Stop Buying Brand Name Products

Most of us think that store brand products just aren't as good as the brand name. That in order to get quality we have to pay more. This may hold true for when we buy the big ticket items (e.g automobiles, appliances, ect.), but not on items we use frequently. In fact product from food to over over the counter medications are held to the same government regulations as national brand names, and in alot of cases store brands are even better.
     Here are some things to think about next time you reach for that "Brand Name" product.

• Manufacturers of brand name products are wealthy beyond imagine and do almost nothing to help others. Smaller companies who produce generic brands often do things to aid communities and charities. So help them help us.
• Brand name products are Overpriced. Why pay for the name? What you are really paying for is the eye catching packaging and the millions they spend for advertising. The ingredients are the same.
• Take the time to look at ingredients and compare. Alot of us don't do this, but for medication as example, you will find that store brand and brand names have the same active ingredients. Why pay twice as much for Tylenol when CVS brand is the same thing.
• Don't get stuck to certain brand names when buying groceries. You may think store brands won't taste as good. In reality the taste simular or even better. You'll never know if you don't try.
• Store brand product are sometimes more effective than brand name. I needed to clean the grates on my grill, so I bought an Easy Off store brand knock off. Let me tell you, that stuff worked like a charm with less work. So, worked great, less work, half the price. It's a no brainer.
• Try to avoid buying non-food items like batteries, medicine, and cleaning product at the supermarket. You will save more at retailers-discounters like Costco, BJ's, Target, and local stores like CVS.
• Aquire a store membership card for those you shop frequently. They could save you even more through discounts and rebates.
• Some specific catagories to pay attendtion to are paper products, household cleaners, and personal care item. These are great for trying store brands.

You may not think that saving 50 cents here, 75 cents there is a big deal, so lets put it in perspective. It's the items you buy in multiples, and purchase week after week that will same you the most. For example, softdrinks, Coke is $1.89 for 2 liter bottle and store brand is $1.19 for the same size. You purchase 4 bottles a week. You will save $156.00 annually just on that. Then you can look at tuna fish, snacks, medicine, hair products, cleaning products, ect., ect. You will be amazed how much savings it turns into.