Generic & Name Brands

[Jeremy D. Scott]

My wife and I are pretty cheap for a number of reasons: pragmatics, upbringing, and choice. There are a couple of things we spend the extra money for, usually for quality. But we do have one thing we purchase that is based pretty much on preference alone:
http://jonesview.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/coffemate.jpg

Anyone else have anything that you know you could save money on by buying generically, but you spend the extra for a name brand?

[Hans Deventer]

Good question. I think our car fits your description, though we didn't spent more on it than we otherwise would have. But it definitely is a specific preference, it's not an everyday kind of car.

344

[Cindi Hammons]

We purchase generics for the same reasons you mentioned...and when I say generics, I include store brands. For instance, there are some Kroger brands that I have found to be better than the name brand item.

345

However, Charmin TP is NOT one of those. I grew up in a home that used sandpaper for TP...okay, not really, but it seemed like it. When I married, Charmin was the only TP my husband wanted to use, and I was sold! In fact, it was so different that my mom now buys Charmin! :smilies0262:

[Greg Farra]

We purchase generics for the same reasons you mentioned...and when I say generics, I include store brands. For instance, there are some Kroger brands that I have found to be better than the name brand item.

345

However, Charmin TP is NOT one of those. I grew up in a home that used sandpaper for TP...okay, not really, but it seemed like it. When I married, Charmin was the only TP my husband wanted to use, and I was sold! In fact, it was so different that my mom now buys Charmin! :smilies0262:

I've had several compliments on the taste of my coffee. I buy Krogers.

[Jeremy D. Scott]

However, Charmin TP is NOT one of those. I grew up in a home that used sandpaper for TP...okay, not really, but it seemed like it. When I married, Charmin was the only TP my husband wanted to use, and I was sold! In fact, it was so different that my mom now buys Charmin! :smilies0262:

This is one place where I suppose I've gone "backwards." I grew up with Charmin and Charmin-like TP. But I buy Scott's now. This is one area where the savings really add up for us (especially with three little ones).

[Cynthia Prentice]

346 Land O Lakes Spreadable Butter w/ Canola Oil

[Shea Zellweger]

Lucky Charms.

Oh, and I don't buy generic brands of motor oil. I also tend to go name brand when it comes to tools, but that's because my experience with generics has shown that the money you save in the short term, you end up losing in the long term, as they're not as durable.

When it comes to most groceries- milk, eggs, butter, meat, spices, pasta...- we grab whatever's the cheapest. My dad used to drive trucks for a milk distributer, and he liked to tell me how generic brand milk came from the same cows, same factory, and same vat as the name brand stuff. I've found this to be the case for a lot of other products as well.

[Susan Unger]

Heinz Ketchup.

There are others, too, but Heinz is probably the only item that I'll be passionate about to the point that I will go without rather than use something else.

[David Graham]

Sanitarium "Weet Bix", which (if you believe the advertising) is the Breakfast cereal of champions. (I wonder what weht wrong with me?)
But I grew up with it and as it is 97% wholegrain cereal, and it tastes good I find that it helps me start the day feeling good..... or maybe that's the caffeen of the mug of tea talking?

SOme things we'll get from a "Plain Pack" (No frills) type of product such as Raw sugar, Salt, or Butter..... but other "plain packaged items are just awful.... such as Baked Beans or Tuna.

Cheers,
Dave

[Greg Farra]

Heinz Ketchup.

There are others, too, but Heinz is probably the only item that I'll be passionate about to the point that I will go without rather than use something else.

I throw a hissy fit if my wife buys another brand. And bite sized mimi wheats can only be Kellogs.

[David Showalter]

My sweet wife knows its no off brand ice-cream for me! My favorite - Schwans, I'll eat other expensive brands, but please spare me the generic stuff that doesn't even have real dairy products as its main ingredient. Guess I'm just a spoiled westerner.:ihe_cowboy:

[Kami Tuenning]

Gotta have my Tide laundry soap...and Brianna's Poppy Seed Dressing!

[Benjamin Burch]

Actually, blue-jeans are a big one for me. However, my reason is similar to Shea's with tools. I tend to save money in the long run. I also only buy jeans when I find them at a great sale price. However, I will only buy Jeans at Hollister or Express. They last forever, hold their color through the wash, and are simply more comfortable and made better.

Clothing in general seems to go this way for me. I tend to buy mostly Express T-shirts or dress shirts, but once again only on sale/clearance. I find that if you wait long enough, you can buy Express clothes at the same price as Wal-Mart, and they last 20x longer, fit better, are more comfortable, and hold their color better through many washings.

I don't wear shoes. I wear sandals and those are always bought at Target.

Other than that, I'm a big generic guy. All my food is generic or local organic brands. All my medicine is generic. My Desk, Bookshelf, Cabinet, and sheets all came from Target. My bed came from Big Lots!

yea... pretty much just my clothes. Oh, and Barbecue Sauce. Sweet Baby Ray's and Famous Dave's Devil's Spit. Gotta have those.

[Shea Zellweger]

Actually, blue-jeans are a big one for me. However, my reason is similar to Shea's with tools. I tend to save money in the long run. I also only buy jeans when I find them at a great sale price. However, I will only buy Jeans at Hollister or Express. They last forever, hold their color through the wash, and are simply more comfortable and made better.


You know what's a good in-between there? The Gap. In all seriousness, I've found if you don't mind buying "last year's style," and catch them at the right time, designer jeans can be pretty durn affordable.

[Benjamin Burch]

You know what's a good in-between there? The Gap. In all seriousness, I've found if you don't mind buying "last year's style," and catch them at the right time, designer jeans can be pretty durn affordable.

This is probably true. I'll have to check them out. I don't where any year's style. I'm becoming one of those old men who says "they just don't make jeans like they used to anymore." I like one style:

Low-rise
Slim-Leg
Boot-Cut

Period.

Thus, when I find some good ones, I usually buy three pair and wear them until they fall apart.

[Susan Unger]

Sanitarium "Weet Bix", which (if you believe the advertising) is the Breakfast cereal of champions. Hmmmm....interesting cuz in the USA the Breakfast of Champions is Wheaties. And Wheaties do not look like Weet Bix.

[Susan Unger]

I throw a hissy fit if my wife buys another brand. I love Heinz so much that I have been known to pour some on my spoon and eat it just like that. I really did that alot in college cuz Olivet had....ugh...non-Heinz ketchup.

Naznet needs a barf button.