What things can't you compromise on?

FairyElephant_2

Good quality cat food (my furry baby is the only one who gets branded food!).

Decent tea/teabags (and coffee, but drink it so rarely that it lasts ages).

Good olive oil, not the most expensive, but a decent extra virgin one.

Tasty cheese!

Oh, and DH says decent ham for his sarnies - not the watery processed c**p - I protest at the price but he points out it's cheaper than buying made-up sarnies so he's already economising.....

anniewoo

Ok,for me it's....

Lurpak
Decent coffee ( I'm not so bothered about tea )
Nice strong Cheddar cheese
Soft loo rolls
Free range eggs
Organic milk
An organic veg box every 2 weeks
1 bottle of reasonable red wine every week,whatever is on offer ( although that may be the first thing to go if things get worse )

I'm veggie so I don't have to worry about buying meat and apart from the list above,I am willing to try anything.I make all my own bread and cakes and always cook from scratch,so at the moment I am managing ok.

System

fairy washing liquid and comfort fabric conditioner as for everything else i try cheaper versions some are ok some arent .

Alikay

Twinings teabags
Local free range eggs
Nice mature cheddar
and Warburtons Toasty (just gone up to an astronomical £1.34 :eek:)

I've previously said keeping the central heating at the same level was a must, but think I'm going to have to climb down on that one!

OrkneyStar

• I don't tend to buy supermarket mass produced meat, only local meat (although our Tesco has started to sell locally produced meat I still prefer the butcher).
• I prefer decent chocolate for eating, although will use value for cooking.
• I tend to buy Tetley or some other good brand T-bags for DH (I detest tea).
• I hate buying disposable nappies (so many chemicals in them!) and only use them at night. Otherwise I am a staunch reusable nappy advocate.
• Soft loo roll.
• Free range or local eggs ideally (although have bought value in the past for baking- shoot me now!).

Otherwise I will see whats on offer/reduced etc.
I think its pointless being overly fussy and if you can cook many of the value products (tinned toms, sweetcorn, flour etc) can allow you to make as tasty meals as the over-priced finest and organic stuff!
Not meaning to offend, just my opinion.
x

debbiemc_2

Hi :wave:

I've had to compromise on nearly all things in recent years and am appalled to think back to the money we wasted when I was married! No more organic meat amd veg boxes, fresh flowers, newspapers/magazines or expensive wine.

Now as a single mum with a 3 year old, I've compromised on almost everything, and use value products where I can. These are the items I will NOT compromise on though, even if that means having less, or not very often:

Fairy liquid
Heinz beans
Birds Eye peas
Good quality ice cream
Cravendale milk
Kelloggs rice krispies

Debbie. x

plumtreebabe

Hi, I wouldn't make OH give up his beer (though he is rationed, but we buy it at Lidl), his Illy coffee, (!!!!!!! 2 bought once a month from costco, the rest of the time he's on lavazza), or his Twinings Darjeeling or my Twinings Earl Grey (we keep trying other brands but they are not the same). OH doesn't spend any money unless he has checked with me first or I have given it to him! It's not that he is afraid of me, just that he doesn't buy anything on a regular basis - he takes packed lunches, doesn't read a paper and his hobbies include surfing (he got all the gear a few years ago) and gardening.

I always buy organic milk but dilute and freeze it, organic butter but its rationed, organic Pure ditto. Organic cheese but Morrissons own make mature.

I would rather use less of my favourite stuff than have more of a cheaper brand, just like cream and butter I would rather have a little bit of the real thing now and again than any low fat versions.

Menu planning and careful measuring of portions has saved me more money and waste than changing brands.

vixtress

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Maldon salt for use in cooking, bread etc.

what is 'maldon salt' and why is it better, i have heard of it but never tried it,

thanks

kj*daisy

Fair trade tea and coffee - very pleased to find today that sainsburys red label tea bags are all fairtrade now. So that will be cheaper. Also try and buy fairtrade where possible.

Free range eggs, and I can't eat cheap meat anymore - would rather eat none at all.

Still got my veg box but would give it up if neccessary. Would also give up organic if neccessary.

Larumbelle

Realised while i was cooking this evening that I need to add honey to my list. It's got to be decent honey!