Sometimes, opting for the generic, cheaper, store brand instead of the famous brand name is a really smart choice. Some brands, from spice mixes to pantry staples, are not at all worth the extra money - they just have a great branding team. We turned to the Internet to find out what generic food items self-proclaimed foodies actually prefer over the brand names, and here's the result.
Kirkland Products
Costco shoppers are big fans of the store brand Kirkland. One user commented on a public forum: "Costco's Kirkland brand. Literally anything. Has never let me down." It may be weird for some to have food from the same brand as their toilet paper, but it might be worth it for the savings!
Aldi Chocolate
Another user on the same forum said: "Aldi chocolate. I believe that sh-t is from a European country, and it outshines Hershey's or Cadbury's any day." Seriously, what would frugal shoppers do without Aldi?!
Clover Valley Thin Mints
If you don't want to spend too much money on mints, go with the Dollar General brand, according to another commenter on the same thread. They said: "Clover Valley (the brand at Dollar general) makes awesome root beer and thin mints." [sic]
Walmart Saltine Crackers
Another savvy shopper shared: "Walmart saltine crackers are really tasty. Unlike most, they actually brown them a bit, and they have a lot of good flavor." Your nighttime salt cravings don't have to be satisfied with name-brand crackers-generic is good too!
HEB Houston Blend Coffee
One coffee enthusiast shared the secret of store-brand Keurig cups. They commented, "H-E-B Houston Blend Keurig cups are delicious. They're the only variety I've tried that doesn't taste like burnt booty, which is how Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks, and Folgers cups all taste." Besides, isn't the whole point of making your own coffee to save money?
Canned Beans
Jessica Ball, the Nutrition Editor at Eating Well, suggests buying generic or store brand canned beans, as there's minimal difference between them and the national brand. Plus, you get the same nutritional value. Sign me up any day!
Pasta
Another Eating Well editor who buys store-brand pasta says, "It all tastes the same, in my opinion. The savings between brand-name and store-brand isn't incredibly significant, but saving some money here helps offset those ingredients where I do prefer to buy brand-name." As long as your recipe is great, the pasta brand shouldn't really matter! And I would definitely opt for more expensive tomatoes or mozzarella cheese, rather than more expensive pasta.
Baking Staples
One person commented on another similar thread, "Staples like flour, salt, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, have no real difference and are worth getting cheaper." Especially if you're a rookie baker, stick to the generic ingredients. You don't want to splurge on the first few batches of burnt cookies!
Colossal Crunch
Another person shared a generic alternative for Cap'N Crunch, "Colossal Crunch cereal tastes identical to Captain Crunch, but is $2 cheaper." Those two bucks may sound insignificant, but drip by drip, they make an ocean!
Badia Spices
Although not a generic or store brand, Badia Spices has become the go-to for savvy shoppers looking to buy spices for cheap. One fan of the brand wrote, "Badia-brand spices (found in the ethnic aisle, usually). You can get three times the amount of curry compared to McCormick's." Guess we're eating curry this month, then!
Joe Joe Cookies
Move over Oreos, there's a new Sheriff in town. "Joe Joe's cookies from Trader Joe's. Just as good if not better than Oreo's!" said one TJ's fan.
Kroger Peanut Bars
And finally, a Kroger shopper shared: "Kroger peanut bars. So much better than the Nature's Valley!" But do they make as much of a crumbly mess as Nature Valley's bars, I wonder?!
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