What will you NOT compromise on?

**greekislandgirl** · 03-31-2011, 07:54 AM

I'm a huge fan of store brands and bulk buying, and I usually go straight for the cheapest of anything... but there are always a FEW things that we insist on a particular brand on, right? What are yours?

For us it's:

toothpaste and mouthwash for my husband - he is really picky, it has to be Colgate Periogard
instant coffee - it has to be Nescafe, I don't like the other kinds
steel wool - I don't just get the cheapest, I get (any) branded one because the cheap ones scratch up my stuff.
athletic shoes for me (DH doesn't care) - I don't buy them often (every 3-5 years) but I want them to be really really good
bras (sports bras don't count) - I buy Victoria's Secret! I like them! Same with underwear for me but I probably won't buy any for many years to come as I have a LOT.
whole grain rice / whole wheat pasta - these are about 3-5x the price of the white variety but I don't compromise on these. I do buy all purpose flour more than whole wheat flour because the latter is really expensive (6x the price) but also because it's harder to work with.

**pat in east texas** · 03-31-2011, 08:29 AM

If the store brand is what I like best, I buy it; if it isn't, I won't at any price.
I've bought SAS shoes for years. They are THE brand that fit my feet comfortably. Pricey, but I only have 3 pairs of shoes; one for house and garden, one for everyday, and one dressy. The dressy ones are classics and will outlast me since I only get dressy once in a while.

**eris** · 03-31-2011, 11:07 AM

I'm right there with you on the Nescafe!

I also love the Dunkin Donuts brand coffee, but its so pricey. I found that Aldi's and Save a Lot have their off brands called Donut Store coffee for $3.99 instead of the $8.99.

**tiffanyamanda** · 03-31-2011, 12:13 PM

For us it's toothpaste and coffee, mostly. We have to use sensodyne tooth paste cause it's the only one that works for my sensitive teeth. And we have to buy one of the 3 big name brands of coffee (Folgers, Maxwell House, Nabob) because all the other ones we just don't like the taste of.

For SO, he has to use the same brand of deodorant. Every single time.

And for me, I use all natural body products from deodorant to soap to shampoo. Otherwise I have skin issues. Although my mom makes a lot of it for me so I don't buy it much, but when I do it's pricey.

**itsahumanzoo** · 03-31-2011, 12:58 PM

Toothpaste is a definite one, I buy Tom's brand. It's kind of expensive, but it works and I haven't had a canker sore since switching. (I read somewhere that the sudsing agent in regular toothpaste can cause canker sores. We used to get them a lot.)

Deodorant is the same too, there are only a handful of brands/types we will use.

I also only buy whole-grains, and organic when I can, but there are still store-brands of those products and I will always choose the cheapest option I can.

**GoodThyming** · 03-31-2011, 12:59 PM

Sensodyne toothpaste. Nothing else works as well for me.

I would have said Oreos until I discovered Trader Joe's "Joe-Joes"

I don't insist on any particular brand of meat, eggs, and milk, but I do insist on buying organic and humane in those categories, which tends to be pricier.

**itsahumanzoo** · 03-31-2011, 01:01 PM

Oh and milk. I buy organic milk for the kids and husband, and almond or coconut milk for myself. I wish it wasn't so expensive, but luckily we don't go through it too quickly.

**IntlMom** · 03-31-2011, 01:04 PM

Trader joes non SLS. toothpaste, I get canker sores realreally easily and this does a great job at preventing them. I also have Very expensive feet (I wear a size 11slim and I have nerve issues too). Finally, coffee..... I'm not at all ashamed to admit that I am a coffee snob.

**Ashley01** · 03-31-2011, 01:05 PM

Um for me it would be:
Tooth paste
Hair care products ( I like the salon stuff)
Hair cuts/colors: I get mine done every 2 months at the salon
Pampers wipes and diapers for dd
Pepsi I need my afternoon pepsi
Oasis Orange juice for dd
Face products

thats all i can think of right now

**madjen** · 03-31-2011, 01:45 PM

My toothpaste and pads, both deodorants, DH's shampoo, my soda, DH's coffee, Kraft cheese slices... I think that's all!

I never linked the toothpaste and canker sores but I haven't gotten one since I switched to Burt's Bees non-fluoride toothpaste a good 3+ months ago.

**greekislandgirl** · 03-31-2011, 01:49 PM

I have to add tampons to my list. Has to be Playtex. And I can't buy them in this country - I buy them in Costco whenever I'm in the US and bring them over!! Hahaha!

**TigerGirl1226** · 03-31-2011, 02:06 PM

-Decent to good quality shoes.
-Mayo...gotta be Blue Plate.
-Meat. I am a bit of meat snob, I'd rather go without than to get gristly, fatty meat.
-Good cologne. Why use it if is smells bad or doesn't last?

I'm sure there are more, but I can't think of them now.

**OOwl** · 03-31-2011, 02:12 PM

Shoes (hate bargain shoes, but, thankfully, I wear shoes until they wear out, then buy new ones, on sale; I don't have a closet full of shoes, just basics and sneakers, but all very high quality).

Soda (my one "indulgence," and store soda just doesn't do it for me; Diet Sprite or Diet 7-up, the REAL thing).

Spirits (we don't drink much or often, but when we do, we buy the good, top-shelf stuff)

Dog food (dogs eat raw half the week, and premium kibble the other half the week, no compromise on the quality)

**akolb** · 03-31-2011, 02:15 PM

organic meat, fresh/free range eggs, local produce.

I feel that the bigger impact of buying these things outweighs the actual cost.

**NikoSan999** · 03-31-2011, 02:41 PM

Folgers coffee
Jif peanut butter, the kid insists she can tell the difference
Coffee Mate for powdered....no preference if liquid

All I can think of for now...sure there may be a few more...but like anything else, if finances came into play and I couldn't do these I'd switch in a heartbeat and have done so.