Don’t immediately take offence; by brand-snob (patent-pending) I really mean, are you too embarrassed to push your trolley up to the till packed with Tesco value or Asda Smartprice? I don’t know about your local store but mine is packed full of trolley-watchers. I have to admit, I was once a brand snob. I cowered under the trolley-watchers gaze, hiding any own brand goods under “normal” packets.
Now… I really couldn’t give a monkey’s uncle! We use a lot of own-brand goods, margarine, bread for toast, pasta, rice – all sorts! The majority of basics products are just as good, sometime better, than their more expensive counterparts. Don’t get me wrong, some are hideous, but some branded goods aren’t much cop either!
By debranding a little you can save an absolute fortune! I can do a weekly shop, all in with fruit, veg, meat, cleaning products, the lot for three of us for £50-£60 a go. This is a packed to the rafters shop too, no need to do a top-up shop, apart from the odd fresh item.
So give it a go, chin up and brand-down, just see what swapping a few items a week can do for your bills!
Those of us that do buy own brand, from whatever store…. do comment and tell us which products you recommend and which ones you would poke your own eyes out before trying again!
For me:
Do: all baking goods, basics such as bread, milk, cheese, yogurt, pasta noodles etc, fruit and veg, sandwich meats, loo roll (it’s loo roll!)…
Don’t: Value curry or sweet & sour sauce (hell no), value cereals – with the exception of Tesco own muesli (which we add more raisins to) the rest (to us) taste pretty vile!
Glossary:
Trolley-watchers: people who will risk neck injury craning to see what you have in your basket/trolley.
Brand-snob: Someone who isn’t able to be out and proud with their own brand shopping due to real or imagined social pressures.
Top-up shop: Where you go for 2 – 3 items and spend £20 on crap and dubious bargains you really didn’t need.
A brand snob?? I shop in Aldi! So I guess I'd say not lol. Highly recommend it for all the items singled out above – cheaper than the own brands and nicer too. Remember, if you don't like Aldi's own brand, you won't shop in Aldi. If you don't like Tesco's own brand, you will probably buy the more expensive brands they stock. Can't get everything, so the top-up shop (and yes, that does involve lots of things you don't really need, you are so right!) necessary a few times a month, but I save an absolute fortune. Although I have to admit to being very excited that York is finally getting a Waitrose – the brand snob in me is still alive, I just don't let her out very often.
Lol! We don't have an Aldi but do have a Lidl nearby. I couldn't do a full weekly shop in there but their veg especially is ridiculously lowly priced and there are some brilliant bargains to be had. We have tried the majority of the Tesco value range and if we bought say 100 items in a week, I'd estimate 60 of them would be within that brand.
I love Value products and I am not embarrassed to say so (anymore….). I used to be slightly embarrassed BC (before children) but now I don't care if people check out my trolley and see that a good percentage would be value, I see it as a statement that we don't have a lot of spare cash, so are getting the most from our money! I love the Tesco muesli too (we add extra sultanas, even them are value!
We mix and match, there are a few things that we like "named" products and a few things which I swear the cheaper version tastes better! I like playing against myself to see if I can spend the smallest amount of money!
We are much the same, there are the odd things that just have to be branded as there is no comparison (or alternative!) but like yourself I do the "weekly challenge". Best game to play- you never lose when you play against yourself!
I'm not a brand snob by any means. There are certain products I wont buy from the value range such as baked beans, bread etc, but there are a lot that go into my trolley such as orange juice, garlic bread, biscuits that are so much cheaper and taste the same if not better than more expensive brands.
I have a firm belief that buying the value/smart price/basic version of an item is well worth it and can save you loads. If we don't like it we don't bother buying it again, as long as we at least tried it!! Just a few of the items I buy value/basic…tomatoes, oranges, spuds, fruit juice, cheese, biscuits, kitchen roll, eggs!! Like, you we spend £50-£60 a week (all in!!) for 3 of us. I know of families who spend near £100!!! the other thing that helps is writing a weekly meal plan and sticking to it, saves on waste or buying stuff you don't need.
I am an aldi shopper too, so no I am not a brand shop. I have blogged about feeding us all on £50 per week