What are your cheaper alternatives

[Mortartube]

Thought this might be an idea. People post cheaper alternatives that taste just as good as dearer ones and where they are from. I will start with.

Sainsburys Basics Irish Beef. From chilled section.

Already cubed assorted cuts (described as old favourites on the pack) such as shin beef, stewing steak etc in a packet. £2.50 for 440g = £5.63 Kg

I have used this for pies and casseroles etc with no discernable difference between this and higher priced Stewing/Braising steak.

So what have you found that's cheaper and just as good? Major Shops would be best so the whole country has a chance to benefit and try the product.

[heathfield]

Any dried pasta made from 100% Durum Wheat will be exactly the same as any other made in the same way. So look for supermarket own brands which can be less than half the price of others with a fancier label.

[ummmm]

Most things. There was an article in a magazine comparing home brands and well known brands. Generally they were just as good as each other except for the value ranges. Especially on household products.

[TTG]

I always buy own brand food. One thing I have found is branded cleaning chemicals are better than own brand/value range.

[mccfluff]

go for loose rather than pre packed veg as it works out cheaper and for me anyway its less waste as i just buy what i need

[redcrx]

a freind of mine works in the quality control part of a large meat processing firm. They make hams etc.
anyway she told me that companies like Aldi and Lidl are a lot fussier as to what goes into their prepacked hams than the likes of tesco.

So try a few of the cheaper store like aldi, you may be surprised.

[funnygirl]

I like Aldi, most of their stuff is great. I find myself spending more and more in there and not because of the prices.

The only thing I don't like, is their cake range. Some of their cakes are very very dry.

[Androcles]

I generally find proper butchers, greengrocers etc are cheaper than the supermarkets.

[woozer]

Lidl are briliant for ham and other charcuterie - their wafer thin ham has no water in it and is delicious.
Use washing soda with your choice of essential oil in it for most cleaning jobs - brilliant at cutting through grease
Banana skins instead of leaf shine
I usually buy my fresh produce from the butcher or a green grocer as the meat in particular is usually better quality - and so to my mind cheaper

[mollykins]

own brand cereals are normally just as nice, infact i don't mind eating most things own brand apart from ketchup. We have tescos own fizzy drinks and squash, market value apples, a toaster which we've had for years and pasta.

[pastafreak]

There was a documentary on a few weeks ago,that showed that own-brand products not only tasted better to most people...they WERE better because of containing less salt and sugar.
I buy Sainsburys Value gammon joints,and do them in the slow-cooker....melt-in-your mouth.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Go to your local butchers - it will always taste better than the value versions from a supermarket, and be cheaper than the normal supermarket price. I bought some Sainsbury's orange label (their own brand thing) lamb shanks for a casserole last week when the butchers was closed and nearly threw up it was so horrible - greasy with no flavour. I'm actually a good cook and can normally use herbs very well, so was shocked at how bad it tasted.

Aside from the meat, I always use Sainsbury's own: jellies, flour; pasta; butter (in this case not the orange one, and from a previous post of mine you'll see I make my own normally too!); veg is always bought loose. Cheese from their deli-counter.

I go to farmfoods for frozen brand name stuff and for their milk sometimes (£1 for 2L), crisps, biccies and sweets.