You all know that I love a bargain as much as the next shopper, but there are some items where I just refuse to buy the "cheap" brand. In general I think that store brands are great and that if I have a coupon for a brand I don't usually use that it will be fine. If you really want to do well with coupons you have to have an open mind about using different brands for many products. So I'm okay with using cheap toilet paper or generic sandwich bags. The store brand milk at Aldi tastes the same as the more expensive stuff to me, and I am happy to buy the cheapest canned goods on the shelf. But here is a list of things that I just can NOT skimp on:
- Detergent: I have tried cheap laundry detergent and cheap diswashing detergent and it is just not as good. I would rather shell out a couple of bucks more for Tide and not have my clothes ruined by stains that don't come out in the wash.
- Band-Aids: We go through a lot of band-aids in our house with two active kids who maybe aren't graceful 100% of the time. And let me tell you...cheap bandages just do not work. There is nothing worse than your kids' nasty bandage falling off at the park or having to replace a bandage 10 times each day. Band-Aids work, so that is what I buy. (I also like Nexcare, but I haven't found a single store brand that is worth anything).
- Trash Bags: Thankfully my son's school sells trashbags as a fundraiser and they are QUALITY bags, because I have learned that store-brand trash bags are awful. All it takes is one bag of trash strewn all over your lawn because of a breakage to convert permanently to the good ones.
- Ranch Dressing: In our house it has to be Hidden Valley Ranch.
- Diapers: I don't need diapers anymore, but I was very brand-loyal when I had babies. For little babies it had to be Pampers and when they got bigger I switched to Luvs. Thankfully Luvs were a little cheaper, but I really never liked any of the super cheap store brands.
- Popcorn: We eat a lot of popcorn in our house and through much trial and error I have found that Orville Redenbacher pops the best and tastes great. (Plus it's not loaded with crazy trans fats like some brands). Yummy!
- Shampoo: I've tried everything under the sun at one time or another, but for me, the best shampoo/conditioner is Pantene. I've even tried more expensive brands when they have been a good deal with sales/coupons, but Pantene is what works for me.
- Soda: Buying generic soda is not even a thought I have ever had. I'm a Diet Coke girl...there are no substitutes!!
There are more, but those are some of the ones that I've recently shelled out more money for without thinking twice. How about you? What do you have to spend more on because you are brand loyal?