I need to cut it out with the posts that sound like birds chirping, huh?
One of my newest blog crushes is Jennifer from “Playgroups are no place for children”. (She also gets to live by Casey which makes me green with envy as Casey is one awesome bloggity date.)
Jennifer’s post for today is about being a cheapskate and her love of purchasing generic items. It started my brain spiraling in a million different directions so I thought I might as well dump it here since I am now going through the aisles of my grocery store in my head and thinking about what I will and will not spend money on.
I am not a careless shop-a-holic. I think and think and think before actually plunking money down on something with two exceptions:
I will totally splurge on eating out.
I do it with ease.
I hem and haw about spending money on clothes but I can drop a wad on a great meal without batting an eye.
I have always thought that was sad, but if you only knew the memories and pure love of food that I have. (Well, I did weigh 280 at one point, so maybe it isn’t all that difficult to grasp after all.)
Splurge number two?
The grocery store.
There are still times that I am quite enchanted with being an adult. Sure, most of the “I am grown up and on my own!” rosiness has worn off but there are still times when I am in the grocery store that I think “I can buy whatever I want with the money that I have??!!!! SQUEE!!!!”
So, I am not often overly careful at the store. I don’t clip coupons, but I buy on sale if I can and I am always aware of good meat sales. If I can save I will, but not at the expense of getting what I want.
That said? I genuinely like a lot of generic products.
GENERICS I WUV:
Medication: I ALWAYS buy generic if I can. This is the area that I see the price difference the very most. The savings are huge and the product is great.
Maxi Pads: (Warning! Possible TMI ahead!) They work fine for me. I am not a Mount Vesuvius period girl, so it’s all good. I do buy name brand tampons, though.
Spray Bleach and cleaning products in general: Clorox charges twice as much for an identical product. I’ll stick with my $1 bottle, thanks. Same with glass cleaner and toilet bowl cleaner. (Exception: Dollar store cleaners are hideous. Just so you know. They do not count)
Hair care and styling products: I wouldn’t have put this on the list before, but since my awesome sister-in-law, Nooncy bought me the “Don’t go to the make up counter without me” and “Don’t buy hair products without me” books, I am just FINE buying drugstore shampoo, conditioner and products.
You wouldn’t believe how much easier it is to style my hair how I want because I have EVERYTHING. Waxes, sprays, gels, putty’s, leave in conditioners, creams, EVERYTHING. And it is all thanks to Garnier. Before I had these books I would plunk down 35.00 for one bottle of shine enhancer. Now I have one I LIKE BETTER and it cost me $3.00!
So? I can have tons of products now for the same price and I love it.
Cereal: This is a split category. There are some generic cereals that are acceptable like knock offs of Honey Nut Cheerios, Frosted Mini-Wheats, and Sugar Puffs.
Shoes: I LOVE good shoes. But I also find cute shoes at PayLess, too.
Bras: After finding the Hanes All Over comfort Bra, I don’t know if I’ll go back to VS except for special occasions. I heart them.
Salsa: I love WalMart’s Black Bean Salsa. I prefer it over all others, actually.
Milk: I prefer the cheaper store brand, actually.
Eggs: Same thing.
Pull ups: They worked totally fine for us and were much cheaper.
Dishwasher Soap: I have to buy the better stuff that contains jet dry now, because my dishwasher kinda sucks, but my parents have a rockin’ dishwasher and generic is fine.
Skin Care: I HEART WalMart’s Equate brand of skin care. They knock off some very good products by Olay, Nuetragena, ect. and they work as well has the original for SO much less. Next to medication, this is the biggest money saver in generics. According to Fussy, Equate also has a generic Eucerine version that is only $3 instead of $15 that I MUST check out.
Teeth Whitening Strips: By Eqaute. Yup. They work swell and it’s $15 vs $30.
Body Wash: They work just fine, although I do love the Olay uber moisturizing one and Bath and Body Works makes my heart sing.
Meat: This is a biggie for me. I have to buy chicken, beef, etc. from the butcher. I only buy Tyson as a last resort.
THINGS I WILL NOT SKIMP ON:
Ice cream: Since my gastric bypass, Ice Cream makes me feel sick, but I love it. SO, the rare times I indulge it had better be GOOD.
Soda: ONLY Diet Coke for me, thanks. Generic soda sucks.
Cereal: Lucky Charms, Rice Krispies and Golden Grahams all have to be name brand.
Laundry: I have to have Bounce fabric sheets. As for laundry detergent, Gain and Tide with Bleach, oh, how I Love Thee! Jonathan did pick up a box of Arm and Hammer when they were out of the size we like to buy and I have to say that I am actually liking it. It’s kind of strong, but hello? You are talking to someone who could snort the entire laundry aisle of the supermarket and die happy.
Peaches: I will never buy anything but Dole Plastic Bottled Peaches again. We are having a torrid affair, and I don’t see it dying down soon. Fruit in general, I have to buy name brand or it is icky.
Ketchup and Mustard: The generics usually suck.
Diapers: I have to have pampers for my babies. The others gave them rashes.
Spaghetti Sauce: UG. I can’t even think about it.
Bread: I have to have Grandma Sycamore’s. Dude, if Granny ever kicks the bucket I don’t know what I’ll do.
String Cheese: I cannot tolerate generic string cheese. It has to be the one with the illustration of the string cheese guy with wacky string cheese hair (I totally can’t remember the name and can’t find it online, so it is what it is.)
Lunch Meat: This.is.huge.for.me. Is there anything more disgusting than “Pressed Meat”? EWE.
I eat a turkey sandwich practically every day of my life for lunch and so I have to have good lunch meat. I would really prefer to get it at the deli counter, but for some reason my husband is on the opposite end of the scale in this argument. We have agreed to compromise on Oscar Meyer Roasted Turkey Breast and call it good.
I’m sure that there are many more things, but I’ll leave it at this for now.
SO? You? Do you have issues with generics? Do you love them with the power of a thousand burning suns?
jess says:
just so you know, cheese is ALL the same regardless of the label. they actually just change the shrink wrap mid production. LOL.
i LOVE the farm bread they have at lee’s and macey’s…it’s just like grandma sycamore’s and it’s dirt cheap. sometimes 99 cents a loaf.
marshmallow mateys are acceptable, but i’m with you on the rice krispies and golden grahams. also honey bunches of oats.
the other thing i cannot live without is name brand toilet paper. it MUST be charmin or cottonelle. the rest are just AWFUL.
February 4th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
loralee says:
I HATE the string cheese with the cow on it, though. It tastes icky and the texture is spongy. :S
HOW could I have left off toilet paper? EEK. It’s like thin sandpaper.
February 4th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
tjk says:
cheap is best—we but most “stuff” at Wal-mart
we get generic drugs also —our ins cost is the same for a 90 day supply as a one month supply.
will wal-mart rule the world?
February 4th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Retro Bakery says:
I’ve found that most everything is better from the Kroger (at Smith’s here in LV) brand. Their soda is actually GOOD, but I’m a die-hard Diet Pepsi fan. I think I was suckered years ago by the Choice of a New Generation campaign!
February 4th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Jennifer says:
We are so alike it frightening. After writing that post this morning and reading everyone’s comments, I realized that I have lots of things that I just won’t do in generic. It’s your list almost to a T. Except for the peaches which I didn’t know about and now must check out. Also, I don’t really like soda, but if I did it would be the real thing all the way (also no pepsi products…double ick.)
February 4th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
ThatOneGuy says:
Things upon which I will splurge (sounds kinda dirty that way…) - Dinner out, clothes for work. Cereal - has to be the real one, not the fake.
And no pepsi products, either.
Also no beer in a can. Period. Maybe Heineken, but only if I’m making beer-can-chicken on the grill. Has to be in a bottle.
And my milk HAS to be teeth-crackin’ cold, or I won’t drink it - no matter the brand.
February 4th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Craig says:
I like Sara Lee bread. It’s dense, like they took two loaves and smushed them together into one.
I try to get MacKenzie to buy generic feminine products, but she refuses. So selfish.
February 4th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Angella says:
I am cheap with most things (I married a Dutch man), but generic WILL NOT DO for Diet Coke!
February 4th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Jill - GlossyVeneer says:
I totally agree with you on the generic soda stuff.
And this post should totally begat another one, about which specific cheaper haircare products you like. I’d like to know what the $3 shine enhancer is!
I didn’t know Equate made their own teeth whitening strips. I never go to Wal-Mart just because it makes my blood boil, the environment is so chaotic and dirty, at least the one closest to me. It’s worth a few extra cents to visit Target and not feel like I need to purchase a gun.
February 4th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Melly says:
There are defintly things that I dont mind buying generic on, but some things just aren’t the same unless its name brand….
I don’t skimp on laundry soap, beauty products, and stuff for my baby, with the exception of shopping at the DI for clothes for him, I’ve been able to dress him pretty well, thanks to our local DI.
We have to have our Can’t Believe its not Butter, when it comes to milk I dont care, and cereal, I usually dont like most of the generic brands.
February 4th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Debbie says:
Loralee! You don’t use the DIVA CUP!? If you’re cheap, you’ll love using something that you’ll only have to buy once. Also, it is fantastico! You read Queen of Shake-Shake? She gives it a fantastic review!
February 4th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
loralee says:
tjk:
They are going to run it with Starbucks and McDonalds.
Retro Bakery:
I used to shop at Smith’s exclusively before we moved. They have the best meat department.
Jennifer:
I know, I was thinking the same thing! AND! You must try Dole bottled peaches. They are divine.
ThatOneGuy:
I have to have my milk very cold, too. I only recently started drinking it again after about 13 years. It didn’t taste good after my surgery and now its ok.
Craig:
Dude. You are so going to get a peep award one day. Your comments always kill me.
Angella says:
Amen. I would rather drink formaldehyde. (Ok, MAYBE not, but STILL! Shudder…)
Jill:
I only found them recently. I don’t LOVE WalMart, but it is the closest store to me. Besides, I live in the safest metro area in the country. Even our miscreants are more pleasant than other places
Melly:
I have to have real butter. I grew up with Blue Bonnet and once I got a taste of the divine BUTTERYNESS of real butter I never went back
Debbie:
Ok, I MUST KNOW. What is a DIVA CUP?! I just started reading Queen of the Shake-Shake (Who is divine. Wookie and all)so now I am going to run off to find out!
P.S. KEEP BLOGGING!
P.S.S HOLY MOLY! I just found out what it is. I had no frigging idea those things existed. My brain needs time to process. ;)
February 4th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Erin Evans Taylor says:
Merritt and his friend (who was a bachelor at the time) did a tast test of off-brand sodas.(They were really bored, and really sick after!) The article is found here:
http://inventorspot.com/war_of_off_brand_sodas
I do have my favorite brands: Charmin is the only brand I use in TP, and Bath & Body works hand cream is the only lotion I use. (Here’s a wacky generic thing to use and don’t ask me how I know: Walmart’s generic vaginal fungal cream for yeast infections has way more antifungal ointment than the leading athlete’s foot cream, and clears up athlete’s foot in half the time!)
February 4th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Danielle says:
Won’t do generic Oreos. Or the Double stuffed or fat-free. It has to be single stuffed, original.
yummers.
Love generic meds! and only Charmin will doo.(pun intended on the “do”.) HA!
February 4th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
loralee says:
Erin:
DUDE. That post SLAYED me. (I believe I said roughly the same thing over there. I had to leave a comment. It made me chuckle.)
Who knew about the fungal thing? I imagine the same guys who have a problem buying period gear for their females significant others might balk at using vagina cream on their feet.
To quote Craig:
“So selfish”.
(Which makes me wonder when his wife will come and weigh in on generic period gear.)
Danielle:
I HEART Double Stuffed Oreos.
Sometimes I take two apart and stick them together to make “Quadrastuffed Oreo’s”.
(I know.)
February 4th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Danielle says:
You crack me up! Quadrastuff!
Too much frosting for me- I love all the chocolate-y cookie part. And dipped in milk. mmmm. guess what I’m about to it dive in to….
February 4th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
crunchy carpets says:
Probably about 50/50…medications for sure….store brands are also fine ..infact my kids prefer some of the store brands to the fancy ones…the fruit snacks are better.
I cant’ do coupons..always forget them.
And when we go to the big grocery stores yeah..we are like WE CAN BUY CAKE COS OUR MOMMY ISN’T HERE TO SAY NO!
February 4th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
moosh in indy. says:
I’m a packaging whore, so unless a generic is pretty I generally don’t go for it. (Except the Kirkland brand at Costco, but then again, IT’S COSTCO.)
February 4th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Sra says:
When I was a kid, we had Winder Dairy milk delivered to our house, and I always took it for granted. Then I grew up, left the house, and started shopping on my own budget, so naturally I bought the cheap brand during college. But now that I’m in the working world and am rich on money (but poor on time), I have gone back to Winder Dairy, and let me tell you, it is well worth the extra dollar. You can taste that extra dollar, and it’s delicious.
February 4th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Melissa says:
String cheese is soooo good and surprisenly entertaining! :) But yummy yummy yummy!
February 4th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
grandmamarie says:
Hello, Friend! I think you and I could be two peas in a pod! Next time you’re sick and I bring you cookies, I’ll skip the homemade and go straight for the double stuffs. We can “quadrastuff” together, because that’s my favorite way, too! Also, I have to throw one of the cookie parts away, so there’s just one cookie and TONS of yum! (Oh, and I’ll bring the skim milk, because you can eat as many cookies as you want if you wash it all down with skim and the calories don’t stick.) I doublestuffed when Oreos were just plain Oreos. One day when i was about 8, my mom decided to help me clean my room and made the mistake of moving my bed away from the wall. Well, guess what she found? Old, dead oreo outsides - piles and piles of them. Oh my. No ants though, so that was lucky. Also, I’m a sniffer too! I love the laundry aisle. Also, diesel fumes, tar trucks, turpentine, shoe polish, and sawdust. Weird, I know. Don’t call the authorities, though. I just really love smells!
February 4th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
hairyshoefairy says:
This *points up at grandmamarie* is where I get my weird smells love. The smell of Tide is the best ever. This is also where I get the double stuf Oreo love. I like buying lots of shoes and purses so I don’t mind if they’re cheap. That just means I can buy more of them. I also buy Target’s Circo brand shoes and clothes for my babe all the time. They wear well and are cute and cheap. Plus she grows out of them so fast, it’s not worth spend lots of money.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Jenn says:
Love: Meds, hair products, Tar-get Brand everything around here.
Cannot give up nor find a close comparison: Oil of Olay Firming Reviver Body Lotion.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
jess says:
ok, i know this isn’t my blog, but i just have to toss out there that ONLY craig would expect mackenzie to buy store brand tampons.
what a cheapo. LOL.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
MacKenzie says:
For the record, I am okay with generic pads, and I even clip coupons for my tampons so I don’t really think he can complain. When Craig starts drinking generic beer, I will listen to his arguments.
But in general, I love the cheap stuff. Although your right about the ketchup, generic ketchup is nasty.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
MacKenzie says:
Oh, and I used to consider myself shy but can one really use that phrase to describe herself when she is willing to let strangers read all about her feminine product purchases - probably not.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
loralee says:
Danielle says:
Quadrastuffed would just RULE! I now have Oreo envy. I have none. Good for my butt, but oh, so sad for my tummy.
crunchy carpets:
Coupon loss! Mom’s away so let’s buy cake!!! You make me giggle. The reason we met sucks, but I can’t tell you how many silver linings occurred in the form of great friends and pals out of my own suck of loss.
moosh in indy:
Once again in SUCK Fashion, Cache Valley has no Costco. We have Sam’s Club. We also are getting TWO WALMARTS AND HAVE NO TARGET.
(Seriously, could I bitch about this fact anymore? Why, YES. Yes, I CAN!)
Sra:
We used to get our milk delivered and I loved it. I have really considered going back to it because I love the idea of having my milk delivered in bottles. (Part of it is also a green thing. I suck at recycling and honestly, I think this would work better for me.)
Melissa:
I am so enamored with string cheese. I play a game with myself to see how tiny I can make the strand I pull off. It’s a little sad how sad it is, really.
Grandmom Marie:
SEE?! I knew I loved you for a reason!!!!
I love ALL SMELLS LIKE THAT. My husband came home to catch me with his new Megabox of Sharpies uncapped and practically huffing them. (You don’t want to get me started on rubber cement. Smelling Joy!)
I should probably stop before I rhapsodize about the Eucalyptus spray at The Sports Academy!
Hairy:
You and your mother make me giggle. She is hereby invited to sushi with us. :)
Jenn:
I can’t do generic body lotions either! NOPE! (Which is weird because I love facial generic skin care. Sigh.) Maybe I just need to research it more.
Jess:
Dude. I was seconds away from posting about what MacKenzie would say about it all when “POOF” She popped up!
And seriously? Craig cracks me up.
MacKenzie:
HEE HEE! Craig drinking generic beer???
HA HA HA HA HA!
I think that we should test this out at the luncheon on Thursday.
AND? You have a great personality. Both you and Craig do. The whole CVI group cracks me up.
DUDE. We should totally get CVI:LOGAN
Shirts! Ha! I’m going to bring that up on Thursday.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
jen says:
i can go either way like a cheap whore. generics, sure. for medications of course. food, most of the time. yep.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Mr Lady says:
Oh, god, SO many thoughts…
One. We have freakishly similar splurge-style. Groceries and meals out are my only splurges.
Two. You weighed WHAAA?
Three. I am going out tomorrow and buying those bras. Bras and me? Issues.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
hairyshoefairy says:
That would be such a fun lunch, except if she came we could not have sushi because she will not allow such things in her presence.
I know. How can this be? I get sushi-liking from my daddy.
If we went pretty much any place else, though, I’m sure she would love to join us.
Mmmmm. Rubber cement. And Sharpies.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:28 am
mamalang says:
THose peaches are like crack…you eat one, then another, then slurp a little juice, then another…and before you know it, the bottle is empty and your tummy is aching.
I’m not opposed to generics, but Mayo…has to be real. TP, Cheese has to be made with milk, not oil. Pretty much the same as yours from there.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:53 am
Amber says:
You put waaaaaaay too much thought into this post. :-) I go back and forth on generics. Honestly, it just depends what’s on sale. Some things like ice cream and diapers are non-negotiables, though I do buy Costco’s wipes.
Great. Now, I am going to be paranoid the next time I go shopping and a little “Cheap, cheap” will resonate….
February 5th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Amber says:
I don’t buy a lot of generics anymore, mostly because I don’t generally like generic food (Target’s Market Pantry line is a notable exception) or beauty products, so most of our generics used to be cleaning products. But over the last several months, we’ve been gradually switching to more environmentally friendly cleaners, so generic is no longer an option. My current love affair is with Seventh Generation and Method.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:20 am
ali says:
things i won’t buy generic: toilet paper, pop, beer, mayo, ketchup, pickles, coffee, band-aids, stain remover, peanut butter, toothpaste…
i think that’s it.
oh, and probably condoms too. hahaha
February 5th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Doug says:
I will buy store brand anything. ANYTHING. Actually, Loblaws (the biggest grocer here) has an excellent product line called President’s Choice. They started about 20 years ago, and now there’s PC EVERYTHING. No joke. Marco thinks it’s rather funny. PC lasagna, marinade, cleaners, health food products. And now they’re branching out into cell phones, mortgages, bank accounts and beer! They’re not that cheaper though, and many times its marketed as premium. When I was in California, one of the things I missed the most were my PC products. Sad, I know.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Pink says:
i have to have generic pickles. food club preferably. they taste better to me. i love my pickles.
i have to have either hunts or heinz ketchup.
garnier is the only thing that works on my hair. it’s been dyed so much i’m afraid if i switch to something else it will fall out or turn a hideous color. also, i truly believe that it hides my gray hair, which before i started coloring it, was rampant.
haven’t tried the hanes bras, but the lane bryant ones are awesome for comfort and size.
i refuse to buy generic toilet tissue. it is not the same, and only charmin or cottonelle is suitable for me.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Aunt Amy says:
I also insist on real Tide, as well as name brand lotions and chapstick–can’t stand the textures of the generic versions.
Also, I insist on name brand window cleaner–I swear there is a difference–especially on the amount of fumes they emit, so the fewer the better.
As for shoes, I’m totally willing to fork out extra money for shoes I love and know I’ll wear for years, plus I just don’t find Payless shoes very comfortable, and they don’t last more than one season/year, so I’m willing to spend more.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Erin Evans Taylor says:
I read you were talking about oreos with extra stuff. I HATE the filling! I scrape it all off with a knife and just eat the cookies!!! I’m left with a giant plate full of white crap- which my husband then proceeds to devour with abandon! I wish they would make “NO Stuff” oreos for people like me!!!!
February 5th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
loralee says:
Jen:
Somehow “Cheap” and “Whore” just don’t seem to fit you! ;)
Mr Lady:
One.It’s sad in a way, isn’t it? We could be wearing clothing or shoes over and over instead of digesting it in two hours. Still…I WUV IT.
Two. Yup. I was huge. I had a gastric bypass 14 years ago when I was 19. (Before it was the rage)
Three. I LOVE THEM. They are only 10.00 and the shoulders never slip. Easy Peasy.
hairyshoefairy says:
Well, we will just have to go somewhere else with GMMarie, then!!
Mmm…Sharpies…
mamalang:
OH THE JOY OF DOLE BOTTLED PEACHES!
It’s getting to the ridiculous point with me. I LOVE THEM.
AND? Cheese must be milk. ICK on the oil!
Amber:
I KNOW. I couldn’t help it. I read Jen’s post and my head literally kept wandering my grocery store aisles! (The cheap cheap thing? HEEE! I live to serve.)
Amber:
I’ve been wanting to try some greener cleansers, but I seriously have to contemplate if I could give up bleach.
Dude. With my love of snorting Tide and asparteme intake I am probably one huge walking carcinogenic at this point. Sigh.
ali:
OMG. GENERIC CONDOMS?! HA HA HA HA HA HA THAT would be funny.
Doug:
Cell phones? Seriously? Dude. Canada must be way more progressive than we are in the generic sector!
Pink:
I can’t do generic pickles, but I rarely eat them! Garnier and I are having a torrid affair, I tell you.
Aunt Amy:
WITH you on the lotion and chapstick.
I really like some of my payless shoes. Although, if I had great legs, ankles and feet like you do I would be a shoe whore.
(BTW. I still need to buy you some Point Shoes to twirl around with in your kitchen!)
Erin Evans Taylor:
Dude! You need to try their 100 calorie packs! Not QUITE as fatteningly delish as the cookies but no white goo to be found!
February 5th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
kerrianne says:
I am totally a Mount Vesuvius period girl, and until today I hadn’t heard a more apt way to describe it. Awesome.
(I too love! shoes. Also? I love! Payless shoes.)
February 5th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Matt S. says:
Marshmallow Mateys, Cinammon Toasters, and Cocoa Dyno-Bites Rule!!
February 6th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Charli says:
Hey I just got your e-mail- sorry no phone or internet is hooked up at the new house yet! Interview is great! Your blog isn’t loading properly for me, though- I have to scroll down a good ways before I can start to read your first entry.
February 6th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Alecia says:
Yeah! Thank goodness! Another person who doesn’t scrunch up their nose and scoff at buying generic brands. I absolutely love generic. I have my brand-name-only items too, but I see no real reason to spend megabucks for marketing on something about which I won’t even notice the difference.
February 7th, 2008 at 8:46 am
angela says:
You have magic hair styling books?
February 7th, 2008 at 3:25 pm