Coupons verses Generic Brands
We all know the value of clipping coupons. It is truly a great way to save a little extra money on things that you buy at any given time. Plus, in this internet age, you do not have to wait for the Sunday paper to get your coupons anymore. Often times if you know that you need a particular item, you can just do a quick search and find a coupon you can print out and you are set.
However, this may not be the best way to save money on a lot of items. In many cases there are generic or store brands that are even cheaper than name brands even with coupon savings.
The main knock on generic or store brands are that they may not taste as good as some of the name brands. While that may have been the case 15 years ago, that is not necessarily the case today. Many generic or store brands are actually about the same their name brand counterparts.
For example, in my area we have Kroger stores. I regularly buy the Kroger coffee, it seems to have a very good taste and I really cannot tell much difference in it than other coffees I have tried - and I drink a lot of coffee. Further, if you look at non-food items, such as coffee filters, why do you care if you buy a name brand or a generic?
There are times where you probably should stick to name brands if they are products you use regularly and it is good to maintain that consistency. Maybe you have a young child and you have been using a particular brand of formula. Most doctors recommend sticking to one formula once you find one that your baby likes and works well for you. In this case it is probably best to stick with what you know and look for occasional coupon rather than buy the generic or the store brand that may be cheaper.