With so many households across the UK looking at ways to survive the cost-of-living crisis, saving money at the supermarket checkout could be one way to try and help keep the wolf from the door. Swapping your favourite brands for Supermarket-own labels is a tried-and-tested experiment, witnessed on countless prime-time television shows, and Dayna Farrington - a reporter on our sister site Birmingham Live - has decided to give it a whirl.
Asda's recently-launched Just Essentials budget range has attracted criticism over its colour and design, with some complaining it "embarrassed poorer families". But Dayna plumped for Morrisons and its Savers offerings with the fourth largest supermarket in the UK promising that it brings "you everyday staples at affordable prices.
"With over 240 great quality products across the store, your weekly shop has never been simpler, or saved you more. From marrowfat peas to creamy soft cheese, or toilet rolls to tortilla chips, with over 240 products, we've got your weekly shop covered. Start saving with our Savers range."
To judge whether Morrisons are as good as their word and to make some considerable savings, Dayna bought 20 items, designed to make highly-affordable meals for her family and admits she was shocked by the low prices. Most of the products in her trolley cost less than £1 and the most expensive item was still less than £2.50 with a total final bill of £15.25.
Canvassing her partner and two children for their opinions too, Dayna and her loved ones made judgements on whether they would continue buying and eating the substitute products and this is what they thought of their Savers options:
White loaf - 59p
"We found the Morrisons Savers white bread to be really good. It was a great substitute for branded bread such as Warburtons or Hovis.
"It was really soft and made for a good sandwich. It also toasted really well both as a breakfast alternative, or teamed with baked beans for lunch. I would definitely buy it again."
Frozen chips - 99p
"When we tried to shop the Asda Just Essentials range, we couldn’t find any frozen chips in our local store, instead having to make our own by buying their white potatoes. For 99p, the bag was packed full and the amount you got for the price was really good value.
"However, they weren’t the best. When cooked they went quite soggy and weren’t as fluffy inside as you would expect."
Tea bags - 65p
"I was actually extremely impressed by these tea bags. Sometimes it's quite hard to beat your PG Tips, Yorkshire Tea or your Tetley brands.
"But these were really good - and made a strong cup of tea. It was a good, strong flavour.
"The colouring was perfect too - that rich brown tea colour. I could drink this permanently. And for 65p for 80 tea bags, where can you go wrong?"
Wheat biscuits - 77p
"These were a really good breakfast alternative. They tasted identical to Weetabix at a fraction of the price.
"They were a hit all round with our family, whether warmed up in the microwave or served cold with some fruit and milk. We could easily get 12 breakfasts out of the box of 24 which is really good value for money. I wouldn’t hesitate at picking these up again on my weekly shop."
Yoghurts - 80p
"We couldn’t believe how many yoghurts you could get for just 80p - and in a range of flavours too. For 80p, you really can’t complain.
"But, after sampling all the flavours, our children thought the yoghurts were too ‘bitty’ with lumps in - and much prefer a smoother yoghurt. However, I really enjoyed them. They were really fruity and made for a perfect lunchtime snack."
Pasta - 45p
"Can you really taste the difference between pasta when it’s cooked? I’m not really sure I can.
"Correct me if I’m wrong. It was a big bag packed full so worth the money - you definitely get more in the bag than your average bag of pasta from a supermarket. We teamed it with the pasta sauce and grated cheese to make a delicious pasta bake which all four of us enjoyed for dinner one evening."
Pork luncheon meat - 79p
"This was just a huge no all round. When I visited my local Morrisons, this was the only sandwich filling I could find in the Savers range.
"But I will never buy this again. The texture was horrible and really chewy.
"It tasted a bit too fatty for a lunch meat for me. I couldn’t finish my sandwich. Our children weren’t too keen either - so it won’t become a packed lunch staple."
Apple juice - 75p
"The apple juice was great - and went down an absolute treat. We are always buying brand-named fruit juices in our house, and you can always find a Tropicana or Innocent smoothie in our fridge - particularly when we find them on offer.
"But, for the price, I would most definitely consider buying this again. It had the sweet and tangy flavour you expect of apple juice - and it was really fresh."
Grated mixed cheese - £2.49
"The cheese was most definitely the most expensive item we bought in Morrisons. And it increased the overall price of our shop.
"But it was a good size bag of grated cheese - which we could make many uses of. We found plenty to use it with - with our pasta bake, a cheese sandwich, sprinkled over beans on toast and even topping up the cheese on our pizza.
"It tasted good too. We are more likely to buy grated cheese anyway, so this worked out perfectly."
Bacon - £1.15
"We really didn’t like the bacon. Well, for starters, I don’t like bacon anyway, so my partner and two children were key to this taste-test.
"And they all agreed straight away to a bacon sandwich one morning. But it seemed really strange.
"There was just three-and-a-half rashers in the pack and it was really thickly cut. We had to cut off quite a bit of fat too and it tasted a little on the salty side."
Baked beans - 29p
"For 29p, I couldn’t believe the quality of the baked beans. They are one of those staple reach-in-the-cupboard items that everyone loves.
"The sauce was really tomatoey. It was a good sauce to bean ratio too. They were as close as you could get to the real deal - or Heinz - so to say."
Fish fingers - 79p
"Birds Eye fish fingers are double - sometimes triple - the price of their supermarket counterparts. But can you get the taste as good?
"Morrisons are almost there - and to save some money I would add these to my trolley again. Especially for 79p. My children really enjoyed them teamed with some chips and baked beans for a quick and easy dinner."
Cottage pie ready meal - £1.35
"For a ready meal, I really can’t complain. And, when I was short on time one evening, it was a quick and easy dinner for me.
"It wasn’t the best ready meal cottage pie I have ever tried, but far from the worst. There was a good amount of mash and mince, and the flavours were nice."
Strawberry jam - 35p
"I’m not the biggest fan of jam at all. The only way you’ll normally catch me eating it is in the middle of a delicious cake, or smothered on a scone with cream.
"However, this was nice and fruity and really smooth. For 35p, jam lovers can rejoice."
Pasta sauce - 39p
"As mentioned previously, we used this sauce with the pasta and cheese to make a pasta bake for the four of us. All teamed together, it was a really tasty meal for the family.
"But the pasta sauce wasn’t the best I’ve tried. It lacked a lot of flavour in my opinion and, without the cheese, it may have made for a bland meal."
Tinned potatoes - 39p
"Tinned potatoes are strange. I actually bought them as it’s not something I’ve ever seen, or thought to buy before.
"But I won’t buy them again. They tasted too processed and the idea of getting a potato out of a tin just baffles me."
Chocolate chip cookies - 39p
"The chocolate chip cookies were OK - but not nearly as nice as other brands I’ve tried. I thought they lacked chocolate chips.
"However, the boys polished them off without a second thought - so they couldn’t be all that bad? And, for 39p, and to save money, I would consider adding them to my trolley more often."
Eggs - 55p
"For six eggs, 55p is amazing. Morrisons’ own free range eggs are £1.15, while the Happy Egg Co. can be £2.05 or more.
"These were great too - there was no problem with them at all. I used them to make scrambled eggs on toast for a few lunches, while my partner used them to make an egg mayonnaise sandwich with the bread. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy these again at all."
Cheese and tomato pizza - 89p
"It wasn’t the best pizza we have ever tried, but it wasn’t awful. It needed some more cheese though (step forward the grated cheese we mentioned earlier).
"The base was a little dry and had burnt in places once cooking. I felt it needed a bit more tomato sauce, however I was out-voted as the rest of the family felt there was more than enough."
Tortilla crisps - 43p
"It may have just been our local Morrisons, but I found it strange that these were the only crisps we could find in the Savers range. I had expected perhaps a Walkers dupe.
"We used these to make nachos with cheese as a side for pizza night. They were very salty and similar to any other brand of salted tortillas you would buy. However, for ease of lunches, I would have liked an alternative cheaper crisp option."
Overall
"Overall, I can say I was impressed with Morrisons' Savers range. There were some hits and some misses, but when you look at the money you could be saving from buying big name brands, or even other supermarket-own brands, the positives outweigh the negatives.
"Getting 20 items as part of a weekly shop for £15 is amazing - working out at less than £1 per item. I will definitely look at trying some more of the range to see where else I can save money.
"Some items, like the tinned potatoes, frozen chips, pork luncheon meat or even the bacon, I would probably avoid. Sometimes you just can't save on quality.
"But the bread, eggs, baked beans, tea bags or wheat biscuits are items I would definitely look to pick up again. They were as tasty, if not more so, than other alternatives."
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