What Value Brands Are Better than Premium & What Can't You Do Without?
Money Saving
Someone on my Facebook started a conversation like this recently and I thought it would be fun and a good idea to get your take on it.
What value or supermarket own brands do you think are better than the premium brands and on the other hand, what can't you do without that you won't compromise on.
Mine is definitely Diet Coke - I have tried all the rest and Pepsi and that is my favourite nothing else will do. My value love is Aldi tonic water - only 32p for a 1 litre bottle and I much prefer it over Schweppes and Fever Tree.
I thought if we get enough people commenting, we could try each other's recommendations and see if we can swap and save a bit more money?
Try the sainsburys own brand tomato ketchup in a glass bottle, has to be glass not plastic and it is tremendous !!
I actually prefer the value and fake brands versions of baked beans to Heinz. Stockwell etc. The beans seems slightly less mushy and I prefer them that way. The cheap 30p 100g milk chocolate bars you can get from many supermarkets 'ms molly' etc taste nicer to me than the high end chocolate, Lindt etc which I find more plasticky. Sadly for toffee nothing compares to Thorntons though.
The problem with tonic water is that most of them are full of sweeteners.
Unless you pay full whack for Fevertree or the like, your gin or vodka is going to taste like crap.
If or when we get back to normal I will try the Aldi tonic. I really prefer Fever-Tree with plain Gin but I've been buying Asda's/Sainsburys own to go with Gordons Pink and it's fine.
I drink alot of sparkling water,Tescos Stockwell ltr bottles for 17p are just as good as the higher end priced bottles imo.
I also love there Rhubard sparkling water for 45p.
I also much prefer Tesco own brand baked beans over Heinz etc & there only 30 odd pence a can
The item I wont skimp on is bread, Has got to be Kingsmill wholemeal.
Theres no substitute for Coca cola imo.
Glitterandgold I love the rhubarb too but I think its been discontinued - was lovely with gin as well. Swapped to the orange and mango now - hopefully just a temporary thing
emmabeckz Ah, That's why my local Tesco haven't had it for a while. That's a shame. I usually opt for the Elderflower one, also nice in gin 
My daughters buy the basics of some items because there's less additives and no milk etc in some items, and they both buy dairy& soya free foods for grand-children with allergies.
I remember complimenting a friend that the crisps she had were lovely, thick and crunchy. She was gobsmacked because her husband went to Lidl instead of Waitrose and they had words! Him being mean. I’m now a convert for a couple of own Lidl branded products.
Far too many to mention, so I shall just mention my 3 favourites. 
Cereals: The cereals in Aldi (Harvest Morn) are brilliant and a fraction of the price of the Kellogg's versions. As a bit of a snob when it comes to breakfast cereals, let me tell you now that you really cannot tell the difference.
Yoghurts: All the yoghurts in Aldi (Brooklea) are gorgeous and taste just as good if not more so than bigger brands such as Ski, Muller and Activia
Meat pies: If you enjoy your meat pies and need to watch your pennies but want good quality and taste at the same time, then I suggest the Iceland meat pies. Both the family sized pies and the small individual pies are gorgeous. In my opinion, the more expensive Birds Eye meat pies aren't worth it. They are a lot smaller, flatter and don't have anywhere near as much meat.
I buy most things value or own brand! The only things that aren't are my sons kiddilicious cheese straws, there would be a tantrum if he didn't have those and my husband buys McCain chips. Otherwise it us value or own brand for us! Sainsburys basic beans are amazing!
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