It’s not easy being a consumer as brands try to dazzle buyers with useful-sounding features and aesthetic upgrades that often do nothing to improve a product’s actual functionality, but merely raise its price tag. To avoid spending more than is necessary on household essentials, here are a few items you should feel confident buying on the cheap.
WATER
The best way to save money on water is by simply drinking from the tap, which is the source of most bottled-water brands anyway. Tap water is free, environmentally friendly, and generally as safe as bottled waters, although some may want a filter for taste. If you must by bottled water, opt for generic brands and larger containers that produce less waste. We Recommend: Brita 10-Cup Water Pitcher, $22.50 at Target
BABY FORMULA
Baby formula is also government-regulated to ensure quality — a good thing, because store-brand baby formula can be a big way to save for new parents. A standard 1.5-pound tub of brand-name formula powder usually costs in excess of $25. We Recommend: Parent’s Choice Tub Powder Formula, 22 ounces for $14 at Walmart
SUNSCREENS
Frugal buyers should go for cheaper store-brand sunscreens — also regulated for quality and safety by the FDA — as long as it has an SPF rating of 30 or more and broad-spectrum protection to shield from UVA and UVB rays. We Recommend: SPF 50 Pure Sun Defense Sunscreen Lotion, 8 ounces for $6.50 at Target
SPICES
Even professional chefs tend to buy generic spices and seasonings over brand-name, and with good reason: The FDA has the same standards for both. Many stores offer spices in bulk sections, so shoppers can save money on packaging as well as name recognition. We Recommend: Kirkland Signature Granulated California Garlic, 18 ounces for $12 on Amazon
MAKEUP
Drugstore makeups and other beauty products can fulfill the same functions as high-end brands for far less, with differences in price as large as $32 between opposing brands of liquid eyeliner. We Recommend: Wet ‘n’ Wild MegaLiner Liquid Eyeliner, 12 ounces for $3 at Walgreens
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CLEANING PRODUCTS
Most cleaning products are chemical solutions that remain consistent across brands, meaning low-cost cleaners can make a kitchen counter sparkle the same as high-end ones. To save even more on cleaning solutions, try making your own cleaners. We Recommend: Spray Nine Heavy-Duty Cleaner/Degreaser and Disinfectant, 22 ounces for $4 on Amazon
MILK
In addition to being cheaper, store-brand milk is more likely to be from local farms than a nationally branded equivalent. But be wary of other store-brand dairy products, such as generic yogurts that often come with unnecessary additives and differences in taste.
JUICE
Store-brand versions of common beverages such as orange juice are often made regionally, meaning there’s less processing and transportation involved with national brands. Blind taste tests have shown preferences for some generic drinks over brands such as Tropicana. We Recommend: Great Value Orange Juice, 1 gallon for $5 at Walmart
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CEREAL
Nearly every big brand-name cereal has generic substitutes selling for less, and often in larger quantities. The ingredients and nutritional benefits remain fairly constant, so the only factor might be what shape the tiny marshmallows come in. We Recommend: Malt-O-Meal Frosted Flakes Cereal, 40.5 ounces for $5 at Walmart
BAKING STAPLES
Pantry essentials including flour, sugar, and salt must all meet the same FDA requirements before being approved for sale, so paying extra for a brand-name salt or all-purpose flour won’t accomplish much, especially since it’s best to transfer ingredients to resealable containers as soon as they’re opened. We Recommend: Great Value All-Purpose Flour, 32 ounces for $2 at Walmart
MEDIA CABLES AND BATTERIES
You don’t need expensive cables to complement a high-end home theater setup; cheap cords bought online conduct electrons just as well. For batteries, brand-name versions do tend to last longer, but not enough to justify the cost — in terms of value, it’s best to buy midrange generic brands that die a little faster but cost considerably less. We Recommend: High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet, $4 at Monoprice
GASOLINE
Make sure to refuel with the right octane gas and otherwise always choose the cheapest fuel available, whether the gas station is independently owned or part of a chain. Cheaper fuel won’t harm a car’s engine, and the additives in more expensive options have no obvious benefits on mileage or performance.
PARTY SUPPLIES
Most dollar stores have an aisle devoted to low-cost party supplies for occasions year-round, so it’s easy to be prepared with plastic utensils, banners, and party favors for any size gathering.
WRAPPING PAPER
While picking up party supplies from a dollar store, don’t forget to grab a few gift bags and rolls of wrapping paper. They may use thinner materials and come with simpler patterns, but it’s rarely worth the extra cost for something that ends up in the trash immediately after it’s used.
FRESH PRODUCE
Don’t pay extra for exotic vegetables and prepackaged salad mixes from name brands; it’s far more cost-effective to buy regional generic produce in season. Look at farmer’s markets and big-box stores such as Costco — and remember that buying organic makes a significant difference only in certain cases. We Recommend: Fresh produce at Costco
HAIR ACCESSORIES
Hair accessories such as bobby pins, plastic clips, and elastic bands are easy to lose or break. Buy brushes and other accessories in packs at dollar stores or other discount retailers, so it’s not so much of a loss when they become worn or lost. We Recommend: Goody SlideProof Bobby Pins, 60 for $1 at KeepHairUp
GREETING CARDS
Grocery store greeting cards from name brands such as Hallmark often sell for more than $5. Look for less-fancy cards at dollar stores and specialty grocers such as Trader Joe’s. Alternatively, make your own, more meaningful cards. We Recommend: Blank note greeting cards with envelopes, six for $1.50 at Stockwell Greetings
TOOTHPASTE
Whether at the drugstore or dollar store, the most important thing to look for on any tube of toothpaste is the American Dental Association’s seal of acceptance, which ensures it’s meeting objective standards for safety and effectiveness. Additional features such as whitening power might boost price but not effectiveness, and may just wear down tooth enamel. We Recommend: Pepsodent for $1 at Walmart
READING GLASSES
Eyes lose elasticity as people age, but a pair of dollar-store reading glasses is all that’s necessary for most. If the problem becomes more pronounced or you have trouble seeing objects from a distance, it’s probably time to visit the optometrist for prescription glasses. We Recommend: Reading glasses from $8 at CTS Wholesale
OFFICE SUPPLIES
Dollar stores offer many of the same office and school essentials found for higher prices at specialized stores such as Staples, and even at warehouse retailers such as Sam’s Club. Don’t spend extra on office supplies that merely need to be functional, including pencils and paper clips.
CLOTHES
Thrift stores provide ample opportunity for savings, but especially when it comes to wardrobe. Most garments at Goodwill and other thrift stores are durable and cost under $20, with a negligible amount of wear and tear. Steeply discounted designer clothes can be found at stores such as Marshalls and DSW. We Recommend: Clearance shoes starting at $10 at DSW
BABY CLOTHES
Babies outgrow clothes almost immediately, so spending a small fortune on wardrobe every couple of months makes little sense. Turn to friends and family or local thrift stores for used garments that are usually still in good condition after such a short period of use.
SUNGLASSES
Sunglasses are as easy to lose as they are to break. Skip the $100 Ray-Bans in favor of dollar store sunglasses, or any durable pair going for about $15 or less. Both do the job. We Recommend: Sunglasses at Target
FLIP-FLOPS
Why spend extra on footwear that’s easy to lose, provides poor support, and is used for only part of the year? Dollar store sandals can be as durable and effective as brand-name competitors — just remember to look for ones with some amount of cushion and arch support. We Recommend: Sandals at 5dollarfashions
REUSABLE BOTTLES
Specially designed canteens and reusable bottles that promise better insulation and other enticing features can still be lost or end up with a leak. Lighter-weight versions can cost far less ($3 to $10 vs. $20 to $30).
FROZEN FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
Though fresh fruit and vegetables are almost always preferable, frozen can be as good in smoothies, baked goods, and the like. And there’s no reason to spend extra on frozen brands.
CANNED VEGETABLES AND BEANS
Similarly, generic canned goods sell for less and generally taste the same as brand-name equivalents. Beans and most vegetables remain constant in taste and texture no matter the can, but watch for certain goods that do have variations in taste between brands, such as canned tomatoes. We Recommend: Great Value Black Beans, a four-pack for $2.50 at Walmart
BOOKS
They say print is dead, but there are plenty of used bookstores nationwide offering classic and little-known hardcover titles for a fraction of what they’d cost new. Used books can also be found for cheap at many thrift stores, or even better, for free at local libraries.
TEXTBOOKS
Unsuspecting college students can pay hundreds of dollars for textbooks for each course. Cut costs by forgoing the campus bookstore and buying used on sites such as Ecampus at savings of up to 90 percent. In most cases, older editions serve students just as well as the pricier new editions. We Recommend: Thinking Mathematically (sixth edition) for $41.50 at Chegg
SNACK FOODS
Most grocery stores stock their cheaper versions of popular brand-name snacks such as Oreos or Ruffles, making it easy to cut food costs without sacrificing a favorite treat. There are variations in taste, but this can work in a generic brand’s favor. We Recommend: Great Value Twist & Shout Chocolate Sandwich Cookies for $2 at Walmart
PREGNANCY TESTS
Whether paying $1 or $10 for a pregnancy test, the outcome will be the same 99 percent of the time. More expensive brands may be able to detect pregnancy earlier; couples using the cheap variety should wait as long as a week after a missed period for a conclusive result. We Recommend: Wholesale Sure-Aid Pregnancy Test for $1 at Concord Import
PICTURE FRAMES
Cheap, basic picture frames are easy to find at dollar or thrift stores, and nearly as easy to use attractively. We Recommend: Black Plastic Document Frames with Silver Accents for $1 a unit at Dollar Tree
KITCHEN UTENSILS
Families may want to invest in a nice, high-end dinner set for special occasions, cheaper drinking glasses, mixing bowls, plates, and the like will perform just as well, and utensils can be found individually or in sets at discount stores. It is worth paying more on kitchen essentials where quality is more crucial, though, including chef’s knives and cooking pots. We Recommend: Chef Buddy 6-Piece Kitchen Utensil Set on Ring for $7.50 at Walmart
MEDICATION
Generic and name-brand medicines must adhere to the same safety standards, which means generic drugs are generally as safe and strong as name-brand equivalents, though they cost far less. Use a Food and Drug Administration database to confirm whether a generic drug is “therapeutically equivalent” to a name-brand.
STORAGE CONTAINERS
Look at dollar stores first for cheap home storage solutions. Buyers will find lightweight baskets and thick plastic containers of all shapes and sizes to help organize and consolidate in any room of the house. Look online for additional ideas on dollar store products.
BATH PRODUCTS
Generic bath products such as shampoo, deodorant, and bath soap have essentially the same ingredients as name brands — often made by the same company. Look for cheap yet effective bath products at dollar stores or large retailers such as Walmart, but not at drugstores, where prices will often exceed even those at supermarkets. We Recommend: Arm & Hammer Natural Essentials Unscented Deodorant for $2 at Walmart
PRINTER INK & TONER
Printer ink is one of the most marked up consumer goods on the market. Generic or off-brand ink sells in stores or online at sites such as Inkgrabber for less than name-brand cartridges, but is just as effective in marking up printer paper.
TOOLS
Rather than buy an entire toolset for a simple fix that requires only a wrench, look for gently used individual tools at thrift stores or on online forums such as Craigslist. The price will be lower, and the functionality of hardy tools such as hammers, saws, and shovels usually won’t have been affected by previous use. If you must buy new, there are still methods to filling your toolbox on the cheap.
