What generic product do you buy that works as good or better than the name brand?

[deanainnc]

I have started using alot of the Dollar General brand items, I think its Clover Valley, and my family loves the taste of the products. Here's a short list of the items I buy:

Saltines (taste just like Zesta) $ .75
Rice O Roni $ .50
Vegtable Soup $ .50
Chicken Noodle Soup $ .50
Corn Flakes $1.25
Spices $ .50
Coffee Creamer $1.00
Dish Washer Detergent $2.50
Sensitive Tooth Paste (works better in dd opion than name brand) $1.50

And you see the prices are really good.

 

[nbodyhome]

I know someone who hauls frozen fish. All of both Walmart and Aldi's frozen fish is packaged at Gordon's and comes off the same production line but it cost less to buy the generic. Another thing I prefer is Walmart ground beef. They must go through it faster than a regular grocery store because at Walmart it is all red and fresh at the regular grocery chain near me it is brown and gross under the outer layer of red fresh meat and that just grosses me out.

Red and fresh is not the same thing. If the meat is prepackaged (as Target and Wal Mart tend to be), then it likely isn't as fresh as the meat coming out of your grocery if they have a butcher there carving up the meats. It looks like I'll have to skip out on the Lauras Lean Meats, and stick with Publix.

Here is an interesting article:

http://www.informationliberation.com/?id=10973

There is not always anything wrong with brown meat, especially when it's in it's sell-by date. Meat should turn brown, not stay red.

 

[gottaluvdis]

I use the Equate version of Oil of Olay face lotion. Works just as great.

Oh, and Sam's Choice Cajun blend trail mix is yummmmmyyyy!

Ditto on the Equate brand of Oil of Olay! Saves lots of $$$. Also, Equate saline solution, Equate "Plax", Equate Q-tips (haven't had a problem even though some here prefer name brand), Equate feminine products - just a few off the top of my head.

My best find this year - Target version of Coppertone sport 30 SPF sunscreen spray. $4.84 vs $6 or $7 per can of the name brand (and those are Wal-Mart prices!). I wish Equate would jump on the band-wagon - maybe next summer. Our Target can barely keep this sunscreen in stock - last time I saw it, I bought 4 cans. It's valuable for DD to use at camp because it's easy (therefore, she actually uses it).

I have no problem buying generic drug store/paper items if available. We're a little pickier with food, however, although DH does pick up a lot of Market Basket brand groceries (their ice cream is just as good as brand name, and their version of Chex Mix is just as good if not better). He does most of the food shopping since he loves to cook. I know there are other items that he buys store brand as well, but I'm can't think of them off the top of my head.

 

[gottaluvdis]

I use the Equate version of Oil of Olay face lotion. Works just as great.

Oh, and Sam's Choice Cajun blend trail mix is yummmmmyyyy!

Ditto on the Equate brand of Oil of Olay! Saves lots of $$$. Also, Equate saline solution, Equate "Plax", Equate Q-tips (haven't had a problem even though some here prefer name brand), Equate feminine products - just a few off the top of my head.

My best find this year - Target version of Coppertone sport 30 SPF sunscreen spray. $4.84 vs $6 or $7 per can of the name brand (and those are Wal-Mart prices!). I wish Equate would jump on the band-wagon - maybe next summer. Our Target can barely keep this sunscreen in stock - last time I saw it, I bought 4 cans. It's valuable for DD to use at camp because it's easy (therefore, she actually uses it).

I have no problem buying generic drug store/paper items if available. We're a little pickier with food, however, although DH does pick up a lot of Market Basket brand groceries (their ice cream is just as good as brand name, and their version of Chex Mix is just as good if not better). He does most of the food shopping since he loves to cook. I know there are other items that he buys store brand as well, but I can't think of them off the top of my head.

 

[WeluvDisney2]

AH!!! Is that true?!?!?!?

Yes it is.

 

[nbodyhome]

I like the Ocean Potion sunblock - it is very reasonably priced (as opposed to Coppertone, definitely), and it includes Parsol 1789.

 

[Muushka]

Sams's Choice (available at Walmart) has a box of 200 artificial sweetner (like NutraSweet (aspartame)-blue packages) for $2.38. Bargain.

 

[Fire14]

Has anyone tried Jump(meijer brand) laundary soap? how about dryer sheets. I tried Meijer brand laundry soap and hated it as it seemed as if I had to use 3 times as much to get clothes clean. I was wondering how dryer sheets compared to walmart brand.


I'm a store brand contact lens solution user but for protein remover I use name brand.

 

[Kycha]

I'm often amazed that so many poeple are "brand snobs"!

I worked for Ore Ida French Fries/Tater Tots and we did Genaric Name runs of the exact same product, just a different Wrapper, all the time!! Western Family was one of them.

I was just going to post the same thing!

I remember years ago, one of my father's clients was Green Giant. He told me they have 2 lines running. One with the brand name label and the other with generic name label(this was when the labels were still just black and white). It is the same product. So, there are very few products that I buy that are not generic. The only time I buy name brand is if I have a coupon that might make it cheaper than the generic. Which doesn't happen often.

 

[merekc]

I recently have switched to the cheapo dryer sheets at Walmart, and I can't tell a difference from the bounce sheets (except for price). I think they are $.88 for 50, they were the cheapest I saw (blue box, pink writing, can't think of name).

I saw this same brand at the dollar store (Deals), but Walmart's price was better.

 

[left210]

We love the Walmart salsa and spaghetti sauce (we like garden flavor) and it is only a $1. If I make spaghetti now without this sauce then it just isnt the same. Also, we like the meijer brand oatmeal but not the Walmart brand oatmeal. Walmart brands texture seems to be different and Meijer is more like the name brand. I cant wait to try some of the other suggestions.

 

[luvmyboys]

If any of you have uber sensitive skin like I do, and use Cetaphil products ($$$ anywhere you buy them ), I recently discovered the Walmart version (Equate) and not only is it the EXACT same (ingredients, scent, consistency) but it is about $4.50 less!

One more notch on my money-savin' belt!

 

[ticktock]

All of you who love the Walmart salsa and spaghetti sauce, does it have soy oil in it? Ds and I are allergic.

 

[sameyeyam]

Costco has Kirkland Brand hair conditioner $5.20 for 2 huge pump bottles. It is I think Ginger Root with Lemon scent (sounds weird, but smells good). It is a great conditioner and great price.

 

[mtblujeans]

I have found that an Albertson's vegetable oil spray is better than Pam in that it does not leave that sticky film on my pans and works great at keeping food from sticking to the dishes.

Walmart sells a generic, over the counter Claritin-type product that is less than half the price of the name brand pill. I buy Walmart Q-tips (they don't unravel) and DH perfers Walmart contact solution. He was really glad he had been using that when this recent problem came about with the national brand solution.....but, I don't know who bottles the Walmart contact solution.

I buy dryer sheets and liquid fabric softener at the Dollar Tree. They seem to work just fine.

 

[of the seas]

I just wanted to add that lately I have been doing some shopping at Aldi and found some good products.
The Aldi brand of chocolate cake frosting is so good! It tastes like Duncan Hines to me!
Also their dry brownie mix is just as good, too!
The last thing we have tried is the Aldi brand of Hamburger Helper (cheeseburger macaroni) . It is really good!!!

I forgot to add that Aldi's brand of cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soups are just as good as Campbells for making casseroles and stuff.

 

[ducklite]

I buy what ever works out to be the least expensive in the following:

Bleach, vinegar, baking soda, salt, sugar, flour, some spices, eggs, milk, butter, canola oil, ammonia, suntan lotion, "Advil," "Tylenol," notebook paper, mechanical pencils, sponges.

I buy specific "store brands" of the following:

Wegman's pasta sauce and W-Pop. Publix Honey Nut O's (if they are cheaper then Cheerio's, although if I've got a coupon sometimes Cheerio's are cheaper) WaWa and Drunkin Donuts coffee.

I will not shop at Wal-Mart for a number of reasons, unfair labor and trade practices being just two.

I use pretty much brand name for everything else, some things I'm brand specific on, other things I'm not. I've found with caareful planning and coupons, I can often buy brand for less than generic or store brand.

Anne

 

[maiyasgram]

I use Walmarts brand Equate for contact lens cleaner, my husband uses CVS brand for acid reducer (Zantac).

 

[feedindy]

We prefer CVS diapers to Pampers or Huggies. I also like Luvs better, though it's just a cheaper name brand not a store brand.

Most of the time I find that I can get the name brand for less than store brands when I match sales to coupons.

My mom also swears by the Sam's brand allergy meds. I can't remember what it is called, but she was on some serious prescriptions until she tried this once when she ran out.

 

[bengalbelle]

We prefer CVS diapers to Pampers or Huggies. I also like Luvs better, though it's just a cheaper name brand not a store brand.

Most of the time I find that I can get the name brand for less than store brands when I match sales to coupons.

My mom also swears by the Sam's brand allergy meds. I can't remember what it is called, but she was on some serious prescriptions until she tried this once when she ran out.

Does the CVS brand have the stretchy waist?