Is it just me or do the prices at the grocery store keep getting higher? I am always looking for ways to stretch my dollar at the grocery store, and I feel like I do a pretty good job- for the most part;).

One of the key ways that I save money is by purchasing the off-brands. I know there are some people who don't trust store brands, but they really are so much cheaper! And most of the time, I can't tell the difference between the store brand and the name brand. Statistics have shown that you save an average of 25% when you go for the store brands instead of the name brands- that can add up fast! And that's only an average- depending on what is usually on your grocery list, you could be saving even more. Consumer's Report did a blind test that involved 19 foods. Taste testers tried store brands vs. their name brand counter parts. Out of the 19 foods, 10 were voted as being the same in quality, 8 times the name brand was voted better, and 1 time the store brand was voted as the better choice. So in many cases, there wasn't a difference in the quality of taste according to the blind testers.

At least on my part, there are many times that I can't really tell a difference between the store brand and the name brand. And in some cases, I even prefer the store brand. Western Family Macaroni n' Cheese doesn't hold a candle to Kraft;). And I love the Costco brand of toilet paper. And their tortilla chips are awesome!

However, there are a couple times I make exceptions. Like Oreos. I have never tried an off-brand that could even come close to the deliciousness of the original Oreo. So I indulge a little and stick with the name brand on those. And Saran wrap. Have any of you tried the Great Value brand of Saran wrap? Totally not worth it. Saran wrap has a hard time sticking anyway (unless you get the awesome clinging stuff), but with the Great Value brand you may as well put a piece of paper over your food- it might even be more effective;). This is another case I am willing to make an exception;).

I also go for name brands over off-brands if there is a big discrepancy in ingredients. It doesn't always make a difference, but sometimes it does. For example, I like to buy the Swanson's brand of chicken broth because they don't put MSG in the broth, but many store brands do contain MSG. Swanson's might be a little more expensive, but in my mind it's worth it. Ketchup is another example- many store brands contain a lot of high fructose corn syrup, but the Hunt's brand does not. Again, depending on your personal beliefs and tastes, this may or may not be important.

For the most part, store brands are worth giving a try. There have been a couple times I have been disappointed, but for the most part, I've been happy with the store brands. They are definitely worth it if you are looking for ways to save money at the grocery store!

Do you buy store brands? Are there any grocery items that you prefer the store brand? Are there any that you definitely prefer the name brand? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Do you buy store brands? - Yes or No

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