When your food budget is tight, it helps to save anywhere you can. If you’re willing to buy the store brand or generic instead of the brand name product, you’ll spend less, but are you sacrificing on quality? BuzzFeed asked readers to share the things they’ll only buy brand names of and those they’re willing to save with generics.
Here’s what they have to say:
- "Generic over-the-counter medicines are a no-brainer. There is no reason to pay twice as much for Advil, when generic ibuprofen is the exact same. Other items like household cleaners are a good time to go generic (Windex, toilet bowl cleaner, etc.)."
- "For bulk items like teabags, rice, spices, and pasta, I got generic all the way. They taste the same."
- "Velveeta. You can't go off-brand with that...ever!"
- "I worked at a grocery store in New England for over 20 years. I learned that certain things you don’t buy generic like toilet paper, laundry detergent, and paper towels."
- "Dollar General has a Goldfish knock-off called Whales and they are SO much better than Goldfish."
- "Dawn and Tide are two of my brand loyalties."
- "Brand name Q-Tips and Band-Aids. Always."
- "Oreos have to buy name brand. Generic versions are just not the same."
- "Foil is one thing I never go generic on. Always Reynolds's brand. Generic stuff does not hold up and tears too easily."
- "Single ingredient staples like sugar, baking flour, salt, baking soda...name brand really won't make a difference."
- "I usually always buy the generic brand version of everything, but when it comes to American cheese slices, you have to stick with Kraft."
- "Things I'd buy for taste: sodas, cookies, anything with a distinct taste has to be name brand."
- "Store-brand toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash will save you and work the same. Store-brand body wash and body moisturizer work fine. Store-brand facial cleanser. but not serums and facial moisturizers."
Source: BuzzFeed
Photo: Getty