h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Branded medicines, as has already been mentioned, are a notorious rip-off. Unbranded asprin is about 20p; branded asprin is about a pound.

Tinned vegetables from the "economy" supermarket ranges tend to be identical to those from the "non-economy" own-brand ranges and the branded ranges. I've bought loads of economy sweetcorn, kidney beans, chopped tomatoes etc and still can't fathom the difference between them and the other brands. I suspect no-one could tell in a taste test.

Careful, the cheaper ones often have more fillers like sugar in them. But if there's no mention on the label, why not?

I have it on fairly* good authority, from a friend who used to work in a 'canning factory', that the only differnce between some of the 'economy' supermarket tins, and the more expensive non 'economy' ones, is that they change the label strip over in the labeling machine.... Identicle product... according to him at least...

Hmm. I've had "economy" tinned tomatoes, and they were tasteless, in a thin, watery juice. Ordinary supermarket brand ones are fine, no need to fork out for Napolina, but the "value" ones were 'orrible. Never again.

RF

Mobile phone peripherals (chargers, memory, batteries etc): branded, bought in-store are about 3-4 times as expensive as on the internet. In fact, internet suppliers will often sell *the same* product at around 1/3 of the price charged in a shop.

RF

Has it already been mentioned, but things like Chick Peas in the Asian section are priced to compete with Asian supermarkets, and so are much cheaper than Chick Peas in the tinned beans section *of the same supermarket*. Go figure.

Likewise, sunflower seeds are priced differently depending on whether you get them from the fruit and veg section (ie healthy snacks) or from the baking section. They are best of all bought from asian supermarkets, of course.

I agree about cheap toms being a false economy, but with other veg I find that though the posh tins are nicer they aren't enough nicer to be worth the extra money.

I buy mobile accessories from dodgy stalls in the market. I lose them faster than I break them, anyway.

In the same vein as using Asian supermarkets, Chinese supermarkets are absolutely the place to buy anything to do with Chinese cooking - all the ingredients, spices and cookware at brilliant prices. If you have never been to one, do!

Those trays of frozen dimsum are wonderful for parties.

Wildbird seed and food is expensive in small packs but the 10kg+ packs are a lot cheaper per kg and more importantly ensure you have plenty when the snow is deep and the little birdies are struggling!

For those who want to save money on both wildbird seed and human food:


http://www.theoldfoodie.com/2006/07/proper-appreciation-of-sparrows.html

The whole 'sell buy' date thing, can be a fruitful area for bargains. Yes it's fraught with problems unless you're certain how likely or unlikely something is to cause upset.

It's pretty easy with meat, because you can just take it home and freeze it if it's on offer, as its about to run out.

But I've frequently bought stuff cheap, like smoked salmon, that's lasted ages in the 'fridge, (wouldn't want to freeze that), and it's never caused a problem.

Indeed, Ms. Ants. 'Best Before' does not mean 'Deadly Poisonous After!'

I love the supermarket reduced tray as get to buy cornfed and free range chicken, etc at cheap prices and get to try new expensive food cheaply.

>> 'Best Before' does not mean 'Deadly Poisonous After!

But 'Use By' does.

>But 'Use By' does.

Yeah but maybe there's a gap in the market?

Who wants to waste their last few pennies, trapsing from one shop to another because they don't any longer let you buy painkillers in bulk. Health and Safety is such a pain.

>The whole 'sell buy' date thing, can be a fruitful area for bargains. Yes it's fraught with problems unless you're certain how likely or unlikely something is to cause upset.

Yep, although depends on the food. Vegetables tend to last well over their "use by" date, as does (most) bread if kept somewhere cool (although fresh baked bread goes stale very quickly). Meat and dairy products, on the other hand, don't tend to fare as well and tend to either need eaten on the day or frozen.

I've just found a jar of cook-in sauce with a best before date of over a year ago. Should I risk it? (Rogan Josh, before you ask)

>> Health and Safety is such a pain.

Say that to on-call medics who have to deal with the people who've ODed on paracetemol in order to get a bit of tlc and attention, apparently recoveered and hve made it up with their boyfriend or flatmates or parents or whatever, and then discovered they've totalled their liver after all.

>Say that to on-call medics who have to deal with the people who've ODed on paracetemol in order to get a bit of tlc and attention,< Mrs Zen

Yes as I suggested, there's a gap in the market....

But yes I get your point, and accept that.

By coincidence, in today's Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/is-it-time-to-chuck-out-sellby-dates-1881142.html

I'd not heard about those online discounters...