use them up.
Also love own brand, but not value, cereals. They usually have less salt and sugar so are also much better for you.

And never ever buy branded paracetomol, aspirin, ibuprofen or hayfever tablets. The cheapest brands will be exactly the same and much much cheaper.

Sainsburys Basics chopped tomatoes - as good as any other, and come in cute little boxes rather than tins, which are easier to store and open.

Asda Smart Price biological washing detergent - perfectly fine on most items, doesn't really smell of anything so best to use it with a more expensive conditioner, but excellent value. (Am also about to try the Wilko value and Tesco Value versions of this. All are about £1.60 for 28 washes).

Sainsbury's Basics hummus - actually one of my favourite hummuses, really nice.

Sainsbury's Basics kiwi fruit bags - better than most standard supermarket kiwi fruit.

Essential Waitrose half-fat mayonnaise - I love the essentials range but this is really not that nice. Tesco own brand (not value) light mayo is the nicest non-Hellman's variety I've tried. (And I am a mayonnaise coinnesuer ).

Ooh and Tesco Value tortilla wraps are nice, but quite small, and at 89p you might as well get the huge ones for £1.

Also forgot Sainsbury's Basics dishwasher tablets which work better in my dishwasher than Finish etc. Superdrug Essentials also do boxes of 20 for 75p which are good too. Their antibac/duster wipes are also good, and about 50p.

Tesco Wheat Biscuits are exactly the same as Weetabix, if you check the label the ingredients, quantities, energy info are identical, wouldn't be suprised if they are made by the same company. They are a fraction of the price. Sainsbury's Wheat Biscuits are also equally good.

The following comments apply to both Sainsbury Basic and Tesco Value ranges: (I have 'taste tested' both ranges)

Cream cheese, exactly the same, tastes every bit as good. I think Tesco Basic Cream Cheese is 45p/tub whereas as Philidelphia is well over a pound.

Value porridge oats, as good as more expensive ones and much cheaper. Likewise tinned tomatoes, kidney beans, tortilla chips.

The big 3kg bags of pasta work out much cheaper than any other way too.

Value/basic frozen peas/spinach etc, just as good and a fraction of the price.

Tesco basics sultanas and apricots - a fraction of the price to the other ranges.

The market value/basic etc ranges of fruit/veg - the quality is just as good, the sizes are simply smaller/less even.

The Co-op simply value eggs (with the yellow writing on the box) are Free Range Eggs and are a fraction of the price of the others, the only difference is that they come in different sizes so you have to work out your own egg size. My MIL keeps chickens and let me tell you, they don't come out of the chicken with the size printed on them! Common sense and a big saving to be had.

I wholeheartedly agree with what someone further up the thread said, when it comes to 'single ingredients' eg. porridge oats, as opposed to something 'already made' eg. pasta sauce, it is often as near as good a quality/taste as the more expensive range.