Saving Money By NOT Buying Generic

In a down economy, many of us are on a tight budget and looking to save money any way we can. Coupons, generics and store brands are a way of life.

Or not.

NBC 4 found some exceptions to the rule and times you may want to pay a little extra for the name-brand products. 

We picked up some store brands and name brands from a local grocery store (right up the street from the studios) and took them over to the kitchens at Columbus State Community College for an expert opinion.

Chef Deane Cobler says we won't find a huge difference between generic and national-brand canned vegetables.

"At one point in time, there were 400 canning companies in the United States and everyone had their own brand name," he says. "Now, there are a lot fewer companies, and one company may brand for a number of different brand names. It's coming out of the same cannery; all we're doing is changing the labels."

However, he says veggies in sauces, such as tomatoes, may use very different herbs and spices from brand to brand. Your family may prefer one flavor over another.

"Don't buy a lot of it at one time, the first time you try it. Buy a sample," Cobler recommends. "Give it a try. See if you like it. See if you like the texture, the taste, what have you. And then buy more if you like it."

Chef Cobler says consumers have very distinct ideas about how a cola should taste, even among the national brands. 

As an example, he and his wife differ over the taste of Coca-Cola and Pepsi products. 

He cautions that you may save money when buying a particular brand (national, store brand or generic) but if you don't like the taste, it'll just go to waste ... and then you're losing money.

Still, he says, don't completely give up on the cheaper stuff.

"Just because you may not like the generic-brand cola, try the fruit drinks," he says. "You may have an orange drink in a name brand and an orange drink in generic, that have a very similar taste. And you can save a lot of money that way."

Yogurts can be very different from brand to brand.  

Cobler says some brands use more gelatin than others, which affects the food's texture.  Make sure you like the taste and texture before buying lots of it.

The Good Housekeeping Research Institute says many generic cleaners are OK for generic cleaning but they tend not to be as strong as the name brands. For difficult stains, GHRI recommends trying the national brands.

The Research Institute also found that name-brand dish detergents tend to need fewer squirts to keep the suds going in your sink. The generic brands are sometimes watered down and require more detergent to wash the same number of dishes. You may save money on the initial purchase, but you end up buying more of the product to accomplish the same job.

Consumer Reports tested different kinds of paper towels and found that lower prices often meant fewer fibres in the product. So, you end up using more towels to clean up the same mess.

"Some personal products in paper," adds Chef Cobler, "have a little rougher texture than the brand name."

When buying pet food, coupons are always a good idea. But veterinarians say it's important to read the ingredient list, too. Higher-quality ingredients are often worth the extra money for the health of your pets.

Consumer Reports (and NBC 4's Ellie Merritt) say not all diapers are created equal. They point recommend the national brands for better fit around a baby's midsection.  Better fit means fewer leaks.  Fewer leaks mean fewer loads of laundry to clean up "accidents."

"I've looked at laundry detergent," adds Chef Cobler. "And sometimes, you're better off buying the smaller one since it's a cheaper price per unit or per load than it is to buy the bigger units." He recommends double-checking the cost per ounce or load to see which is truly less expensive.

For the latest news and information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail stories@nbc4i.com.
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video