These, except the Kraft. When I do make macaroni & cheese, which is not often because I have one of the 12 kids in America* who will not eat macaroni and cheese, I use Velveeta. Not store brand processed cheese type food loaf.
*who is not in any way dietarily or ethically restricted
No store brand soft drinks.
Ketchup must be Heinz, mustard must be French’s, mayo must be Miracle Whip Light.
Store brand frosted flakes are OK, other cereal (Raisin Bran, Cheerios) must be genuine.
Peanut butter must be Jif Crunchy.
Things like trash bags I’m not particular about, any kleenex knockoff is fine.
TP - Scott Tissue, if available. If not, something not pillowy. I don’t like wiping my ass with a comforter.
Ketchup - Heinz
Gosh, I assume there’s more, but I can’t think of anything else that fits…
Odd - I almost universally prefer off-brand Cheerios to the real thing. They usually seem more… flavorful? More rich-tasting, maybe, than Cheerios brand. This is NOT the same for other cereals - I’m easy, in general.
I guess I’m not too picky. Only a few times have I tried the Kroger equivalent of something that wasn’t just as good.
Except:
Paper towels, toilet paper, cat food, some sodas.
I actually prefer the Kroger brand of Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Lucky Charms. They stay crunchier longer.
Ice cream and cookies. I’d rather have a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and a small bag of Pepperidge Farm than a gallon and a big box of the generic crap.
I have another of those twelve.
My non-skimp items are:
Coke or Pepsi. The generics just don’t taste right.
For stuff like Butter, we don’t skimp and get the store brand, but we won’t stick with just one brand.
I tend to get name brand trash bags although Home Depot’s brand of Contractor clean up bags is pretty good.
Does not compute… does not compute…
One time my husband bought store brand instead of French’s Fried Onions. Never again.
If I didn’t live in Indiana, it would be Heinz tomato products.
But because I do, it’s Red Gold to support local business.
Well - except for ketchup. Heinz rules.
Hellmans Mayonnaise – ditto
Skippy or Jif Peanut Butter - ditto
Starkist Tuna - ditto
Tylenol – it’s all I’m allowed anymore and generic OTC makes me nervous.
Orange juice is Simply Orange – there is no other.
Land ‘O Lakes butter – I buy it mostly from habit than anything else (I don’t do margarine).
To make the Beloved Spinach Casserole of Christmas & Thanksgiving Fame (origins referred to elsewhere on the Dope) there can be only one: Lipton Onion Soup Mix.
I made the near-fatal mistake (once, dammit! it was just that one time!!) of using a generic version and DARED to bring this abomination to The Family Table. It did not… go well… :eek: :eek: :eek:
Iams cat food – cuz it’s the SuperKitties and they deserve better than Ol’ Roy catfood or whatever from WallyWorld.
All Free and Clear laundry soap
Bounty papertowels
Scott toilet paper
Generics usually run to frozen vegetables, soups, that sort of thing, although at the DiveMaster’s nagging, I’m moving away from cans because of the processing and all the sodium in them. Besides, homemade soups, etc., taste way better than store-bought.
Also generic
No-name milk. Since I drink only skim, taste is moot.
1st-aide products
Disposable razors
Disinfectant wipes
I’m to broke to be picky about much, I can’t imagine paying 8 bucks for a stick of butter (thats what lurpak and kerrygold run here)
campbells cream of mushroom (or progresso)
hellmans mayo
I order actual whole tea because I know what goes in tea bags and its appalling, plus tea has not gotten crazy expensive yet (at least some of it hasn’t)
I seldom drink beer, but once a year I treat myself to rolling rock
i usually buy name brand TP but its whatever I have a coupon for
since I can only eat a few spoonfuls of ice cream at a time I usually splurge on Hagen daz or similiar, although krogers private collection stuff is pretty good
kraft mac n cheese
I have to use no dye no stink detergent, usually All (why does the stuff that has LESS in it cost so much more?}
now things I’ve had to flat out give up?
I stopped drinking coffee and soda almost entirely, can’t afford it, same with booze except the aforementioned birthday beer, have given up breakfast cereal too. generics are to nasty/sugary and can’t afford name brand…plus there’s the milk issue (can’t drink cow or soy milk except in very small amounts, can’t afford goat milk which I can drink all I want of)
Oh, there is definitely a difference. Cheap motor oil needs to be changed pretty much before the empty bottle hits the garbage can. It’s worth it to spend a couple extra bucks a quart on decent motor oil.
I won’t buy store brand cola or peanut butter, either.
As I’ve mentioned in other threads, I will never again buy cheap no-name razors. They hack up your face and leave you a bloody mess.
For me it’s the “finish.” Non-General Mills toasted oat Os are more porous and sog up too fast. I’m not opposed to generic cereals in general.
I love Kroger soda and peanut butter. But I buy Ajax dish soap, Tide or (some organic type) laundry detergent, and Johnson’s cottage cheese. If I’m going to buy processed cheese food, I like Kraft or Velveeta.
I usually buy whatever is cheapest; if the type I want is too expensive, I wait for a sale.
Heinz ketchup
Duke’s mayonnaise
There’s only one Nutella. Even Trader Joe’s clone can’t hold a candle to it.
Olive oil.
There are lots of good brands for decent prices, but if you’re going to buy the cheap stuff you may as well save some more money and pick up a bottle of Wesson.
Same here. They are still in the pantry.
Heinz ketchup, Pop Tarts, Jif peanut butter, Welch’s grape jelly, Fritos corn chips, Friendly’s or Hood ice cream, Entenmann’s donuts, Vlasic or Cain’s pickles, Ajax dish liquid.
Nearly everything else is store brand or Great Value.
Pretty much nothing. I buy what’s cheap; what’s printed on the label doesn’t make any difference to me.