I Tricked My Kids Into Eating Dupes From Favorite Brands—Here’s What I Need To Buy To Save

WHEN it comes to my sons, beans really mean Heinz.

Every time I try to swap their favorite brands for a cheaper version, I become resentful that Will, 20, Ally, 16, Eric, 13, and Ted, ten, can only eat Walkers crisps or Nutella chocolate spread.

Mother-of-four Julia Etherington, 45, is secretly testing a range of supermarket alternatives to see if she can save on her grocery billCredit: Adrian Sherratt

Julia with brand and supermarket optionsCredit: Adrian Sherratt

Their insistence on only having high-quality goods means an expensive grocery bill at a time when the cost of living crisis is already hitting my wallet hard. In an effort to save some money, I decided to undertake a sting operation.

Could it be that my hungry offspring are simply blinded by the packaging? Or is the real deal really the best?

After researching the top-rated own-brand swaps, I headed to the supermarkets and secretly filled the cupboards of our house near Bristol with my dupes.

That’s how they went down. . .

KELLOGG’S FROSTIES V ALDI FROSTED FLAKES

Aldi's Harvest Morn Frosted Flakes, £1.15 and Frosties, £3.55 — Aldi’s Harvest Morn Frosted Flakes, £1.15 and Frosties, £3.55Credit: Adrian Sherratt

Since breakfast is the most important meal of the day, I’m a serial buyer of cereal. But with a 470g box of Frosties for £3.55, the costs quickly add up.

However, Aldi’s Harvest Morn Frosted Flakes look the same and cost £1.15 for a slightly more generous 500g pack, so I throw a few in my trolley and hope for the best as I pour them into my plastic cereal container and put it in the cupboard. .

The next one morning, spring has finally emerged as everyone leaves the house after their “Frosties”, nevertheless their mother has sabotaged their breakfast with a cheap alternative that costs 52.5p less per 100g.

WINNER: DUPE

SAVINGS £2.40

The Sun is the first to try Chick-fil-A’s British menu – it tastes better than McDonald’s and KFC

POT NOODLE V LIDL NEWGATE EXPRESS FAST NOODLE

Lidl's quick noodle, 69p and Pot Noodle, £1.20 — Lidl’s quick noodle, 69p and Pot Noodle, £1.20Credit: Adrian Sherratt

THIS might be the toughest of my challenges, as Will often comes in from his physical job as an injection molder and reaches for his after-work ‘snack’, a Pot Noodle.

They cost £1.20 each so I once tried to replace it with the Tesco version but both he and Ally complained it tasted like cardboard.

A friend tells me that the Lidl version costs 69 cents and that’s a good comparison, so I’m going to try that this time.

I offer to make him one with chicken and mushrooms and after adding a watery looking soy sauce, I pour it into a bowl.

Will looks at it suspiciously and asks where his real Pot Noodle is, saying, “That looks gross.”

One bite and he says it tastes bad too. Messed around.

WINNER: BRAND

ADDITIONAL: 51p

McCAIN CRISPY FRIES V WAITROSE ESSENTIAL FRIES

McCain fries, £3.20 and Waitrose's own version, £1.75 — McCain fries, £3.20 and Waitrose’s own version, £1.75Credit: Adrian Sherratt

A chip is DEFINITELY a chip and when posh supermarket Waitrose sells its own version of chips at £1.75 for a 900g bag, why did I pay £3.20 for a brand?

There must be a reason for it, so after cooking them in the oven, I pile a portion onto plates and wait for my family’s reaction.

They eat it and leave the table satisfied.

They may not have noticed that this wasn’t their usual brand, but I will definitely notice that my bank balance looks healthier even if they haven’t had the healthiest meal.

WINNER: DUPE

SAVINGS: £1.45

HEINZ TOMATO KETCHUP V SAINSBURY’S TOMATO KETCHUP

Heinz ketchup, £3.40 and Sainsbury's version, 90p — Heinz ketchup, £3.40 and Sainsbury’s version, 90pCredit: Adrian Sherratt

DO YOU REMEMBER the tomato shortage this time last year? This is why the price of ketchup has skyrocketed.

My kids tell me you can’t have chips without them, but who can afford £3.40 per 16oz bottle for just one flavour? I have to get this trade over the line.

I chat while the boys spoon a dollop onto their plates, as I notice it seems thicker than their usual sauce.

They’re so hungry, they won’t go away that I swapped the bestseller for Sainsbury’s, only paying 90p back for the same size bottle.

WINNER: DUPE

SAVINGS: £2.50

NUTELLA V M&S ITALIAN CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT CREAM

Nutella and the more expensive M&S alternativeCredit: Adrian Sherratt

THIS was a wildcard because it’s more expensive than real Nutella.

I wondered if my boys’ taste buds were just conditioned to recognize the things they usually eat, or could really tell the difference between brands – not just cheaper ones, but also more expensive ones.

And this has to be the crème de la crème, because it’s not just any chocolate spread, it’s M&S chocolate spread. And it costs a whopping £4.50 for 360 grams.

Still, Ally took a bite and thought it was Nutella, cheaper at £3.20 for a similar sized jar, and the other boys fell for it too.

WINNER: BRAND

ADDITIONAL: £1.30

HEINZ BAKED BEANS V MORRISONS BAKED BEANS

Heinz beans, £1.25 and the Morrisons version, 50pCredit: Adrian Sherratt

I no longer struggle to buy one can of beans, as just a pack of four can be enough to satisfy bean fanatic Ted’s appetite.

It costs around £1.25 for a 415g can of Heinz, so if I swap this I could save a fortune.

The Morrisons version is only 50p, so I’m hoping I can make a few bucks by suggesting a dupe as the more expensive brand.

I microwave them and serve them with his usual bread and butter for dipping.

And as he happily gobbles them down, I whisper ‘kerching’ under my breath.

WINNER: DUPE

SAVINGS: 75p

SNACK A JACKS RICE CAKES V TESCO RICE CAKES

Snack a Jacks, £2.25 and Tesco's rice cakes, £1.25 — Snack a Jacks, £2.25 and Tesco’s rice cakes, £1.25Credit: Adrian Sherratt

ALLY and Eric are old enough to realize how boring a regular rice cake is, but they love these spicy versions.

I had considered crossing the snack off my shopping list because they aren’t filling enough to satisfy your hunger, but then my eyes fell on the bottom shelf.

Tesco’s rice cakes cost £1.25 for 120 grams, while Snack a Jacks cost £2.25 per pack.

I decant them into a plastic box in the cupboard anyway, so who knows the difference?

Ally is the first house and straight to the snack bowl. “How come it has yellow bits on it, Mom?” he asks as he bites into the Tesco treat.

“Oh, they probably changed the recipe,” I lie as he walks away.

WINNER: DUPE

SAVINGS: £1

WALKERS WOTSITS V TESCO CHEESE PUFFS

Wotsits cost £1.95 for six and Tesco's Cheese Puffs cost just £1.35 for ten — Wotsits cost £1.95 for six and Tesco’s Cheese Puffs cost just £1.35 for tenCredit: Adrian Sherratt

I usually buy this classic cheese snack to add to lunch boxes or for a quick bite when they get home from school.

At £1.95 for six they work out to almost 33p a pack, and for a large family the whole lot will be gone in the blink of an eye.
Tesco’s Cheese Puffs cost just £1.35 for ten, which works out to less than 14p per pack.

One evening after school, I play hostess and present each of them with a bowl of the supermarket version instead of throwing the bags in their direction.

They hungrily suck them down by the handful, without noticing that they are slightly less cheesy and lighter in color.

WINNER: DUPE

SAVINGS: £1.95 for ten

HEINZ SPAGHETTI HOOPS V ASDA SPAGHETTI LOOPS

Heinz hoops, £1.25 and Asda's version, 47p — Heinz hoops, £1.25 and Asda’s version, 47pCredit: Adrian Sherratt

WHEN I’m craving a frozen dinner and want to add an easy side, I open a can of hoops (unspaghetti, according to the brand).

The price of Heinz hoops has shot up to £1.25 for 400g, so I’m heating up a can of 47p Asda Spaghetti Loops (see what they did there?) and hoping Eric doesn’t like the darker color of the sauce will notice.

He didn’t, but he did notice that they tasted different, so my trick was discovered.

It seems like Heinz is really unpalatable.

WINNER: BRAND

ADDITIONAL: 78p

CADBURY MINI ROLLS V ALDI DAIRYFINE MINI ROLLS

Aldi's cheaper mini sandwiches were good compared to Cadbury's — Aldi’s cheaper mini sandwiches were good compared to Cadbury’sCredit: Adrian Sherratt

THE price of my kids’ favorite cake bars Mini Rolls recently shot through the roof.

The cheapest I can get a pack of ten for is £2.50 at Morrisons, while Tesco charges £3.45. Should I get them from our snack supply, or is there an alternative?

I decide to play this game dangerously as the packaging looks almost identical and give Ted one of Aldi’s more reasonably priced packs of ten, which cost £1.15.

Did he notice? Has he been crazy?

WINNER: DUPE

SAVINGS: £1.35