Compromises in grocery shopping
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Topic: Compromises in grocery shopping
Posted By: sadie
Subject: Compromises in grocery shopping
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 8:53am
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So I managed to spend $200 on a weeks worth of groceries yesterday, not including meat or most veg. This is for two adults and a baby who is breastfed and on homemade solids.
Admittedly, that did include a box of nappies and a couple of bottles of wine! I always look for items on special, but there are some brands that I have to buy, and refuse to compromise on - eg loo paper, heinz beans, decent pasta (tried home brand and it was vile), good quality dog and cat food etc... What subsitutes will you buy, and what is non negotiable in terms of compromising? |
Replies:
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 9:00am
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The only thing we must by the brands of are:
- any sauce product, like tomato sauce, spaghetti, pasta sauce etc - shampoo and conditioner - formula (must be S26) - washing powder Everything else, whatever is cheapest and I always come within budget - $200 for one week, $50 for the next which is more for anything we need like milk but we never use the full $50. Loo paper we buy that kiwi brand (can't remember what it's called). It's always really cheap and doesn't fall apart. |
Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 9:05am
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I'm happy to compromise on most things. I bought a fortnight worth of groceries last week for just under $340 (this includes meat, fresh fruit and our fresh vege drawer is overflowing and I got a couple of pkts of baby wipes and pullups for sleep times). There's enough to feed 2 adults and a growth spurting toddler. I get lots of tinned fruits and pulses and am happy to go for HB or cheaper brands (oak, SPC etc). I get HB cat biscuits, HB milk and cream, HB bread, HB instant coffee etc. The things I don't compromise on are:
I bought something HB that I've decided I didn't like but I can't for the life of me remember what it was. -------------  
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Posted By: sadie
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 9:24am
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It took me so long to bring myself to buy Pams or HB milk. Things like soy milk, Up & Go etc really make me feel sick at the thought of drinking them, and that extended to budget branded milk.
I think I just bit the bullet one day and bought some, and funnily enough it tastes exactly the same. That doesnt extend to cheese though - i tried the cheap brands once and the Tasty block tasted mild to me. Has to be Anchor or Mainland now. |
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 10:44am
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What we don't compromise on...
Toilet paper - has to be Kleenex Cottonelle cos I'm fussy and it's soft and nice, and I use it for tissues as well (no red nose here!!!) DFs coffee - won't drink anything but Moccona, so we get the big jar and it lasts about 3 months or so. My milk - I'm lactose intolerant, so it's not really something I can compromise on... Raro - Sweet Navel Orange. Have tried the other ones and they're HORRIBLE!!! So Raro it stays. Other than that, we're forever trying alternatives, cheaper brands. DF doesn't mind Homebrand milk, we don't eat cheese, we tend to go for the cheapest bacon etc. |
Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 10:47am
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Thanks Kate. You've reminded me it was the HB bacon I couldn't stand. Won't be getting that again -------------
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I prefer Hellers or Beehive.Posted By: Neeks
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 10:51am
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Pasta Sauces (I refuse to buy HB or Pams coz they taste like crud)
Nappies (Huggies because Keziah gets a wicked bum rash in all the others we have tried) Wipes (Again they have to be Huggies Sensitive because of Keziah's sensitive wee bot) Formula (Either Nurture Gold or S26 Gold) Toilet paper (Has to have more than 2ply) Shampoo & Conditioner Toothpaste (MUST be Colgate Triple Action) LOL gosh.. look at how pedantic I am 
ETA: We don't eat much cheese, and milk we just buy Dairy Dale...and Bread is River Mill (from the Mad Butcher next door) -------------  
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 11:06am
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I don't comprimise on:
Everything else is usually whatever is cheapest at the time, but if there is a few cents difference between the store brand and well known brand I will usually buy the well known brand. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Southlandmummy
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 11:11am
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only thing i cant escape buys cheap is dhs razor blades, he has to have the mach 3 power blades, its about $20 for 4 blade heads.. Other thing is either VO5 or sunsilk shampoo/conditioner, but everything else is pams, HB... prefer not to buy budget stuff as sometimes pams stuff is the same price and tastes better...
Oh but do buy budget nappies for the boys ------------- Cindy - Princess and Princes Samia Isobel Joy born 9th September 2008 Spencer Graeme John born 29th May 2006 Kaylin Gavin Robert born 19 December 2004 |
Posted By: Phat_Cat
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 11:14am
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well i wont compromise on toilet tissue!! the roly dog one for me other ones irritate my v-jayjay!!
Other things - huggies nappies for nights, formula (mind you we are slowly weaning him off that), and eco store washing powder but thats cause of mine & DS excema flares up otherwise. yep thats about it... I too see if other branded products are cheaper than whats on coupon special. Also we only have one supermarket in Warkworth so not much competition.... ------------- Tristen - 24/06/07 Rylan - 11/12/08 Angel Babies -14/08/05 & 21/01/2010 Curtis - 26/02/12 |
Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 11:15am
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Neeks, I've just started making my own pasta sauces. They're so easy, cheaper and taste so yummy!! -------------
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Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 11:53am
| Ohhh....we don't do HB bacon....we get kind of middle of the range stuff, I can't remember the name though!!! And laundry powder - has to be Persil High Performance, nothing else gets DF's work clothes as clean and sweet-smelling as I like them to be - he works outside in grime and mud and it's difficult stuff. |
Posted By: .Mel
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 12:47pm
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We won't compromise on Bacon, it has to Streaky Hellers and nothing else comes anywhere close to it IMHO. Also Watties BB's & Spag, can't eat the others.
Just an aside the Pams/HB milk and cheese is exactly the same milk as Anchor etc.. it's just cheaper packaging.. (only know this as DH's BF works for Fonterra). That's pretty much it, buy Pams Tampons too, can't really see any difference between them and Carefree, in fact I find Carefree fluff alot more than the Pams ones... ------------- Mr Mellow (16) Miss Attitude (8) Destructa Kid (3) 
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Posted By: ohanlon82
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 1:03pm
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Watties tomato and bbq sauce
Coke Zero - this and this only... Washing Powder - was to have cuddly in it Body wash for me and DH My shampoo and conditioner. DH beers only drinks Steiny Pure I LOVE CHEEEE BUT TRYING TO BE GOOD :) he he i sound really bad now... pretty good otherwise on budget stuff ------------- http://lb2f.lilypie.com/TikiPic.php/RPaODBg.jpg |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 1:05pm
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I'm a Homebrand/SR girl thru and thru, pretty much if they make it, I buy it. Only exceptions are baked beans and spaghetti. I'll buy SR toilet paper but not the budget stuff, otherwise it's Cotton Softs. Oh and Coke has to be Coke, I'm not so fussy on lemonade brands tho. Don't think I've ever bought HB bacon as we don't eat a lot of bacon and I tend to buy the rindless stuff when we do buy it. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 1:21pm
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I got SR tampons a while ago and they are Carefree ones just different packaging so I have no problems with them. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Shorty
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 1:26pm
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We have a few things we wont compromise on.
Bacon has to be Kiwi Spag & BB has to be Oak Toilet Paper has to be Cotton Softs Body wash not soap Nappies is only ever Huggies |
Posted By: Neeks
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 1:39pm
Jo, give me the recipes you use for your homemade pasta sauces and I'll give them a go.  -------------
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 2:36pm
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It's not so much a recipe as an add a bit of this and a dash of that and taste test. It usually involves an onion, some garlic, a tin or 2 of tomatos and some italian herbs. Next time I make it I'll measure and write down the ingrediants as I go if you'd like. -------------
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Neeks wrote:Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 2:46pm
the milk is the same our friend works for a milk place and 5 of the brands are exactly the same with different packaging:) ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 2:48pm
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Do you know what the 5 brands are KA?? ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: sadie
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 2:53pm
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I always make pasta sauces from scratch too - very much a 'turf it all in and let it cook down', so no real recipe. Is roughly this though:
diced onion garlic saute in olive oil add tin of crushed tomatoes (try to use Italian made ones) herbs - fresh or dried tablespoon of tomato paste dash of balsamic vinegar to bring out tomato flavour more water (maybe half the tomato tin in quantity) cook down for at least half an hour, adding a bit more water if necessary, then season can add diced capsicum / mushrooms etc if you want as well if you want a creamy sauce, add a couple of tablespoons of creme fraiche at the end a super quick sauce that i also do is just pesto and creme fraiche - very easy, and delicious! |
Posted By: jaz
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 7:08pm
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Our must haves are
Watties Baked Beans and Spaghetti Shampoo, Conditioner and Deoderant Dilmah Tea Milo Chelsea Brown Sugar ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: ellen
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 7:23pm
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My name is ellen and I'm an ultimate consumer. Is there a self help group I can join?
I won't compromise and am very brand loyal on lots of things and compulsively buy the following: Lux body wash - has to be Ylang Ylang as I love the smell Razor blades - DH buys whatever he needs as I was always getting it wrong (man they're expensive!) Persil washing powder - love the smell Sanitarium weetbix & cornflakes & ricies Purex toilet paper Choysa or Dilmah tea bags Watties spaghetti & baked beans Colgate toothpaste Libra tampons Jiff (have tried the budget stuff - just not the same) Maggi gravies and stuff Nestle cocoa powder Griffins or Arnotts buscuits & crackers Always buy Pams tomato sauce (kids prefer it) and whatever's cheapest for (what I perceive perhaps) milk, sugar, flour, butter, cheese, canned tomatoes. DH has got a real thing for Natures Fresh bread whereas I'll buy the cheaper brands as I only really use it for toast. I've been told Sunny Crust is exactly the same bread but not in DH's mind - go figure? |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 8:22pm
| Ellen - keep you DH;s razors in olive oil. Got this tip from money man and it has been working a treat with us. DH buys Gillete freakinexpensive$5perrazor razors. And being part randomeurpoanisuspect greek, he needs to shave every day. He used to use a new razor every second time. So far his razor in olive oil has lasted over a month. a new record ladies! |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 8:54pm
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Or buy an electric one and save even more money. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 9:02pm
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Twinings english breakfast tea, nothing else tastes as good...
Loo paper - I like cotton soft or purex at a pinch, however, sig range/pams is ok as well. Drive soap powder, used to be persil then they cahnges it and it didn't work as good and was waaay over perfumed Good Morning (?) concentrate dishwashing liquid Think thats about it. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: ellen
Date Posted: 21 July 2008 at 9:22pm
Thanks Lizzle I'll give the olive oil a go. He is also of mixed breed (a good dose of Lebanese thrown in) so shaves every day as well. Could I get away with a cheap generic brand or does it have to be pure, virgin, branded, highly marketed and expensive olive oil? 
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Posted By: shaz
Date Posted: 22 July 2008 at 1:59pm
 Hello Ellen and welcome to consumers anonymous
I have to have certain brands and will not compromise Mine are: Dilma tea bags Sanitarium peanut butter Sanitarium weetbix, rices and cornflakes Freyas soy and linseed bread (just for moi )
Mainland tasty cheese (the other just don't cut it) Kikkoman soy sause Watties BB/Spag and tomato sause Fantastic rice crackers original flavour Continental Tomato cup of soup (for work) Kleenex double length toilet paper (too many girls in my house for the short stuff) Colgate toothpaste for me Mcleans for DH ETA mayo Country Goodness sour cream and cottage cheese Tararua is yuck Hmmm I'm sure there are more.... I may need an intervention to help cut down my grocery bill. ------------- Mum to Natasha Aroha 9/12/1995, Alexandra Makareta Waimarie 22/4/1998 and....Alyssa Frances Hopaea 18/03/2007 
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Posted By: mrsturtle
Date Posted: 22 July 2008 at 8:02pm
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Thanks for the tip on the razors! ill have to give that one a try!
Things we wont comprimise on are: Coke - must be proper coke, no diet no zero, no budget nothing but coke!!! Watties bakedbeans - Hubby wont eat any others Maggi 2 min noodles Surf washing powder Sanatirim marmite and Rice bubbles carefree aloe liners Real coffee beans for the machine - cant do instant Tegal chargrilled chicken patties Kellogs cocopops well thats it i think gee no wonder between the 2 of us we spend 200 a week! One thing that i will only buy pams of is the ice cream soda and lemonade soda stream syrup tastes so much better than the soda stream brand ones |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 22 July 2008 at 8:15pm
| I would think any oil would do. the money man said that the reason the razor blunt is due to oxygen, so when you put in oil, you stop it oxygenating (or whatever) |