What things can't you compromise on?

iamstacie

In an effort to bring my shopping bill down I've made a lot of compromises on things I'd usually buy such as milk, I've bought 4 cartons of UHT which means I'm not having to go to the shop so often whihc means I'm not buying all the 'extras' I'd usually pick up, and because we only use it in tea & coffee we've not noticed a substantial difference. I've also dropped down to value mince and am frying it off and draining the fat & water off rather than buying steak mince and not draining it. Baked beans is another one, since I add a bit of butter to whatever brand I buy anyway, it makes sense just to buy value ones, and I dont really notice any difference.

The compromises I can't make is with binbags, as the cheaper ones seem a false economy as I usually end up using 2 just so the rubbish doesnt pop through, and squash, as value stuff just taste like coloured sugar water. I'm hoping by listing these things we don't compromise on, someone else might come along and say 'actually I use the [binbags] from [lidl] and they're pretty good' and offer alternatives.

So, what don't you compromise on? Maybe another poster can recommend an cheaper alternative that works?

If theres another thread, please move mine, I just couldn't find exactly what I was looking for when I searched.

Thanks,
Stacie x

Fruball

I won't compromise on shampoo as I have long hair and it feels horrid if I use a cheap one - What I do instead is use half the amount that I used to use.

Robothell

Personally I find I can only buy Kelloggs Corn Flakes and Heinz Tomato Ketchup. Have tried loads of different brands of both products but they just don't taste right to me.

I'm so ashamed......

iamstacie

Actually, I agree with both of you on the shampoo & ketchup/cornflakes. With shampoo I'm a bit difficult because if I change shampoo or use cheap stuff my scalp itches and bleeds :rolleyes: I use tresemme now, but I got it from costco so works out about £6 per gallon or something.
If I'm really poor though, the Alberto Balsam 99p per 250ml bottle doesnt hurt my head.

Don't be ashamed about the cornflakes either, the cheaper & own-brand ones always taste like poorly flavoured rice paper to me

Another of my non-compromises is washing-up liquid. Its fairy-conomy! Though if anyone knows of a decent cheaper alternative I'm happy to try other stuff

newlywed

PG tips

Non-bio washing powder
Comfort pure
And anything that comes into contact with my skin (hair stuff, face stuff, bath stuff) I'm allergic to loads of stuff :rolleyes:

davetrousers

Cheap meat products. I'd rather have no meat than cheap rubbish.

And coffee, I allow myself 1 good quality cup of proper filter coffee. Would rather have that than instant, go on kids have a proper coffee today rather than instant, you know you want to.

sammyjig

Frozen peas, I have to have birds eye.

belfastgirl23

Heinz baked beans (though I always buy them on offer)
Decentish toilet roll (own brand but 'soft')
Good shampoo and bath stuff but use less
Coleman's wholegrain mustard

Sunnyday

With me it`s teabags,
i will buy whichever brand is on offer as i can drink pg, typhoo etc
if things are really tight we can just manage with Morrisons red label tea bags but they`re not the same.
With bin bags i use a swing bin liner again Morrisons cheapy bettabuy ones and put a carrier bag in the bin too, the carrier bag goes out every night leaving the bin liner in place, we only use the liner if something yucky goes through so it last months sometimes.
I put shampoo and conditioner in some old pump action containers so that the amount used is measured, what used to last a week now lasts for 3.
SD

FrenchMaid_2

Well, I have to say that I buy the Cornflakes from Aldi and think they are fine, Mr. Maid won't touch them so they are all mine . Ketchup I buy from Lidl and think it's decent - but then I haven't bought Heinz in this century.... Shampoo I use the cheap Asda TeaTree one. I rinse my hair with a mixture of white vinegar and warm water which gives it a lovely shine.

I don't really have anything that I can't compromise on but then I am not very fussy:p

JoeyEmma

OK.. here comes the list
Shampoo and conditioner- I use hair straighteners all the time and have to have good S&C, although I will admit I do dilute it a bit
Toothpaste- I HATE the mess from tubes and have to have pumps. Normally get Colgate Whitening- got MacLeans the other week as it was on spesh in Home Bargains and OH had a fit
Kellog's Sultana Bran- OH is so picky about this. He noticed when my mum once gave him Bran Flakes with sultanas added. The texture of them "wasn't right"
Muller corners blackberry and raspberry- Another picky OH thing. The only yogurt and the only flavour he will eat
Heinz beans
Heinz ketchup
Bird's Eye Frozen Petit Pois- taste so much nicer than other things