Groceries: Sweet, Sweet Store Brands II

How much can you save by buying store brands instead of national brands?
Here are a few examples: (These store-brands are all products that I have bought and used.)

Hy-Top is Brookshire’s store brand.

Apples & Cinnamon instant oatmeal, 10 packet, 12.3 net oz box.
Quaker Oats, $3.39
Hy-Top, $1.69

Steak Sauce 10 oz bottle.
Heinz 57, $4.49
Hy-Top, $1.78










Great Value is the Wal-Mart store brand.

Calcium Fortified Orange Juice from Concentrate, 64 fluid oz.
Minute Maid, $2.93
Great Value, $2.08









Freezer Bags, 20 count, quart size.
Ziploc, $2.37
Great Value, $1.12





$13.18 -National brands
$6.67 - Store brands
$6.51- Savings

Four items, items that anyone might buy, and just by going with the store brand on these alone, you would save $6.51. But suppose you bought ten or twenty store versions on your weekly run to the grocery store? You could easily save $30 or more, for a monthly savings of
almost $130 and a yearly savings of more than $1500.

Savings like that are worth trying a store brand. I will say this: If you try a store brand with the attitude that “I’m being forced to do this, and I know it’ll be awful”....

.... it will be awful. In your opinion, at any rate. But if your attitude is “Boy, I hope I like this as well, because I’d love to save all that money!” chances are you will like the store brand and you will indeed save all that money. If you want to be absolutely sure your preconceived notions aren't affecting your decision, get the store brand before you run out of your national brand, then have a friend help you do your very own “blind” taste test. If you can honestly tell the difference and you really think the national brand tastes better, buy it with my blessing.

I'll also say this: mustard is mustard, but some foods involve a mixture of tastes. Chili, for example. I buy Wolf Brand Chili. I've tried store brands (and I've tried Hormel) and I just like Wolf Brand best. When there is an actual difference in ingredients, try the store brand , then buy what you really think tastes best.....and hope it's the store brand!