A few months ago, I started a personal "Name Brand Versus Store Brand" campaign, an effort to learn what products are worth springing some extra dough on, and where a few pennies can be pinched. So far, the results have been interesting. While I have tested many different items, I'm only going over a few.
Comparison 1:
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese vs. Hill Country Fare Macaroni & Cheese (from HEB)
Macaroni & cheese is a prime example of nitrates at their tastiest. Face it, boxed mac & cheese is a guilty pleasure that we can indulge in once in a while. Granted, some of the vegan lines have produced healthier versions of this fine fare, but I'm not talking about any of that stuff. Anyway, Hill Country Fare is around $.20 less than the Kraft brand, margarine and milk are added in the same quantities, and the tastes and textures are the same. Since I tend to purchase four boxes at a time, I'm sticking with the Hill Country Fare. FYI, I also tried Market Pantry (from Target) mac & cheese and was equally impressed.
Comparison 2:
Oreo Double-Stuff sandwhich cookies vs. Market Pantry Cookies n' Double Cream (from Target)
If you're grabbing Double Stuff Oreos from the shelf, odds are you want some extra cream between your crispy cookies (is my mind alone in the gutter, or did that sound naughty?). Anyway, Market Pantry's crisp cookie and creamy center (*sigh*) compare in both taste and texture to the name brand; however, Market Pantry skimps on the creamy center. It's pretty much like a regular sandwich cookie. Since I'm a cookie twister, I look for that extra cream. So in this case, I'm going to have to side with the Oreos. It's a shame, since Market Pantry sandwich cookies are just $1.99/package.
Comparison 3:
Neutrogena The Sensual Moisturizer Body Oil vs. Hill Country Essentials Body Oil (from HEB)
With a price difference of over a dollar for an entire product, this was worth looking into. The ingredient lists are identical, although I'm sure the proportions of said ingredients are different. In HEB, I unscrewed both caps and took a sniff of each oil. I've always liked the smell of the Neutrogena oil, and while the Hill Country oil had a similar smell, there was something about it that was...weird. I couldn't quite figure it out, maybe the smell is stronger or more floral, and I'm still unsure. I bought it anyway, thinking that if it sucked, I'd simply return it. Sesame oil has decent moisturizing benefits and it doesn't clog pores.
I keep the oil in my gym bag and use it after "Shower, Pt. 1" (more on that some other time, but I really do call it that) while my skin is still damp, then head into the steam room. (Yes, I know I shouldn't use products in the steam room. I guess I am a little naughty. No present from Santa for me.) Without the Neutrogena oil at the ready for a comparison, I could no longer distinguish the difference in smell between the two products. The Hill Country oil works just as effectively as the the Neutrogena, too. Both products fall into that a-little-goes-a-long-way category, so for the savings, I'm going to stick with the Hill Country stuff.
There are a few things that I simply won't compromise, regardless of savings.
- Q-Tips (My husband is no longer allowed to buy cotton swabs because twice he bought store brand instead of J & J, as I requested. Other brands are simply sticks with a little fuzz attached to the ends.)
- Aquaphor (This stuff is so good for keeping skin nice when the weather suddenly shifts. Plus, it moisturizes lips and keeps tattoos nice.)
- Tampons (Reasons are obvious. I do some strange things that may embarrass the average adult, but even returning unused tampons to the store because they're terrible is beyond my scope.)
NOTE: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by my family with our money. We do not represent any of the companies listed; we were not sent free products by said companies; we are in no way compensated for this blog post. All opinions expressed in this blog post are honest the sole property of me.
