What Value things have you tried and liked?

emmie1234

We buy smart price stuff all the time, I always have a look to see if I can see a smart price version of whatever I need whenever I go shopping to try and save the pennies.

Here's some of the things we get all the time:

Smart Price Curry Sauce 5p a jar - can't go wrong
chilli cook in sauce
sweet n sour cook in sauce
spag bol sauce
Toilet rolls
tinned veg..carrots, mushy peas, sweetcorn, kidney beans
tinned tuna
spaghetti loops
baked beans
tinned tomatoes
pasta n sauce
instant noodles
spuds
onions
carrots
peppers
mushrooms
bags of stirfry
flour
ketchup/brown sauce
rice
pasta
washing powder
dog food mixer
frozen sausages
frozen chicken breasts (always sold out though at nearest store)
furniture polish
air freshener
toilet cleaner
bleach
mozzarella
cheddar
butter
low fat spread
lemon curd
jam
peanut butter
ice cream
honey
golden syrup
custard
crisps (ready salted)
instant whip dessert
biscuits...bourbons YUMMY, fruit shorties and jaffa cakes
salad cream
brown bread
coleslaw
stuffing mix
apple sauce
yorkshire puds
mint sauce
gravy granules
dried mixed fruit
eggs
baby wipes
disposable nappies
sausage rolls
cottage pies
fish portions in batter (surprisingly these are quite nice but the smart price fish fingers are tooo "fishy" IFSWIM and a bit off putting)
fish portions in butter sauce


popped into sainsbury's the other day and tried some of their value stuff, don't really shop in sainsburys very often.

basics pepperoni slices (we were making pizza) - yummy!!!!
basics mozzarella (yummy)
toilet roll..loads softer than the smart price version

I've yet to try smart price/basics/value toiletries, shampoo/conditioner/shower gel etc but may try them next time I go.

Basically I'll try anything once and if I don't like it, I havn't lost too much cash, but most of the products I have tried, I have been pleasantly surprised with and have added them to my list of weekly staples. If it wasn't for value/smart price/basics items, I think we would find it extremely difficult on our income to get the basics we need every week.

nel68

I'm converted to Tesco Value Tomato Juice.

I thought it tasted "funny" when I first tried it, but by the time I finished the carton, I was enjoying it.

The other week, Tesco ran out of value stuff, so I had to buy my old brand.

Surprise, surprise, that now tastes "funny".

So the moral of the story is to give it a chance. Just because it's different, doesn't mean you won't like it once you get used to it.

walliechops

marybishop wrote: »

I've found the Tesco Value range of biscuits to be really good - their digestives (just the good old plain ones) are fab and only 22p a packet. Have also had their wholemeal bread which was really good but for some reason is really hard to come by (don't know why). B/beans are OK but the sauce is a bit thin. Pitta bread and orange juice OK too. Avoid the rubber gloves (fingers stick together after only a few uses!!). Will let you know if I think of any more.

Hi,
I agree the sauce is a bit thin on value beans/spaghetti (I buy asda), the solution is easy...I add a 1/2 tea spoon of margarine and a blob of brown sauce, heat and stir....absolutly delicious (just like the expensive heinz ones).:money:

M.E.

I have bought really nice ground coffee but my husband prefers Tesco Value ground coffee. As I like most ground coffees we may as well have the Value..

Pipkin

We had value bacon from Asdas this weekend - 99p a packet and the family said it was delicious... much better than paying £3 a packet!

Tom_III

I have spent all day reading this thread. Some great stuff. Thanks for all the tips.

I am usually an Aldi-fan, but I went to ASDA for the first time today, and picked up quite a few SmartPrice things to try - tomato soup, syrup sponge, rice pudding, tuna flakes (wish I'd bought chunks now after reading the thread), fish fingers, flour, noodles (8p!), porridge oats, creme caramel and corned beef.

From past experiences, I can definitely recommend Value/SmartPrice/Basics porridge oats. They seem to be milled a bit smaller than the branded/top-end oats, and at 59p/kg they are practically giving them away. I prefer this as it gives a more Ready Brek type consistency (i.e. smoother). A bit of value golden syrup on top, and you're laughing.

Glad to hear some good reviews for SP Brown Sauce. I need to give it a go. Splashed out on a glass HP bottle the other day, but might well give the SmartPrice a try next time.

A lot of you seem to have trouble with the value cereals (from all supermarkets). I recommend a trip to Lidl or Aldi for breakfast cereal. They are ALL top-notch and very cheap (99p-£1.19) compared to the branded. The selection is also vast (apart from porridge oats, which seem to have disappeared; thus the ASDA trip today).

Tip for value pitta breads: freeze them, and use to make pitta pizzas - put pitta in toaster, then spread with tomato puree (value), top with cheese and oregano, and grill. Trust me on this one. And you don't have to worry about your value pitta going off quickly (which I find).

poppyoscar_3

Hi

Has anyone tried the sainsbury's value version of the blender?

I noticed one yesterday in my sains, and it was £8.99 or £9.99 (I don't remember which!)

Since my ex-dh got custody of the old one it seems like an attractive option!!

But has anyone out there tried it? Or do MR T or anyone esle do an equivalent which someone has tried?

It's just that the soup season is nearly upon us!!!

PO xx

BigMummaF

I have MrT value stick blender that serves its purpose. I have to try to remember to cover the pan/dish with another plate first , or be very clever & put cling film on then make a hole for the blender....or you end up wearing an interesting hair conditioning treatment by the time you've whizzed the grub:rotfl:Think it was less than a fiver tho, about this time last year.

pukkamum

I have recently strted to buy asda value loo roll (38p for four as opposed to £1.38 for four of my regular brand.
So far nobody has noticed the difference!!!

mummysaver

Have just about come to the end of all the free shampoo and conditioner from Mr T's that I got with the vouchers ages ago, so bought sainsbugs value ones yesterday, mainly cos they are the same colour as dd2's favourites! Have decanted them into the empty bottles of the ones she likes and will see if any difference is noticed! Doubt anyone but her would notice any differences, but whilst I wouldn't say she is fussy, she does like her hair stuff!

Also bought a lush shampoo bar yesterday, and going to see how long it lasts in comparison to our shampoos, not value I know, but may work out as cheap!