Stop Paying Name Brand for These 6 Items

If you are buying name brand on these items, you are wasting money! 

Medication. If you are buying name brands like Advil, Tylenol, Bayer Aspirin, Prilosec, Zyrtec, Claritin and Sudafed, you are wasting your money. You are paying up to three times as much as that medication’s generic version. By law, all medications sold in the U.S–both over-the-counter and prescription–must be exactly the same quality, strength, purity and stability as its brand-name counterpart. Generic drugs are safe, effective and FDA-approved.

Pantry staples. Government regulations require the same manufacturing and storage procedures for all staples such as flour, sugar, eggs, milk, salt and so forth, no matter the brand. Buying the generic brand is just as safe and tastes the same because it is the same as the brand name. Buying generic is almost always cheaper except for those rare occasions when the brand name is on sale for less than its generic counterpart, because there is not marketing and advertising built into the product’s price tag.

Cereal. Generic options are typically 30 percent cheaper. In several blind test studies, kids who were given brand name and generic cereals could not tell a difference. If your kids are picky about their favorite cereal, you could combine the name brand and the generic brand in a plastic container so they don’t see the packaging. Gradually move the mix to more and more generic, until they’ve made the switch.

Infant formula. The FDA strictly regulates and requires the same nutrients in all infant formula. This means your baby will get the same benefits from the name brand as with the much less expensive generic option. Generic formulas have to follow the same manufacturing and safety guidelines,too, so there’s no added risk there. You really can be confident in generic infant formula.

Cleaning products. There are many generic cleaning products that perform equally or even better. I have to agree with those who find that name brand paper towels and window cleaner are usually worth the money. Generic paper towels tend to be too thin and generic window cleaner often leaves streaks. However, off-brand scouring powders, disinfecting wipes and bathroom cleaner are nearly always equal to or even better than the name-brand options.

Non-perishables. The generic option for things like pasta, canned fruits and vegetables, crackers, soda and bottled water tend to be equal in quality. Here’s a good rule of thumb as you make the decision: The fewer ingredients you see in the list of ingredients, the more likely it is that the generic brand tastes just as good as the name brand.