When To Go With The Brand Name and When To Go Generic

If you're new here, you may want to learn what this site is about or check out the most popular articles. If you like what you see, make sure to sign up for email updates or subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

One of the easiest ways to save money is to avoid brand name products and go for the cheaper generic brand. In many cases you’re getting a product with the same amount of quality as the higher priced brand names; however, in some instances you should go with the brand name for the sake of quality.

Things You Should Buy Generic

1. Milk. There isn’t a huge difference between store brand milk or brand name milks. The government regulates the production process for both types, so both are safe to drink.
2. Medications. Many pharmaceutical companies distribute generic brands of their products which can cost up to 50% than the name brand. And they work just as well.
3. Canned Goods. Opt for the generic canned good items. You won’t notice a difference between the name brand and the generic brand.
4. Bottled water. First, I should note it’s cheaper to avoid bottled water all together. Just get a water filter and fill up a bottle yourself. However, if you must buy bottled water, go with a generic brand. Why spend $1.50 for the brand name water, when you can get it for $.50?

Things You Should Buy Brand Name

1. Gym shoes. You’re best bet is to go with a brand name here. Most generic or knock off brands are low in quality. I remember buying a pair of knock off brand shoes and they fell apart after one game of basketball.
2. Soda. Go with the name brands. There’s definitely a difference in taste between the brand names and generic. I also had a bad experience with generic soda. It gave me really terrible gas. I don’t know why, but that was reason enough for me to stop drinking it.
3. Cleaning products. Opt for the name brand. I’ve tried using generic cleaning products and they don’t clean as well.

What other items do you buy generic? Are there items that you’ll only buy the brand name? Drop a comment and add to the conversation.

If you enjoyed this post, then make sure to subscribe to my RSS Feed to get daily updates.

Tags:

Why not subscribe? Here's what you're missing out on!

• 6 Painless Ways to Save $100 a Week
• 10 Ways to Get More For Your Grocery Dollar
• Carnival Roundup- June 27, 2007

21 Comments

1. Helen on 20.06.2007 at 09:54 (Reply)

   I always buy name brand medications, especially Rx’s.
   I had a really bad reaction to a generic Rx med that I bought instead of name brand. It wasn’t a good experience. I’d rather spend the extra money.

2. Katie on 20.06.2007 at 10:03 (Reply)

   I’ve found that for some canned beans, its worth it to buy brand name. Other than that, I’ve been find buying generic canned goods, paper products, milk, etc. I do second the advice on cleaning products…if you’re going to spend money on an actual product (as opposed to baking soda and vinegar) it usually is worth it to go with a brand you know and trust. It can also reduce allergic reactions if you consistantly use one brand and know you won’t have problems with it (much cheaper than experimenting and being unable to use whole bottles of products due to an allergic reaction).

3. Andrew Flusche on 20.06.2007 at 10:37 (Reply)

   Nice article. The part about the generic soda and gas gave me a nice laugh. It reminds me of your pooh breath baking soda experiment.

   I would recommend trying generic sodas. You did, and it wasn’t for you. However, I found one that I actually like pretty well (Kroger’s Code Red). It’s not my favorite, but it’s a good substitute for the savings.

   I definitely agree on the cleaning products, for the most part. But we do use generic fabric softener.

4. Emma on 20.06.2007 at 10:43 (Reply)

   Nice comment about the generic soda. Funny. I actually buy generic soda. We don’t drink it enough to tell the difference. It’s more cost-effective when you’re on a tight budget. Most of the time, I don’t even buy soda, lemonade and tea work just fine.

   I have to add to the canned goods though. With most things, I buy generic. But, for things like tomatoes and items used in Mexican food, there is a huge difference in taste and quality. I never buy generic in that case.

   Great post!

5. daniel on 20.06.2007 at 10:59 (Reply)

   I always buy brand name toilet paper. (Cottonelle) There are some things that you just don’t want to scrimp on.

6. lise on 20.06.2007 at 11:31 (Reply)

   When I buy non-fat yogurt, I always buy a specific brand (Stonyfield Farms). The generic stuff is just too watery for me.

7. Katie (Mrs. FLS) on 20.06.2007 at 12:04 (Reply)

   I think it was funny when there was that recall on Peter Pan peanut butter, and not only was Peter Pan PB recalled, but the Wal-Mart brand too. Because they were made at the same factory. The same thing with the poisoned pet food, not only was one brand recalled, but like 20 different ones too because they were all made at the same place and had different labels slapped on them. That is why buying generic often makes sense.

   But there are definitely those things I only buy brand name. Interestingly, I swear there is a difference between JIF PB, and the store brand at Reasor’s. The JIF brand is just more peanut-y. I think generic cereals are really comparable. But generic instant oatmeal both in the packets and the canister don’t seem as good.

   I always buy brand name laundry detergent. I don’t have any proof it works better, but mentally I am convinced it does. I also always buy “ethnic” stuff like tomato sauce brand name. Again, maybe it is not really different, but all that “authentic” Italian packaging fools me.

8. PiggyBank Raider on 20.06.2007 at 12:09 (Reply)

   I’ve actually had two different store brands of bottled water that tasted funky. (Hubby and I both noticed the taste.) I stick to name brand water now.

   I almost always buy generic frozen veggies. There’s a slight difference in size of the pieces, sometimes, but they taste the same.

   I always buy generic rice and pasta, too. Especially rice. The only ingredient in it is, uh, rice, so how different can the name brand be?

   Other store brand items I regularly purchase are spices, flour, sugar, salt, cooking oil (except olive), paper towels (I hardly use ‘em anyway), nuts, seeds, canned biscuits and butter.

9. Katie (Mrs. FLS) on 20.06.2007 at 13:09 (Reply)

   PiggyBankRaider-I think you may be right about bottled water. I swear that Aquafina tastes better than generic brands.

   I used to use generic canned biscuits. But just the other week I happened to be looking at the ingredients and noticed they were made with “beef tallow” which is rendered beef fat. I know lard doesn’t phase everyone, but as a pseudo-vegetarian, it really grossed me out. Pillsbury is made with delicious and nutritious partially hydrogenated soybean oil. Okay, not so good for you, but not made from the butt of something that moos.

10. Andrew Flusche on 20.06.2007 at 13:13 (Reply)

    Katie - You guys crack me up - “not made from the butt of something that moos.” LOL

11. strange bird on 20.06.2007 at 17:05 (Reply)

    For gym shoes–not only are they low in quality, but they are often really bad for you. Better to spend $150 on a good pair of running shoes and hold off knee replacement surgery another ten years ;).

    I almost always buy generic cleaning products, and they usually work really well for me. The exception is for laundry detergent, because I haven’t found a generic that doesn’t make my clothes fade. Generic cereal is almost always as good as the name brand (unless you get specialty health food cereals… there are no comparable generics, unfortunately, for a lot of them).

12. Brett McKay on 21.06.2007 at 07:52 (Reply)

    Strangebird,
    Good call on the damage shoddy sneakers can do to you. You’ll end up spending more on knee replacement than the money you saved buying brand x knock of cross trainers.

13. Brett McKay on 21.06.2007 at 07:55 (Reply)

    Emma-
    Thanks for stopping by! It looks like the consensus in the comments is to go generic as much as you can, but buy name brand on products you can tell a difference exists in quality. I think when it comes down to it, it’s a matter of personal taste.

14. mapgirl on 21.06.2007 at 09:35 (Reply)

    Brett, I’m going to have to say your post should encourage people to try generics and decide for themselves what they want and don’t want to buy generic because it’s a matter of preference as you point out. There is being frugal and there is being value-conscious. I watched my sibling and their spouse get into an argument about Pop-Tarts because the generic ones aren’t that good. But the argument wasn’t about money so much as value. Real Pop-Tarts taste better and the bottom line was that one of them thought they were worth the money.

    I’m so sorry generic soda gives you gas! I don’t drink generic soda because I’m a devotee of Coke Classic. I won’t even drink Diet Coke because I can’t stand the diet flavor.

15. 91 Ways To Wealth: The Carnival of Personal Finance, Epic Journey Edition » Silicon Valley Blog About Money on 25.06.2007 at 06:06

    […] McKay from The Frugal Law Student describes how he’d go shopping in the piece: When To Go With The Brand Name and When To Go Generic. His troubles with generic soda are enough to warn me away from […]

16. Cazi on 26.06.2007 at 08:55 (Reply)

    Instead of buying bottled water, buy a water bottle. One time cost for the bottle and pennies (if that) to fill up after. My camelbak water bottle is awesome, has a bite tip to drink so it will never spill, great for when I use it by my computer/keyboard.

17. Brett McKay on 27.06.2007 at 13:38 (Reply)

    Cazi-
    Thanks for commenting! Excellent point about buying a watter bottle and filling it up. However, there are some people who still buy bottled water. I’m just suggesting if they do, save money buy going generic.

18. Carnival Roundup- June 27, 2007 | The Frugal Law Student on 27.06.2007 at 17:19

    […] Carnival of Personal Finance #106 was hosted by The Digerati Life. Silicon Valley Blogger presented the submissions in a cryptozoology theme. It was lots of fun to read and the images were cool to look at. By post on when to go generic was included. […]

19. 6 Painless Ways to Save $100 a Week | The Frugal Law Student on 20.12.2007 at 10:56

    […] the coffee at work.Savings:$7 3. Buy no-name brands at the grocery store. I’ve written about when to go name brand and when to go generic before. Buying generic can save you a ton of money at the grocery store. There usually isn’t a […]

20. The Best of Frugal Law Student 2007 | The Frugal Law Student on 31.12.2007 at 10:26

    […] Ways to Make Money And Save Money On Facebook Frugal Experiment: Brushing Teeth With Baking Soda When To Go With The Brand Name and When To Go Generic Better Than Netflix What Do All Those Expiration Dates on Food […]

21. andre chan on 16.02.2008 at 13:36 (Reply)

    Anyone notice any difference in using no name corn cooking oil instead of brand name? Wife got upset because I bought no name brand because it was a few dollars cheaper per 3 liter container.

    thanks

Leave a comment