Big Brands vs Own Brands

piglet6

I buy a mixture of own brand/big brand products, but tend to stock up on the big brands when they are on offer, so they don't actually work out that much more expensive than the own brand.

In order to do this, I regularly check the supermarket websites (Asda/Tesco/Sainsburys/Morrisons/Aldi/Lidl) and make a mental note of what is on offer where. I then tend to be a "supermarket tart" and trot between them all to take advantage of the relevant offers. It has been noted that this takes time, and some of my friends have commented that they value their free time too much to waste time doing this, but I am more than happy to surf the net whilst watching TV in the evening (and as nobody pays me to watch TV, I don't feel that net-surfing is costing me anything in lost time or wages). I admit that I am lucky in that I do get to travel to several towns for my work, so I get to "pass" a variety of supermarkets without going too far out of my way (I tend to visit them during my lunch hour, or on the way home at the end of the day, in order to catch the whoopsie bargains!). To be honest, I quite like the challenge of finding the right thing at the right price, and I could never imagine just going to one supermarket each week to do my whole weekly shop!

I think that one thing to bear in mind is that sometimes buying a slightly more expensive branded version of something can be cheaper in the long run - e.g. I buy a branded cat food because my cat eats 100% of it. When I tried him on cheaper brands, he will eat a few mouthfuls and then leave it (and believe me, I have had stand-offs with this cat when it comes to food consumption!! ). But working it out, it is cheaper if he eats 100% x 12 x 100g sachets costing £3, than eating 30% x 12 x 100g sachets costing £2. Similarly, I used to buy the cheapest toilet paper (after somebody pointed out to me that I was just spending to flush it down the loo...) but I finally realised that I was needing to use much more cheap, thin toilet paper each time I went to the loo. Spending a little more, but using less each visit worked out to be more economical in the long term!

Piglet

SuzieY_2

shandyclover wrote: »

We buy almost everthing own brand or value. We made a rule in our family everyone is allowed 1 brand each. For e.g. I get Twinnings Earl Grey, hubby likes real Tabasco, DD2 Arm and Hammer toothpaste, DD3 Tampax Pearl, DD4 Patterson Oat Cakes!
QUOTE]

I used to think this. Morrison's own brand (not value)are exactly the same. She needs to use 'her' brand on a bit more of a luxury (sp).

shandyclover

SuzieY wrote: »

shandyclover wrote: »

We buy almost everthing own brand or value. We made a rule in our family everyone is allowed 1 brand each. For e.g. I get Twinnings Earl Grey, hubby likes real Tabasco, DD2 Arm and Hammer toothpaste, DD3 Tampax Pearl, DD4 Patterson Oat Cakes!
QUOTE]

I used to think this. Morrison's own brand (not value)are exactly the same. She needs to use 'her' brand on a bit more of a luxury (sp).

Good to know SuzieY! She actually has a bit of a stock as we bought a fair bit while they were on offer. I also picked up that new brand Tesco's has now 'Halo' (pink packets) since their introductionary price seemed reasonable - will try the Morrisons own when stock is depleted. She's just gone vegan and hates the value soya milk - so maybe she can switch her brand to the 'Oat Dream' stuff!

Aarons_mummy

Most of the things I buy are own brand. Until recently I would only drink branded coffee but after purchasing a large Chosen By You tub I persevered even though I didn't like it all that much as I hate waste, after a few mugs I enjoy it and have saved myself a fortune on coffee. Sometimes you just have to let your tastebuds adapt and get used to the new taste. The only thing I can't get my tastebuds used to is Heinz tomato soup, there is not another I have tasted like it however I don't buy it unless I can get it for 50p per tin and then I have it occasionally to make it last. Everything else I am more than happy to substitute on food wise.

For shampoo and conditioner I must admit I do love Tresemme but I only buy it whilst £2 per bottle for 900ml which lasts me a couple of months so it's a good buy. Toothpaste I can only stand Colgate which I buy from £1land and again it lasts a long time so it's not wasted.

Apart from the few mentioned above I have substituted everything I buy and those I don't I buy whilst on offer to last through to the next offer I can almost guarantee you will find a cheaper brand (maybe not always value) but it still saves which is the ultimate goal after all

bearcub

Interesting about the baked beans. Just checked Branston ones in the cupboard, and they're 410g but as we always buy them on special offer in a pack of 4, they're always much cheaper than Heinz - I won't eat any other make, brand or not.

Co-op teabags are very good, but possibly not as cheap as other supermarket brands - don't know, as I've not bought any others for years. I drink tea strong and black, so it mustn't be bitter.

jokeyjo

the only two branded things my dh now insists on are beans and bread at one time everything in our trolley was a well known brand but with 3 growing kids we totally changed our shop of choice and now he is a nightmare to go shopping with but saves us money every week