What things can't you compromise on?

keelyjrs

It's got to be yorkshire tea and Heinz baked beans. I can't think of anything else.. my shampoo and conditioner are cheapy cheapy and I add either lemon juice or tea tree to get a lovely shine. Oh.. hang on... it has got to be persil non bio but thats only until the postie brings my soapnuts!!

Cazzdevil

Brown sauce - gotta be HP or Branston

Teabags are another, but I'll have any brand so long as they're decaf. Refuse to buy caffeinated cos I suffer terribly from caffeine withdrawal so I figure it's best avoided in the first place.

OH won't let me buy cheap baked beans, but thankfully the Heinz and Branston ones are more often than not on at a 4 pack for £1 so they don't work out much more expensive.

I'm easy going as far as brands go, but I won't buy things like cheap eggs (gotta be free range), or cheap muesli (too much rabbit food, not enough fruit), things like that.

keelyjrs

Cazzdevil wrote: »

Brown sauce - gotta be HP or Branston

Teabags are another, but I'll have any brand so long as they're decaf. Refuse to buy caffeinated cos I suffer terribly from caffeine withdrawal so I figure it's best avoided in the first place.

OH won't let me buy cheap baked beans, but thankfully the Heinz and Branston ones are more often than not on at a 4 pack for £1 so they don't work out much more expensive.

I'm easy going as far as brands go, but I won't buy things like cheap eggs (gotta be free range), or cheap muesli (too much rabbit food, not enough fruit), things like that.

Oh yeah you just reminded me... I never ever buy "cruel eggs" only free range

pigpen

Fabric conditioner.. comfort or lenor if it is on offer.

I buy kenco coffee for my mother.. (and top up the kenco non-decaff with cheapy stuff.. but don't tell DS1)

cocopops.. I only buy them for me once every blue moon.

Shoes for the children.. Clarks or Startrite. Only Evans shoes normally fit me as I have really broad feet.

Make-up. has to be a decent brand or I get sore eyes and face.. Rimmel is cheap and nasty!.. nuff said! :eek:

I always buy decent quality clothing especially for the children.. none of the junk from primark.. I've seen better quality floor cloths than some of the rags in there!!! Next, BHS, Boden.. it HAS to last through up to 5 children and be good enough to sell/give away/charity shop afterwards.. and yes it can be done!

Pans.. cheap ones just don't cut it!

Major appliances.. I always shop around, get the best one I can for the best price.. We have just about got everything upgraded to Zanussi and Bosch now.

Mattresses .. for me.. the children weigh very little so cheapy ones are fine.. but hubby is prone to back pain so we get a good quality one.

Food.. most stuff is value range though some things I do move 'up a grade'

Oh.. colgate toothpaste, John Frieda shampoo & conditioner (just mine) and mitchum anti perspirant (hubby and me) Perfume (hubby wear CK and I wear Hugo Boss) Sanitary towels.. bodyform for me.. kotex or boots for DD1.. (I use my mooncup most though) and paint.. Crown here.. helps that the local 'professional & industrial' supplier is at the bottom of the street!

1sttimer_2

For me it has to be Helmans mayonaise. I've tried lots of others and they don't even come close.
Free range eggs are a must plus quality meat. I rarely buy economy mince as it is all fat which you throw away! If you look at price per 100g there is very little difference for much better quality - I try to BOGOF when buying meat, it makes it cheaper.
Tea/Coffee are fair traded
Paper goods are usually the recycled type

lemontart

my shower gel, baked beans and brown sauce.

Imperial leather foam burst brilliant stuff normally £2.50 but often on special offer at 2 for £3 in Morrisions at moment so stock up on it get through about 2 cans a month.

Branstons baked beans - can get for 99p for four in poundstretcher and home bargains - £2 plus in super markets

Branstons Brown sauce - stock up on in when on special

oh yes Clover - only spread I like

Ishtar

We generally buy own brand, but there's a couple of things I won't compromise on...

Have to have:
Helman's light mayonnaise
Heinz Tomato Ketchup
Dove's Strong White Bread flour
Clark's shoes for DD
Kellogg's cornflakes (but other cereals are own brand, they just can't do cornflakes!)
Free Range Eggs and Chicken
Sausages - Tesco Finest. Tried others and nothing was as good. Refuse to buy value meat/sausages.
Heinz soup - for some reason OH won't eat homemade .

We also use Dulux paint - can't get on with own brand. My dad is a painter and decorator, so we can generally get hold of this at wholesale prices.

Think that's it!

D.

floyd

Oh dear, I think I may be here some time.....

HP sauce
Heinz ketchup
Elemis skincare
Colgate toothpaste
Ariel washing powder
Lenor fabric conditioner
Alta Rica instant coffee
Yorkshire loose tea
Free range eggs
Free range meat
Real butchers sausages (Farmers market, Scotch beef shop or Bath Sausage Shop)
Branston pickle
Fairy liquid

Over the years I have tried lots of different cheaper versions but none have even come close

stefejb

free range eggs
ditto chicken
daddies sauce
other than that I'm pretty cheap

paddy's_mum

I'll compromise on many things but some are just not replaceable!

Marmite - only the real stuff for my breakfast toast will do.
Oxo cubes - nobody else's comes even close.
Pears soap - my pick-me-up on hot, hard-working sweaty days. Coal tar is okay from any manufacturer but only Pears has that clean feel and smell about it.
Tea - can't be doing with cheap - tastes of straw and joinery sweepings.
Milk - use a lot of powdered and long life milk for cooking but it's gotta be real fresh milk in tea for me.
Towels (of the bath kind) Good quality ones are generally larger, feel so much nicer, wash better and last longer than the cheapies. I never feel I can snuggle in a thin, skimpy one.
Cheese - I use value in cooking as I don't believe the food value is very much different but it's gotta be a good one for sandwiches or summer ploughman lunches.
Curtain fabrics - can't be doing with thin, fashionable, dry-clean-only curtains. Not only do they lose shape relatively quickly, but they are generally unlined and don't keep either light out or heat in. Much rather have good quality second hand ones in a classic pattern than whatever is the current rage.
Shoes and carpet - again, I have proved to myself repeatedly that good quality ones far outlast the cheap nylon or pvc equivalent.
Butter - use marge in cooking but loathe any kind of spread on bread. To me, it's like eating fluid plastic with a bit of dishwashing liquid thrown in.
Lea and Perrins - unique and uncopyable.

That's that, then. Not too fussy, am I?!!