In these generally austere times, we’ve all tried to save money, and this is where cheaper supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl have really taken off, and you see many people purchasing own brand items, even in the bigger chains of supermarkets, to save a few pennies.
And I’m all for it, you know, anywhere we can save a few pennies. I tend to go to Asda for my general shopping. I have tried Lidl and Aldi, and props to them, they do have good stuff, but I cant help it, I like my Asda better, and when I am feeling slightly flush, I will go to Sainsbury’s as I do LOVE their stuff… or better still M & S Foods… but I really am spoiling myself then!
Okay, lets get back to the topic in hand… Is it better to buy own brand vs. branded 10 of a cheaper product, vs. 1 really good one.
I’m going to discuss this via my tissues selection. Usually, when my in-laws are here, my Father-In-Law (FIL) gets the Kleenex branded tissues, Andrex toilet paper, and the kitchen roll too. He gets it as he used to work for Kimberly-Clarke, the paper-mill that makes these products. He was there for over 35 years, until he had to retire for medical reasons. But, nice company that they are, they allow retired employees to continue getting staff discount at their special shop on all their products. I don’t like to take the mickey, and take all his pension, via tissue products, and he won’t accept money from us, so once in a while I will take what he offers, otherwise I will buy it myself.
I must say I do prefer the branded items for this sort of thing, so it costs me £3-4 for 2 boxes of tissues, when they are on offer. During cold season, and now as it is hitting the hay-fever season, tissues are used an awful lot in our household. Thinking I would save a couple of Pounds, I bought the Asda own-brand tissues, and the box looks bigger, apparently there are more tissues in the box… but, this is my problem… look
Asda’s own brand tissues
You pull out one tissue and four come out all together, as they are slightly attached to each other! As an adult we know to pull carefully and return the ones you don’t need back to the box, but the kids, well they don’t have a clue! They pull, and a stream of tissues come out. Then they don’t differentiate, all 20 tissues are used to wipe one little sniffle… rendering them all useless! So one box lasts oh, 2 days?
In comparison, my more expensive, but oh so lovely Kleenex tissues, you pull one, you get one! And helpfully the next one is standing to attention, waiting until its turn to serve the nose comes along!
Kleenex Branded tissues
So they last so much longer than the own brand ones! Personally I have to use them, the others are for dire emergencies, and tissue shortage times!
And I have to say, the same goes for baked beans and tomato ketchup… only Heinz will do for me, I don’t like the aftertaste of the others!
One of my dear friends extols the virtue of a particular chocolate that Aldi does. I have yet to try this to report back, as for me chocolate is VERY important, and though it makes me itch, (oh how I itch when I have over indulged on chocolate!) I am happy to try different ones! Oh, and I can recommend the Lidl fresh pastries, baked in store, YUM!
See I’m not posh, or an own brand snob, but I do think that sometimes it is better to pay a bit more when you know something will last longer! I could get 2 boxes of own brand tissues for the price of 1 branded, but the branded lasts longer… false economy???!
Oh and don’t get me started on the whole BOGOF ( Buy One Get One Free) or reduced “Buy 1 for £1 or 2 for £1.50” nonsense! Unless I’m entertaining, and I need 2 huge punnets of strawberries, its a waste of money to buy 2, they don’t have a log date on them, and if they turn, I can use them to make smoothies, but the kids won’t touch them, neither will Hubby Dearest, to eat, anyway, so I sometimes end up throwing things away. That’s money down the drain, isn’t it!
But I Smile Anyway... 
Apr 08, 2015 @ 04:37:24
Oh yes! I will use clothes shopping as an example. In college, all my clothes were from the streets (Linking Road, Bandra to be precise). But now that I have started earning, I see the difference in quality, cut, colors. And stick to normal brands – it doesn’t have to be high-end, just good quality!
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Apr 08, 2015 @ 06:36:00
That’s true, you do see a difference! I earn a pittance on a teaching assistant salary at the moment and don’t spend much on clothes, but if I can, one good quality item will last much longer than the cheap stuff… But then my ‘catch 22’ is that, working in school with little kids, and paint and glitter etc… I’d rather wear cheap clothes.. If I wore something of any value and it got ruined, I’d be gutted but the other stuff, I kniw I can just chuck away! 😊
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Apr 08, 2015 @ 04:01:42
Mr Grump’s depot is in town right by Lidl and Farm Foods! The bread from Lidl’s bakery is gorgeous and the veg is very cheap too, We tend to get loo roll and kitchen roll from Farm Foods as it is really good value. However we still do the bulk of our shopping in Tescos or Asda. I prefer Cadbury’s chocolate or Lindt, and I hate value brand dish cloths! Other than that I am not too fussy!
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Apr 08, 2015 @ 06:31:01
It’s funny huh!! But my tissue bugbears won’t go away! Lidl’s fresh bakery is lovely!!!
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Apr 07, 2015 @ 20:44:06
You’ve got to do what is right and economical for your family.
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Apr 07, 2015 @ 20:46:23
That is true too… I guess we manage with what we can afford…😊
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Apr 07, 2015 @ 20:15:45
I totally see what you are saying. It’s worth to test and compare and then decide which one makes more sense.
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Apr 07, 2015 @ 20:34:33
I know you definitely have to check these things out… Some “cheaper” things are better, but so many aren’t!
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Apr 07, 2015 @ 20:12:22
For toilet paper and Kleenex I have to have a certain brand. Yes I spend a little more but the less costly items of the two just don’t work for me. I rather pay a higher price for quality products than a lesser cost and the product is not good and still have to buy the quality product.
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Apr 07, 2015 @ 20:13:37
Most definitely!! 😊
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Apr 07, 2015 @ 19:34:10
I agree we all have to save the pennies these days but when it comes to chocolate only Cadburys will do for me. Somebody give me an Aldi Easter Egg last year and it was one of the worst things I had ever tasted. Sometimes quality is far better than quantity and as you say it can sometimes work out cheaper at the end of the day.
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Apr 07, 2015 @ 19:46:20
Cadbury most definitely… Please, don’t mess with our Dairy Milk!!!
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Apr 07, 2015 @ 19:31:07
I completely agree. There are some things that you just can’t skimp on. I mostly shop at Aldi’s. The only things I won’t buy at Aldi’s are the canned green beans (terrible flavor), the canned diced tomatoes (find black rotten tomatoes too many times) and the paper products (tissue, toilet paper, etc.). The paper products seem very thin and rough on the skin.
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Apr 07, 2015 @ 19:45:08
Some things you just can’t skimp on!
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Apr 07, 2015 @ 19:26:21
Depends on the product. Paper products I stick with things I know. We don’t need to discuss why.
When you’re talking about food, it depends on the type. Potato chips I can eat most any kind. Pop tarts have to be brand name.
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Apr 07, 2015 @ 19:29:24
See… We all have out foibles!
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Apr 07, 2015 @ 19:20:30
I used to have the tissue problem, but I gave up, and have found hankerchiefs a much easier and more economically viable alternative!
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Apr 07, 2015 @ 19:28:53
They are… If you have a whole load at your disposal! We’re a snotty bunch lol!!!
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Apr 07, 2015 @ 19:19:33
I agree with saving money, but no matter what, there are some things I will only buy that are ‘name brand’ (for example, washing detergent, fabric softner and chocolate to name a few). More often than not, I find that although there maybe less of the product in the packet, the quality is much better. I’m not a fan of Lidl and the like when I am in the UK. I prefer Sainsbury’s and Tesco. In the US, I prefer Kroger followed by Publix to Walmart.
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Apr 07, 2015 @ 19:28:04
I love Sainsbury! Wish I could afford to shop there all the time!
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