Got No Dough - Saving Money in Slim Times

When saving money is one of your biggest goals, you have to beware of pitfalls that can cost you more money in the end. It’s not always best to buy something if it’s cheaper, because some cheaper items are much lower quality or just won’t suit your needs.

Here are nine items that I don’t buy the generic version of and why:

1. Laundry Detergent - I find that the generic detergents don’t clean as well and don’t smell as well. In order to get comparable results, I have to use more of the generic detergent which absolutely kills the savings.
2. Liquid Dish Soap - I’m actually very picky when it comes to my dish soap. It has to smell nice, have antibacterial properties and have really good lather. There is only one soap that measures up for me and that is the orange Palmolive. I’ve tried using cheaper orange dish soaps and I find that they are very thin and I have to constantly add more soap to get lather. Once again, I have to increase the quantity which eliminates the savings.
3. Paper Towels - Well, I suppose the paper towels I use are semi-generic, but I absolutely cannot stand the store brands. They are small, tear easily and are not very absorbent. By the time I use enough towels to soak up a spill, half the roll is gone.
4. Cheese Slices - Have you ever tried to make grilled cheese sandwiches with generic cheese slices? The cheese just sits there and doesn’t melt no matter how long you cook it. It eventually turns hard and disgusting and inedible. Instead, I wait for the name brand to go on sale and use a coupon. It costs the same and tastes a thousand times better.
5. Oreos - Ever been craving a nice cream filled Oreo? You go to the store and find a generic brand for a dollar less and rush home with your package. Then you take the first bite and it’s nothing like you dreamed. It’s downright horrible and you realize why the good stuff is a dollar more. You’re better off buying the real thing and just eating less of them.
6. Soda - Again, here is an area where you can have big savings by drinking the store brand. You can save even more if you don’t drink soda at all, but this is one of those things that I choose to buy so that I’m not absolutely miserable in my quest to save money. For those who love soda like I do will notice a very distinct difference in taste between name brands and generic. It completely defeats the purpose because you will likely throw away a complete bottle because you can’t stomach it. Instead, I stick to my Diet Pepsi and spend the extra 30 cents for a 2 liter.
7. Makeup - I have a confession - I’m a huge fan of a very expensive makeup. I rarely buy it though because obviously the price doesn’t fit in my budget. When I get money for Christmas or my birthday, I love to splurge on myself though. So, one time I ran out and I went and bought some cheaper makeup at Walmart. I used it the first day and the results were disastrous. It had very little coverage and didn’t blend well. I was so disheartened because not only did I not have my favorite makeup but now I had just spent $8 on this new makeup that was completely useless to me. I ended up spending the extra to go buy my favorite makeup. And you know what’s funny? It tends to last much longer, so it really doesn’t cost much more. I count it as a lesson learned and won’t do it again.
8. Diapers - Again, don’t get me wrong because the diapers I do buy are semi-generic, but I will never buy the actual store brands again. They make a terrible crinkle sound every time your child moves, they don’t absorb well and the inside completely falls apart, leaving cotton and the little absorbency balls everywhere. If it doesn’t work as intended, no amount of savings is worth it. I prefer the Kirkland Signature brand (Costco) or Luvs.
9. Feminine Products -This is similar to the diapers issue. Nobody wants to walk around feeling like they’ve got a piece of plastic between their legs. Even worse is the top layer that falls apart when you buy cheap. Spend a little more and get something that makes you comfortable. You’re worth it!

In a coming article, I’ll talk about the flip side and tell you some of my favorite generic items - the things will great quality and low prices!