Do you buy these off-brand items?
With the rising cost of living, persistently high inflation, and noticeable grocery store markups, shoppers everywhere are searching for new (and perhaps inventive) ways to save money and stretch their budgets further. Navigating the modern economy feels more challenging than ever, putting immense pressure on households to be smarter with their spending. Yes, the time-honored tradition of couponing can be a great strategy that, with dedication, can lead to major savings at the checkout. Similarly, starting a detailed budget grocery list is also a foundational and highly effective way to prevent impulse buys and stick to what you truly need.
However, I’m about to suggest something not many people do consistently (at least not as many as those who coupon): ditch the brand loyalty and wholeheartedly choose generic products. This simple shift in mindset can unlock substantial savings without requiring hours of clipping coupons or complex planning. According to a consensus of money experts, if you’re always purchasing familiar name-brand products instead of giving off-brand items a chance, you’re essentially throwing away money every time you shop. This habit is often driven by powerful marketing and a perceived, but often unfounded, sense of superior quality.
Not only are generic products significantly cheaper than their name-brand counterparts, but they often prove to be just as good in quality, taste, and effectiveness. The secret is that many of these products are made in the very same facilities as the brand-name ones. Besides random “generic” things, major retailers have invested heavily in their own private-label brands: Walmart has its ubiquitous Great Value line, Target offers the stylishly packaged Up&Up, and the warehouse giant Costco has its fan-favorite Kirkland Signature, which has a cult following for its quality and value. You’ll also find brands like Simple Truth at Kroger or Signature Select at Safeway and Albertsons, all offering competitive alternatives.
According to regulatory experts and industry insiders, these store brands are required to meet the same stringent safety and quality standards as the branded ones, especially for items like food and over-the-counter medications. And shoppers are finally taking notice in a big way. Recent market data shows a significant shift in consumer behavior, with sales of store brands increasing last year by about 11%. This growth dramatically outpaced that of name-brand products, which rose by a much smaller 6.1%. This trend indicates a savvier consumer base that prioritizes value over logos.
Without further ado, here are the top off-brand items you’ll love just as much as their famous counterparts and that will help you save a lot of money in the long run. Get ready to rethink your shopping list!
1. Cleaning products
Unless you’re exceedingly loyal to the specific formula of Lysol or absolutely need the signature scent of Gain in your freshly laundered clothes, the off-brand items that serve as alternatives to branded cleaning products will save you a lot—up to about 60% less in many cases. The primary function of most cleaners is to disinfect, degrease, or scrub, and the basic chemicals that accomplish these tasks are the same regardless of the label.
Take household bleach, for instance. According to cleaning experts, the active compound in this powerful cleaner is sodium hypochlorite, and this basic chemical ingredient is produced and functions in the exact same way regardless of who manufactures or bottles it. You’re paying a premium for the Clorox name, not for a more effective chemical. The same principle applies to other basic cleaners like glass cleaner, where the main ingredient is often ammonia, or all-purpose sprays.
Since generic bleach has the same potent cleaning power and disinfectant capability as branded bleach, with an average savings of at least $1 per bottle, the generic alternative is definitely the better and more logical choice for your wallet. These savings multiply quickly when you consider how many bottles a typical household uses per year for laundry, bathroom sanitation, and deep cleaning projects.
When it comes to the convenience of Lysol wipes, you can confidently give the Walmart-brand Great Value or Target’s Up&Up wipes a try, which are often $2.50 cheaper per container. This represents a significant percentage savings on a regularly purchased item. Similarly, compare the price per ounce of brand-name dish soap or laundry detergent to the store brand; you’ll often find the generic version offers the same cleaning power for a fraction of the cost.
2. Bottled water
When it comes to off-brand items that are just as good as branded ones but substantially cheaper, the rule most certainly applies to bottled water. If you frequently buy bottled water to have on hand for when you have friends over for dinner, for kids’ lunchboxes, or to take on the road, you could be saving several dollars per case if you go for generic versions. The core product, after all, is simply purified water.
The pricier brands, such as Fiji, Evian, and even Poland Spring, generally have sturdier plastic bottles and prettier, more sophisticated labels than the cheaper store brands. This is a key part of their marketing strategy, selling a lifestyle image along with the water. However, when you’re spending $31 for a case of 40 bottles of Poland Spring when you could’ve bought a case of 40 bottles of the Walmart brand, which comes at a mere $5.36, the aesthetics of the packaging may become pretty irrelevant. The price difference is too vast to ignore for a product that is functionally identical.
Moreover, in many cases, branded bottled water may contain trace additives like electrolytes for taste and undergo proprietary reverse osmosis purification processes to justify their premium price. But generic bottled water is regulated to be just as healthy and safe for you. In fact, investigations have shown that many store brands and even some name brands source their water from the same municipal supplies, simply running it through a standard filtration process before bottling. The ultimate money-saving and eco-friendly option is a reusable bottle, but when you must buy bottled, generic is the clear winner.
3. Over-the-counter drugs
Most people instinctively think that a trusted, heavily advertised name-brand medication is the only way to go when it comes to treating common pains, aches, allergies, or colds. Years of marketing have conditioned us to associate brands like Tylenol, Advil, and Zyrtec with safety and efficacy. But experts and regulatory bodies like the FDA say its stringent approval process makes sure that both branded and generic drugs pass the same rigorous muster for safety, quality, and effectiveness.
So you may ask, why are off-brand items like drugs so much more affordable? It’s because their manufacturers don’t have to repeat the expensive and lengthy clinical trials that the original branded version already did to prove the drug was safe and effective. The generic manufacturer only needs to prove their product is “bioequivalent,” meaning the active ingredient is absorbed into the bloodstream at the same rate and to the same extent. Moreover, when several generics are approved for the same drug, there’s healthy competition that makes some manufacturers lower their prices even further to gain market share.
According to consumer-saving experts, when it comes to off-brand items like drugs, you can save around 30% to as much as 80%. For instance, the allergy medication Zyrtec (active ingredient: Cetirizine HCl) has an average price of 67 cents per 10 mg pill. In stark contrast, the generic Amazon Basic Care brand costs just 4 cents per 10 mg pill. The same dramatic savings can be found with ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol). This type of savings will add up incredibly quickly, especially for those who need to take these medications daily.
4. Canned goods
The rule that off-brand items can save you big bucks works for staple food items too! This being said, if you don’t mind the way a label looks, you can save a lot of money in the grocery store aisles by choosing the store brands you’ve never heard of over the familiar national brands. This applies to a huge range of products, from canned vegetables like corn and peas to canned beans, diced tomatoes, and broths.
According to food industry experts, the name brand almost always has a higher price point, ranging from 40% to 60% more expensive. This premium isn’t for better ingredients; it directly accounts for the massive costs of advertising and marketing the product. You are paying for their TV commercials and magazine ads. That’s why you can get a can of chickpeas for just 80 cents from the Great Value brand, while for a can of Goya, you’ll have to pay $1.44 for the exact same amount of product.
This difference of $0.60 may seem small on a single can, but the overall savings when you do your weekly groceries can be truly significant, potentially adding up to hundreds of dollars a year. Factors such as how often you cook from scratch and your family size are essential in choosing between the two options. For a family that uses several canned goods a week, the savings become undeniable.
It is always a smart practice to make sure you read and compare the labels on the back. Studies have occasionally shown that, when it comes to food, some off-brand items are higher in sodium, sugar, and fat compared with name brands—but often, the opposite can also apply. Diligent label-reading is key.
For example, a can of Bush’s Best chickpeas label lists a preservative called calcium chloride, which the generic Walmart Great Value brand doesn’t include. In another instance, the Goya brand of canned black beans contains 11% more sodium per serving than the equivalent Walmart brand. This shows that the cheaper option can sometimes be the healthier one as well.
Read on to discover other off-brand items that are just as good as their branded counterparts!
5. Frozen fruits and veggies
Frozen foods are a budget-conscious shopper’s best friend because they last, reducing food waste and allowing you to stock up when prices are low. When it comes to frozen fruits and vegetables, experts universally recommend opting for off-brand items. They contain the exact same core ingredients as their branded counterparts—be it broccoli, spinach, or mixed berries—but without all the fancy packaging and associated marketing costs that drive up the price.
These healthy foods are flash-frozen at the peak of their freshness, a process that locks in their flavor and vital nutrients. In some cases, frozen produce can even be more nutrient-packed than fresh equivalents that have traveled for days to reach the store shelf. Months later, they will still be delicious and full of vitamins—but significantly cheaper when you buy the store brand.
According to chef and food blogger Nosheen Babar, once cooked or blended into a dish, you’ll find absolutely no discernible difference in the texture or taste of the frozen produce. Whether used in a smoothie, a stir-fry, a soup, or a casserole, the generic version performs identically to the brand name. As a chef, she’s highly selective, and she also knows how important it is to scan a label to make sure you’re not getting a product with unnecessary preservatives or added sauces, which is a good tip for any frozen food purchase.
6. Fresh produce
You probably recognize produce brands like Cascadian Farms organic produce, Dole Bananas, and Driscoll’s Berries from the grocery store. These companies have spent a lot on marketing to become household names. But for the best value and often the best quality, farmers’ markets are always better with their straight-up prices and wonderful array of unbranded, off-brand items.
The thing about produce at the supermarket is that it often comes prepackaged in bags or plastic containers, and some pieces may be of good quality, but others aren’t. You might get a bag of apples where a few are already bruised. That winds up contributing to waste because you can’t use them, and you paid for the full weight.
Instead, if you’re hand-picking products at a farmers’ market or from the loose bins at a grocery store, you can choose the very best ones you want and only the exact amount you can reasonably consume before it spoils. This personalized approach drastically cuts down on both food waste and money wasted.
For example, you can find three different varieties of zucchini in various sizes at the farmers’ market, while at the supermarket, you usually only find the standard, large zucchini and don’t always need that much for a single recipe. This invariably results in the waste of produce and unnecessary dollars spent at the store. If you don’t have access to a market, however, buying store-brand packaged produce like bagged carrots or onions is still a great way to save.
Moreover, at a farmers’ market, you’re buying when the food is in season and buying it directly from the farmer who grew it. As a result, they can offer these beautiful off-brand items for up to 20% less because they don’t have to worry about marketing them, long-distance transportation, or a retail middleman—and they have an abundance of them during peak season.
7. Boxed foods
Here’s a little-known fact about many off-brand foods: a surprising number of them, including cereal, pasta, and crackers, are made by the same manufacturer as their branded counterparts. This practice is known as “co-packing” or “private label manufacturing.” According to consumer-savings experts, shoppers generally aren’t able to tell the difference in a blind taste test because products like rice, flour, oats, beans, and spices are often made by the same manufacturer on the same equipment. The store brand just gets a different box and a much lower price tag. However, off-brand items are always cheaper.
Of course, sometimes you may want to splurge, and that’s perfectly fine. Perhaps you prefer a specialty-brand rice like Basmati or a specific imported pasta because you’ve noticed a genuine difference in the texture and size of the products that matters for a certain recipe. In some cases, the generic brands may also have more broken pieces in the box or may take slightly more or less time to cook. A fun experiment is to conduct a blind taste test at home with your family—they may be surprised to learn they prefer the generic version of their favorite cereal or mac and cheese.
This being said, experts recommend a balanced approach. Keep an off-brand rice, pasta, or cereal for day-to-day use to maximize savings, and have a preferred branded one on hand for special occasions and recipes where you feel the premium quality truly makes a difference. It’s about spending smart, not just spending less.
8. Sugar, salt, and spices
Staples like whole peppercorns, fancy sea salts, and individual spices can be surprisingly expensive, but experts note that if you buy the off-brand versions of these foundational products, you likely won’t notice any difference in quality or flavor. Salt is sodium chloride and sugar is sucrose; the basic chemical compound is identical no matter who packages it. Even better, you can purchase them for pennies on the dollar at a specialty store.
Food bloggers whose content is about South Asian or other international cuisines often source their spices from wherever they can find them cheapest, pointing out that the best place to find them is in local South Asian or Hispanic grocery stores. There, you can often buy them in bulk bags at incredibly low prices compared to the tiny, overpriced glass jars in the supermarket aisle.
You can apply the same rule when it comes to common products such as salt and sugar. For instance, while a 26-ounce container of Morton Iodized Salt costs around $4.50, you can find Walmart’s version from the Great Value brand for only 72 cents for the very same amount. That is not just a good deal; it’s a shockingly excellent deal that illustrates the power of ditching the brand name for basic commodities.
One important caveat: Spices can lose their potency and flavor or go bad over time, so buying in bulk may not be the right choice for home cooks who use them infrequently. A good strategy is to share a bulk purchase with a friend or family member. If you’re stocking up on food at a regular grocery store, just choose the off-brand items whenever possible to save money without sacrificing the flavor in your cooking.
By the way, once you’ve saved all that money on spices, you’ll need a way to keep them fresh and organized. Here’s a spice rack with jars included to stylishly store your herbs and condiments!
If you liked our article on off-brand items, you may also want to read 11 Costco Items That Make Even Canadians Cross the Border.
