Do you buy these off-brand items?
With the rising cost of living, high inflation, and grocery store markups, shoppers are searching for new (and perhaps inventive) ways to save money. Yes, couponing can be a great strategy that can lead to major savings. Starting a budget grocery list is also a good way to save money.
However, I’m about to suggest something not many people do (at least not as many as those who coupon): ditch the brand and choose generic products. According to money experts, if you’re always purchasing name-brand products instead of giving off-brand items a chance, you’re throwing away money.
Not only are generic products cheaper than their name-brand counterparts, but they often prove to be just as good. Besides random “generic” things, Walmart has its own brand called Great Value, Target has Up&Up, and even Costco has Kirkland.
According to experts, these store brands meet the same standards and requirements as the branded ones. And shoppers are taking notice. Recent data shows that sales of store brands increased last year by about 11%, double the growth of name-brand products, which rose by just 6.1%.
Without further ado, here are off-brand items you’ll love just as much and that will help you save a lot of money!
1. Cleaning products
Unless you’re exceedingly loyal to Lysol or absolutely need the scent of Gain in your clothes, the off-brand items that come as alternatives to branded cleaning products will save you a lot—up to about 60% less.
Take bleach, for instance. According to cleaning experts, the active compound in this cleaner is sodium hypochlorite, and this basic chemical ingredient is produced the same regardless of who manufactures it.
Since generic bleach has the same cleaning power and disinfectant as branded bleach with an average savings of $1 a bottle, the generic alternative is definitely the better choice for your wallet.
When it comes to Lysol wipes, you can give the Walmart-brand wipes a try, which are $2.50 cheaper.
2. Bottled water
When it comes to off-brand items that are as good as branded ones but cheaper, the rule applies to water too. If you frequently buy bottled water to have on hand for when you have friends over for dinner or to take on the road, you could be saving several dollars per bottle if you go for generic versions.
The pricier brands, such as Poland Spring and Fiji, generally have sturdier plastic bottles and prettier labels than the cheaper brands. 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 $5.36, the packaging may become pretty irrelevant.
Moreover, in many cases, branded bottled water may contain additives like electrolytes and undergo reverse osmosis purification processes to obtain a better taste, spiking the price. But generic water is just as healthy for you.
3. Over-the-counter drugs
Most people think that a trusted name-brand medication is the only way to go when it comes to treating pains, aches, or allergies. But experts say the FDA’s stringent approval process makes sure that both branded and generic drugs pass muster.
So you may ask why off-brand items like drugs are more affordable. Because their manufacturers don’t have to re-do the clinical trials that the branded version already did. Moreover, when several generics are approved for the same drug, there’s a kind of competition that makes some manufacturers lower their prices.
According to consumer-saving experts, when it comes to off-brand items like drugs, you can save around 30%. For instance, the allergy medication Zyrtec has an average price of 67 cents per 10 mg pill, while the generic Amazon brand costs just 4 cents per 10 mg pill. This type of savings will add up quickly!
4. Canned goods
The rule that off-brand items can save you big bucks works for food too! This being said, if you don’t mind the way a label works, you can save a lot at the grocery store by choosing the brands you’ve never heard of.
According to experts, the brand has a higher price point ranging from 40% to 60% because it accounts for the advertising and marketing of the product. 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.
This difference of $0.60 may seem small, but the overall savings when you do weekly groceries can be significant. Factors such as how often you cook and family size are essential in choosing between the two options.
Make sure you read and compare the labels. Studies have shown that, when it comes to food, some off-brand items are higher in sugar, salt, and fat compared with name brands—but the opposite can apply too.
For example, Bush’s chickpeas label lists a preservative called calcium chloride, which the generic Walmart brand doesn’t. Also, the Goya brand of black beans contains 11% more sodium than the Walmart brand.
Read on to discover other off-brand items that are just as good as their branded counterparts!
5. Frozen fruits and veggies
Frozen foods last, so it makes a lot of sense to stock up on them. When it comes to frozen fruits and vegetables, experts recommend opting for off-brand items. They have the same ingredients as their branded counterparts, but without all the fancy packaging and labels.
Flash-frozen at the peak of their freshness, these healthy foods will still be delicious and nutrient-packed months later—but cheaper when you buy them.
According to chef and blogger Nosheen Babar, once cooked, you’ll find no difference in the texture or taste of the frozen produce. 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.
6. Fresh produce
You probably recognize brands like Cascadian Farms, Dole Bananas, and Driscoll Berries from the grocery store. But farmers markets are always better with their straight-up prices and off-brand items.
The thing about produce at the supermarket is that it often comes prepackaged, and some pieces may be of good quality but others aren’t. That winds up contributing to waste because you can’t use them.
Instead, if you’re hand-picking products, you can choose the ones you want and only the amount you can reasonably consume.
You can find three different varieties of zucchini in various sizes at the farmers market, while at the supermarket, you usually only find the large zucchini and don’t always need that much for a recipe. This invariably results in the waste of produce and unnecessary dollars spent at the store.
Moreover, at a farmers market, you’re buying when the food is in season and directly from the farmer. As a result, they can offer these off-brand items for up to 20% less because they don’t have to worry about marketing them or transporting them—and they have lots of them.
7. Boxed foods
Here’s a little-known fact about off-brand foods: Many, including cereal, are made by the same manufacturer as their branded counterparts. According to consumer-savings experts, shoppers generally aren’t able to tell the difference in taste and quality because products like rice, flour, oats, beans, and spices are often made by the same manufacturer. However, off-brand items are cheaper.
Sometimes you may want to splurge, though. Perhaps you prefer specialty-brand rice and pasta because you’ve noticed a difference in the texture and size of the products. The generic brands may also have more broken pieces in the box and may take more time to cook.
This being said, experts recommend keeping an off-brand rice for day-to-day use and a branded one for special occasions and recipes.
8. Sugar, salt, and spices
Whole peppercorns, fancy sea salts, and spices can be expensive, but experts note that if you buy off-brand versions of these products, you likely won’t notice a difference in quality or flavor. Even better, you can purchase them at a specialty store.
Food bloggers whose content is about South Asian cuisine source their spices from wherever they can find them, pointing out that the cheapest place to find them is in South Asian stores, where you can buy them in bulk at great prices.
You can apply the same rule when it comes to common products such as salt. For instance, while a 26-ounce container of Morton Salt costs $4.50, you can find Walmart’s version from the Great Value brand for only 72 cents (the same amount). Yes, that’s actually an excellent deal!
One caveat: Spices can lose their potency or go bad over time, so buying in bulk may not be the right choice for home cooks. If you’re stoking up on food at a grocery store, just choose the off-brand items whenever possible.
By the way, 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.