Name Brand or Store Brand?

Do you buy name brand grocery items or do you buy store brands?

There are some things that I prefer name brand over the store brand. Some of these, I may have tried the store brand and didn't care for it; others, I just like what I like and don't want to switch.... 

Tide detergent. Wisk detergent

Finish dishwasher pods (I won't use anything else in the dishwasher)

Heinz Ketchup (there is only Heinz, according to Dear Richard)

Boxes of cereal (although that's more Rick's thing than mine; he is the cold cereal one on the family; he will not buy store brand cereal)

King Arthur flours / White Lily flour (I'll use Gold Medal or Pillsbury in a pinch; I will not use store brand flour)

Bounty or Brawny paper towels 

Skippy SuperChunk peanut butter

Kraft Light mayo (We've used Hellmann's and Duke's, too; I will not use a store brand mayo)

Grey Poupon mustard (I'll use French's, too)

Philadelphia cream cheese

Kikkoman's soy sauce

Ghirardelli chocolate chips & chocolate bars (I'll use Nestle's if it's on sale and if I have a coupon; I won't use store brand)

Angel Soft or Cottonelle toilet paper (I won't use store brand)

Other than those things, I'll try the store brands. I do use coupons when I can and with the coupons, I can often find the name brand cheaper to buy than the store brand. We've used store-brand ibuprofen and acetaminophen and it's been fine. We've also used store brand vitamins on occasion when nothing else was on sale. I try to buy Nature Made or Nature's Bounty when they're on sale at Buy One, Get One Free and when I can use a coupon in addition to the sale.

What about you?

And while we're talking about supermarket items and such, do you shop at Aldi's? There is an Aldi's close to us, but I seldom shop there. A lot of people just love Aldi's and swear by the bargains that can be found there and the quality of the foods. I think it's owned by the same people who have Trader Joe's, Anybody shop at Aldi's? What do you think?

I went to Aldis once and really didn't like it. They had produce that should have been refrigerated that wasn't and that really turned me off.

I often buy store brands but there are some things that I won't.

Laundry Detergent
Mouthwash
Toothpaste
Dish washing liquid
Dishwasher Pods


I know there are more, but that is just some off the top of my head.

Tide pods. I get them on my Amazon subscribe and save

Just Mayo mayonnaise. It's vegan and tastes like Hellmann's. That used to be my mayo of choice. 

Downy or Snuggle fabric softener

Bounty paper towels (also on my S&S)

Cottonelle toilet paper (also on my S&S)

I agree about King Arthur flours. They are the best but I will use GM or Pillsbury if I can't get KAF

I will not buy generic vanilla extract. Most have HFCS in them. No thank you

Generic chocolate chips? Oh no. Ghirardelli's are  good but I also like Hershey's. Nestles as a last resort.

I also use Finish dishwasher products but I also like Cascade. I've never tried generic. Don't plan on it

Always pads. Nobody else's for me or DD. (TMI?) 

Glad Press n Seal cling wrap. I've tried every other kind and they stick to themselves more than anything else. 

I buy generic Advil and Midol for DD but for me, it's BC Powders. Old school. They work great and FAST. I like them better than Goody's because I don't need the caffeine. I buy generic tinfoil, napkins, stuff like that

I have never shopped at Aldi's although there is one not far from DD's school. I've heard mixed reviews on them. We shop at Publix (based in Lakeland Florida they have been ranked the #1 grocery chain in America multiple times). They are closer to school and where I do all of my shopping for myself. I've debated going into Aldi's just to check them out but have yet to do so. 

Kat0121 said:

 
I will not buy generic vanilla extract. Most have HFCS in them. No thank you

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Make your own vanilla. A fifth of good bourbon or vodka and split and scraped vanilla beans. That's it. (And life is good)

It depends on the store and the brand :tongue2:. There are a lot of foods that I like the store brand better. But most non-food products, I prefer the name brand. Only Cottonelle TP (I used to get the softer version of Costco brand but they discontinued that and I don't like the non-quilted). Only Viva or Bounty Basic paper towels (I don't even like the "better" version of Bounty, just Basic, lol). It's not worth it to get the really cheap brands because you have to use too many. Tide Pods, or Gain---only certain scents. Cascade or Finish for dishwasher pods. Only Dawn dish soap---and not the blue kind! I hate blue Dawn! It's all about the scent/flavor/texture/etc. I don't just blindly get the biggest name brand---I have to try a few to see which one I like best. And I just can't use one I don't like.

I mostly use generic OTC medications, like allergy meds or aspirin. No differences that I can find.

I use both.

TP and paper towels, definitely like brand name (Quilted Northern and Viva, respectively). Some cereals I'm particular about brand names - the non-flaky ones. The flaky ones, I'm ok with generic. Meds I'm ok getting generic, canned veggies. I like my Bush's Baked Beans so that's under "brand". Oh, and hot dogs - Vienna all the way! I will eat other kinds but I really like those ones, but I guess that doesn't count as "must-get brand".

I'll have to pay more attention while shopping tomorrow.

I don't settle for anything else with these items.

Mayo - Only Kraft and I want the real stuff, not fat free, not light, just full of fat Kraft Mayo. :lol3:
Ketchup - Only Heinz
Toilet Paper - Only Cottonelle
Toothpaste - Ultra Brite for him = Colgate Total for me
Detergent - Fab or Tide Simple
Peanut Butter - Jif
Paper Towels - Scott
Dish Detergent - Dawn Original


I buy store brands for most everything else.

Most things it is either.  I go to Kroger and their store brands are good.  The only things that I don't use store brands for is laundry detergent, fabric softener, and I use Hellman's Mayo.  I have just about got myself completely on the Kroger store brand of grainy mustard as a replacement for mayo on sandwiches.  When I do get soda I get a name brand, I have tried some off brands but they just don't taste right to me.  I very rarely drink soda now.  I used to be really bad about drinking way too much soda.

Winchester said:

 
Make your own vanilla. A fifth of good bourbon or vodka and split and scraped vanilla beans. That's it. (And life is good)

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I need a bit more detail on that one. I just bought some really good bourbon to make steak sauce.

I buy some of Smiths Private Selections items. Mostly name brand. Grocery prices have skyrocketed. Hey just in case you hadn't noticed ;(.  I buy good quality but plan our meals around what is on sale.  The biggest black hole in our grocery budget used to be the cheap stuff we thought was a good deal but neither of would eat.

I only use Tide or Gain laundry pods. Tide preferred. I can see and feel the difference in my clothes and how they wear/fade. Dawn dish soap. Because of really bad well water a dishwasher isn't even feasible. I don't mind washing things once. I use brand name hepa filter vacuum bags. Because they don't leak.

I do buy cheap Walmart clothes for wearing around home and outside.

I'm really not that picky. But some things just have to be name brand, for me.

Captain crunch with the berries has to be name brand. The generic tastes awful.

Peanut butter has to be Jif or Skippy, great value sucks and we usually get a good deal on pb. My crunchy peanut butter lasts forever though; my dad prefers creamy.

I actually don't like a lot of great value stuff regarding food items. But some is ok, household items that are great value are ok.

And pickles, they don't have to be name brand either. Just no more western family (stokes market) ones they are horrible. But my favorite brand is Nalley for bread and butter cucumber chips. I like dill pickles but not as much as I used to. They just make me so thirsty. I love the cucumber chips for sandwiches.