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!

I shop in Aldi and Lidl, these are what i recommend from both:
jaffa cakes, chocolate, esp dupes for Bounty, twix etc., dairy products, cold cuts, fruit and veg, tinned continental stuff. I also use their transluscent powder compact (always used to use Bobbi Brown) this is fine, mascara, day cream and i use their moisturiser for mature skin on my neck as its rich. Multi vitamins, Lidl body lotion with urea, loo roll, washing powder, olive oil, - cant think of anything else right now.

Its very rare that i shop in other supermarkets, I'm lucky in that they're both in my neighbourhood. Highly recommend.

Yes to Sainsbo's Basics tortilla chips at about 50p a bag - especially if served with a dip made from Philly, chilli sauce and lots of fresh coriander (in which case, less economical though!).

Yes to Sainsbo's Basics white and dark chocolate but no to the milk.

Sainsbo's (not Basics) crunchy nut cornflakes are fine.

Basics kidney beans.

Basics mozerella.

Basics jaffa cakes are fine but the digestives are horrible.

Another vote for sainsburys basics chocolate, jaffa cakes and tortilla chips.

DHs best friend is high up in sainsburys and has told us that a great many of the sainsburys own brand products are the same but different packaging eg sainsburys normal own brand soft cheese (philly type) is exactly the same as the sainsburys basics. Only the packaging is different. The product is effcetively upsold to create the normal range rather than reduced in quality to make the basics range IYSWIM.

Interested in comments on Lidl as one is opening near me and my friends say that I will never shop there as they think they know me as a wait rose girl! But little do they know I always by own brand where I can at wait rose as it's just as good as branded. So whats the good things in Lidl to buy?

YY to Sainsburys basics mozzarella, they are the only brand to do mozzarella pearls as well; handy for homemade pizzas and lasagne.

red Lidl is the better of the 2 IMO. It does more branded products at cut prices. Cleaning products are also not bad; my friend uses and says its ok.

also YY to sainsburys basics mozzarella, it's good stuff.

and forgot to mention earlier, for weaning babies, sainsburys kids range of fromage frais are excellent - just fruit puree and fromage frais, no sugar. pissed off that they raised the price so much (£1 to £1.19, overnight!) but when there is no petit filous or munch bunch promotion on, I will get their own brand, and when weaning DS, it was the only one we used.

[hgrin]

Can we have a mozzarella quiche?

a basic one, of course :o

Mmmm mozzarella quiche, sounds good!

Oh, and Sainsburys So Organic hummous (sp ?) is cheaper than their own brand, so be careful there.

Basics choc, mozzarella, and fresh tomatoes and peppers are all brilliant. Basics cheddar slices are a big hit with ds (13) who is too pathetic to actually slice cheese .

forgot to mention sainsburys basics part baked bread (39p for two loaves), flour (52p) and breakfsat muffins. All good.

Sainsburys basics salad cheese is not rubbery like the tescos value equivalent. Its great in a quiche with a couple of spoonfuls of pesto. Feta and pesto quiche is the DSs favourite and I've got it down to £1 a quiche (but we have chooks and so have free eggs)

Asda light mayo is better than Helmans I think I'm also a fan of asda a d lidl nappies both far better than huggies which leak every time for me

Agree that Aldi is great for cold meat etc and their Irish recipie sausages ate as good as Richmond ones.

I used to work in a famous chocolate factory which has now unfortunately closed and transferred to Poland, but we used to make chocolate for tesco and Woolworth amongst others.

Reference sausages, don't prick them, cook in oven on grill rack turning half way through cooking, much nicer and healthier as all fat drains off.

Value brand red kidney beans taste exactly the same as the more expensive tins.
And I always buy Tesco value custard creams, I can't taste any difference.

But I don't like own brand jaffa cakes.

In fact apart from coffee I think everything I buy is own brand, sometimes the value range depending on what it is.

Tesco basics mozzerella is also really nice. Sainsbury's oatcakes, just as nice as Nairns (albeit they taste different, just as nice but different) and about a third cheaper. Also both Sainsbury's and Tesco pesto.

Lidl is amazing for jars of antipasto eg. sun-dried tomatoes, olives, gherkins etc, they are considerably cheaper than all the other supermarkets and much bigger jars. Their dried herbs are also good prices, as are tinned veg. Yoghurts are good, most of the chocolate/biscuits are good (all the those I've tried anyway). Their loo roll works out so much cheaper than the other supermarkets than even if you end up having to use more because it's not so thick, you still save money.

Morrisons nappies = very good.

Sainsburys redbush and honey tea = much better than brand name versions.

Waitrose teabags = much more flavoursome than Tetley.

Ooh think I'm the only one that likes Sainsburys Eco nappies! I had real problems with Huggies; ds would always end up with wee on the back of his left shoulder! Another friend had the same with her ds; perhaps they're not good for boys with their ever troublesome willies?

Tesco's economy orange juice is fine.
Lidal's cornato type icecreams are lovely.
Their W5 dishwasher tablets work and are really cheap.

Tonight I had Asda meat free balls instead of my usual Quorn balls (they'd sold out) and the Asda ones are much nicer! Bit meatier in texture but I'm not a vegetarian so didn't bother me.

I have tired smart price butter and plain yogurt from asda and they are totally fine (as Good Housekeepng magazine said they were) and the kids didn't notice any difference in the yogurt.

I get jars of artichokes in Home Bargains for a pound. They also have v reasonably priced olive oil etc.