Brand name vs. Store Brand

[tig_536]

Hi everyone -

I am trying to save some extra money as we all are these days and was wondering what store brand products are just as good the brand name anything. Please let me know what you use.

Thank you, Jenny

 

[tonilea]

There are only a few things I have found that weren't as good. I won't buy store brand pasta, baked beans or TP, but those are the only things I can think of right now. There are even some things I like better!

 

[LKLush]

Well, I can tell you things that i will NOT buy as store brand: laundry detergent, some foods (especially pasta sauce; I'm not sure why that just popped out of my head, but I've had many bad experiences w/ cheap sauces), makeup and hair products (remember "store brand" versus cheaper pro equivalents - not ALL of my stuff is Tigi/Bedhead and Urban Decay ). All other things I'm willing to skrimp on - many other foods, other cleaning products (or make your own), some clothing, and regular unleaded gas. Not sure if that was of any help...but I tried.

 

[Princess Nancy]

Jenny,
I find that by couponing, I save more on the name brand products than I ever would buting store brands.
Check out

www.thegrocerygame.com
or
www.hotcouponworld.com

I prefer The Grocery game. For a small membership fee. I get a spreadsheet every week of sales and coupons. I have cut my grocery bill by 50%. Easily I pay for the $15 every 12 weeks I pay to belong.

Hot Couon World is all free and basically a discussion board. SOme people do spreadsheets. It is a little more work if you can scan the info.

Good Luck!
pm me if I can help more.
Nancy

 

[tig_536]

I was wonder what brands inparticular you use or won't use. i.e. Wal-mart brand this or target brand that. Maybe we can come up with a big list of store brads that are great! Thanks

 

[mudnuri]

store brand snacks for the kids

saltines, 'ritz' etc...

I can actually come up with a list of what I wont buy easier- mayonaise, and ketcup. and then- Coffee, thats pretty much it when I look in my cupboards.

Brandy

 

[tig_536]

I have done the grocery game before but I was finding I was wasting more food than using. It was just too much.

 

[Mkaz]

I second hotcouponworld. Their site if fantastic. They have a list of drug stores, and grocery stores. They usually list the ads and the coupon match ups.

 

[Princess Nancy]

I do not know where you are located, but I do like
Costco's Kirkland brand for
Laundry Detergent and softener
Toilet Paper
Paper towels

I like Kroger's Brand for
Over the counter Medicines
Paper products for the kitchen esp napkins

I like the Meijer Brand Cereal for te kids ie. fuirt loops type cereal

I'll always buy a store brand for cheapo paper plates, cups, napkins plastice forks and spoons


Hope this helps!
Nancy

 

[wildfan1473]

I am a very picky eater and can definitely tell a difference between store brand and name brand, despite my husband telling me differently. I am really not crazy about Wal-Mart brands, but I am very happy with Target's Market Pantry brand. I buy the breakfast fruit bars (compared to Nutra-Grain), instant mashed potatoes and other potato side dishes, rice, their sandwich bread is awesome for cutting off the crust for the kids. I'll have to think about what else I get, but so far I haven't been disappointed by anything from Target (from what I've been willing to try, anyway - there's just some things I won't ever buy story brand, like my Chips Ahoy ). My husband does say the cheap Wal-Mart brand coffee is one of the best he's ever had, though, and he has tried lots of different coffee.

 

[C_leen]

Hi I'm in MO. Stopped shopping at super Walmart as it was too far to head out to & I quickly realized even with the 'store brand' savings, since it was a family event to head out there, we did a lot of impulse purchases.

I have recently learned that Target is SO much cheaper for name brand snacks than our grocery stores and I really like many of the Archer Farms stuff too. Charmin Basic TP is OK, but I don't like the paper towel. Prefer Target brand paper towel.

I agree on the baked beans. We recently tried the store brand and they needed major doctoring. I'll use store brand fruit/vegetables a lot when making salads or casseroles. I'll use store brand liquid laundry detergent too when it is on sale. I like the store brand "Chunky" soup, but the sodium is killer, so I try to pick up Progresso and Healthy Choice soups for me when they are on sale. I take soup or oatmeal to work almost all of the time as they don't leak or get banged up on my commute.

I've also found that store brand razor blades are a waste. I try to hit Family Dollar for sensor blades. I have moved us off 409 cleaner to Simple Green which I bought at a hardware store and dilute down into the 409 sprayers. We also clean our floors with vinegar and water. I've tried the off brand swiffer refills, but they just don't catch like swiffer or pledge do.

 

[C_leen]

Hi I'm in MO. Stopped shopping at super Walmart as it was too far to head out to & I quickly realized even with the 'store brand' savings, since it was a family event to head out there, we did a lot of impulse purchases.

I have recently learned that Target is SO much cheaper for name brand snacks than our grocery stores and I really like many of the Archer Farms stuff too. Charmin Basic TP is OK, but I don't like the paper towel. Prefer Target brand paper towel.

I agree on the baked beans. We recently tried the store brand and they needed major doctoring. I'll use store brand fruit/vegetables a lot when making salads or casseroles. I'll use store brand liquid laundry detergent too when it is on sale. I like the store brand "Chunky" soup, but the sodium is killer, so I try to pick up Progresso and Healthy Choice soups for me when they are on sale. I take soup or oatmeal to work almost all of the time as they don't leak or get banged up on my commute.

I've also found that store brand razor blades are a waste. I try to hit Family Dollar for sensor blades. I have moved us off 409 cleaner to Simple Green which I bought at a hardware store and dilute down into the 409 sprayers. We also clean our floors with vinegar and water. I've tried the off brand swiffer refills, but they just don't catch like swiffer or pledge do.

 

[marcyinPA]

I almost always buy store brands...but my favorite store brand is Wegman's. Their brand is very high quality. Sometimes it even costs more than the name brand (so I'll buy the name brand instead!). The only item I didn't like in Wegman's brand is their hot cocoa mix. It's not sweet or creamy enough for me. I prefer Swiss Miss!

 

[eliza61]

Hi everyone -

I am trying to save some extra money as we all are these days and was wondering what store brand products are just as good the brand name anything. Please let me know what you use.

Thank you, Jenny

We can handle generic paper products (TP, napkins etc) and bread. Also generic Peanut butter, Jelly etc seem to be ok. Will NOT do generic laundry detergent.

 

[amyup]

Everything Kirkland (Costco brand) we buy, laundry detergent, bottle water, tp, paper towels, dog food. I also will buy Target brand stuff too.

 

[Youarehere]

Big Y brand items that I prefer over name brands:

French Vanilla Creamer
Condensed Vegetarian Vegetable Soup
Tortilla Chips
Baked Muffins- I like Big Y's better than any other store's or bakery's fresh muffins
Frozen Bagels- they are just as good as, not better than, the name brand
The $5 take n' bake pizza- It is very good and a great bargain- just add toppings. We use a pizza stone- my friend does not and she only likes it at our house. The stone makes a huge difference in the way the crust turns out.

Stop and Shop

Frozen French Toast Sticks- way, way better than the name brands

Target

Multi purpose contact solution- 2 pk of 12 oz bottles- is the cheapest I have found and works just as good as the name brands.
They also have the 2oz travel size Renu for 99 cent. Buy 6 for $5.94, and it is cheaper than the 12 oz, easy to throw in your purse/ bag and takes very little room in the bathroom. Can be used as drops too.

Reduced calorie Berry Juice Pouches- YUMM!! Just like Kool -Ade w/o the sugary tooth sweaters left behind. They have printable coupons at Targets web site for these alot too.

In general:

Butter
Choc Syrup
Deli Cheese
Canned Beans

 

[lauracjc]

I prefer Wal Mart brand medications ie. tylenol, benedryl, sleep aid, childrens tylenol etc. I can hardly pass on the price especially when they seem to work better for me than the "real" thing.

 

[Crazy Mother of Two]

No generic paper products (they feel like they are still mostly trees)

Store brand dairy products are fairly equal to major brand names. I wish I could remember when, but 20/20 had a segment about just this and they did taste tests and the sour cream, mozz.cheese, pillsbury-type rolls, etc all came out ahead of the major brands.

No subbing for Hellmanns mayo and Heinz ketchup (not sure why? but they taste the best!)

I'm sure there is more but I am drawing a blank!

 

[KibbyCat]

I agree with a previous poster about store-brand meds. Equate (Wal-Mart brand) works just as well as Tulenol or advil and is about 1/3 the price. This is especially helpful when buying infant or children's medicine.

We like Great Value (Wal-Mart) for a lot of food/household items. Sandwich bags, canned fruits & veggies, Their ice cream is even comparable to Blue Bell (certain flavors).
We also buy a lot of Archer Farms/Market Pantry stuff from Target. Their breakfast cereals are good, and so are their diapers/pullups/wipes. In fact, I can get a whole box of diapers (92-ct) for my baby for about $14. That is about what you'd pay for a small package of Huggies or Pampers. They may not be as soft/flexible/cute designs, but they absorb well and last quite a while. My preschoolers use the pullups for bedtime. They are about $9 for a pack of 29, compared to $15 for name brand. And the baby wipes come in refill packs that I can get in a big box of 3 that last several months. Also, the flushable kid wipes are $1.27 for a refill pack.

Also, I went with my daughter's class on a field trip to tour the Mrs. Baird's Bread factory (in Texas), and the tour guide told us that they make store brand bread - Wal-Mart, Target, Kroger, Albertson's, etc. From now on, unless I can get day-old bread right from the Mrs. Baird's outlet, I will always buy store brand, since it's the exact same bread at a fraction of the cost!

Hope that helps....

 

[gabriellyn]

Also, I went with my daughter's class on a field trip to tour the Mrs. Baird's Bread factory (in Texas), and the tour guide told us that they make store brand bread - Wal-Mart, Target, Kroger, Albertson's, etc. From now on, unless I can get day-old bread right from the Mrs. Baird's outlet, I will always buy store brand, since it's the exact same bread at a fraction of the cost!

Hope that helps....

I'll have to remember that from now on - I live in the Houston area and I LOVE Mrs. Baird's! Thanks for the tip!