A great big list of products that are cheaper but just as fab versions of their expensive counterparts.

[Thandeka]

Hello,
I just discovered that Baylis and Harding Handwash (Mandarin and Grapefruit) smells EXACTLY like Molton and Brown and is a fraction of the price (£1.93 for 500ml in Sainsbury's compared to £14 for 300ml Molton Brown).

Having already shared in Chat - I just thought starting a thread in Products where we could list all the things we discovered that are just as fab (and cheaper) than the posh versions and save us money.

(If this thread takes off Thandeka thinks definitive proof that Mumsnet is firmly middle class and not upper middle class/upperclass as per other debate!) If it doesn't- then it's just me the happy cheapskate.

I use up old wool and make 20x20 squares for washing cloths to use around the house. They last for ages and you can chuck them in the washing machine.
Tesco own brand towels are thick and soft and better than the John Lewis ones we got for our wedding at a fraction of the cost. I always but plain 200 thread count bed linen from Matalan, feels very soft and very good value, often in the sale too.

hi all
ive got my partner drinking supermarkets own brand lager ranging from £0.90-£0.92 for 4 cans,depending where u get it....asda tesco or sainsburys do it....
yes it is lower in % but all of the brand names ie carling,fosters are ever so slowly dropping the % of there alcohol,probz due to recession.
he has commented it tastes very similar and it saves us a fortune

Hacneybird

I am the QUEEN of black liquid eyeliner!!

Without a doubt you cannot beat collection 2000 eyeliner. It is the best and I have tried most.

Roneef - I agree about Collection 2000 black eyeliner (the one with the little brush which dips in a pot like an inkwell). It is very black and not watery like some. I used to swear by the No 7 one, Collection 2000 is far better.

Ihave a friend whose make up bag is filled with Dior mascara, Chanel foundation, Nars eyeshadows etc, however she also has Collection 2000 eyeliner.

The glittery ones are very good as well, they come in a variety of colours and are just as good as Urban Decay glittery eyeliners imo.

Tesco Make up is very, very good quality (except the eyeshadows which are a bit insipid).

I went into my local poundshop the other day and they had lots of toiletries called pure. Pots of lotions, bath salts, body scrubs, etc with a sample bottle at the front of each with Botnics labels on! The plactic packaging, and the contents exactly the same just a different label on. So if you see 'Pure' products in poundshop, they are actually Boots Botanics (which are rather expensive in boots in comparison).

I can't 'do' liquid eyeliner, always look rubbish don't know what I'm doing wrong.

Sainsbo basics orange juice is about 50p per litre, it comes in plastic milk type cartons.

I buy this when I am being too cheap to buy Tropicana.

Sainsbo basic olives (next to teh houmous in the fridge aisle) very good, I buy these now as opposed to the pots which cost about £3, DP can't tell the difference anyway.

Also basics tinned tomatoes for about 30p. Once they are in a bolognese or a chilli you can't tell the difference between these and Napolina 99p a tin tomatoes.

When we refitted our kitchen I became a Which? addict and checked out everything including dishwasher tablets for the new dishwasher we bought.

Apparently, if you're using a separate Rinse Aid and Salt anyway - Tesco's Value dishwasher tablets are just as good as the "Best Buy" Finish Max in 1 and a hell of a lot cheaper!!!

Notyummy

I think I love you for that link!

Just found the Fabulous Bakin Boys kingsize chocolate cupcakes on there - £1.50 for a box of 20!!!

DH bought those cakes and they were great. He took them into work for all the other guys as a parting gift because he was being sent elsewhere and they were very impressed!

(He may have omitted the fact that they were dirt cheap and just a leetle bit over their best before date...but apparently they were lush so obviously that wasn't an issue.)

My skin got loads better when I switched from Lancome to Boots No 7 moisturiser. And yes I had tried a number of different Lancome moisturisers and none of them seemed as good.

And Body Shop do a rip-off of Benefit Benetint which is one third of the price and equally good.

Yes, thank you notyummy! They have Pepperidge Farm Oatmeal and Raisin cookies which are my favourite biscuits and they are 40p a packet. Any savings I may make on tins and jars are going to be spent on cheap cakes and biscuits I think...

Better add my own little findings before my dribble ruins the keyboard...

Sainsbos basic brand shortbread fingers - 19p! And their own brand lemon curd 30p.

I also buy their basic mince 97p and just drain the fat off before adding all the other ingredients.

Hot tip from my hairdresser - she has abandoned St Tropez mousse tan for a cheapy one in Semi Chem called something like San Moritz. My sis has tried it and has been impressed (indeed she might be along to vouch for that)

Great thread.

Aldi do a shower cream in a blue and white bottle that is exactly the same as Dove, and costs about 79p.

Also, M&S do a great basic range of bubble bath, moisturiser, shower gel, soap etc - loads of flavours, £1 each and often on 3 for 2. The hand and body lotion is particularly great value, I have it on my desk at work, it has has a nice pump dispenser and lasts much longer than a little tube.

(Don't make the mistake of buying the body butter of 3 for 2 though, awful bloody stuff!)

Boots do a tub of Henna intensive conditioning wax. It's about £2 and it's a huge tub, just use a blob as normal conditioner and it makes your hair really soft and shiny (and the tub lasts about 6 months). I have long, coloured hair so I am a hair conditioning expert

Agree about the M&S basic range of shower gels - the coconut one is particularly nice.

Absolutely love this thread!!

Primark have a new range of 'funky spa' type toiletries, packaging similar to Soap and Glory. All smells fab.

Pound shop: 3 packs of malted milk biscuits for £1, I am addicted to these, they are ideal for dunking.

Baxters tinned chunky 'casserole soup' costs about 79p, tastes as good as fresh, keeps in cupboard forever. I'm a soup snob so trust me, I've tried the lot.

Basics range ready salted crisps, about 50p in any supermarket. Ideal for women/ dieters as they come in smaller packs ie 20g, and cost about 4p per packet.

Its propbably here already, but I have just discovered that lidl dishwasher tabs (£1.72 for 30) are just as good, if not better than Finish (about £5 for 30).

Lidl digestive biscuits
Lidl frozen fish (salmon en croute, lemon sole, salmon) - all v good and no more than £2 for 2 slices (all frozen)
Lidl nappies I believe have already been given the MN approval (although I personally like Asda's, 3 pack for £10 - get about 100 in all)
Lidl gorgonzola, brie and cheddar - all v nice and cheaper than supermarket (can't remember price right now though)

As you can see, I am a Lidl fan - have been for yrs - just a natural cheapskate me!

Barry M great for non-liquid eyeliner in array of lovely shimmery colours.

Also top for nail polish.

I find Sainsbury's Basics - esp. the fruit and veg - as good quality as a lot of standard supermarket and branded stuff. Can't say the same for the other supermarket value brands.

Tesco own brand baked beans are far nicer than heinz and cheaper too. Their value bourbon and nice biscuits are also really lovely.

brilliant link, notyummy - have just ordered a vast amount of food for £20! perhaps got a bit overexcited in the crisps/snack/biscuits/chocolate sections though....

Yep, not the ideal website for hardcore dieters methinks! I just finished off the last of my '5 packets of Jaffa cakes for £1' offer last night whilst watching True Blood.

And very nice they were too!