Do you buy generic?

[keeneye]

I can't decide if generic or brand with coupons is cheaper. I mean, it seems to be about half and half in my area. Plus there are some generic things that I just don't like. Do most people here buy mainly generic when shopping?

[vendigirl]

I only buy generic brnads of things for which there is no flavour difference like flour and rice. I often find that for convenience items or flavoured items, the generic brands don't go over too well. I stick to brand name whether or not I have a coupon for items like cereal, canned soups, or the occasional bag of seasoned rice that I buy. There's no savings in buying generic if the quality is poor.

[Tree0164]

I buy primarily generic stuff. I am not a coupon sort of gal and find that the generic stuff is pretty much as good as the brand name.

I buy both. I use coupons mainly with on sale items or if the coupon is expiring and I really want it. But I've recently found using coupons with my stores (they double up .99cents) is a great deal. I get better products for the same or less cost. Now I only buy certain products that are not generic like fries I only buy Ore-Ida and that's because of freezer burn, Frozen dinners like hungry man & skillet meals is all do to taste, and a few hamburger helper type meals I buy only brand name. That's about it most of the other stuff taste about the same brand wise.

[PrincessPerky]

I buy all generic vegetables, cause the name brand around here isn't as good, but hten I buy real cheese cause the generic isn't very good. And generic fish sticks are just plain bad! You sortof have to see what works best.

[mom-from-missouri]

Just remember that the generic has to pass the same government tests and meet the same standards as the brand name-regardless of if it is generic medication or green beans. Sometimes with food items, all you need to do is add some seasoning, which is usually much cheaper than buying brand name

[terry1156]

I can't buy peanut butter and V-8 juice in generic form, but otherwise I'm not too picky.

[PrincessPerky]

Oh yeah has to be Jiff pnut butter! nothing less.

Although I love the taste of freshly made pnut buter, it doesn't last for more than a couple of hours no matter what I do.

[akaivyleaf]

I don't see a great deal of generic in the stores anymore. Not like I did when I was growing up. But generally speaking if there is a generic I'll buy it if the cost per unit is less than the cost per unit of the name brand. Like someone else said, Seasoning is 9/10th of anything tasting good. the other Tenth is presentation.

[jeffrey]

Is there a difference in generic and store brand? Or are these the same? Sorry, I've been away from the states for awhile and when I left, many stores were taking out there generic sections (all in yellow at the time) and replacing items with store brand.

[PrincessPerky]

Oh yeah when I was a kid there was a whole Aisle of generic all in black and white at he time. Now adays I call the store brand generic. (dunno if I should or not) It is mixed in with all the rest of the stuff and isn't as dramatically cheaper, cause they make them have similar lables and packaging. All that costs money.

[Razzy]

I buy the store brands whenever possible ( for some reason I think of them as generic). I was using name brand toilet paper and then tried the store brand and found that not only was the store brand cheaper but was as good as the name brand.

I am not a couponer and find that when I do have a coupone for something that the storebrand is cheaper than the one with the coupon. Now there are items I will not buy in the storebrand but name brand and I will buy those items regardless of a coupon or not. But I think on the whole we use more store brand items than name brand items.


Razzy

[SeeAPenny]

I always carefully compare prices when shopping -- so if store brands are less expensive, I select those. If name brands turn out to be cheaper due to sales, coupons (which I actually use very little of, just on occasion), then in the cart they go (I am a stickler for nutrition though, and scrutinize labels for high-fructose corn syrup and trans fats, doing my best to avoid them). For the most part, no brand loyalty here -- just show me the money!

[Luv2shop]

Most of the time I do not buy generic because I can get the brand name for less with coupons.

[shelbylovesmelby]

[color=Plum]I have to! I'm a sahm with a tight budget. One of our biggest food chains here is increasing their line of store branded items, wich is fine. ALDI is still the cheapest when it comes to most everything. Once in a while you can find a "deal" @ the regular grocery stores, but not too often do they beat Aldi's prices. Otherwise Wal-mart isn't too bad for things, but we only have a regular not a "super" here

[flash]

Jeffrey's correct, the true "generic" black and yellow packages of 20 years ago (sorry Jeffrey!) have been replaced with store brands.

IN GENERAL, store brands are actually end lots of regular brands, just a different label at the end of production. If you like the taste, buy it! If you have a sale/coupon/special offer/rebate etc. that brings the brand names down that you like, buy them. For non-staple items I buy brand names on sale, for things like TP that we use more of than I have coupons, we buy store brand, or Costco (Kirkland) brand, etc.

In meds, there can be a difference. The main, effective, ingredients are the same and must meet standards, but the binders, dyes, etc. can be different. So the body can absorb them differently, they may break down in the body slightly different, and some people MAY experience a difference.

If you aren't sure, ask you doctor for a sample of the name brand. Or use one of the many sample coupons. Example, get the 7 day trial of Ambien CR or the $10 off first prescription of XXX and have your doctor write that first script for only a few pills, cost covered by rebate. Get a generic prescription. Try them. If your pharmacy changes BRANDS of generic, and you think they are working less effectively or you have side effects, ask.

Same is true for OTCs. Coatings, dyes, side effects such as indigestion, can be different between any brand of the same "active ingredient" like aspirin. Try what works for you.

[lrjohnson]

I almost always buy store brands/generic. I do look at unit pricing, and buy whichever is cheaper. I thank my unadvanced palate because I'm always fine with storebrands.

I do not coupon; I buy very little convenience food and it seems that often the items that coupons are for are not items I would buy, either generic or name brand. I know some people can save a lot using coupons but I know I wouldn't enjoy it and don't think the savings *for me* would be worth the time it would take *me* to effectively coupon. I am NOT against couponing, it's just not *for me*. I prefer to do a lot of the bulk shopping I do (bins of sunflower seeds, etc.-almost but not always cheaper than packaged, sugar seems to be a constant exception), and go the the Outlet place, and cook from scratch and eat real simply.

[shengmei]

I am hooked on several store brands. I actually enjoy them MUCH MORE than the regular brands.

The brands I enjoy:

Sam's Club
Member Exclusive
Tom Thumb's brand
Randall's brand
HEB brand
Hill Country Fare.

I actually like store brands better because they have less food additives, food coloring, preservatives, and artificial flavors.

[Bluezy]

I agree. However, I am careful buying generic over-the-counter meds. And I never take a chance buying anything other than Children's Tylenol or Motrin...you never know the generic brand's dilution.

[Jason]

I usually always purchase generic non-food items (medicine, cough syrup, toilet paper ect.) I have a more difficult time with the food items such as ketchup, pop and peanut butter.