Sainsbury's Basics I Always Buy

The supermarket battle of orange v. blue, green v. yellow rages on and, personally, I am tired of having false promises of a cheaper weekly shop rammed down my throat. And so, I split my shopping loyalty between Aldi, Lidl and Sainsburys. Why? Because for me, as with real estate, my weekly shop is all about location, location, location. I was once an Asda devotee, but since moving house a few years ago, my closest Asda is now 20 miles away, so trips to the green and white bargain haven are sporadic. Whilst my closest supermarket is Lidl, I don't think I am alone in finding it difficult to get everything I need from Lidl (or Aldi for that matter) in one visit. Whilst it is undeniable that Special Buys from these German stores are fantastic, I have grown tired of attempting a full shop at Lidl or Aldi only to find the milk shelf bare, the fruit selection depleted and other specific goods unavailable.

A future post will certainly be devoted to super staples I always purchase from Aldi or Lidl, but for today, allow the spotlight to fall on Sainsburys where many excellent and very cheap products can be found.

• Sainsbury's Basics Fromage Frais, 6 x 50g, 45p
  These yogurts are excellent, and although the packaging is a little less enticing, the contents is truly no different than the Petits Filous version which come in at £1.50 for 6x47g pots and so are over three times the price.
• Sainsbury's Basics Italian Hard Cheese, 200g, £2.50
  This is not the best parmesan style cheese you are ever going to taste, but it is every bit as good on everyday pasta dishes, pizzas and salads as Sainsbury's brand Parmigiano Reggiano which comes in at £3.30 for 200g. If you want luxury and have the cash to spend, opt for Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Parmigiano Reggiano which is £4.50 for 200g. What I am trying to illustrate is that in this example, if you wouldn't buy the luxury product for everyday use, don't bother with the mid-range as here, the basic range is just as good.
• Sainsbury's Basics Mozzarella, 125g, 50p
  This is perfect for topping pasta bakes, pizzas or salads. The Sainsbury's mid range version of this is double the price, and quite honestly, I can't tell the difference.
• Sainsbury's Basics Peppers, 600g, £1.45
  "Traffic light" peppers from Sainsburys will cost £1.75, and you will only get 3. The basics bags typically contain 4-5 peppers and so are much more economical. The only downside is that you can not guarentee to get one of each colour... but as the quality and freshness remain the same, do you really feel that one coloured pepper can not be substituted for another?
• Sainsbury's Basics Smoked Salmon Trimmings, 120g, £1.59
  This product is wondrous. Although not in full, delightfully translucent slices, these trimmings are every bit as delicious. The packet is PERFECT for stirring through pasta or scrambled egg, mixing with cream cheese and topping a bagel, or turning into a luxurious pate for the start of a dinner party (recipe to follow in a later post). It is a fraction of the cost of full slices which would set you back around £5 for the same weight.
• Sainsbury's Basics Low Fat Natural Yogurt, 500g, 50p
  This version is just a third of the price of the mid range Sainsbury's version and it is perfect both for topping with fruit and honey and eating for breakfast, and for adding to curries and sauces. 
• Sainsbury's Basics Tortilla Chips, 200g, 50p
  Another brilliant 50p buy. Perfect with dips or chilli con carne. Doritos are over four times the price of these... so, unless you are desperate for the orange fingers and sicky breath unique to Tangy Cheese Doritos, why would you bother?
• Sainsbury's Basics Pasta Shapes, 500g, 35p
  I am not sure of the scientific reasoning behind this, but the basics pasta is more textured and tastier than the regular pasta (which is 95p for 500g). Mr Rabbit and I both love this, and he complains if we run out and he has to eat regular (and more expensive) pasta from the One Stop near our house.

I could wax lyrical about all the Sainsbury's Basics bargains out there, but I will leave you with these, my most purchased pieces. The beauty of basics is that they are CHEAP, so why not give them a try? They might not be for you, but if they are you may find yourself converted for life and a good few pounds richer as a result.

Until next time... spend wisely, give generously.

The Wise Old Rabbit