| Cost of living / food shopping 14:35 - Dec 12 with 12679 views | clive_baker |
I've been playing around with buying some supermarket own brand alternatives lately. I shall go full Martin Lewis with you now and reveal my findings:
Tesco Chocolate Digestives. Get on them. Only 55p and bl00dy lovely. Actually better than the branded alternatives, more chocolate to biscuit ratio. Don't buy the Molly's ones though, they're rank.
Tesco Oat Milk. Passable but not as nice as the branded one I get. £1.20 instead of £1.80 doesn't justify the trade IMO.
Marmite - Don't mess with the GOD. Bought a supermarket alternative, had it once on toast and can't see myself eating it again. Absolutely fecking rancid. Literally tasted like salt on toast.
I don't mess about with Mayo or Salad cream, I'm sorry the stakes are far too high with that.
Bran Flakes - Switch. No brainer. No discernible difference. £1.10 instead of £3 for the branded alternative that sounds like Mellogs.
Dry Pasta. Commodity product, who buys branded pasta? 41p for 500g vs. £1.50. No brainer, switch.
Nappies. Fred & Flo absolutely fine (I've always bought these anyway to be fair). Not sure why you would pay twice as much for something that'll get covered in p1ss and sh1t and end up in the bin after a few hours.
Anyone got any more hacks in your shopping basket? |  |
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 09:28 - Dec 13 with 1442 views | J2BLUE |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 09:23 - Dec 13 by OsborneOneNil |
Can’t cut corners on baked beans, either. Heinz all the way.
Did try the Lidl version of a hob nob recently. Poor. |
This is a bit like trying to recreate Heinz BBQ Beanz. It's just not possible so you have to pay the extra. |  |
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 09:28 - Dec 13 with 1442 views | Churchman |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 09:15 - Dec 13 by unbelievablue |
I've become a pasta snob. Some dried pasta is dreadful. I always go pricey. |
I’m more of a pasta pleb. It’s all the same to me and there to accompany the meat, sauce, herbs and cheese. Fusilli is a particular favourite for that.
Spaghetti bolognaise- I like it with a healthy dollop of the bol and a hundredweight of parmisan. Do I twirl the spag onto the fork or chop it up and shovel it in? The former has been known, but in recent years the pig at the trough approach has been my default.
Home made pasta? Yes, I’ve had it here and in Italy. It’s a different deal. Lovely, but I gather even in Italy people only make it for special occasions. |  | | |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 09:38 - Dec 13 with 1416 views | OsborneOneNil |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 09:28 - Dec 13 by J2BLUE |
This is a bit like trying to recreate Heinz BBQ Beanz. It's just not possible so you have to pay the extra. |
Some things are worth paying for. |  | | |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 09:48 - Dec 13 with 1406 views | Dubtractor |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 09:24 - Dec 13 by J2BLUE |
I've found it varies.
Asda's own pasta is not great. Sainsbury's own is very good. |
I'm not suggesting there is anything wrong with own brand pasta, just that sometimes premium products are just a bit better. |  |
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 09:53 - Dec 13 with 1390 views | J2BLUE |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 09:48 - Dec 13 by Dubtractor |
I'm not suggesting there is anything wrong with own brand pasta, just that sometimes premium products are just a bit better. |
Of course. There are some things well worth paying for. Heinz ketchup is one I can't switch from.
Other things are open goals. Like own brand Weetabix where the ingredients and nutritional values are almost identical. | |
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 09:56 - Dec 13 with 1388 views | GeoffSentence |
What I'm taking from this thread is that the TWTD community eats a whole lot of crap.
Where's the best place for broccoli and cabbage my friends? |  |
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 09:58 - Dec 13 with 1378 views | J2BLUE |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 09:56 - Dec 13 by GeoffSentence |
What I'm taking from this thread is that the TWTD community eats a whole lot of crap.
Where's the best place for broccoli and cabbage my friends? |
How dare you? My slow cooker is on right now filled with chicken and veg. | |
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 09:59 - Dec 13 with 1374 views | clive_baker |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 23:45 - Dec 12 by jeera |
Ready meals?
Same goes for Waitrose really. I go in there from time to time and stock up on bits that are cheaper there than elsewhere.
I tend to use Tesco mostly for convenience sake; a bit closer, easier to get to, can always get a delivery slot cheap if not etc. But they're not always the cheapest option we generally think of them as being.
And we're a bunch of saddos talking about shopping. |
Ready meals is one example for sure. I was actually having people over and popped into the BSE M&S food for some snacks etc. Got a couple of big bags of crisps, hummus, bread sticks, nuts etc. Also got a bottle of bubbles and some M&S irish cream which was great value. I would say none of it was more expensive than I would've paid in Tesco. | |
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:01 - Dec 13 with 1370 views | Churchman |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 09:56 - Dec 13 by GeoffSentence |
What I'm taking from this thread is that the TWTD community eats a whole lot of crap.
Where's the best place for broccoli and cabbage my friends? |
On the supermarket shelves or in the compost bin.
Green stuff? Bit of colour on the plate, an awareness that omnivores do need a bit of it, best disguised with other stuff.
Edit: the green beans and cucumbers I grew last summer were excellent, despite the tomatoes failing. The beans - parcelled up, in the freezer, still being consumed. [Post edited 13 Dec 2022 10:03]
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:02 - Dec 13 with 1369 views | jeera |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 09:48 - Dec 13 by Dubtractor |
I'm not suggesting there is anything wrong with own brand pasta, just that sometimes premium products are just a bit better. |
Not making your own Dubs?
There's now a couple of you pasta aficionados but no mention yet of actually making any of the stuff!
Have to say I've not made my own and should give it a go. I don't have a roller and am really a bit short of room when it comes to cupboard space for things that only get a dusting once in a blue moon.
I agree fresh pasta can't be beat and do buy it now and then. But usually pasta is a turn-to for me when it's too late in the evening to mess about cooking much else so keep a few bags of the dried stuff in the cupboard for convenience.
Fresh freezes fine too and I'll chuck the odd packet in there when I have the space. |  |
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:05 - Dec 13 with 1364 views | J2BLUE |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 09:59 - Dec 13 by clive_baker |
Ready meals is one example for sure. I was actually having people over and popped into the BSE M&S food for some snacks etc. Got a couple of big bags of crisps, hummus, bread sticks, nuts etc. Also got a bottle of bubbles and some M&S irish cream which was great value. I would say none of it was more expensive than I would've paid in Tesco. |
That kind of thing isn't expensive in there. Other stuff is but most of it is worth paying for.
I spent £30 and was happy with what I got for that.
BTW, if anyone is vegan/flex the vegan kyivs are amazing. | |
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:07 - Dec 13 with 1361 views | Dubtractor |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:01 - Dec 13 by Churchman |
On the supermarket shelves or in the compost bin.
Green stuff? Bit of colour on the plate, an awareness that omnivores do need a bit of it, best disguised with other stuff.
Edit: the green beans and cucumbers I grew last summer were excellent, despite the tomatoes failing. The beans - parcelled up, in the freezer, still being consumed. [Post edited 13 Dec 2022 10:03]
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Oddly, tomatoes were one of the few things that did well in my garden last year. | |
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:07 - Dec 13 with 1358 views | Dubtractor |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:02 - Dec 13 by jeera |
Not making your own Dubs?
There's now a couple of you pasta aficionados but no mention yet of actually making any of the stuff!
Have to say I've not made my own and should give it a go. I don't have a roller and am really a bit short of room when it comes to cupboard space for things that only get a dusting once in a blue moon.
I agree fresh pasta can't be beat and do buy it now and then. But usually pasta is a turn-to for me when it's too late in the evening to mess about cooking much else so keep a few bags of the dried stuff in the cupboard for convenience.
Fresh freezes fine too and I'll chuck the odd packet in there when I have the space. |
I've never tried making pasta.
There's a new year's resolution for me! | |
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:10 - Dec 13 with 1355 views | jeera |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:01 - Dec 13 by Churchman |
On the supermarket shelves or in the compost bin.
Green stuff? Bit of colour on the plate, an awareness that omnivores do need a bit of it, best disguised with other stuff.
Edit: the green beans and cucumbers I grew last summer were excellent, despite the tomatoes failing. The beans - parcelled up, in the freezer, still being consumed. [Post edited 13 Dec 2022 10:03]
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Tomatoes failed? In that weather?
It was tomato season my man.
I have in my freezer several tubs of tomato sauces/soups.
My courgettes failed miserably though so lots to work on there for me. All tips gratefully received. About 3 years ago I had courgettes coming out of my ears but the past two although the plants started off strongly they ended up failing badly.
I'm not sure if maybe I was over watering because of the heat? | |
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:12 - Dec 13 with 1355 views | clive_baker |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 09:53 - Dec 13 by J2BLUE |
Of course. There are some things well worth paying for. Heinz ketchup is one I can't switch from.
Other things are open goals. Like own brand Weetabix where the ingredients and nutritional values are almost identical. |
This is where I'm at with it J2. Commodity products are an absolute no brainer to switch. Rice, pasta, cereals, tinned tomatoes, kidney beans etc. There's very minimal input between raw material to finished product in those things, so for me there's little discernible difference in quality.
I would agree that some things you get what you pay for. Marmite, condiments. Another one I would add to that list is Ice Cream. Had the worst cheap alternative recently, it was like vanilla ice (not the American rapper). | |
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:15 - Dec 13 with 1348 views | jeera |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:12 - Dec 13 by clive_baker |
This is where I'm at with it J2. Commodity products are an absolute no brainer to switch. Rice, pasta, cereals, tinned tomatoes, kidney beans etc. There's very minimal input between raw material to finished product in those things, so for me there's little discernible difference in quality.
I would agree that some things you get what you pay for. Marmite, condiments. Another one I would add to that list is Ice Cream. Had the worst cheap alternative recently, it was like vanilla ice (not the American rapper). |
I stopped trusting ice-cream the moment I heard about the beaver thing.
I need rock-solid evidence that kind of practice is no longer happening. | |
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:16 - Dec 13 with 1347 views | WeWereZombies |
My contribution is a direct quote from the glossy free magazine we get in Skye and Lochalsh and that always has a couple of pages every month from our resident expert:
'My find of 2021 was the German supermarket Aldi's in-house luxury brand single malt: the 12 yo Speyside malt Glen Marnoch. Since then they have released an 18 yo Speyside Glen Marnoch which sells at an unbelievable price of £39.99. When most 18 yo malts sell for around £65 to £100 (Macallan is upward of £300!) this is a real bargain. It is a sweet rounded Speyside malt with vanilla oakiness and malty tones. Its long finish is both mellow and warming. As with the 12 yo last year I can guarantee you won't be disappointed.'
The nearest Aldi is around a hundred miles away... [Post edited 13 Dec 2022 10:18]
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:19 - Dec 13 with 1343 views | usm |
Something's just aren't transferable
Heinz Tomato Ketchup
Daddies Brown Sauce
Maynards Wine Gums
Lurpack Butter
Yorkshire Tea (apparently according to the current Lady USM)
Radox Shower Gel / Bath Gel |  |
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:21 - Dec 13 with 1336 views | clive_baker |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:15 - Dec 13 by jeera |
I stopped trusting ice-cream the moment I heard about the beaver thing.
I need rock-solid evidence that kind of practice is no longer happening. |
You see for me the higher the beaver anal gland content the better. You get what you pay for in that regard. | |
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:23 - Dec 13 with 1326 views | Churchman |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:10 - Dec 13 by jeera |
Tomatoes failed? In that weather?
It was tomato season my man.
I have in my freezer several tubs of tomato sauces/soups.
My courgettes failed miserably though so lots to work on there for me. All tips gratefully received. About 3 years ago I had courgettes coming out of my ears but the past two although the plants started off strongly they ended up failing badly.
I'm not sure if maybe I was over watering because of the heat? |
The courgettes didn’t do so well for me this year either. We tried two varieties this time, one of which didn’t work well at all. I used cheap compost and the weather was unhelpful and I think those two things did for them, particularly the latter.
Lettuces got fried in the heat too. [Post edited 13 Dec 2022 10:24]
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:25 - Dec 13 with 1314 views | J2BLUE |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:19 - Dec 13 by usm |
Something's just aren't transferable
Heinz Tomato Ketchup
Daddies Brown Sauce
Maynards Wine Gums
Lurpack Butter
Yorkshire Tea (apparently according to the current Lady USM)
Radox Shower Gel / Bath Gel |
I made the mistake of buying Twining's. Now I can't go back. | |
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:28 - Dec 13 with 1306 views | jeera |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:23 - Dec 13 by Churchman |
The courgettes didn’t do so well for me this year either. We tried two varieties this time, one of which didn’t work well at all. I used cheap compost and the weather was unhelpful and I think those two things did for them, particularly the latter.
Lettuces got fried in the heat too. [Post edited 13 Dec 2022 10:24]
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I tend to take it a bit personally when plants fail on me.
I think maybe I try too hard, kill them with kindness kinda thing.
It sometimes seems things fair better when left to their own devices. | |
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:29 - Dec 13 with 1308 views | ElephantintheRoom |
Never buy branded cheese
I suspect the good folk who make Tesco marmite simply change the packaging from marmite over to own brand. |  |
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:29 - Dec 13 with 1304 views | J2BLUE |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:28 - Dec 13 by jeera |
I tend to take it a bit personally when plants fail on me.
I think maybe I try too hard, kill them with kindness kinda thing.
It sometimes seems things fair better when left to their own devices. |
Imagine if they are deliberately killing themselves just to stop you eating them. | |
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| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:31 - Dec 13 with 1295 views | jeera |
| Cost of living / food shopping on 10:29 - Dec 13 by J2BLUE |
Imagine if they are deliberately killing themselves just to stop you eating them. |
I hadn't considered that but will add that to my list of gardening insecurities. | |
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