Have you ever seen a news story about one of those coupon mavens – the moms who buy $100 of groceries and only pay $2.23 thanks to coupons and BOGO sales? Yeah, that’s never been me, and it probably never will be, because they don’t make coupons for the brands I buy. Or, rather, the not-brands. I’ve never been a name-brand kind of girl – or, at least, I stopped being one when I started shopping for myself in college and discovered the joys of 99-cent “Equate” dish soap. I’ve even been known to stop in an Aldi from time to time.

However, I’ve come to learn over the years that while most generics get the job done, some just don’t measure up. So when to buy the store brand and when to sell out to The Man and his marketing tactics (and, uh, his superior product)?

Go Generic

• Pantry staples like pasta, canned fruits/vegetables, flour, sugar, etc. (but not rice – see below). I’ve never tasted a difference between the name brand and store brand.
• Over-the-counter medications. Seriously, if you buy Advil, you are a chump. Wal-profen is where it’s at. (See also: Wal-itin, Wal-enol, Wal-borne.)
• Dairy products, especially bagged cheese; huge savings, same taste. (Because really, if you’re subjecting yourself to bagged cheese anyway, what’s the difference?) However, if you drink soy milk, I recommend Silk brand over any generics.
• Cleaning products. Marketing for name-brand soaps, sprays and wipes is a huge business, and most of the time, one generic bottle of all-purpose cleaner and a dish towel will do you just fine. Or check out these “recipes” for homemade cleaners.
• Spices (unless you’re buying fresh) and condiments. Do buy organic ketchup, however, to avoid the dreaded high-fructose corn syrup (Kroger brand has an organic variety).

Go Name Brand

• Rice. But not Minute rice, please. Plain old white and brown rice, no matter the brand, is bland and boring. Go for something with good flavor and texture, like basmati rice, which isn’t likely to be sold under a store brand. Rice is cheap enough anyway that splurging for the good stuff won’t make a huge dent in your budget.
• Facial products. Walgreens has the market cornered on generic versions of Neutrogena, Noxzema, Clean and Clear, etc., but they can be hit-or-miss; the store-brand variety of my Clean and Clear Persa-Gel is gritty and irritating. If you can find a generic of your brand, try it and see how it goes, but it’s not worth waging war on your skin to save a few bucks.
• Dishwasher detergent. Unless, of course, you’re a fan of running the same dish through multiple cycles. I recommend Seventh Generation or Palmolive Eco+.
• Toothpaste. A plain tube of Crest is 99 cents; there’s no good reason to subject yourself to the mysteries of “Aim” or, worse, Walgreens brand toothpaste (Wal-paste?) You can totally go generic for floss and mouthwash, however.
• Pasta sauce. Classico brand is $1.99 a jar, tastes good, and doesn’t contain corn syrup or scary chemicals. I can’t say the same for the $0.99 Kroger stuff.
• Any product for which you’ve made the switch to an eco-friendly variety. I love saving money, but saving the earth is even more important. However, as more brands branch out into “green” territory, you may be able to compare prices and find a cheaper brand that still satisfies your guilty, tree-hugging conscience.

Addendum: If you ever find yourself in a state where liquor is sold in grocery stores (they do exist, you know!), please, whatever you do, do not buy store-brand vodka. Trust me on this.

What’s your money-saving secret at the grocery store? Let us know in the comments.

image credit

Related posts:

1. [shop] Alternatives to Dillons
2. [shop] Home Shopping Parties
3. [shop] Where to Buy Shoes in Wichita
4. [primp] When to Splurge (and Save) on Makeup
5. [shop] Cute Jewelry and Accessory Stores