Grocery Shopping

[Janet]

When you all go shopping, especially for things non-edible like laundry soap, do you buy the name brands such as Era? Or opt for something cheaper? Do the cheaper products work as well? And I'm talking about most everything including food storage bags and well just anything.

I'm really getting tired of spending so much when I go to the grocery store on food and not food items. I've always used Era, that's why I chose that brand and Downy and Bounce to write about. I haven't bought the cheaper brands because I was afraid they wouldn't get my clothes as clean and there would be money down the drain. Does it really make that much of a difference? Are there brands you would totally stay away from? What about store brands?