SUPERMARKET VALUE PRODUCTS.......BEST BUYS???

MimiJane

I remember watching a programme on TV about a year ago. Some chefs were given the task of making "gourmet" dinners ... using purely Aldi and Lidl foods. The dinners were served to "professionals" who ate out most of the time and they had to guess how much their dinner cost to make and what they'd expect to pay for it if they ate out.

They were all thrilled with their meals and expected to pay upwards of £50 for their dinners if eating out! Needless to say, they were gob-smacked when they learned where the food had come from. ;D

jaybee

I missed that programme. Let's hope they show it again.

Savvy_Sue

Just skimmed through this thread, that idea about trying a different new 'value' product each week is a good one. I find it depends which supermarket I'm in: eg I find value tinned chopped tomatoes are fine wherever they're from, but from Morrisons there's a lot more tomato than juice, and from Asda it's the other way round.

If you can spare the time, it's worth occasionally checking the calories and protein levels on things like tinned tuna. For example, I noticed that the cheap brands were very watery. OK you can squeeze the water out, but if it only leaves half a tin of tuna then it's probably worth spending more to get less juice. How do you know? Check where it gives the calories etc, and see the difference!

I'm fine with anyone's cheap frozen sweetcorn, but I won't touch value frozen peas! Dire!

And I'm afraid only Kellogs know how to make cornflakes ...

sunsetgirl

I go to all our different shops for these items as I love them all! Pushing my buggy with a heavy toddler also keeps me fit!

Morrissons:-
non bio bettabuy washing powder 3.45kg - £1.88
baked beans bettabuy - 15p

Aldi:-
brooklea yogster yoghurt with added vitamins 125g- 19p

Netto:-
colliers 24 wheat biscuits (wheatabix) 45p
Treefield marmalade 454g - 39p
lemon washing up liquid 1litre - 13p
Cafe amora medium roast coffee granules 200g - 60p
4 battered haddock frozen - 1.99

I have to buy all cheap own brands so I can afford to stay at home with my son.....its worth it! I'm off to make some salt dough now with my bettabuy flour and salt!

Glad

hubby and I went shopping this week, usually I go on my own, and he fancied some tinned spaghetti,
I went to pick up 'value' tin and he said 'no' I'm not eating that and went for a tin of Heinz, I said 'you're not having that either we'll have 'tesco' brand.
Another shopper then stepped in and said 'you really should try the 'value' tin it's packed full of spaghetti and tastes just as good as the heinz'So we took the 'value' tin and she was RIGHT it was great ;D

tiff

I have been shopping this morning and included in my shopping was 8 tins of value tomatoes and 4 tins of value baked beans. I am concerned though, is there a lot of sugar in these? (compared to branded tins)

Nickynoo1

The problem i find with value beans is that they tend to stick together in a lump, and when you try to stir them about they go mushy. Nothing wrong with the taste though.
I bought some own brand ones as a treat and could really tell the diference.

I've also been on the value bread which is ok but ran out late at night so had to get some from the co-op. They only had hovis left at 85p. it was pricey but was lovely. Funny how it didn't seem that great when i was eating it all the time.

Think I'll start alternating buys. One week nice bread and beans next week cheap stuff.

Nickynoo

crana999

I have been shopping this morning and included in my shopping was 8 tins of value tomatoes and 4 tins of value baked beans. I am concerned though, is there a lot of sugar in these? (compared to branded tins)

The tomatoes should just be plain chopped tomatoes with no sugar added. With the value beans, if you are worried about the sugar content, tip off most of the sauce (this is where the sugar, salt etc are). The beans are normally too "saucy" for me anyway.

Don't forget you can also rinse the sauce off the value beans to give you more-or-less tinned haricot beans you can use in salads or whatever for quite a lot cheaper than the ones CALLED haricot beans ::)

bridiej

The cheapest way of getting your shopping costs down (if you have the time for it which we dont always!) is to do something similar to what we do.

1. Go to Aldi and get as much as you can there - their stuff is just as nice as any other main supermarket but a heck of a lot cheaper (just remember to take your own carriers otherwise they charge you 3p for them - so good for recylcing too)

2. Go to the local farm shop - they always have fresh fruit and veg and all sorts of other things, and much, much cheaper than supermarkets. We often only spend about a fiver whereas if we bought it in Tescos or something it would cost a fortune.

3. Go to your supermarket of choice (for us Safeway) and get the bits and bobs that you couldnt get elsewhere.

Although it is a bit time consuming, once you're in the habit you'll find you're saving a fortune!! ;D

bridiej

hubby and I went shopping this week, usually I go on my own, and he fancied some tinned spaghetti,
I went to pick up 'value' tin and he said 'no' I'm not eating that and went for a tin of Heinz, I said 'you're not having that either we'll have 'tesco' brand.
Another shopper then stepped in and said 'you really should try the 'value' tin it's packed full of spaghetti and tastes just as good as the heinz'So we took the 'value' tin and she was RIGHT it was great  ;D

My husband is really funny about own brand stuff, like his Heinz Tomato sauce. Next time he runs out I'm going to refill his empty bottle with Aldi's and see if he can taste the difference!!! ;D