Brand Name vs. Store Brand

I was surprised when I learned that most store branded items are made by the same companies that make popular brands.

I learned this during my younger years and worked in a convenience store. I noticed that when the Wonder Bread man arrived, he also brought our store brand bread that sold for a much cheaper price. I ask him why he brought it and he explained to me that they made it, they just put a different wrapper on the bread. Hmmm, so why should I pay the higher price for the same bread? I didn't make that mistake again.

Ralston makes alot of store branded products. I always remembered them as Ralston/Purina and Im not sure why the names are no longer used together unless they separate them so that pet food isn't associated with people food. Ralston also just aquired Post brands from what I understand, so that makes me wonder if Post will now be producing our store branded items.

My doctor gave me a lesson on store branded over the counter medicines. He told me simply to read the active ingredients listed on the box and if the percentages were the same, don't pay the higher price. The same theory as generic prescription drugs. I have never had a problem, or noticed a difference in the products performance.

The biggest reason for the difference is cost is the amount of money spent on advertising. I have never seen a store take out magazine articles or produce televison commercials to promote their products, but National Brands do, which is paid for by the higher cost of their products at the check out counter.

Of course there are exceptions to every rule, and not all products are made with the same quality that National Brands are. But for the savings, I will take the chance to at least try them and make up my own mind since I dont feel every product in my home has to be a national brand.

Cutting Down On Shopping

Sometimes this seems easier said than done, however, I have learned to shop only for necessities and it not only saves me money at the checkout, but also the cost of gas for making extra "convenience" trips to the store.

I keep a magnetic note pad on my refrigerator now and write down the things that I need. I shop once per week and make a single trip to all the stores I need to go to in one trip. I shop only from the list and can guess about how much it is going to cost and only take enough money to cover the cost plus a few extra dollars just incase something is on sale that I will need soon. I leave the debit and credit cards at home to ward off putting extra items in the cart. I take advantage of buy one get one free items that I use as long as it isn't something that is going to sit in a cupboard for a while.

Discount stores like Big Lots and Aldi are also great for grocery shopping. Pasta, sauces, cereal, canned goods, and snacks are always much less than at the grocery store and most are name brands for those who dont like to buy off brands. When I learned that most off brands are actually made by name brand companies, I lost that phobia and now most of my grocery purchases are off brand items.

It Has To Begin Somewhere

I decided to start this blog so that those like me who are trying to save money anywhere possible can share what works and what doesn't.

Amazingly, I have been able to cut corners which saved alot of money, and really haven't noticed a difference in my lifestyle. Its amazing what we buy that we dont really need, and how much we waste when we dont really pay attention to how we manage what we have or how we shop.

Hopefully someone will get some good from this blog. I will be posting how I got started and the results of what I have accomplished. Everyday I try something new and test the results. It has been a fun challenge to try to save a little more everyday.