generic vs. name brand

labbielover07 · May 2011

What are some things that you always buy generic? What do you have to buy name brand? I want to compare shopping lists

SaraLouiseBride08 · May 2011

Graham Crackers must always be name brand. Generic graham crackers are crap.

LOL is that what you're referring to? Stick out tongue

rssnlvr · May 2011

generic detergent, baggies, dry foods

name brand toilet paper (must be Charmin Ultrasoft) and macaroni and cheese (must be Kraft with the fake powder "cheese").

labbielover07 · May 2011

I so agree with the graham crackers! haha

L L CG · May 2011

Name brand: laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, ketchup, miracle whip, toilet paper

Generic: medicines (tylenol, aleve, etc.), Nilla Wafers

thethomps · May 2011

generic: formula, paper towels, napkins, sugar, flour, cereal (fake Lucky Charms are just as good), ibuprofen, acetomenaphin (sp?), generic Zyr tec, hot chocolate, trail mix, frozen veggies

brand name: mini marshmallows (Kraft Jet Puffed), pasta, chips (not sure why - I guess because we mostly eat Baked Lays?), Mexican food items (up here generic = nasty in this category), toothpaste, deodorant, bath stuff (I am finicky when it comes to my body wash), granola bars

ShernRich · May 2011

I agree about the graham crackers; I just learned that last week. Honey Maid or else! lol

I have to buy Tropicana OJ, Welch's grape juice (and grape jelly), Tostitos tortilla chips, Boston brand contact lens care products (I tried the Target brand one time, and it irritated my eyes), Band-Aid brand 'band-aids' lol (the other ones don't stick well), Saran or Reynolds wrap (the store brand ones don't stick and tear easily), toilet paper (has to be Charmin), Crest toothpaste (tartar control plus whitening gel only), dishwashing liquid (has to be Palmolive), Bread (has to be Mrs. Baird's Whole Grain Wheat - sugar free.

Generic- paper towels (we only use them for cleaning windows and glass, so we get the cheap $1 rolls), sugar, salt (doesn't have to be Morton's), saltine crackers, butter (I buy the HEB brand, it's always cheaper than Land O'Lakes), cotton swabs (doesn't have to be Q-tip brand),

lrb · May 2011

Generic:

laundry detergent (HEB Bravo is my favorite), Sam's toilet paper/paper towels, Household cleaners (I use a lot of Target Up&Up brand), Baggies/Foil/Saran Wrap, Cheerios for the baby, Frozen Veggies, Formula (Up&Up), most canned goods, HEB coffee is pretty good- esp if your store has a grinder, sugar/flour, shredded cheese, applesauce (but I do buy natural only), medicines like Tylenol/Motrin, HEB Buddy yogurt...

Brand Name:

agreed on the crackers (Ritz, Graham, etc) and the Kraft Mac & Cheese, Bread (Sara Lee), paper plates (Glad), sodas (Coke is the only real Coke around here!), DH will only eat name brand Pop Tarts & cereals, Quaker Oatmeal, Applewood or the Oscar Meyer nitrate free hot dogs...

SaraLouiseBride08 · May 2011

L*L*CG:

Generic: medicines (tylenol, aleve, etc.), Nilla Wafers

So good to know! I just asked DH not that long ago if he'd ever had generic Nilla Wafers. I was having a serious craving, so didn't risk it. I will next time, though!

SaraLouiseBride08 · May 2011

ShernRich:

I agree about the graham crackers; I just learned that last week. Honey Maid or else! lol

Hahaha! My husband learned this one the hard way right after the baby was born. I cried over generic graham crackers. I love your "or else" Wink

L L CG · May 2011

SaraLouiseBride08:
L*L*CG:

Generic: medicines (tylenol, aleve, etc.), Nilla Wafers

So good to know! I just asked DH not that long ago if he'd ever had generic Nilla Wafers. I was having a serious craving, so didn't risk it. I will next time, though!

They are DELISH and only $.99 for an entire box. Which is handy when you are pregnant and can eat an entire box.

MrsNole · May 2011

Name brand musts: Nesquik, Hidden Valley Ranch dressing & Peter Pan creamy peanut butter.
Generic: Most everything else.

Chandley · May 2011

I buy HCF/HEB brand on just about anything! Embarrassed

But I actually do prefer HEB fresh salsa (in the produce section) to a lot of jarred salsa...

Also I was really surprised with Dr. B (HEB Dr Pepper... tastes THE SAME and it is like $2.50 for a 12pack)

Nessia · May 2011

MrsRosie:
Oh, and I always buy generic medications. Always.

Me too. Well H-E-B brand to be more specific. I was tired of the recalls by the name brands.

Name brand: Cottonelle TP, hefty onezip baggies, Hefty ultra flex garbage bags, coke, Scotts paper towels, heinz ketchup, A-1 sauce, International delights Breve Cream in dark chocolate for my coffee.

Other than that it's whatever is cheapest I think. H-E-B's coffee is good. I like the houston blend. I like their contact solution too.

HSartteach · May 2011

heb brand bags, tortilla chips, pita chips, sliced cheese, sometimes allergy medicine (or walgreens), croutons, bacon bits, flour tortillas

Does Central Market brand count as generic? If so, we buy their organic milk.

ETA: bandaids, hpt, cotton balls, cotton swabs, fresh pico from HEB,

HSartteach · May 2011

Chandley:
I buy HCF/HEB brand on just about anything!
But I actually do prefer HEB fresh salsa (in the produce section) to a lot of jarred salsa...
Also I was really surprised with Dr. B (HEB Dr Pepper... tastes THE SAME and it is like $2.50 for a 12pack)

Me too. The real sugar one is very good.

bobcatsteph · May 2011

The only name brand stuff we buy is: toilet paper (Charmin), string cheese (Frigo), bread (Nature's Own Honey Wheat Light), bagels (Nature's Grain Carb Check), and Peanut Butter (Jiff).

Everything else is either HEB/HCF or Costco/Kirklands.

I love me some (Va)nilla Wafers (the generics are called "vanilla" instead of "Nilla").

ssinca · May 2011

I can't think right now as I have a head cold, but I made the bad, bad, mistake of buying the target generic version of eucerin lotion once. horrible. but it was like $5 vs. $10 or something like that - not worth it!

Mainer-in-Texas · May 2011

Name Brand: Paper towels (Bounty), Oreos, crackers, Cheerios, flour (King Arthur), ice cream, popsicles, yogurt, canned tomatoes (Muer Glen), dry-roasted peanuts, hot chocolate.

Generic: Toilet paper (but it has to be Kirkland), laundry detergent (also Kirkland), most cereals, all baking staples (sugar, salt, etc) except flour, juice, cleaning products (unless I want to buy enviro-friendly), cheese, meat, canned/frozen fruits and veggies (except tomatoes), milk, condiments, medication, dried fruit, most nuts...I'm sure there's a ton more!

Kim777 · May 2011

Currently if HEB makes a generic for it then I buy it. I used to buy name brand granola bars over the HEB ones - huge difference there. Now I just don't buy them anymore. I do buy Charmin over the Kirkland's brand toilet paper at Costco. I was totally cool with the HEB twice as soft or whatever it is, but I am not down with the Kirkland's TP. I buy Charmin when they have the coupon.

AustinMimi · May 2011

The main generics that we use are paper towels, paper napkins, cotton balls, aluminum foil, light bulbs, sandwich bags, ibuprofen, Kirkland (Costco) brand trash bags, and Kirkland laundry detergent (the environmentally friendly one).

Oh, and our dogs eat Kirkland dog food, which the guys at Bark and Purr told me is a great pet food.

We buy very few pantry items, so I usually just get the name brand if I know we like them. I do like HEB's generic Special K, wheat chex, par-baked flour tortillas, and their Taste of San Antonio coffee. One thing that I cannot stand are fake Oreos.

Name brands I like and buy almost exclusively:

Seventh Generation dish soap, counter spray, and toilet bowl cleaner

Method hand soap, bathroom cleaner, and floor cleaner for mopping

Cascade dishwasher soap

Eucerin body lotion

Purpose face wash

Kiss My Face shave gel

Systane eye drops

Q-tips

Kleenex tissues

Oral B floss

I prefer Quilted Northern tp, but will get generic if the store doesn't have it. I have tried Seventh Generation tp and tissues, but they are way too scratchy for me.

I like a lot of Central Market organic foods, such as the milk, olive oil, popcorn, salad dressing, etc. I also buy Kirkland organics butter, chicken breasts, and ground beef. I think these count as generic, right?

melissahope10 · September 2011

When my daughter was first born I was completely against using generic brands because I assumed that they would not get the job done as well as the name brand. I was wrong! I now use all Target brand (Up&Up) products for my 3 month old. I tried both Huggies and Pampers diapers and was very unsatisfied with both products. The Huggies left gel on her butt and the Pampers leaked EVERY time she pee'd. So I figured i might as well try the generic since nothing else was working. Since I switched to Up & Up she hasn't leaked through her diaper not even when she sleeps through the night. I also LOVE their wipes! They are softer and moister then the other brands. As for formula my pediatrician recomended Up & Up. An added bonus to the formula is that her spit up doesn't stain like Similac or Enfimil All in all I save on the upwards of $300 a month with the Up & Up products and I do not feel that I am settling for less

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