Spending less. My realization of brand name vs shops' own value brand

chocolatechipcookies

It actually hit me last night. I went to Tesco after work to get some milk, toilet paper, laundry tablets and a can of chilli. There I was, stood in the aisle of laundry detergents wondering how to choose which to buy. Then it hit me. What is laundry detergent? Well.. It's some powdery stuff with ingredients I cannot pronounce that makes my clothes clean. Then I thought, why pay £4.00 on 48 Persil tablets when I can get the Tesco brand for half the price, when it does the same thing, with the same ingredients. I used to only get the premium branded toilet paper, but to be honest, I use the same amount as I do with the Tesco value. Why would I want to pay £5.00 on posh toilet paper when all I'm going to use it for, is to wipe my bottom, then flush? So I got the value toilet paper for £1.11 and got 6 rolls. I got my milk and beans (another one that I can't tell the difference between) and my total was £8. It probably would have been double if I bought the luxury brands. I did a load of laundry last night with my Tesco brand tablets and even though they don't smell of purple flowers, my clothes are clean. Bread is another one. I had my husband read out the Warburton's ingredients and I read out the value bread ingredients.. Same exact ingredients made the same exact way. There are some things I'll spend more on for the luxury brand. Tropicana OJ and Heinz ketchup and two examples. So it's true, the store brand/value brand is the same exact thing without the pretty label.

dearbarbie

yeah, usually the own brand is actually made by a leading brand with the store's label on it i believe.

tanith

CCC I think as you do that some of own brands are just as good but I did try using Tesco washing tablets and dishwasher tabs and found after about a month that my once white whites were no longer sparkling white and my sparkly china was becoming dull as were the glasses.. so I am afraid I went back to the Persil tabs and brand name dishwasher tabs... so I do use own brands but only those that come up to spec...

liz105

were you watching martin last night too? he did his supermarket challenge on Tonight with Trevor McDonald, it was very good, (it was the downshift challenge actually) shows how an average family really couldnt tell the difference by dropping down a brand. Dropped a shopping bill from £174 to £130 ish!!

Kantankrus_Mare

I desperately need to lower my shopping spend per week and am cautiously trying own brand goods instead of my usual well known brands.

I do think its hit and miss though.

Some things you really can't tell the difference but with others Id rather carry on buying the brand name.

First couple of things Ive changed is:

Moved from Andrex to Tesco own brand toilet roll. (Get more for your money)

Changed from Nescafe to Tesco own brand coffee ( OH couldn't tell the difference)

Changed from Cif to Tesco cream cleaner......does the same job at half the price.

Changed from Domestos to Tesco own brand bleach.



Things I won't compromise on are cereals and heinz tomato sauce

I would like to find a cheaper option to radox bubble bath as we get through a ton of the stuff and it aint cheap. Tried the tesco stuff but it makes me itch.:eek:

InTheRed

Hi Chocolate chips!

I agree and disagree with your brand verses value brand statement. It comes down to what you are prepared to accept in terms of quality and taste. I work in the food industry and there are differences in the quality of ingrediants used for example:-

Vanilla ice-cream Mr T's luxury brand will source natural vanilla extract and will probably specify the country of origin (some countries produce a higher grade of vanilla than others)

Mr T's value brand will probably contain vanilla flavouring, generally a artificial (nature identical) flavour.

In the bread example the grade of flour will be different and the quality of the ecapsulation of the preservative (Sorbic) will vary.

As with many products it's a trial and error exercise, and for us DFW's its a good means of radically reducing our bills, goodness knows we have to make sacrafices:rolleyes:


InTheRed

peb

Kantankerous Mare - do you have a bodycare nearby? Radox is usually a lot cheaper there. Having said that I tend to stock up when it is BOGOFF - as I do with loo roll (Nouvelle - offer frequently on at the co-op and morrisons) and washing powder - co-ops own is frequently on offer. What I have to train myself in is looking to see if over goods are cheaper even when the bogoff is taken into account and also not buying things I don't need (or in some cases even want!) just because it is BOGOFF! For example heinz beans are £1 for a 4 pack at the coop. I rarely eat beans; managed to resist buying and checked when I got home to see I had 6 tins. trial and error is the only way I think of finding out what is ok for you.

lauradora

Kantankrus_Mare wrote: »

I desperately need to lower my shopping spend per week and am cautiously trying own brand goods instead of my usual well known brands.

I do think its hit and miss though.

Some things you really can't tell the difference but with others Id rather carry on buying the brand name.

First couple of things Ive changed is:

Moved from Andrex to Tesco own brand toilet roll. (Get more for your money)

Changed from Nescafe to Tesco own brand coffee ( OH couldn't tell the difference)

Changed from Cif to Tesco cream cleaner......does the same job at half the price.

Changed from Domestos to Tesco own brand bleach.



Things I won't compromise on are cereals and heinz tomato sauce

I would like to find a cheaper option to radox bubble bath as we get through a ton of the stuff and it aint cheap. Tried the tesco stuff but it makes me itch.:eek:

Hey there everyone. I've been going through a similar thing lately too. So when I ran out of bubble bath (expensive sanex stuff) about two weeks ago I made like Paul mckenna and thought "Do I actually need bubble bath?"
Sure it makes your bath look more attractive but what does it actually do apart from drain the natural moisture from your skin?

Anyway my big thing over the past couple of weeks is i've been managing the big weekly shop for under 20 quid. Week one was 14 quid and weekk 2 was 18 quid. most of the credit goes to rummaging in the reductions fridge in the asda. I would recommend it. you can loads of big name brands for pennies and the odd little treat that you wouldn't usually be able to afford as well. Its ace give it a try!!!:money:

Kantankrus_Mare

Im sorry but having a bath without bubblebath is not something Im willing to give up. :rotfl:

Will have a look in my local bodycare and I know wilko often have offers on radox but they all seem to have gone by the time I get there. :rolleyes:

Ember999

Kantankrus_Mare wrote: »

Im sorry but having a bath without bubblebath is not something Im willing to give up. :rotfl:

Will have a look in my local bodycare and I know wilko often have offers on radox but they all seem to have gone by the time I get there. :rolleyes:

I agree! it would feel and look like you are just sat in a bath of water, rather than a bubble bath IYSWIM :eek:

JoeHel

I looked really carefully at products this week and went for a lot of own brand products instead. Our bill went from £79 last week to £57 this week :j

I find the Tesco washing 2-in-1 tablets absolutely fine. Most of my washing is black (mine) or paint-stained (my OH and his son) so they do the job!

I only ever buy toiletries when they are on BOGOF and luckily I can buy own brand without it affecting my skin. I like the Tesco own relaxing lavender stuff.

Value rice and pasta are a god-send too. The value sauces are okay if you add some extra herbs and onions. Value beans are okay if you're using them in a shepherds pie or a bean casserole, but I'm afraid I need my Branston ones for beans on toast!!

I will try Tesco coffee on the OH and his son. I don't drink it but it'll save a lot if they don't mind the switch.