The Shelvis drop a brand level diary

Skint_Catt

I never use stardrops as a spray.

[Deleted User]

5 – SWAPPED Colegate sensitive whitening toothpaste- £1.83 (75ml) FOR Tesco coolmint stripe toothpaste – 44p. SAVING OF £1.39 per tube (although tescos is bigger).
VERDICT – Teeth do not look less white from stopping using the whitening. We bought it more out of habit than necessity I think. It leaves my mouth feeling fresh and clean and I think the minty taste lasts longer which is a plus. LEVEL DROPPED!!!

6 – SWAPPED John Frieda shampoo- £4.49 (250ml) FOR Tesco Aloe and apple shampoo – 59p (750ml). SAVING OF £3.90 per bottle BUT in real terms £12.88 as the bottle is MUCH bigger
VERDICT – Hair felt clean and it smells LOVELY. Wasn't greasy after 5 minutes which I have found with some cheaper brands. Can't deny the saving is MASSIVE. I have just been using this shampoo for over a year and pick it up out of habit. LEVEL DROPPED!!!

7 – SWAPPED Aussie conditioner- £3.40 (250ml) FOR Tesco Aloe and apple conditioner – 59p (500ml). SAVING OF £2.81 per bottle BUT in real terms £6.21 as the bottle is MUCH bigger
VERDICT – Hair felt soft and again it smells LOVELY. Lovely and light and you don't need much to make your hair all silky. LEVEL DROPPED!!!

8 – SWAPPED Fairy washing tablets- £2.93 (12 washes) FOR Tesco non bio - £1.98 (12 washes). SAVING OF 95p.
VERDICT – Tried 2 washes in this so far on my gym kit which I then wore all day for 2 days. Am not allergic to it (which is first hurdle!) and also it smells just as nice as fairy or bold and doesnt leave residue on all my clothes like the cheap powder i tried before. I probably do a good 2 washes a day so this will really save over time. LEVEL DROPPED!!!

Feel like I am getting somewhere now!! This weekend I am trying Tesco nappies (day and night) and tesco wipes. Will be back with my verdicts.

Anyone else got any tips or swaps they have done and liked?? Might inspire me.

lemonade_lifestyle

I had always been one for relying on brand names and sometimes almost too scared (yes i am a 30yr old mother!!! ha ha) to swap to lower level brands.
However I had been reliably informed by a good friend that the following worked just as well as leading brands.
Tesco nappies and for when they get older tesco pull ups: verdict - just as good and reliable as pampers and alot cheaper (I went for 18mths with pampers, what a waste of money!!)
Tesco body re active deoderant instead of Sure: verdict - sure costs £2.50ish tesco's own brand costs 94p!!! I am really funny when it comes to trying new b o basher just in case it doesn't work then I have stinky pits!!:o
HOWEVER this stuff is fantastic, in fact much better than Sure. Will always pop into tesco's for this even if i am doing a shop elsewhere!!
Hope this helps. . . . .

Skint_Catt

I've never found a deodorant that doesn't work

lemonade_lifestyle

WEll you are a very lucky person, Trust me I ain't saying I am a dirty stinky person, but do have some difficulty trusting something as important as deodorant!! Anyway, that asides Tesco own brand is a bargain!! :rotfl:

septemberblues

Hmm, as a brand name person I am reading this thread with interest, my shampoo I bought today was £4.48 :eek: in Boots, but I had a £2 off voucher. The only value stuff I use is generally tinned tomatoes and beans, so I will come back to this thread to check up on what I can use that's cheaper than the brand name. I've always been a careful shopper, but the way my shopping basket has gone up in price means I need to be really savvy as to what's good (and cheap)and what's not

Skint_Catt

I haven't tried value beans yet - Tesco's own are ok, but Asdas own are awful. will be trying value beans in my next Tesco shop.

The value sweet n sour sauce it lovely for 24p!!! The curry sauce at 8p is ok, but I add my own spices too it also to heat it up a bit. Kidney beans are also perfectly fine.

Theres a 31 page thread on this very topic on the Old Style Board http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=405198

EssexHebridean

Try the Tesco value Jaffa cakes - we have them at work in preference to the McVities or Tesco main brand ones as we think they are nicer. The sponge seems slightly less sweet which makes the orangey bit taste more orangey!

[Deleted User]

I didn't know they did tesco value jaffa cakes I will certainly look them up!!

[Deleted User]

9 – SWAPPED Pampers baby dry size 4- £5.97(34 nappies) FOR Tesco baby essentials - £3.78 (32 nappies). SAVING OF £2.19.
VERDICT – He has been in these for the last 2 nights (we only use these at night) and he has had 2 of the most restless nights ever. He usually sleeps through 12 hours and yes his nappy is full in the morning but he is still happy. I think these nappies left him feeling wet - as in they don't lock away the wetness as well as the pampers ones. It's the only thing I can think of that it could be. So NO SWAP.

10 – SWAPPED Pampers active fit- £5.98 (28 nappies) FOR Tesco superfit - £3.76 (26 nappies). SAVING OF £2.22
VERDICT – Nope. These are LOADS fatter between Lex's legs and don't allow him as much movement. I also don't think they are as good fitting around the legs. If worst came to worst and I was skint and needed to save money that badly then yes they would do - they kept him dry enough and are soft. But I would rather scrimp on my things than make him uncomforable. NO SWAP.

11 – SWAPPED Huggies pure wipes £2.49 FOR Tesco frangrance free - £1.09. SAVING OF £1.40.
VERDICT – Techincally speaking the huggies are only £1.24 as I only every stock up on them when they are buy one get one free so the saving is only 15p. Just looking at the ingredients list there are more than twice as many chemicals in the tesco ones as opposed to the huggies. PLUS they are thinner and I think its a false economy as I used more of them for poos (still only needed 1 wipe for wet nappies). They smelt OK but I don't think I will bother with them again - unless Huggies were never on offer ever again. NO SWAP

So......what can i try this week???