Spending money is a bit too easy to do. Step out the door, walk down the road and poof, suddenly you’re down 20 bucks without even realizing it! Going to the store can yield equally disheartening financial results. Even if you do everything right—stick to a pre-planned list, use coupons and avoid pre-cut vegetables and fruit — you can still end up spending a small fortune on weekly groceries.
The truth is, if you are buying big brand-name items, you are probably spending more money than you need to. Brand-name items can sometimes cost almost double their generic equivalent, and in certain cases the items within the packaging are indistinguishable from one another. After all, bleach is bleach, right? So why should one bottle of name-brand bleach cost more than one that isn’t?
By choosing certain generic items over well-known brands you can certainly save money, but that’s not to say that one should buy everything generic. Compare the listed ingredients to determine if you are getting a good deal or if you are paying for something that is slightly different. Consider whether the differences between items are truly negligible or whether they really make a difference. Do you already buy, use and like any other items of the store’s own brand? You may already be buying some generic items, but you probably could be buying more! Read on to discover 23 items you should always buy generic.
Baby Formula
In the United States, baby formula is very strictly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. That means that the ingredients in both generic and name brands are likely to be basically identical and any generic baby formula sold must meet the same nutrition and safety restriction as brand names.
Baking Supplies
Sure there’s a difference between whole-wheat and all-purpose flour, but if you are looking to save some money, buying generic baking supplies can really help. From flour and sugar to baking soda and salt, buying generic brands will not affect your baking in any way.
Beverages
Instead of buying big name brand sodas and juices, choose your store’s own generic brand and save money! We already know those beverages aren’t particularly good for us, so why spend more money than you need to on something that should only be enjoyed on occasion anyway?
Canned Beans and Vegetables
If you were already opting for canned beans and vegetables over fresh (which can definitely save you money and result in some delicious dinners), buying generic cans is unlikely to make a discernable difference in the final dish. Just make sure to compare the listed ingredients to make sure one brand isn’t more loaded with sodium than the other.
Cereal
If you look at the ingredients, once again, name brand and generic boxes of cereal are likely to be almost identical, with the latter costing a faction of the price. While it may be more difficult to find generic brands of really specific types of cereal, finding generic substitutions for popular cereals like cornflakes, Cheerios and raisin bran should be really easy.
Cleaning Products
For day-to-day household upkeep, generic cleaners will definitely get the job done! If you are looking for something a bit stronger to wash away stubborn mildew or unblock a drain, you might find that generic cleaners aren’t quite as effective, but then again, trial and error will quickly reveal which generic cleaning products are as effective as their name-brand counterparts.
Condiments
Condiments are a pantry staple, and buying generic mustard, ketchup and mayo is a great way to stay stocked up on a budget. Sure, they might not taste identical to some of the fancier versions, but the ingredients are probably very similar to the most widespread brands, and in a sandwich or burger the difference is sure to be fairly indiscernible.
Dairy Products
Unless you’re buying the super fancy, local, organic dairy, chances are the difference in quality between big name dairy brands and a supermarket’s own generic brand is likely to be minimal. Milk is likely to be sourced from a similar region or area as the milk sold by bigger names — but, as always, compare ingredients! Some highly processed dairy, like light yogurt, could contain a lot more additives or sugar, so keep your eyes peeled.
Diapers
Babies can go through a whole lot of diapers in a single day. Buying generic diapers (that will get the job done just as successfully) is likely to save you a small fortune — but make sure to test out different generic brands, as some will be better than others.
Frozen Fruits and Vegetables
As with canned fruits and vegetables, it is unlikely that you’ll notice the difference between brand-name frozen produce and the generic stuff once dinner is made and on the plate!
Medication
Medication is heavily regulated, and all generic versions of pricier name brands must conform to safety standards set by the FDA. Most of the time the active ingredient in generic medication is identical to the name-brand equivalent.