FRIDAY

Yogurt (47p) It was a little runnier than i preferred. Although add some honey to it and it was fine.

Honey (99p) what a bargain price! and tasted lovely too. You can add it to anything that needs a little sweetner, toast, tea yogurt etc.

Prawns (£2.00) The prawns tasted very nice, an easy ingredient to add to quick pastas and salads. I would definitely buy these ones over the branded variety.

Salad (£1.48) Not worth it, there wasn't much in the bag, you're better off buying the salads individually.

Ketchup (41p) Well... it didn't taste like Heniz, what i'm used to. The Basics ketchup and it had a slightly tangy taste to it. But for 41p and a tight budget this would do.

HIT: Honey + Prawns + Ketchup
MISSES: Salad

THURSDAY

Orange Juice (56p)- I thought this would be tasteless after that apple juice! but it tasted just like my usual branded orange juice, it had a nice flavour.

Cake Roll (33p)- Nice chocolately flavour, a real bargain for snacking on.

Beans (31p)- these we're the cheapest one in the supermarket, it had a tomatoey taste to it.. it didn't taste like Heinz... but it tasted nice! would be lovely on some toast :)

Salmon (£2.58)- This salmon was as good as any! Take it out of the packaging and you wouldn't know the difference.

Cream Cheese (59p)- This smelt like cheese but tasted of nothing! Not worth it. Try out a branded variety instead.

HIT: Orange Juice + Beans + Cake Roll + Salmon
MISSES: Cream Cheese

WEDNESDAY

Apple Juice (56p)- Not worth the money, it had no flavour it was really just coloured water. You're better off spending a little more on a branded variety.

Ham (67p)- This was ok, tasted fine too. Can add it to pasta, sandwiches etc. If you eat a lot of ham they have a larger pack which would work out at a better price.

Pasta (43p)- A very good price! Worth investing in as a staple food for your diet, once its cooked you wouldn't know that it came from the cheaper packet at all! nice for a quick meal, and theres enough pasta to last you a few days, so if you think about it 4p spread over 3-4 days! a bargain!

Chopped Tomato (33p) A food cupboard essential! you can make at least two pasta sauce servings with this tin.

Bacon (£1.48) This meat was not good at all... looking at all the packets i thought i had chosen the one with least fat... but it was mainly when i opened it! it was flakey as i tried peeling the bacon apart, if felt and looked cheap. Spend a little more on quality bacon.

HIT:Ham + Pasta + Chopped Tomato
MISSES: Apple Juice + Bacon

TUESDAY

Porridge Oats (syrup)- This was a great bargain, it had the right amount of sweetness, a nice healthy start to the day. I would definitely get this one again.

Pitta Bread- only 25p! this was another good find, tasted just like any other white pitta worth buying.

Beef Lasange- this was actually ok! i was worried about the ready meals, you get the amount of food you pay for, for 63p you can't complain. alrite for a quick meal.

Tuna- cheap and tasty! mix in with pasta in your sandwich, and you wouldn't know it was a own brand.

Sweet corn- Tasted just like green giant! This can easily count towards your five a day!

MONDAY

TEA- personally this had a weak flavour. I love my tea! But for 28p for 80 teabags! what a bargain. If you really are on a tight budget this would do.

BISCUITS- 25p and taste just like the more expensive branded version, for 25p i would certainly buy these one again. and if your like and snack all day, these biscuits for the price, will come in handy.




TOMATO SOUP- this was DISGUSTING!!! 17p and it shows! watery and it had grease spots ontop! i cooked it anyway, and tried it too! it was horrid! never again with this soup. Avoid this one!!!




FISH PIE- taste wise this was fair, 17p!!!!! i suppose at that price you get the amount of food you pay for, there was more mash in this than anything, it tasted of fish but i couldn't actually remember if i got to eat any!


So at the end of day one, a few successes and definitely a few misses.

HIT: Tea + Biscuits
MISSES: Tomato Soup + Fish Pie

Sunday Shopping Trip

Armed with a shopping list i popped into my local Sainsbury's picking up the basics range, my shopping certainly stood out, what with the all white packing and bright orange titles!

My Shopping List

RICH TEA 25p
APPLE JUICE 56p
PASTA 43p
TEA BAGS 28p
TUNA 55p
BEEF LASAGNE 63p
KETCHUP 41p
NATURAL YOGURT 47p
PITTA BREAD 25p
PORRIDGE OATS 96p
TOMATO SOUP 17p
CHOPPED TOMATOES 33p
HONEY 99p
HAM SLICES 67p
PRAWNS £2.00
SALMON £2.58
CHOCO ROLLS 33p
SWEETCORN 29p
BAKED BEANS 31p
SALAD £1.20
ORANGE JUICE 56p
SOFT CHEESE 59p
FISH PIE 75p

TOTAL: £XX.XX

pleasantly surprised at the final bill. So here's wishing me luck in the week ahead!

WELCOME

Hello and welcome to my budget life, over the next FIVE days i'll be taste testing a range of supermarket own brands (Sainsbury's Basics) and show you how successful...or not so with the foods i'm going to try.