A List of the Best Generic Brands

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

29 Jul 2009 06:49 AM

Buying the store brand of an item, from diapers to food is usually a great way of saving money, especially if you don't have coupons. But let us face it. Some generic brands are better than others. It can be intimidating trying new generics when you have never tried them before. You don't want to wind up with a leaky diaper or sour mayonnaise.

Over the years, my friends and I have tried many different kinds of generic items. You can use our experience to make the best choices, and to save yourself both the legwork for trying different generic brands and the potential waste when things don't turn out to be quite as good as you hoped.

Baby Stuff

For diapers and wipes, we have found that the Target brand is wonderful. The diapers are unscented, soft and secure. They run a little bit larger than the "fitted" brand name diapers, which means that you may be able to keep your baby in a smaller size longer, saving you money.

The wipes are very strong and cloth-like. I couldn't believe that they were a generic brand, since I like them better than the name brand wipes. They hold up on the toughest messes, too.

Dairy

For diary products, such as sour cream, ricotta cheese and yogurt, I have had great luck with the Giant grocery store brand. In fact, I actually prefer it to other brand names that cost up to twice as much. Milk is an exception, because I prefer hormone-free or organic milk, and the best price there is at Trader Joe's, hands down. Trader Joe's also has great natural yogurt, and they sell different flavors in the large containers for even more savings. Trader Joe's cheese stick snacks for the kids are also inexpensive, larger than most and tasty.

Would you like to know more about generics, including laundry detergent? Check back to the Frugal blog for a future post!

You can read more blog posts by Mary Ann Romans here!

Favorite Deal Websites:

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Related Articles:

Eight Rules for Buying Groceries without Coupons

Coping with the Grocery Shrink Ray

Adjusting Your Price Book with Escalating Grocery Costs

Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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ruthann8 (6378) 29 Jul 2009 10:34 AM

When I was in High School we got a tour of the local grocery store. They told us some interesting facts in regards to generic foods. Almost always they contract out though name brand companies and it is just the same stuff just in a store brand package. But you just don't know what brand of peanut butter is in the store brand jar and it changes if they decide to contract it out to another company.

When it comes to milk based products look at what is the main brand in that store and I bet they have a contract with that company. B/c milk products are easily perishable and expensive to transport it is usually a local company. A company may give a "deal" on a contract if the store will promote their product. Sometimes companies change the product slightly for the store brands but to be cost effective most of the time it is exactly the same and came of the same production line as the name brand.

Of course this was over 10 years ago and now with all the Giant food/store chains they may have found it for cost effective to manufacture more of their own products.

I have found with diapers that Walmarts Parents Choice brand work best for my daugther. She tends to have poop accidents with fitted diapers. And I can get a box of 80-100 for less that $15!

Mary Ann Romans (26886) 29 Jul 2009 10:52 AM

The Walmart Brand does tend to be pretty good in a lot of areas. I tend to really like their trail mix. It is cheaper than the more expensive brands and tastes better.

Thanks so much for all of the behind the scenes information about the store brands. It is interesting stuff, especially about the milk. I'm inspired to go ask our dairy manager!