Frugal Fridays: 4th Edition

Buy generic. Just do it. I admit, I had some brand-snob issues when I first started switching to store brands, but the extra cash in my pocket helped me get over that pretty quickly.

This article names 10 items you should always buy generic:
1. Over the counter medications
2. Cereal
3. Pantry staples (flour, sugar, spices, etc.)
4. Soda
5. Gasoline
6. Electronic cables (TV cables, phone chargers, etc.--we buy ours off of eBay from Asian countries for dirt cheap)
7. Makeup and beauty products
8. Batteries
9. Salad mix and other produce
10. Baby formula (which we also do and save boatloads)

Other products that are just as good in generic packaging? Cleaning supplies, granola bars, pasta, lunch meat, napkins/paper plates and hand soap.

I started buying any and all toiletries that Target carries in their Up&Up brand line and haven't been disappointed yet. If you don't shop Target or are nervous to try off-brand beauty products, these are some good bets to start with. You'll be a convert in no time, I swear. The Target brand of sunscreen was just rated top dog in a national test, no lie. Compare the labels on your favorite brand name with the store brand and you'll be amazed that oftentimes, they are identical or nearly identical.

Sally Beauty Supply carries generic versions of salon quality products (think Paul Mitchell, Redken and the like). Their products are consistently highly rated and come at a fraction of the cost. I recently bought their version of argan oil (for smoothing hair) and love it! Cost of "name brand" argan oil? $30 and up. Cost of Sally's brand? $6. Bet you won't be able to tell the difference when you see me.

And if you really don't want to buy generic? Just know that bigger isn't always better when it comes to price tags. Here is a rundown of some common household products that consistently fare better than more expensive competitors:

Lotion--Gold Bond Ultimate
Hair conditioner--Pantene Pro-V
Deodorant--Mitchum
Face cleanser--Cetaphil (my mom swears by it)
Face moisturizer--Cetaphil
Foundation--Loreal True Match
Hair Color--Garnier (please, oh please do not buy Colorsilk and then tell me that cheap brand don't work well. When we're talking $2 hair color, you would be right)
Lipstick--Revlon Super Lustrous
Mascara--Maybelline Full n Soft
Hair shampoo--Garnier Fortifying
Sunscreen--Target Up&Up or No-Ad
Toothpaste--Aquafresh Cavity Protection
Fabric softener--Gain liquid
Laundry detergent--Kirkland (Costco brand)
Interior paint--Ace Royal
Trash bags--America's Choice (WalMart)
Coffee--Eight O'Clock (although Maxwell House scores pretty high as well and is even cheaper)
Dish detergent--Great Value (WalMart)
Ice cream--Blue Bunny
Olive Oil--Goya (Trader Joe's brand ranks high as well)
Pasta sauce--Giada deLaurentis (recently awarded top honors and available at Target)
Peanut butter--Skippy
Salsa-Pace
Tortilla chips--Santitas
Diapers--Luvs (but we buy Target brand and love them!)

Want more product ratings? Check out Consumer Search and happy shopping!