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What "Basics" do you buy, and which would you never buy?


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Old 19-01-2008, 18:47
ithisethat
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I say Basics as I'm a Sainsburys shopper but which "no frills" items do you purchase, and which have you tried and will never try again?

Basic I buy:
Eggs, steak, chicken pieces, diced pork, mince, fish, lamb chops, pickles, curry sauce, toilet paper, kitchen paper



Basics I've tried and would never buy again:
Baked beans, soup, biscuits, sausages
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Old 19-01-2008, 19:20
fannyadams
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Not baked beans.... I love them. Paul Rankin sausages are the best, we have them every coupleof weeks, but they are the only ones.

I have tried Gnocchi and would pass on that again.
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Old 19-01-2008, 19:31
daeyeken
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Best avoiding the "no frills" chicken and eggs - they won't be free range
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Old 19-01-2008, 19:38
ithisethat
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Best avoiding the "no frills" chicken and eggs - they won't be free range
I think that's fairly obvious and to be honest I don't really care!
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Old 19-01-2008, 19:40
diablo
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Sweet and sour sauce (Tesco value)
Jaffa Cakes (Tesco value) - better than McVities IMHO
aluminium foil
ordinary and SR flour (but not bread flour)

I used to buy more things but the quality took a dive after a while.
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Old 19-01-2008, 19:44
Elanor
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Best avoiding the "no frills" chicken and eggs - they won't be free range
Not just the eggs, but also anything containing eggs - so pasta, biscuits, cake and so on...
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Old 19-01-2008, 19:53
mad1
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Best avoiding the "no frills" chicken and eggs - they won't be free range
On another forum someone who worked for the supermarkets posted that the stuff you find in the basics range is just the stuff the buyer got the cheapest price for that week/month etc - so it could well be the same stuff that goes into the brand named/supermarket own brand label.

So you can't discount the possibility that one week the buyer managed to get free-ranged chicken the cheapest.

Also just because something has the free ranged label does not mean that the chickens will have a better quality of life than the battery chickens. In some cases they are worse off. For that reason unless I am buying from the farmers market I buy the cheapest I can find with regards to eggs. Chicken I always buy from M&S.
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Old 19-01-2008, 19:53
The Unknown One
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Would Buy Again -

Lemon Cordial (1 Litre)
- Sainsburys Basics / Asda Smart Price

It's as good as a more expensive brand, and at 19p per bottle, you really can't go wrong.

Healthy Living Pasta Sauce
- Tesco Healthy Living

Not strictly a 'Basics' brand, but it's still only 54p +/- per jar, making it around £1 cheaper than branded pasta sauces. It has a really nice flavour, and although a little watery, it's nothing a squirt of tomato puree doesn't fix.

Soya Milk (1 Litre)
- Asda Smart Price

It's only just coming on to the shelves recently, but it is really good. It has an acceptable flavour - some soya milk can taste awful - and at only 60p per carton is anywhere up to half the price of other brands.

Sliced Fresh Carrots
- Asda Smart Price

It's probably more expensive than buying loose carrots and peeling and chopping them yourself, but for a quicker solution to fresh veg they're great. The 200g bag is just the right size to make them an accompaniment to any meal, and at 29p you're not being ripped off.
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Old 19-01-2008, 19:59
BrideXIII
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i thought about this, thinking there must still be some 'value' stuff I buy...but there isn't... I was surprised.
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Old 19-01-2008, 20:40
LittlePolly
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Everything I buy tends to be own brand. I buy my fruit, veg and meat from the local green grocers and butchers and don't really see the point of spending lots of money on toliet paper and washing up liquid.

Once I brough own brand lager it wasn't that bad although not that alcoholic. Good if you don't want to get too drunk.
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Old 19-01-2008, 20:40
Quickblood
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Digestive Biscuits pretty much taste all the same to me espcially in Cheese Cake Bases
So Does Full Fat Soft Cheese for Cheesecake.

I will never buy branded Milk that's what nutters do imo.

Asda Jaffa Cakes - also better than McVities and only 29p

I've always covered my Baked Beans in Tomato Ketchup since I was a kid, so now I can buy the cheapest Lol!

and although I'd never buy the Basic Tomato Ketchup (tastes like thick red vinegar) I do like Asda's own Brand.

I think the one thing I actively avoid buying from the basics range is Sausages. I've gotten used to premium ones and the idea of going back to the borderline meatless sausages I had to eat as child is wholly unappealing.
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Old 19-01-2008, 20:51
RootsFran
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Tesco Value food bags and tupperware, kitchen roll, foil, cream sponge

I am a bit fussy about my foods, once had a value quiche, never again *vomit*

Sainsburys basic Corned beef is nice and good for packed lunches.

I buy Rocs organic squash now but used to like the basics squash.
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Old 20-01-2008, 02:42
Sad_BB_Addict
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Beef mince

For
cottage pie
savoury mince
tater ash
burgers
lasagne
rissoles
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Old 20-01-2008, 03:38
Trelly
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Basic loo roll ect.

I love asda smart price chilli con carne, not very hot but always add my own powder/flakes to add some heat.
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Old 20-01-2008, 05:49
Ruby Shoes
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Not just the eggs, but also anything containing eggs - so pasta, biscuits, cake and so on...
This is true. I remember all the fuss with Quorn when it was discovered they were using battery hen eggs. Something people don't tend to think about...

(Quorn have stopped using battery eggs now)
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Old 20-01-2008, 09:12
fallen.angel
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I never really buy economy brands.. However I work for sainsburys and I was looking at a bag of basics cauliflower yesterday, and I realised that cauliflower is cauliflower.. it just might look a little different.. it will taste the same.. Might stop being a snob and start buying a few economy brands lol
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Old 20-01-2008, 11:26
Cstar2229
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Basics I buy

Digestives
Tortilla chips
Flour
Fresh fruit and veg
Dried noodles - I make my own sauce and chuck the sachet
Tissues - they aren't so soft but use the soft ones if I have a streaming cold
Oats

I buy own brand cereals too but not basics. I will buy own brand milk, butter and cheese.


I don't like go too basic on meat and eggs, I am very fussy about that and bog rolls, have to be reasonable too.
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Old 20-01-2008, 13:15
Kacey
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The only 'value' product I buy is tins of Tesco Value Kidney Beans. I have tried other value products in the past but as far as I'm concerned they're not worth the money. I'd far rather buy the best that I can afford.
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Old 20-01-2008, 14:35
ithisethat
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The only 'value' product I buy is tins of Tesco Value Kidney Beans. I have tried other value products in the past but as far as I'm concerned they're not worth the money. I'd far rather buy the best that I can afford.
Well I think 'some' products are the same quality in their value and own brand forms, but the supermarkets hope that people like you are too ashamed to put the value items in their basket.

Which other things have you tried?
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Old 20-01-2008, 17:26
Kacey
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Well I think 'some' products are the same quality in their value and own brand forms, but the supermarkets hope that people like you are too ashamed to put the value items in their basket.

Which other things have you tried?
Actually that's probably a good point - I couldn't give a stuff what people see me put in my basket, I'm just as likely to see whats reduced as anyone else and in fact my main shop, every 3wks or so is done online so no-ones there to see what I'm buying anyway, my basket could be full of value items - who'd know?
Actually the fact that I don't buy many value items is probably down to what I do buy. I don't buy meat, fish or fowl (I'm veggie) I do buy cheese - and I think most would agree that value ranges just don't cut the mustard here. I don't buy jars of sauces or packets of anything much as I like to cook from fresh every day.
I don't buy value ranges of fruit and veg as I try to buy as much organic as possible, I have a fortnightly veg box delivery from Abel & Cole which I supplement with organic fruit & veg from Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S or wherever, and I do that because it tastes better.
I wouldn't eat value bread if you paid me, but then I don't eat shop bread anyway. I make my own almost daily and I know that its not shot through with preservatives, chemicals and bleaching agents.
I use a lot of lentils, pulses, beans etc and generally buy these dried from my local ethnic supermarket - usually cheaper and fresher than anywhere else. But I do keep a stock of tinned lentils, pulses etc for those times when I've forgotten to soak the night before or for when I want something quick, and although I'd be happy to try value ranges of lentils etc, generally they're just not popular enough to be carried by most supermarkets as a value range. What I will say though, is that here in Birmingham, Tesco are now selling quite a range of ethnic brands of pulses etc which are cheaper than their own tins and probably on a par with value ranges - and they're just as good.
Because I cook a lot of Indian and Italian food I have tried just about every tbrand of tinned tomatoes on the market - neither value nor own brand are worth buying in my opinon. I tend to stick to Napolina at £2.85 for 4 - but they're often on BOGOF at Tesco so can be really good value. Even I can't justify the cost of tinned San Marzano tomatoes!
Tea and coffee I don't think you can economise on and I buy Clipper organic decaffeinated coffee (decaf cos it helps my restless legs syndrome and organic because non-organic decaf is decaffed by chemicals, which just give me a headache). I buy Yorkshire leaf tea - cos I make my tea the old fashioned way in a pot and leaf tea tastes better. I suppose I could buy value sugar - but I buy Whitworths Fairtrade sugar, cos it makes me feel better.
I like real ale, good wine and single malt - none of which are available in value ranges. I do buy Tesco value lemonade - its really good!
I don't buy value range toiletries, my partner has sensitive skin - bless him! I use Elvive and John Frieda hair products cos they suit me but I do use Tesco own brand facial wipes, their vitiamin e ones are lovely. He uses Faith in Nature products or stuff from the Simple range.
Loo roll, kitchen roll and cleaning products (except clothes washing liquid) tend to be own brand but not value range - you won't convince me that value toilet paper is better than standard!
Now before some of you go off on one regarding the cost of the above, I'll say this - we both work full time, we have no kids and after reading other threads and posts I did a quick calculation and have worked out that we spend £35 per head per week on EVERYTHING. Thats fruit, veg, veg box, basics, toiletries, household cleaning, booze, the lot, not what I would call excessive.
I'm as fond as anyone of a bargain - but I won't compromise on quality.
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Old 20-01-2008, 17:28
Jean Luc Picard
 
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Not just the eggs, but also anything containing eggs - so pasta, biscuits, cake and so on...
Not all pasta contains egg.
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Old 20-01-2008, 17:53
RootsFran
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I'm as fond as anyone of a bargain - but I won't compromise on quality.
Agreed with this statement!
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Old 20-01-2008, 18:40
Elanor
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Not all pasta contains egg.
Of course not, but pasta that does contain egg will probably contain battery chicken egg.
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Old 20-01-2008, 21:40
ScottishWoody
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Sainsburys Basics sliced corned beef is brilliant. Infact all of their basic cooked meats are brilliant, I prefer cheap ham to fancy ham so I win both ways

Jaffa cakes aswell, can never go wrong.

ASDA Smart Price cookie mix

Would never buy cheap Ketchup (only heinz will do me), cooking sauces, cola (yuk), alcohol, or crisps.
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Old 21-01-2008, 02:03
sugarpie
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I don't buy basic sausages, sausage rolls, mince, ready meals, tuna, or tinned ravioli as it seems to me a lot of cheap meat products are really poor quality.

Fizzy drinks, ketchup, orange squash, alcohol and breakfast cereals, all seem to have either too much sweetener, sugar or salt, and apart from porridge oats I've not come across any cheap cereal that's halfway decent (especially once you put milk on it, -chewy cereals are not nice)!

Cheap tea and coffee are pretty crap, and I've only ever bought them in the very rare circumstance of being totally skint.

Oh and these days I only tend to buy wholemeal bread which isn't available in any basics range, (cheap white bread is gross, and cheap brown bread is just as nutritionally bad). I used to buy the value pasta, but now get wholemeal and it's almost as cheap (in Asda)!

Other than that I buy a lot of basics stuff.
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