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If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know I like to live frugally. Saving money, buying on sale, cutting coupons and overall getting a bargain is something I adopted many years ago in an effort to get out of debt.
Although no longer in debt, living frugally is a core value for me.
But sometimes you can take frugality to an extreme, and it can end up costing you money.
I’m talking about buying generic which is different from store brands like the Aldi’s brand, which is mostly fantastic.
[tweetthis]Generic brands can cost more and be problematic. Find out why.[/tweetthis]
Table of Contents
Items You Should Never Buy Generic
1. Batteries
You get what you pay for is true when it comes to batteries.
Generic batteries will end up costing you the same as their name brand counter parts. Longevity is key to a battery and you’ll only find that with a good quality, name brand battery. A battery at the dollar store may cost a $1, but will only last say 10 hours, where a $5 battery will last you 50 hours. You end up paying the same amount for the battery despite thinking you’re getting a bargain. Factor in the time to go to the store more frequently to replace those batteries, and you could be spending more money. Go ahead and buy the $5 battery, grab a coupon or look for a sale and it might just cost you less in the long run.
When you need to replace a battery for a cell phone or tablet, generic is an even worse choice. A good mobile product has long battery life, and if you need a replacement, going generic may not be the best idea.
Same goes with car batteries. Buying a generic car battery results in a poorly made battery made with poor quality materials. Buy name brand when replacing your car battery.
Read: How To Save Big On Car Repairs
2. Toiletries
Certain personal care items are just fine to buy in generic form. Things like cotton swabs and hairspray for example won’t cause you much problem. But some toiletries you should never buy in the generic version.
Deodorant, Perfumes
It’s always best to go with trusted brands that have been tested. When you buy a fake, you have no idea what chemical compounds went into making of the product. Always stay clear of these types of no name brands.
Read: 11 Unusual Uses For Lip Balm
3. Food Products
You may or may not agree with what’s on this list. Everyone’s taste buds are different, and so you might be ok with the generic version of these foods. Only you can decide.
a. Butter
I love butter and 100% agree there’s no substitute for great tasting, high quality butter. If you’ve ever tasted good quality butter, you’ll find it has a much sweeter and creamier taste. And if you currently eat margarine (and I hope you don’t), the difference will be even more pronounced. Good quality butter contains higher amounts of buttercream.
Ok, I’m a butter snob. But I’ll never buy cheap butter.
Read: 12 Unbelievable Uses for Cooking Spray
b. Soda
Soda is just bad for you but if you do drink it, generic brands of soda never taste like the original. I never had a generic or store-bought version of Coke that, when I did drink it, tasted like the original. If you’re looking for something that tastes like the original, you’ll never find it.
c. Ketchup
Heinz has a distinct flavor, but personally I don’t mind store brand versions of ketchup.
d. Beer
Have you ever tasted a generic beer that came even close to a name brand? Case closed!
Read: 8 Brilliant Uses For Vinegar
e. Tomato Sauce
I make my own, but with the few I’ve tried, name brands seem to have more flavor than their generic counter parts.
f. Dishwasher detergent
Generic brands may not compare to some of the high functioning powders and packets that clean dishes so efficiently. You’ll end up having to pre wash or re wash wasting a ton of time, water and money.
[tweetthis]Generic items can save you money, if you know what to buy and what to avoid.[/tweetthis]
Avoid wasting money in the future and stick to what you know will give you the biggest bang for your buck and taste great!
