Which is more frugal???

[RuthNY]

I got to thinking while reading the post about using things up before shopping for more.

I noticed a lot of posts about using up left-over shampoos and the like...having a number of bottles around. I never have left-over half used bottles of things because I am brand loyal.

I used to think it wasn't very frugal to be brand loyal as you could find cheaper versions BUT if you don't use things up and go on to the next bottle of something, how is that more frugal???

Do you know what I'm saying? I use one kind of everything...Tide, Downey, Biolage, Dial etc. I use them down to the last drop. I even weld on the remaining sliver of bar soap onto the next bar so I don't have slivers hanging around. So maybe, just maybe being brand loyal IS a frugal thing to do...What do you think???

[Mommy2five]

I guess that's a different way to look at it

[Englishlady]

I agree that having half used anything in the house isn't Frugal!

Being Frugal is a creative process, that grows and develops & like a muscle, gets stronger and more "toned" as time goes on

Is there a reason that you choose "Branded" goods? have you had a couple of non branded goods that you didn't like and that put you off trying others?

When in the Supermarket/Drugstore, look at your favourite brand, then look for a "Stores Own" brand where the COLOUR and PRINT FORMAT of the Container are similar to favourite Brand.

These tend to be the SAME Product made by the SAME manufacturer, or it is a carbon (industrial) copy of your more expensive brand

There are only a certain number of factories that make soap/deoderant etc. and it would not be cost efective to set up the machinery to just produce "one line", so they contract out to the chain stores/drug stores etc. and make the same stuff under the drugstores own label.

This happens a lot in the food industry, so it makes sense that the non food industry does the same thing.

The manufactures of Dove etc.spend million$ on advertising their products and rely on people who are Brand loyal......... when you know the "tricks of the trade" you can get what you really want for a lot less money

(*Just to cover myself,!!) this is my opinion based on what I have tried and experienced with goods I have bought

[RuthNY]

Yes, Englishlady, my choices are based on my past experiences with other brands, a lot I tried based on advice given on sites such as this one (NOT this one ). I just don't think it's frugal to buy one of each till you find a good alternate. I like the way my clothes smell, my skin feels, my hair acts (mostly ), so I'll stick to what I know I like.

I admit to not reading your post thoroughly but I will go have a read as soon as I post this response.

[AmyMCGS]

It makes sense to me.... if you're trying products that you end up not liking, then, you're wasting your money. That's why I only try products using coupons, try me free rebates, or great sales. If I don't like something, it's only cost me a little bit. I never try a new brand at full price unless it's a dirt cheap store brand.

[Englishlady]

There is nothing wrong with choosing and (using up!) every bit of your favourite Branded products

I just like to give my 10cents in case it helps someone get more bang for their buck!

We all choose to save money on different things and what is right for one person won't feel right for another.

My Mother is a big on Brand names and if it wasn't for people like her and your good self, cheeky penny pinchers like me wouldn't get the benefit of the "copy cat" stuff!!

Karen

[Kimberlina]

I think there is a lot more to being frugal than just picking up the cheapest product on the shelf. As you said, if you don't USE the cheapest product after you have bought it, it ISN'T frugal. It is all about VALUE.

There is no value in buying a product because it is cheap only to discover that you hate it/ are allegic to at/ it doesn't work. I do think it is wise to TRY the cheaper product, but don't buy it again if you aren't 100% sure you will use it.

If it is an item that is expensive even at its cheapest, try to get a sample of the poduct. Very frequently, a manufacturer will send you a sample or at least a coupon if you express an interest in their poduct but explain that you would like to try it before you buy a full-sized product. I have had pretty good success with this- very few companies won't at least send a high-value coupon.

I learned long ago that it is far more important to compare the VALUE of the product, and not just the price. It is like looking at the unit price of an item instead of just the overall price, only YOU have to decide what the value is to you and your family. There is no convenient little tag on the store shelf,- only you know what the value is to you.

Which is why Tide might be a poor value to me (because cheaper detergents work as well or well enough under the conditions I have) but might be a very good value to someone else (perhaps it is the only thing that will get their stains out, or the only thing that doesn't make them itch.)

It is all relative....

[homesteadmamma]

I'm brand loyal on many items, Tide, Head & Shoulders Shampoo (for dh), Secret deodarant, etc. But I watch for when they go on sale and use coupons when I have them. I'd much rather know that I'll be using up everything rather than having a number of half used things in my cupboard.

I will not buy items just because they are on sale or I have a coupon for it if I know I won't use it up. BUT I have been known to buy items that are not brand loyal because its B1G1F.

[mom22grls]

I often buy off-brands. Most of the time I'm happy with the product, but sometimes I like the named brand better.
For instance, I like downey *much* better than snuggle. I can't tell you how many times I've bought snuggle because it's cheaper. Every time I do, though, I always regret it. I just like downey better. On the other hand, I really like tide, but it's more than double the off-brand I get, and I'm not willing to pay the difference.

Same with pantene.....I buy suave because it's cheaper & it does a good-enough job, and I'm not willing to pay for pantene, but i'd prefer pantene.

I am willing to pay more for peanut butter, cheese, crisco, and others.....it's worth it *to ME*

[PrairieRose]

I completely agree that it is all relative. I use lots of "off brand" items and never have any half used bottles of anything sitting around. IF I buy something off brand and don't care for it (like say dishwashing soap...have had this happen before) I'll dilute and use it for hand soap in the pumps around the house or will just add it to my dawn (one of the few items that I'm brand loyal about). I always manage to use it up, no matter what it is.
I completely agree that it would be very unfrugal if you bought lots of things and stuff that you only partially used.

[pita1213]

ok i'm one of the dopeys with half used bottles of stuff(mostly just body wash). they do eventually get used up, but it takes awhile at least with the body wash. i'll have a mood when i don't want to use my usual lavender body wash and want to use a different scent. before i know it i have 4 bottles on my spacesaver in the bathroom. bad pita. when i do my deepclean of the bathroom, they all go back to teh linen closet until i have used up the bottle with the least amount in it. it's just a case of my nose beating out my brain when picking the bottle of body wash. i have 4 bottles of differnt softsoap body wash i'm itching to try, but i'm being good and won't start on one until my current one if gone. ( got them dirt cheap with sale and coupon and bonus bottle attached)
when trying new products, store brand or other wise, i'll try to use a coupon and sales and buy the smallest size i can. that way it doesn't cost me much after the sale and coupon are applied, and if i don't like it i don't have a huge bottle or box of whatever sitting around.

[annajo7]

This is true I think I got a coupon for buy one get one free on VO5 which I don't normaly use. I liked one bottle but did not like the other so it was a waste. Then I though well it was a free one anyhow. Still I fell bad because it still sets under my sink. I normaly use sauve professionals. There are some offbrands I am loyal to also. I like equates brand of soap that is like dove bars. I also like great value brand dishwasher liquid in the orange bottle. However I always buy scott toliet paper because it lasts forever and I don't like quilted stuff. I am also loyal to dawn or walmarts off brand of dawn it depends on if I have a coupon or not. It last me two or even more months. So sometimes the cheaper is not always more frugal.

[bamamomto4]

I guess I'm only brand loyal to Downy,Kraft or velveeta cheese( I'll but the Wal-Mart cheese to grate,but I wont buy the singles slices..weird I know) Red Diamond Tea,and Name brand soft drinks,when I buy them.

If I buy an item that I don't like,I'll eventually use it up no matter what.

[zakity]

I use up the slivers of soap and shampoos and such in our handsoap dispensers. I keep two old, large shampoo bottles under the bathroom sink, one for me and one for general use. I put the sliver of soaps with a little water in there and I drain the ends of shampoos, bodywashes, and bubble baths into the bottles. And if there is a bottle of something the family rejects, it goes in there also to be disguised when it gets mixed in with the other things. My hands dry out from certain soaps and so I have my own "odds and ends" handsoap to attempt to keep them from cracking. I haven't bought handsoap forever!

I understand about being picky with brands. I have to be somewhat careful with our laundry detergent. Hubby gets a rash if I wash his unmetionables in certain brands.

[JustMegan79]

I agree it isnt very frugal to have something and never use it, therefore wasting it.
However, had you visited my kitchen this past weekend, you would have found an Ajax dish soap bottle turned upside down into an old dawn bottle, combining the two, a bottle of laundry soap full of water to get it all out, ( stupid plastic nozzle thing! grr) and in my shower there are always sample sizes and all sorts of stuff...
I try to only buy shampoo/conditioner/body wash at 50 cent or less ( free is better) but I always use all of it, and am not brand loyal on anything except toothpaste, and thats just because aquafresh has the no mess stand up tube thing.

Megan