Name Brands vs. Knockoff / Store Brands

There are many brands out there that taste or function almost the exact same as the cheaper brands. 
Below is a list of items that you can buy at a cheaper price and still get great quality..... as well as a list of popular brand items that do not taste the same as cheaper brands (in reference to consumer taste reports and personal experience). More often than not, you would be surprised how many cheap brands compare almost perfectly with popular brands. ​

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​​Be a smart shopper and give the store brands a chance. ​If you don't like it, you can always buy the popular brand next time. 

List of items you can buy at a Dollar Store (or a cheaper / store brand) and still get great quality:

• Food: chips, crackers, cereal, soups, popcorn, pantry staples like flour/sugar/baking soda/etc, sauces, syrups, condiments, rice and pasta side dishes, fruit, vegetables, salad mix, spices, most canned items, most snack foods
• Drinks: water bottles, drink packets, sports drinks, juice, some sodas
• Candy/gum: Dollar Stores also usually sell King Size popular brands for a dollar or less
• Household cleaners (unless it's the Magic Eraser or OxyClean)
• Household items: hand and dish towels, aluminum foil, mops/brooms, cups/plates/bowls, candles, picture frames, albums, vases, dish soap, scrubbers, napkins, storage containers, dryer sheets
• School/office: pens/pencils, paper, notebooks, rulers, art supplies, flashcards, sticky notes, reading glasses, batteries, electronic cables, paper clips, party favors and decor, gift bags and wrapping paper
• Kids: swimming pool toys, playing cards, crafts, play toys, plastic jewelry, baby formula
• Bath/body: body wash, loofas, tweezers, brush/comb, shower caps, tooth paste/brush, floss, mouthwash, hair clips, body mist, socks, generic medicines like aspirin and allergy medicine, sunscreen, hand soap, nail polish, most eye makeup, lipstick/gloss, shaving cream



Did you know that many popular brands (Reynolds, Kellogs, Sara Lee, McCormicks, etc) also sell store brand products? This reveals that many store brand products have the same quality as popular brands.

List of popular brand items that DO NOT taste the same as the cheaper brand:



• ​Miracle Whip vs. mayo
• Oreos
• Most sodas: cheaper brands still taste great, they just don't taste the exact same as popular brands (i.e. Coca-Cola and Dr. Pepper), if that's what you are wanting.
• Jiff peanut butter (if you're a choosy mom).
• If you go organic, the best things to buy are milk and eggs (dairy products). 
• Most cheeses (if you're a cheese connoisseur).
• Most coffees (again, coffee connoisseur).

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Which One Is Cheaper: Cooking At Home vs. Eating Out?

Well, it all depends on your "diet" and budget: 

• What you EAT
• How many TIMES you eat
• How MUCH you eat each time
• What your BUDGET is

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS BELOW TO DETERMINE WHICH ONE IS CHEAPER FOR YOU:

Dining Out

1. How many times on average per day do you eat out? Per week?
2. Do you go to restaurants or fast food places more often?
3. Do you normally get things off the dollar menu or whatever sounds good at the moment no matter the price?
4. Do you usually order free tap water or pay for soda/alcohol with your meal?
5. Do you "super size" your meals?
6. Do you add side orders (fries, etc), desserts, or additional items (bacon, cheese, etc) to your meal?

Example:

Say you only eat out 5 times a week (one sit-down restaurant and four fast food restaurants, including breakfast on-the-go).

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When you eat fast food, you normally get a couple things of the value menu ($2-4 each time). You also buy a small coffee from a drive-thru a couple times a week ($2-3 each). At the restaurant, you usually get something that sounds good but also not too expensive ($8-10, not including tip).

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With this weekly plan, for just 5 out of 21 meals per week, you will spend an average of $6 per meal, $34 a week, and $135 per month. for just 5 out of 21 meals per week. This is not including all the other meals you eat during each month (about 84 meals).

Dining In

1. How much do you spend on groceries per month?
2. How many times a month do you go grocery shopping? Do you buy all groceries at once or do you go every time you need something?
3. Do you buy popular name brand products or store brand products?
4. Do you buy organic and whole food items?
5. Do you purchase in bulk?
6. Do you purchase only what's on your shopping list or do you go through each isle and add items to your shopping cart as you go along?

Example:

Say you go to the grocery store every time you need something to cook, so you drive to the local store.

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As you're looking for the items you need, you walk by some snacks and chips that look good, so you add them to your shopping cart. Then as you're trying to decide whether you want to get the Tostitos brand tortilla chips or the cheap $2 bag of tortilla chips (for the queso you made at home), you decide get the popular brand because you think the cheaper brand is less healthy or won't taste as good. You buy a small package of sugar because that's all you need at the moment, instead buying the big package for only a dollar more.

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After you checkout, you realize you just spent $100 when you only needed to buy a few things on your list for the meal you were cooking at home. This was only one grocery trip of the month.

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With this weekly plan, you will spend an average of $150 more per month for groceries than if you only went once a month and stuck to your shopping list. Buying pantry staples, things you use up often, and meats in bulk will save you money in the long run and will limit the "trips" to the grocery store for a future meal.  

Tips for ​Budgeting:

• A loaf of bread costs around $2 and you get 10 sandwiches out of it. That's 20-40 cents a sandwich, depending on what you put inside the bread. Pack sandwiches for lunch and bring to work! 
• Order free tap water with your meals.
• Don't super-size your meals.
• Don't add unnecessary ingredients or side dishes to your meals.
• Only grocery shop once a month. Plan ahead for meals so you know what to buy at the store.
• Stick to your shopping list only!
• Don't go grocery shopping when you're hungry! You will end up buying a lot more than needed. 
• Buy in bulk and stock your freezer/pantry.
• Buy store brands and cheaper brands.
• Shop at discount stores before you get everything at a local grocery store.
• Make your own coffee at home, buy or make coffee syrups/flavors to create your own "Starbucks" recipes.
• Throw a meal together in a crockpot before you go to work and have dinner ready-to-eat when you get home.
• Always use coupons for restaurants, food, and other items.
• Only go to restaurants or bars during happy hour or when they have a daily special (2-for-1 fajita plates, etc.)

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100+ Cheap and Free Date Ideas

Planning a Fun Date or an Event with Friends & Family? 

There's so much to do that you DON'T have to spend a lot of money on. You can have a cheap date without having to be one.

If you're on a tight budget or want to do something different for a change, this list has many options that will help you decide what to do with your significant other, family, or friends. 

• picnic at park, lake, or backyard
• cook fancy dinner at home
• watch movie marathon that you all love
• go on a bike ride
• go to beach or lake
• go to a high school, university, or community theatre performance
• see a movie at the dollar theatre
• go to a drive-in movie
• have spa day at home (give each other a pedicure or massage, while listening to relaxing music)
• work out (fun fitness DVD, yoga, go walking, etc)
• play a sport (ultimate frisbee, tennis, basketball, sand volleyball, croquet, etc)
• board or card games (Texas Hold 'Em, Catch Phrase, Apples to Apples, Battle of the Sexes, etc)
• interactive games (Twister, charades, flag football)
• hang out/catch up over a cup of coffee and a pastry at a local coffee shop
• make homemade ice-cream, popsicles, cocktails, or ice cream sundaes
• tour a museum
• have breakfast and a movie (matinee or morning prices are much cheaper than a regular showing movie)
• visit city hall or courthouse
• go to a water park or amusement park (with coupon)
• make a music video
• host a wine / cheese tasting party (everyone brings a bottle of wine and something that pairs well with it)
• do random acts of kindness for strangers or homeless people
• browse an antique mall
• volunteer at a charity, shelter, or organization
• karaoke or piano bar
• host a "Pot Luck" or "Bring Your Favorite Dish" dinner party
• have a BYOB party (instead of paying big prices at the bars)
• have an English tea party with pastries, hot tea in cute vintage tea cups, and croquet
• camp in your back yard and look at the stars at night
• have a bonfire/campfire and make hotdogs or s'mores
• go fishing
• tour a factory or brewery 
• make tie-dye shirts
• go to a rodeo
• host a themed party (tacky Christmas sweater, masquerade, 80's flashback, luau, halloween costume, rubic's cube, black and white, etc.)
• indoor ice skating (with coupon)
• skeet shooting or go to shooting range
• go to driving range or play a round of golf
• go to batting cages
• mini golf/putt-putt
• go-cart racing
• bumper cars
• go to a local festival/fair
• cosmic bowling with a large group (cheaper than individual)
• have "Picture Day" and go to random places to take fun pictures of yourselves
• go to a club or country dance hall that doesn't charge cover 
• browse Groupon.com for fun things to do or places to eat
• go to Happy Hour and get drinks at a restaurant or bar
• do a bible study together
• get items together and donate them or have a garage sale
• go thrift store shopping
• play FootGolf (http://www.afgl.us)
• have a "picture day" at random places
• SUPER unique and awesome date ideas: http://9gag.com/gag/ax2zmxY
• 1 or 2 night camping trip
• roller-skate
• go watch a highschool or college sporting event (besides popular sports like football or basketball)
• water balloon fight
• checkers or chess tournament
• go to a free concert/ local band
• go storm chasing
• go to places you’ve never been to in your own town
• make a home video
• watch home videos
• geocaching
• carve pumpkins, fruit, veggies, soap, or wood.
• Have a Pinterest-making day/party (actually do the crafts, home décor, recipes, etc from your boards)
• have themed dinner nights (italian, chinese, fondue, breakfast for dinner, hobo, vegetarian, western, pizza decorating contest, etc)
• go to art gallery
• cheap dance lessons (some places hold free salsa lessons), or on YouTube
• go to a work out class (Zumba, yoga, cycling, kickboxing, self-defense, pilates)
• go to vineyard and do wine-tasting/tour
• go to the zoo
• walk through botanical gardens
• window shop at a mall or outlet
• tour a local college/university
• drive around and explore new/unknown areas of your city
• buy a bottle of wine and pick out a puzzle to do together at home
• have $15 budget and go do penny slots at a casino
• act like a student in a large college class and learn something new (dare: ask the professor a question)

Check the newspaper or online for local events and festivals.

Remember to look for happy hours, restaurant specials, Groupon.com for activity discounts, and other sites for coupons. 

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