That's not to say you won't see brand names in my home. Hubby still prefers Charmin over any other toilet tissue. Only real Prilosec seems to work right on him. I still use only Helman's or Miracle Whip. You get the idea. But there is almost no single thing that I have not tried in a generic at some point. Yes, occasionally I am totally disappointed and waste a tiny amount of money. But over all, by finding all the places I can satisfactorily substitute I have saved a bundle! As for the name brand stuff we stick to: I try to only purchase it on sale or with a coupon. I also know at which store in our town I can find the lowest price on it.
What about you? Do you ever go slumming in generics and store brands? What items, if any, do you insist must be the brand name?
Barbara
Oh I use generic stuff all the time. Certain things are way overpriced because they have a "brand" on them. I work in retail and I know for sure that if you have a designer name you tag a whole lot more onto your price for the name and sometimes the stuff they sell isn't actually as good because the designer knows they can lower their costs because people will pay more for the name. Yes, there are a few branded products which are genuinely better but for the main part you can live just as well by shopping around and paying less.
ReplyDeleteI use a lot of generic items, but only brand mac and cheese.
ReplyDeleteBetty
A lot of generic products are actually made by the name brand companies and given a generic or store brand label. That just goes to prove that they could charge less for the "real thing" if they wanted to.
ReplyDeleteHas to be Jif peanut butter for my husband. I'm not so fussy. As long as the toilet paper is 2 ply, generic will work for me :)
ReplyDeleteJanet
G is for Genesis
I have been taking thyroid medication for over 50 years now. Believe me when I say the Generic form of it is not the same as the original pills themselves.
ReplyDeletehttp://enchantedfantasies.blogspot.com/
Depends where I am financially. :-) I do have my all time, favorite BRANDS. It has to be JIFF peanut butter because I was a choosy mother. Basically I look at where it is made. A can of diced tomatoes, can be store brand - but dog food and snacks for the cat has to be a brand name I trust. None of that China-crap for my animals. TP, doesn't matter. I use
ReplyDeletethe middle of the road - Angel soft and for paper towels, I like Bounty.
I don't get a lot of stuff usually. I know what brands of chocolate are better. But I don't do chips or cereal or peanut butter or the like. I hadn't really considered that before.
ReplyDeleteGenerics sometimes are superior to a brand name. It depends on quality and value. I do a garden and it is a big money saver.
ReplyDeleteI usually shop brand name, but aim to buy on sale. I check my flyers weekly and price match the best deals. That being said, I'm not averse to using generic products. I often use our drug store's brand of facial tissue, for example. Most of our toiletries/grooming supplies (deodorant, shampoo, body wash, etc.) are brand names I have discovered work best for us.
ReplyDeleteI use a lot of generic brands -- things that we prefer over a name brand. I'll try a generic but not be afraid to go back to the name brand if it actually is better. Some generic brands of things we use every day really are better than the name brands. There are a few items in my house that will always be name brands, however, namely Dial bar soap, Kraft Real Mayo, and Tide laundry detergent. :)
ReplyDeleteI go generic on things such as milk, cups, plates
ReplyDeleteWe spend a few extra dollars and buy more organic, hoping the organic is not a scam.
ReplyDeleteThere are some things I don't mind using the generic. And then there are those things (Like Hellman's) that I just won't switch!
ReplyDeleteIt seems that the quality of generic items has much improved in recent years, often being as good or better than the brand name item at a much better cost. I try once, and if it's good, we buy it from then on. Generic medications are definitely on that list. Exception... generic Post-It notes don't stick! :-)
ReplyDeleteWhen I get prescription medications from the Safeway pharmacy, it always says "generic for..." Fluoxetine HCL is generic for Prozac.
ReplyDelete