What Value things have you tried and liked?

MoneyQueen

I moved to all value/ smartprice for basics and honestly can't tell the difference. Though i won't eat any value ready to eat stuff

MQ

scottishminnie

The only value item which I've found I couldn't live with was Asda SP sweetcorn - it was vile so I've gone back to Green Giant. I buy the little tins so I don't waste any. I have to be careful though and buy them individually - I think they are something like 42p a tin but a pack of 3 is £1.72 - go figure!

The big success for me was SP chocolate digestives- I prefer them to McVities although my biscuit purchases are few and far between these days - we simply don't eat them much.

I have found that you need to watch the value/smart price prices very carfeully as sometimes they rocket ridiculously from week to week before being "reduced" again - e.g the choc digestives went from 37p to 51p in one week and the SP mozarella went from something like 44p to 70p. When they go up I simply will do without until they come back down again.
I'm getting a bit ruthless these days!

totallybored

Willow92 wrote: »

A lot of Value products are getting too expensive now, especially kitchen roll and loo roll...

I was shocked at the price of value kitchen roll in Asda yesterday, £1.89! I'm sure it used to be £1. I buy the Aldi 4 rolls for £2 which are very thick and excellent quality but just wanted some cheap ones too and I couldn't believe the price.

spike7451

The whisky test was inconclusive....tasted just the same as Bells but I thik more testing is needed to form a more definative opinion...

Alison_Funnell

I was, last night, as an exercise due to insomnia, creating a trolley of smart price items from Asda to see what was available and the prices. I was surprised how much of the range was no longer listed. A big chunk seemed to be devoted to cosmetics. Prices were definitely up over all.

Willow92

totallybored wrote: »

I was shocked at the price of value kitchen roll in Asda yesterday, £1.89! I'm sure it used to be £1. I buy the Aldi 4 rolls for £2 which are very thick and excellent quality but just wanted some cheap ones too and I couldn't believe the price.

I get 4 rolls for a £ at £land now

CH27

spike7451 wrote: »

The whisky test was inconclusive....tasted just the same as Bells but I thik more testing is needed to form a more definative opinion...

Good thinking batman:rotfl:

mi_jardin

I am a MrS shopper, and use a lot of basics stuff. The "au naturel" things are obviously great, such as the fresh fruit and veggies. Infact, the only things I really don't like are the soap powder and washing up liquid. I wont buy the lunch meats either, I buy reduced ones or the brands on offer. Oh, and while I wouldn't mind the cheapo loo rolls, DH's delicate little botty doesn't like them!

Stephen_Leak

Willow92 wrote: »

A lot of Value products are getting too expensive now, especially kitchen roll and loo roll...

True.

It pays to keep your eyes open. Again, for example, a while ago The Co-op' were selling 16 roll packs of Cushelle toilet rolls for £5.00 (31.25p each).

OK, this doesn't undercut the ASDA budget own brand ones at 17.5p each, but it is cheaper than the ASDA standard own brand ones, even the Big Saver 24 pack for £8.50 (35.4p each).

bearcub

Very interesting thread! We do most of our grocery shopping at the local Co op - a fair sized supermarket. It's not the cheapest of shops but, given that the nearest major supermarkets are 12 miles away, we wait until we want to visit other shops in town, to save on petrol. We don't have an Aldi here, but we do use Lidl quite often - they excel in some own brand products. Their tinned toms, their mini ice creams, and their own Bellarom chocolate are all good, plus a lot of their veg is good, too. And, they do a pretty good range of Italian wine! We don't buy biscuits, so can't compare.

We don't buy 'value' brands, but we often buy Co op own brand products - fabric softener, flour, dried fruit, porridge oats, and some of their other cereals. I love their fruit muesli and crunchy cereal, and add to the fruit already in it. I do still treat myself to Dorset cereals when they're on special offer, though! We always use their recycled loo paper, and (now they've brought it back) eco-friendly washing up liquid.

One food item I can't buy own brand is baked beans. I prefer Branston, but also like Heinz. I've not found an own brand version that I can eat - it's not so much the taste, but the texture.