Guerrilla Grocery Shopping Part 3: Go Generics!
Be brave, don't be afraid to try new brands, even if they are generic!
I will confess to being a bit of a brand snob - for the things that matter to me.
And I struggled a little when Aldi first opened, then again with Costco, because I didn't recognise the brands. But when you are shopping on a tight budget you can't afford to not try something to find out if it is going to meet up to your standards and save you some money.
Let's face it: sugar is sugar, flour is flour. For these basics I haven't noticed a difference in anything but the price. Try it, if you don't like the product you don't have to keep on buying it. But if generic white vinegar is $1.09 for 2 litres and the brand name is $1.89 for 2 litres you'd be nuts to be paying the extra 80 cents just for a fancier name on the bottle.
Yes, brand matters - sometimes. I have a brand of coffee that I will not budge on. I have tried others and I don't like them and frankly life is just too short to drink lousy coffee and be miserable. I stock up when it's on sale (coffee has a few sheets in my pricebook) so I never pay full price for it. And every morning as I take that first sip, I smile, knowing I have my favourite brew at a budget price.
It is totally OK to have a couple of favourite brands that you stick with. Savvy Cheapskaters know how to get them at rock bottom prices. But for everything else, don't be brand loyal.
Keep an open mind when it comes to brands and you'll save money.
I will confess to being a bit of a brand snob - for the things that matter to me.
And I struggled a little when Aldi first opened, then again with Costco, because I didn't recognise the brands. But when you are shopping on a tight budget you can't afford to not try something to find out if it is going to meet up to your standards and save you some money.
Let's face it: sugar is sugar, flour is flour. For these basics I haven't noticed a difference in anything but the price. Try it, if you don't like the product you don't have to keep on buying it. But if generic white vinegar is $1.09 for 2 litres and the brand name is $1.89 for 2 litres you'd be nuts to be paying the extra 80 cents just for a fancier name on the bottle.
Yes, brand matters - sometimes. I have a brand of coffee that I will not budge on. I have tried others and I don't like them and frankly life is just too short to drink lousy coffee and be miserable. I stock up when it's on sale (coffee has a few sheets in my pricebook) so I never pay full price for it. And every morning as I take that first sip, I smile, knowing I have my favourite brew at a budget price.
It is totally OK to have a couple of favourite brands that you stick with. Savvy Cheapskaters know how to get them at rock bottom prices. But for everything else, don't be brand loyal.
Keep an open mind when it comes to brands and you'll save money.