Generics VS Name brand

[3mnkids]

Being a family of five we have to buy a lot of store brand products or our grocery bill would be outrageous. There are a couple things though that only name brand will do. Do you buy store brand and what products, if any, are only name brand for your household?

Mine are

TP ~ Cottonelle all the way. Dont like the cheap stuff.
Coffee Creamer~ Coffee mate only. The store brand stuff changes the way the coffee taste 

Everything else is fair game.

[The Burgomaster]

We buy very few store brands (but I'm not really sure why).  But these name brands are a MUST:

* Toilet Paper - Charmin
* Paper Towels - Bounty ("select-a-size" whenever possible)
* Ice Cream - Various brands (e.g., Ben & Jerry's, Edy's, Haagen Dasz) - but never store brands
* Soft drinks - Coca Cola or Pepsi products (whichever happens to be on sale) - never store brands
* Cereal - Whatever we happen to be in the mood for, but never store brands
* Bread - Usually Wonder Bread for white bread or Beefsteak brand for Pumpernickel
* Crackers - Usually Keebler Townhouse, Toasteds or Club

[Sleepyskull]

Just a note about toilet paper: I don't care if it's store brand or name brand, but I hate toilet paper that feels super rough and tears too easily, but I also hate ultra-soft/fluffy toilet paper because I don't like cleaning myself with a pillow.

With most products, my family usually goes for the best balance between what works best and what's cheapest. Although, some products are must haves, like my mother's Diet Coke 12 pack.

[Mr. DS]

Honestly I get mostly generic items which I never realized until I thought about it just now.    

TP I highly prefer Scott.  I hate the quilted stuff that bunches up and.......well you get the point.

Devil Dogs...no cheap Little Debbie imitations allowed.

Chips I prefer to get Lays regular but will resort to generic. However my heart will yearn for Lays while I'm eating the other ones.  

Fruit Loops and Apple Jacks if I buy them for myself.  The kids get the generic stuff cuz they're too young to notice...or are they?  

Smart Balance spread or Country Crock

As mentioned above, the generic stuff I often prefer.  When I buy saltines I found the Walmart brand to be great because they're usually burnt to a crisp.  Yep I'm one of those oddballs who loves burnt crackers.  I love Oreos but will venture into the store brand and actually some I've said are just as good if not better.   

[Sleepyskull]

Honestly I get mostly generic items which I never realized until I thought about it just now.    


As mentioned above, the generic stuff I often prefer.  When I buy saltines I found the Walmart brand to be great because they're usually burnt to a crisp.  Yep I'm one of those oddballs who loves burnt crackers.  I love Oreos but will venture into the store brand and actually some I've said are just as good if not better.   

Ugh... You like saltines?  (put vomiting smiley here)

[Mr. DS]

Honestly I get mostly generic items which I never realized until I thought about it just now.    


As mentioned above, the generic stuff I often prefer.  When I buy saltines I found the Walmart brand to be great because they're usually burnt to a crisp.  Yep I'm one of those oddballs who loves burnt crackers.  I love Oreos but will venture into the store brand and actually some I've said are just as good if not better.   

Ugh... You like saltines?  (put vomiting smiley here)

Just ate some actually 

[Sleepyskull]

Honestly I get mostly generic items which I never realized until I thought about it just now.    


As mentioned above, the generic stuff I often prefer.  When I buy saltines I found the Walmart brand to be great because they're usually burnt to a crisp.  Yep I'm one of those oddballs who loves burnt crackers.  I love Oreos but will venture into the store brand and actually some I've said are just as good if not better.   

Ugh... You like saltines?  (put vomiting smiley here)

Just ate some actually 

No! Bad, Darksider!     

Seriously though, I like pretty much any type of cracker except saltines and triscuits.

[retrorussell]

I pretty much just get what goes on sale, national brand or store brand.  Exceptions:

Ice Cream (Breyers/Dreyers)
Cookies (Chips Ahoy/Keebler Soft Batch)
Pizza (Tombstone/Red Baron)
Soda (Coke/Dr. Pepper/RC)

[Paquita]

Name brand cereal is important - no Marshmallow Mateys for me!  Even though I really like the name.
I prefer Charmin TP, but Cottonelle is more affordable and usually what I get.  Anything else just feels like sandpaper.
I always get McCormick Vanilla Extract and Hershey's Cocoa.
Sometimes I'll get the generic body wash or other soaps, but something just doesn't seem right about them.

[Sleepyskull]

Name brand cereal is important - no Marshmallow Mateys for me!  Even though I really like the name.
I prefer Charmin TP, but Cottonelle is more affordable and usually what I get.  Anything else just feels like sandpaper.
I always get McCormick Vanilla Extract and Hershey's Cocoa.
Sometimes I'll get the generic body wash or other soaps, but something just doesn't seem right about them.

Not saying you're wrong, but I've never been able to experience a significant difference between name brand and generic cereal: I LOVE those massive bags of knock-off cereal!

[Trevor]

I can't afford such brands as Hanes, Jockey or any other famous brand of underpants so I stick to an imported brand named "Itchy and Scratchy". 

[The Burgomaster]

I prefer Charmin TP, but Cottonelle is more affordable and usually what I get.  Anything else just feels like sandpaper.

Some people probably enjoy that sandpaper texture . . .

[Paquita]

I prefer Charmin TP, but Cottonelle is more affordable and usually what I get.  Anything else just feels like sandpaper.

Some people probably enjoy that sandpaper texture . . .

I suppose I could see the need for those that have hair in certain places... I wonder if there's a comb for that.

[Jim H]

Name brand cereal is important - no Marshmallow Mateys for me!  Even though I really like the name.
I prefer Charmin TP, but Cottonelle is more affordable and usually what I get.  Anything else just feels like sandpaper.
I always get McCormick Vanilla Extract and Hershey's Cocoa.
Sometimes I'll get the generic body wash or other soaps, but something just doesn't seem right about them.

Not saying you're wrong, but I've never been able to experience a significant difference between name brand and generic cereal: I LOVE those massive bags of knock-off cereal!

It depends on the cereal in question, but in some cases they are actually made by the same machines to exact same specs, but just labeled and priced differently.  Those imitation Cocoa Pebbles, Dyna-somethings, for example, are literally identical to the original.  Others aren't though - like the ripoff Cheerios and the Chex ripoffs aren't as good.

But yeah, I love the imitation Cocoa Pebbles.  Cheap and delicious. 

Number one thing I DO NOT suggest getting cheap is saline solution for contacts.  I have no idea why, as it's basically salt and water, but I tried a generic once that made my eyes burn.  I don't know HOW they messed up something so simple, but the regular name brands and the high end stuff I use now (which is supposed to make contacts last longer - and my experiences bear this out to some degree) is really worth it.

[Trevor]

Some people probably enjoy that sandpaper texture . . .

I know I do.....