It's the new generic packaging from the Mart of Wal! Now, everything is color coordinated in blue and white.
I'm glad most of the products have a picture of what's inside or I would get really confuzzled! LOL!
Seriously, if something is available in the Great Value packaging, I'm buying it. I've never encountered any product that was less desirable than a name brand equivalent. In fact, most of the time, the Evil Twin will remark, "What kind of corn is this? It's delicious!" And, he also prefers the Great Value brand of beef jerky. Beef jerky is expensive, but the Great Value brand offers a much lower price for the quantity than any other brands I've compared.
Yes, I do compare. How many ounces is it? How much does it cost per ounce? Is it really a good deal or am I getting less quantity for the price?
I read the labels on medicines, shampoos, food, etc. If the ingredients are identical or nearly so, I'm buying the generic.
If I shop at the Roger of K, I buy their store brand or the Private Selection brand.
I also scour the sales circulars for all area stores, because the Mart of Wal will price match - saving me multiple trips all over town.
Of course, there are certain things I buy the name brand because I prefer it: Tide, Cascade Complete (more expensive than generic, but for the money, it's the best dishwashing detergent on the market), Coke (I don't drink sodas, but the fambly does and they like Coke), Land o' Lakes spreadable butter, Glad trashbags, Gillette Sensor razors for the Evil Twin, Old El Paso taco kits, Yoplait Thick and Creamy yogurts, OB tampons and Always panty liners (I'll have a diatribe about these two items later - warning!!). And I think that's about it for must have name brands.
Everything else is generic or as cheap as I can find it. (Hellooo? Hooch in a box?).
I think it's more important now than ever before to be frugal. Food costs are rising rapidly, but there is no need to live on Ramen if I can find other ways to trim the food budget. :-)
And, that's your course on being a cheapskate for today! :-)
I do the comparisons too. I'm also willing to bet that the generic and name brand products were packaged at the same plant and only the labels are different and that's whats costing you the money.
ReplyDeleteSo far I've been happy with every Great Value item I've bought too. The savings over name brand on some items is pretty significant. Especially cleaning and paper products. I haven't been able to bring myself to buy Great Value toilet paper yet though. haha ;-)
ReplyDeleteI refuse to shop at Wal-Mart however I do have a theme like yours in my cabinet from Target. The red and white of the Market Pantry brands are what I buy... I have not found anything yet that is not up to the regular brand quality (except the cut green beans that sometimes have stems in them) - I LOVE the Target Brand... and Im all about saving money for other stuff too...
ReplyDeleteBTW - BJ's brand diapers, wipes, and formula are better than the Name brand in our opinion.
That is not a bad thing at all these days. Yeah, these are tough times. That is why I let my wife do the foodshopping. I do not have the patience to comparison shop...
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, as much as I hate going to Mal Wart, their house brand for a lot of things is really indistinguishable from the name brands.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I'm seriously pissed that my local Wart got rid of my Kashi Mayan Harvest Bake. I'm probably the only person in a 6 county area that eats it, but daaaaamn!
I only recently started sale shopping. But you have a point - I have to draw the line at generic tampons!
ReplyDeleteWe buy as much Great Value products as we can in our house...I could care less about the packaging as long as the product is good..which it is! (I was told by a Wal-Mart employee that the packaging is not only cheaper to produce (duh) but also greener...so there you go!)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy that corn..it IS delicious!
I don't mind the house brands.
ReplyDeleteWhat I do mind is the exclusion of name brands for house brands.
I probably buy way too much brand name stuff. And I am definitely not very frugal. I guess thats why I have exactly $11 in my checking account right now! Well that and an absence of child support in the most expensive month of the year.
ReplyDeleteYou did a post awhile ago about being frugal, and it keeps running through my head everytime I put toothpaste on my toothbrush. Funny how things stick with you huh? :)
I do not shop at the mart of wal. I will buy the store brand at Schnucks. It does save a ton of money that I can then spend on booze!
ReplyDeleteMy wife is a good shopper. Coupons, sale papers, rebates, etc.
ReplyDeleteI only like one brand item...JIF Peanut Butter, yummy. Oh and Karo Pancake syrup makes 2.
...Al...
Definitely not skimping on the sanitary items!
ReplyDeleteI laughed out loud at K of Roger. :)
I have purchased a few of their white label items. I am frugal too, but some of the stuff just doesn't taste as rich or good....like the mac n cheese and the vote isn't in on the stuffing. The canned items are equal and I do check volume, and sodium content as well. I wish they would come out with some more vegetarian items (I'm not one but have a cholesterol issue) like soy sausage patties that every market charges an arm and leg for Morning S*ar brand. I have a lot less $$$ to spend these days and need to go with non brand items.
ReplyDeleteIt takes me forever to find anything at the Mart now, new packaging AND new layout of the store...grrr!!
ReplyDeleteI am mostly a named brand gal. I can't imagine getting store brand peanut butter, tuna or cereal. However, when it comes to the lady necessities? I find the CVS brand just as good as tampax and a lot less expensive.
ReplyDeleteI am with you on the veggies. Even though I buy frozen instead of canned, the store brand tastes exactly the same as birdseye. I mean what can you do to an uncooked green bean?
I read labels too, but its because I'm the Carb Natzi and the Fat Police, and the Kitchen Cop.
ReplyDeleteTakes ages to shop!
The local grocer told me once that the no-name brands are frequently the exact same product that goes into name brands, right off the line, just a different label so you're not having to pay for the name. May as well save your money, who cares if they call it Craft, or Great Value?
Queen of fugal right here. Unfortunately, I married my opposite and he is in charge of shopping right now since I work all the time.
ReplyDeleteUsually all our generics (when I shop) come from Kroger - it is literaly at the entrace to my neighborhood...muy convinient. Plus our Wal Mart got redesigned and I can't find a damn thing!
Wal-Mart.... icky. But I hear you on the generics, and also on the exceptions. Exceptions here are toilet paper (getting what you pay for is a truism there), Cheez-its, Grape Nuts, Diet Pepsi, and Kraft macaroni and cheese. Most everything else? Can't tell a difference.
ReplyDeleteWe usually buy store brands too but I don't care for the WM packaging...even with pics, I can't tell what is what! We mostly buy the Kroger brands though...they are excellent!
ReplyDeleteI could NOT agree more with your post. I insist on the same name brands you do, don't mess with my Tide or Downy Fabric Softener. I also insist on huggies diapers, we get them at Sam's, however.
ReplyDeleteOh and I LOVE my Great Value Crunchy peanut butter better than any other brand out there!
I purchase the generic version of Miller Lite (which many people consider to be the generic version of beer in the first place). It is called Milwaukee's Best Light (not to be confused with Old Milwaukee).
ReplyDeleteOh wait, that was probably better submitted as a Friday Confession!
We mostly buy whatever is the better deal, whether generic or brand name on sale.
ReplyDeleteLike you, we have a few exceptions - Laundry detergent and toothpaste being a couple. :-)
love it. it reminds me of "no frills" brand from the 1980's..
ReplyDeleteah memories
you probably save around a thousand dollars a year by doing that.
at least. GO YOU!!!!
I couldn't agree more. However, I shop almost exclusively at Aldi now, and save even more money. I carry empty grocery bags in my van, along with a quarter for the shopping cart.
ReplyDelete*nods head.* Yep!
ReplyDeleteI've got that theme going on as well and have been thrilled with the quality. In fact, some of it I like *better* than the name brand!
ReplyDelete