Budgeting... Brand Choices

[MickeyBabe]

I have been trying to get more strict on my budgeting lately.

While working on my grocery list, comparing my list to available sales/coupons I realized there are some brands I refuse to waiver on.

Do others here have the same problem? What brands will you never give up and why?

A few of the things we have to have...

Heinz Ketchup (for consistancy and flavor)
Bounty paper towels (Strength and quality)
Dawn Dish soap (quality)
Tide (Works best for me)

There are too many others to list, I just realized I am by and far a "Brand" snob.

I will buy in bulk or stock up on sales for these things we choose to have brands on.

 

[christinadei]

I used to buy so much generic stuff, but lately I started couponing and combing the coupons with sales and it's turning otu to be much cheaper for me to get name brands than the store brand.

I've used coupons/sales for all 4 of the brands you mentioned.

 

[MikeL1515]

me too..

Pampers Cruisers
Cascade

Nothing but Heinz Ketchup!!!!

 

[MickeyBabe]

I agree!

I have found that shopping for sales is the best budgeting technique there is. Even when buying bulk at Sam's Club or Costco.

Many times the local sale is still a better price.

 

[RobynK]

I am the same- I will only use Dawn, Scott toilet paper,Heinz ketchup believe it or not Purex detergent (I can only use this or Tide as my son has allergic reaction to all others) but will use Walmart fabric softener
There are some others I will only use brand names on and some I will use either

 

[ohiominnie]

A few of the things we have to have...

Heinz Ketchup (for consistancy and flavor)
Bounty paper towels (Strength and quality)
Dawn Dish soap (quality)
Tide (Works best for me)

I'm kinda brand snobbish too. I agree with you on 3 of these....Heinz, Bounty, Dawn, Tide (and it MUST be Tide HE) And I prefer the Bounty to be "select-a-size."

Dish soap...I buy a big thing and it lasts years....between the dishwasher and soft water, I need to use very little of this.

I'm also a spaghetti sauce snob. Ragu, Old World, Mushroom....mostly because that's what I grew up on. I doctor it up a bit, but I love it as my base. Now, if I'm making lasagna, that won't do...it's got to be Prego.

TP, must be Charmin. Graham crackers must be HoneyMaid. There is a long list...

That's why I don't like shopping at Meijer....so many times I've been there and they are totally out of my brand....and then I have to revamp them menu.

On the other hand, my mom will go for cheapest, no matter what. So she gets her paper towels for 1/3 the price and then will use 3 or 4 times more of them to clean up a spill. Ya get what ya pay for....

 

[MickeyBabe]

I must admit, I will occasionally try some "store brands" and as long as they make the cut they are ok.

I have done this on, say, sugar, salt and other "ingredients". Although some ingredients must be the brand to make the end product taste right, like Hellmanns Mayo or Miracle whip. I use Mayo for some things and Miracle Whip for others depending on taste. My DH thinks I'm nuts.

 

[beattyfamily]

I used to buy generic stuff to save money but as I got older I realized that I got what I paid for and it ended up being a waste of money.

I buy mostly brand name items. Once in awhile I'll buy generic wet wipes, soup crackers, store brand margarine but everything else is brand name like toilet paper, paper towels, detergents, sodas etc...

I want quality and sometimes you dont get that with generic.

 

[pearlieq]

There are very few items where I'm brand loyal, but the few that I use are important to me.

Organic Valley dairy products (I can verify they treat their animals humanely)
Egg Innovations eggs (ditto)
Kraft Mac & Cheese (nothing else tastes right)
Heinz Ketchup (ditto)
White Cloud TP (soft like Charmin, but not all linty)
Colgate Total toothpase (the only substantively different toothpaste on the market)

Other than that I'm a free agent--as long as a product meets my quality and taste standards I'll buy it from the lowest bidder!

 

[minkydog]

My family will usually eat pretty much anything, but there are a few things I will not compromise on--Blue Plate mayonnaise and Red Rose tea. When we go on vacation I take my Red Rose with me. Now my mom and sister are hooked on it, they make me bring them their own boxes when i come.

 

[Mkaz]

Jif peanut butter. "It rocks!" Thats a quote from my nephew. Seriously though, we just don't care for other brands. You can really taste the difference.

 

[Mad4Dizne]

We only do organic ketchup (much more lycopene--especially important for men--I think I read a study that said it has like 30% more than the non-organic brands) and organic milk (much more nutrients, no antibiotics, etc.) and try to do as much organic produce and other things as well. I used to buy generic paper products, until I realized we used twice as much. Now I just try to stock up when there are sales....Has been working pretty good.....


I have to try the Red Rose tea!!!!!

 

[MickeyBabe]

And I prefer the Bounty to be "select-a-size."

LOL... I only use the regular ones because I inevitably tear off more than I need. I buy the white ones in bulk. The new cheaper Bounty looks , well, cheap. I agree, you get what you pay for.

TP must be Northern for me.

Dish soap...I buy a big thing and it lasts years....between the dishwasher and soft water, I need to use very little of this.

We have a water softener also. Have you had problems with "etching"? (The hazy look of glass that is not a residue but actually tiny scratches.) Becuase of this I orederd phosohate free Seventh Generation dishwasher soap. It works great, no more etching! (and is good for the environment too)

 

[The Disney Bunch]

Hellman's mayo & Clorox are the two things I will not substitute - everything else it depends upon what is on sale & my mood.

 

[Tissa]

I guess I'm a brand snob. I have to have Tide,Heinz Ketchup, Dawn, Kraft Mac & Cheese etc. I tried the generic stuff once but it isn't the same and I don't want to take chances on clean clothes or good tasting food, I'd rather try and save on the food budget in other ways. Now if I could just get my boys to quit eating so much

 

[malibuconlee]

I buy store brands on many items. Here are the ones I don't waiver on

Miracle Whip Lite
Tide Liquid
Campbell's chicken noodle (I'll buy store brand cream of soups tho)
I'm sure there are others, but those are my must haves.

I also shop at Aldi's so I'm not a cmplete brand snob.

 

[MickeyBabe]

I shop at Aldi's too.

I like thier Frozen Chicken Breasts, Instant Mashed Ppotatos (Herb), Produce, Chicken Pot Pies, Brownie mix and Chocolate Chips (for brownies).

They have good sale items often also.

Hmmm... I need to go on an Aldi's run.

 

[tbelfonti]

I am a brand snob mostly.

TP has to be Scotts
Papertowels: Bounty. We recently bought generic and they were terrible.
Detergent: Tide
Dryer Sheets: Bounce
Dish Detergent: Cascade
Bar Soap: Ivory
Baby Wipes: Pampers sensitive
Diapers: Pampers cruisers

Now there are things I'll buy generic: pasta, sauce, canned tomatoes, frozen veggies, pierogies (Price Chopper brand is better than Mrs. T's, imo), liquid soap, fruit cups, hot dog / hamburger rolls, zip top baggies, garbage bags

All of the brand items I buy in bulk at BJs.

 

[madge]

I use coupons on a fairly regular basis. A lot of stuff, I don't care about the brand, only the price.

I am brand-specific on the following:
Jif Peanut Butter (crunchy)
Dawn dish soap--here's a bit of irony...my name is Madge, and Palmolive makes me break out
Cascade powder for the dishwasher, but the Wal-mart brand is a very close second.
Kraft or Borden American cheese slices
hot dogs--need to be name brand, I cannot stand cheap hot dogs.
tyson chicken strips (in the freezer section)
pillsbury cinnamon rolls
diet coke
heinz ketchup. I'll buy Red Gold in a pinch, but would do without if neither of those are available.
Kellogg's Pop Tarts


That's all I can think of right now.

 

[malibuconlee]

Diet Coke is a must for me too. I tried that Wal-Mart brand stuff once at a family thing. YUCK!!