Sainsbury's Basics good/bad items

Ebany

I like the basics fromage frais (20p for 6, and are a nice small pudding with only about 65 calories - good for when I feel the need for a pudding). Also the basics salmon can take a bit of hunting for a good pack, but there is usually some really good bits there. Really don't just grab whichever one though, as there is a LOT of variation!

Hubby has also just started getting the basics fresh apple juice - apparently it tastes much the same as the regular stuff, and while its only marginally cheaper than the normal stuff on its ever present multi-buy, if you don't really want to buy 2 or 3 litres at a go its quite good. Personally, I also like the fact it comes in a clear plastic container like a milk one, as you can see how much is left.

TravellingAbuela

EC12345 wrote: »

I bought the rice pudding today - 18p a can - will let you know how I get on.

I don't like milk puds myself but OH always pops a couple of tins in the trolly. He says there are better tinned rice puds around but for 18p they are handy for a cheap and quick dessert.

Patr100

Still good value but the teabags have just gone up from 28 to 32p

mardatha

Still a great buy, we live on these and we are fussy about tea. I swapped these into a typhoo box & the family didnt notice - and that was over a month ago

fedupandskint

Basics fresh smoked mackeral at around £2 a pack and 49p cos/romaine style lettuce for work lunch salads - absolutely no difference at all from the higher branded items, infact I buy all the basics fruit and veg and can't tell any difference apart from the prices!

Seconding the Basics fromage frais at 20p for 6 and yoghurts at 15p for 4 and teabags - have had these for over a year and no one can tell any difference between these and much higher priced items

Basics disinfectant at 29p a bottle - nice disinfectant mild smell and doesn't leave the floor sticky when dry like others do

Basics butter - no difference

Basics tissues - smaller and thinner but at 29p a box I'm not bothered

Basics double strength orange squash - nice and not too sweet

Basics beans - perfectly ok and I'm not that keen on baked beans - also the sausage and beans and spaghetti

Basics sparkling water 10p a bottle and diet tonic water 25p a bottle - how much difference could there be for water!

Basics tomato ketchup and brown sauce - less sweet than other versions that is fine by me

Basics biscuits - nice and cheap and not much difference apart from bigger packets!

It was this thread originally that made me think about trying some basics and once I got over my snobbishness about the labels and possible taste I am happy with my selections.

I haven't tried the ready meals as I'm trying not to buy these

mardatha

Where abouts do you get the smoked mackerel ?

parsonswife8

Ours is near the smoked salmon and fishcakes etc.

TravellingAbuela

mardatha wrote: »

Where abouts do you get the smoked mackerel ?

Maybe I was unlucky with the pack I bought but OH said it was the worst mackerel he'd tasted and said "don't buy that muck again"!!

bramble1

Went shopping to sainsburys today, and me and OH have agreed to try and cut down our food bill as much as possible so the following went into my trolley

Basics lettuce (49p) - looks like lettuce, assume it will taste like lettuce.
Basics frozen prawns (1.76) OH loves these
Basics Sausage Rolls (80p) for OH's lunch, will see what he says.
Basics toilet roll (45p) to be fair i always buy this, love it
Basics frozen mixed veg (60p)
Basics white Loaf (47p) - makes good toast, slices are a little thin, but will do for sarnies
Basics Cheddar (1.66) - I hate cheese, OH can be the judge of that. But cheese is cheese right?
Basics Mince (97p) - i prefere leaner mince, this is a tad fatty, but it's mince, it's only going to get flavoured by something else.
Basics Natural Yoghurt (35p for big tub) - i used to buy muller corners for OH but it's only the yoghurt he cares about, he seems happy with this
Basics All purpose cleaner (26p) - smells plesant, and cleaned the kitchen and bathroom well

We managed to cut our weekly shop from £70 to £35 this week.

I am going to look out at what basics i can add to my trolley next week!

hamzramz

Despite living at home for Uni, I still buy some Sainsburys basics as everything seems so expensive. I am a bit hooked on some items

I think the Basics razors and shaving foam are great, as well as the 29p box of tissues, the chocolate is fab, especially the chocolate buttons and white chocolate bar, both are cheaper than a standard Cadburys bar.

A few weeks ago I bought a Sainsburys Basics liquid hand soap, it is OK, but try not to use too much because when you rub your hands together to lather, some of the soap just falls off and into the sink, a bit wasteful despite only costing 39p. I will steer clear of the Sainsburys basics Tomato and herb pasta salad. Despite only being £1 (other pasta salads are at least £2.00) and having extra change for a drink and gum, it tasted horrible, too oniony, nearly no taste of herb or onions (I hate the taste of raw onions) and half of it went in the bin at Uni while I was on the Uni computer, thank God I had the gum to kill the taste, I did not want to meet friends smelling of onions! Maybe I'll try the basics tuna pasta salad next time.