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?

[gja1000]

I used store brands years ago when I was a struggling newlywed. Then when my finances improved, I started using the name brands - WHY? - I can't tell you why, probably advertising persuasion.

Now, that everything is getting so expensive I thought I'd go back to store brands and honestly, I can't tell that much difference in most things. I think in things like plastic bags, the store brands are a bit thinner, which can be a problem, especially in trash bags.

With canned vegetables, e.g., green beans, I sometimes find a few stems or strings in the store brands, but I do not find they taste differently. There are some items though where "brand" is important - to me. Ice cream for example, there are certain name brands and they are the better brands, that I like best and I do not care for the store brands.

Also, I HATE store brand toilet paper and paper towels - I have my preferred name brand and I won't change.

So, I guess my answer is, "it depends"

[Shada]

I use my Era and Downy. But I delute the Downy by probably about half and have same results. Era I don't use as much recommended and clothes get just as clean.

I do like my name brand veggies, but buy when on sale. Stock up when the price is low.

Name brand flour, store brand sugar.

Clothes and everything else.. has to be on sale! I am a bargain hunter.

I read up on Consumer Reports. Let them do my homework for me!


Got to have good TP paper and paper towels!!!

[Tink]

I recently tried the Everyday Elegance naturals clothes soap from Walmart and have to say I really like it. The clothes come out nice, and I love the smell of the citrus one. I'm on my second 64 load bottle and would gladly buy it again.
I buy name brand TP; paper towels; dish soap; bath soap; freezer bags and trash bags, but at Dollar General which is cheaper.

I too am a bargain hunter and I live far enough from Wal Mart that I really have to pay through the nose or shop at Dollar General which is nearby. I try to get to WalMart once a month and stock up good when I'm there.

[Lindsey]

For things like cleaners and detergents, brand isn't so important to me. For the past 6 or so months I've been just buying things that are environmentally friendly. Luckily, Walmart has their own brand of environmentally friendly cleaners! So that's the laundry detergent and all-purpose cleaner I'm using right now. It's cheap, not bad for the earth, and I don't notice any difference at all!

[Janet]

Thanks for your responses. Guess I need to start checking out some lower price alternatives if they are working just as well. I did try store brand plastics and did find that they are thinner. I guess I'm just going to have to try certain things and see.

Tink, thanks for reminding me about the dollar stores. We have 3 in our small town, Dollar General, The Dollar Store, and The Dollar Tree. I usually just go to Wal Mart, one stop shopping you know, but I really should visit the dollar stores first, then go to Wal Mart.

Anyone else have information to share?

[Gina]

Janet I to use name brand items.. It is getting costly as far as soaps and paper goods go. But certain things like some mentioned paper goods and other stuff llike dish detergent the generic don't cut it. I do buy store label frozen foods, they are not bad. I think its all in the way we were trained. I read that its best to buy generic meds. less for money and you get the same strenght and is just as good.

[Janet]

Yes, I buy the generic meds, so I guess in reality, if it's okay with the meds, it should be more okay with other items. I'm just really trying to watch the spending, that's how I saved up enough to be able to go shop a little this weekend. Now I'm looking to save even more.

[DianaB]

I used to use Era but I tried Purex and I really liked it and it's cheaper. I prefer the name brand fabric softner sheets but since they cost so much I usually get the off brand. I always buy Dawn dishwashing detergent because I think that it absolutely works the best! Plastic bags I usually have some of both. Trash bags, name brand only. Toilet paper, I used to only buy Charmin but I'm not happy with the price or how quickly we go through a roll so I've switched to a store brand. It's not as soft but the rolls don't run out as quickly.

As far as vegetables and canned stuff, our store has a cheap brand and a cheaper brand. I never buy the cheaper brand because I found that I was never happy with it. A lot of things you just have to try and see how you like them.

I buy a lot of my cleaning supplies at Dollar General too.

[Tiramisu]

My must have namebrands: Tide, Camay, Aleve, Dawn, and Glad bags.

I shop dollar stores for what I can and save several dollars. I've tried several cheaper items through the years and always seem to find something wrong - Gain causes a rash, Purex didn't work well with cold water, etc.

For me it's not being picky, just "tried and true".

[Shada]

For those Dollar Store purchases you really need to know your prices. Check out how much per ounce. Then check that price against the other stores. Many times it is cheaper at the other stores. The Dollar Store usually sells smaller bottles of stuff. Looks like a good deal, but when checked out, its really not. Of course this method is used with name brand products found everywhere.

I use Kroger brand tall kitchen trash bags. Those got a high rating with Consumer Reports. They are cheaper, plus I only buy when on sale, or packages that give 20percent more at one price. They are very strong.. never have had a problem. Then I changed my trash service for bags only. I buy my bags for $1.50 a bag. Large bags! I now only put out one bag every 3 weeks or so.. I can put a lot into one of those bags! On top of that I pay $5.00 per month for trash service. I recycle everything I can. Every little bit helps.

Check out the prices!!!! We assume larger amounts are cheaper.. not so many times.

TP paper.. buy double rolls only. Paper towels.. those are better deal buying large packs instead of single packs.
I know people that buy all their paper products at Sams. They assume they are a better deal. Not so.
Again.. check your prices! Write prices down and keep with you so you can compare.

[2tiredmom]

Janet,

I use Era also and Downey but I don't buy it unless it's on sale. Normally it goes on sale at Meijer and I can get it for 2 for 5. Downey is cheaper at walmart and I always use a coupon for it also. I don't like any other products. So when it goes on sale i really stock up. I mean major stock up 10 or more at a time on the Era.
I just don't like anything else. I can't see buying Tide. It costs way to much.

[gja1000]

Just one word of caution about generic medications. First off, I use them whenever possible, so I am not speaking out against them. However, being a nurse I have seen one problem with a few generics (please don't ask me how....). It is true the strength and integrity of the medication are exactly the same. What may be different is the process for making the pill, and sometimes generics do not dissolve as well. Thus, sometimes generics come out just the same as they go in - visualize looking in the toilet and seeing the whole pill in a BM. When this happens, you have gotten no benefit from the medication.

This happens mostly in older people (80's and above) because older persons have less digestive juices and thus, the pills do not dissolve as well. So, if you change to generics and think it is not working as well, this may be why. You can ask your doctor if you can crush the pill prior to taking it. Please do ask though, as some pills should not be crushed, e.g., time-released or long acting pills.

It can happen to people of any age - but is most common in elders.

[Janet]

Originally Posted by gja1000

Just one word of caution about generic medications. First off, I use them whenever possible, so I am not speaking out against them. However, being a nurse I have seen one problem with a few generics (please don't ask me how....). It is true the strength and integrity of the medication are exactly the same. What may be different is the process for making the pill, and sometimes generics do not dissolve as well. Thus, sometimes generics come out just the same as they go in - visualize looking in the toilet and seeing the whole pill in a BM. When this happens, you have gotten no benefit from the medication.

This happens mostly in older people (80's and above) because older persons have less digestive juices and thus, the pills do not dissolve as well. So, if you change to generics and think it is not working as well, this may be why. You can ask your doctor if you can crush the pill prior to taking it. Please do ask though, as some pills should not be crushed, e.g., time-released or long acting pills.

It can happen to people of any age - but is most common in elders.

Gayle, thank you for such great advice. I had no idea about any of the information you shared. They, Drs., pharmacys, whoever, should tell everyone this information.

[Tink]

Instead of all the expensive cleaning supplies, I use a lot of generic bleach around here. I have some in a spray bottle for general cleaning, and use it for pretty much everything in the bathroom and kitchen. I buy scented ones so the smell is nice and what cleans better than bleach? If I want a piny smell I just add a bit of tea tree oil.