What are brand name items you won't buy the generic version of? What luxuries will you keep in the budget no matter what?
For us:
High Speed Internet - sorry, not gonna cut it... cable (er satelite I guess) would go first.
Pet food - not gonna switch to cheaper brands to try and save a few bucks.
For me: Milk - unless I am going to cook with it and use the entire container that day (in which case it doesn't matter) I like buying milk in an opaque container with the screw top spout, usually organic, not because of the taste (I can't tell) but because it seems to be fresher (meaning the sell by date is much farther in the future).
No mess spouts - things like syrup and mustard that have membrane spouts preventing the container from getting gunky, not to mention they are easier to control how much you squeeze out. It is worth a few extra cents to not fight with the bottle all the time.
Cheese - the cheap stuff doesn't taste the same.
Laundry Soap - I like my ALL Free, and I'm sticking with it. That isn't to say that I don't wait for it to go on sale AND have a coupon (I do!) but I would buy it at full price if I was absolutely out of it and needed it (not likely, I stock up when it's on super sale).
I don't skimp on anything, EVER. I don't have outlandish tastes or anything, but I'll gladly pay the extra $100 for a direct flight or the extra $1.00 for Heinz ketchup instead of generic. I'll buy a $15.00 Nike T-shirt instead of a $6.00 Russell Athletic one, but I can't imagine paying $50.00 for an Affliction T-shirt. And I don't buy gas at am/pm - and I know I'm not the only one.
Bottom-line - if I'm buying it, I'm buying the one I WANT, otherwise it's not worth getting in the first-place.
Holy fuck shit motherfucker shit. Read comics. Fuck shit shit fuck shit I sold out when I did my job. Fuck fuck fuck shit fuck. Sorry had to do it....
*snip*
Revenge of the Sith = one thumb up from me. Fuck shit. I want to tittie fuck your ass. -- The Guinness. to Cerebus
I'm with Ekedolphin; I won't skimp on diet soda. I find the store brand stuff is disgusting and weak. Give me Diet Pepsi or Diet Coke. The rest is water.
I won't skimp on electronics, either. I bought a COBY (?) MP3 player, and it died instantly. The Walmart $29.99 DVD player barely functions. The only exception to the rule was a 1GB SD card I bought; it was a cheap knockoff brand, and it still works even after throwing it through the wash by accident a couple of times.
* High speed internet is the only one I can think of. I would (and have) get rid of cable television before I get rid of high speed internet.
* When I get soda from the grocery store, I get the cheapest name brand available. I look at which of the 3 companies (Coke, Pepsi, and Dr Pepper/7 Up) are running the best deal at that time, and I go with that. * Frozen Pizza is like that too. My first choice would be Tombstone, but I can go with Jacks (another Kraft Foods brand), Orv's, or even Red Baron if that's what's cheapest at the time.
I was cheap before the economic downturn, so I'm not really sure what I can even skimp on. My medicine cabinet has looked like Generic Brand R Us for years.
I guess with a baby on the way though, the little one will get the best of everything... So, no skimping on my baby :-)
This thread reminds me of a recent poll on the Wii "Everybody Votes" channel about generic vs. name brand. My family does the surveys/polls once a week, and five of the six of us chose that we prefer name-brand items (my mom was the only resolute frugal buyer).
I never, ever buy generic when it comes to food. I've been burned in the past. Even water tastes different enough that I stick with Dasani or Poland Spring.
"Put on your helmets, we'll be reaching speeds of 3!" "It was nice of you to give that dead woman another chance." "All right, look alive everybody...oh sorry Susan."- MST3K: Space Mutiny Click Here (myspace.com)
Usually I will be no-name anything. The times I refuse to to buy name brand I will often wait for sales to come on (such as KRAFT DINNER).
I wrote a bunch of stuff, but it was becoming more like a Brand Loyality list. Might be better for a different thread. If not, then I suppose we can merge them together!
You know, I really don't know what to put here. Close your eyes and thank of something funny!
In my younger days, it was all about quantity. Now it's quality. I don't mind paying $9 for a six pack of something I really love. Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy. Only five more months to summer here in Maine! :)
The Eliminated Ex-World Champion New York Football Giants
My wife and daughter's healthcare. There are a lot of things I prefer strongly at the store, especially food brands but when something reaches a certain price point, I switch to a cheaper brand or wont get it period. It's just stuff.
Come to think of it there is one thing, I wont skimp on sunglasses, have to be Corning Serengheti.
(edited by DrDirt on 10.3.09 2159) Perception is reality
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Sometimes a local but popular pizza shop will let you buy a large bucket of salad greens, and toss in some veggies and dressing and such for a convenient price. I did that this weekend and still have plenty of salad left. Might be worth a call.