2) Find the Biggest and Best Generic Brands
Large retail chains all over the U.S. have their own high-quality generic product lines that can save you a lot of money. Plus, it’s likely that you already shop at these stores regularly. Check out store brands from Costco (Kirkland), Trader Joe's, Target (Up & Up), Safeway (Select) and Walmart (Great Value and Equate) just to name a few!
For example, a 12-pack of Great Value paper towels from Walmart is $8.75 cheaper than Bounty’s equivalent. If you buy one package of paper towels a month, then you will save over $100 a year!
3) Consider the Basics
Some of the best ways to save with generic items are also the simplest! Think about the kind of items that you always keep in your home. There’s a good chance most of those are available for cheaper! Here are just some of the everyday items in your home that are just as useful when you buy generic:
- Batteries
- Shampoo
- Toothpaste
- Printer Ink
- Paper Towels
- Sugar
- Canned Vegetables
- Milk
- Peanut Butter
4) Skip the Brand-Name Water
This is our simplest tip, but the savings can really add up. Generic bottled water offers the same quality as a brand-name alternative, sometimes at half the price. But, if you really want to save on bottled water, buy a filter instead and switch to tap water!
5) Save Big on Medicine
Some of the most expensive items in your medicine cabinet can also lead to the biggest savings. According to the FDA, all of the cheaper generic alternatives to common over-the-counter medication has to be “chemically identical” to their counterparts. You can even ask your doctor about prescribing you generic medication to save even more!
6) Save on Pet Food
We all want what’s best for our pet, so we can end up spending a lot of money on their food without realizing the cost! But with the increasing quality of generic options, you don’t have to sacrifice your pet’s health and happiness by going generic.
7) Be Open to Change
Shopping habits are hard to break, especially when it involves turning away from our favorite items. You can save big on soda, cereal, ice cream, coffee and even alcohol if you make the switch to generic. All it takes is giving the cheaper alternatives a chance!
