Because I'm curious.

What do you typically buy at the store that is generic as opposed to name brand? On the flip side, what is something generic that you absolutely refuse to buy?

I usually buy generic medication because, if you look closely at what the medication actually is, meds like Tylenol and acetaminophen are the same thing with only one difference: price.

I've also had a lot of luck getting generic canned fruits and veggies. Plus, there's a soda at my local grocery store that is pretty much a Dr. Pepper knock-off made with cane sugar that goes down pretty smooth.

On the other hand, I absolutely refuse to buy generic toilet paper. There's just something wrong there.

I do buy generic items. I often get generic medication, unless the dose is diluated or changed (it happened a lot of time). I also buy generic canned food such as "no name" stuff because they offer a good range of "no added salt" cans for less than 2$/ea. Never bought generic toilet paper?? It exists?

Some stores will sell their generic brand toilet paper... It's not stellar. My husband made the mistake of buying it generic once and...

We would have gotten better results if he had gotten tissue paper instead. :|

Ahh, yeah. I found it with some tissue paper too. I buy generic sometimes (when it's on sale) but they are good.

I'm a big fan of generic groceries :D Tinned vegetables, pasta, milk, and all the basic recipe ingredients one can buy for way cheaper. My local grocery store even has generic green pesto, which is amazing :D I also buy generic medication as well, since the chemical make-up is pretty much identical to the brand name versions.

However, there are some things which can never measure up to the original. The quality of generic toilet paper is just horrendous - I used it as paper towels instead, haha. Off-brand versions of Nutella are also unpleasant, and often have a weird aftertaste. Generic chocolate is just awful, at least where I live. I also always buy free-range eggs, as expensive as they are ... I love eggs, but can't eat as much as I'd like because of the price ;-; oh well.

I also will never buy generic rice again, after opening a packet and having moths fly out ... shudder I legitimately screamed and felt itchy for a looong while xD so yeah, that one experience pretty much has me using name-brand jasmine rice for life.

I try to buy generic when I can but I can't do generic Dr. Pepper. It tastes completely off to me even though I know it's all in my head.

Toilet paper and paper towels also I can't buy generic. Everything else is fair game.

For food, most things. Though Ketchup must be Heinz ;-| And bread, I'm too fussy. Toilet paper, I buy the one that's still generic, but a step up from the absolute cheapest generic.

My favourite shop (Aldi!) sell only their own branded food. A lot of their stuff is the same or better than the non-generic stuff, despite being cheaper. I actually prefer their Nutella knock-off...

And of course for painkillers, generic. The only branded medication I tend to buy is Sudafed, because I don't know of any generics containing pseudoephidrine instead of the shit stuff.

Some non-brand products here in Germany are the same than the brand products (also it could be it is the same producer), it just contains a little bit inferior/cheaper (?) ingredients. Also in pharmacys they try to sell you the expensiver product even when there's a cheaper one (which is the same) Stuff where I just MUST buy the brand is Nutella XD there is nothing comparable like this.

I will buy literally generic everything except for shampoo, conditioner, razors, face makeup, face lotion and face scrub. Everything else is fair game. Obviously I have somethings I really like more than the generic, but when money is tight I can put that aside and suck it up. God bless generic items. Saving me hundreds of pounds every time I go to the shops.

If it's good I buy everything generic unless it's shampoo, make-up or ground meat. Even the generic toilet paper we get here is a more than good substitute to the "better" brand and it only costs half of it.

I always buy Sains Basics cat food. My cat tends to be sick if he eats more expensive, richer brands as he eats it too quick and then it's too much for him.

Mostly buy cheap paracetamol and stuff as well.

Processed and mushy peas I buy branded. The basics just aren't nice. Same for beans - always Heinz, and ketchup.

Garlic bread and chips are nice from the basics range, but I now buy the Be Good To Yourself ones as not much more expensive and better for you.

I buy Basics squash and yoghurts. Sometimes posher yoghurts too, depending on what I feel like. Don't mind basics choc, it's good enough for me!

The basics cheese selections is lovely too. Again, mostly buy Be Good To Yourself cheese.

Often buy Basics salmon, chicken wings, etc. Can't really go wrong with it.

There's nothing wrong with off-brand things versus similarly priced brand-name things, it just means they spend less money on advertising. You only get into differences in quality when you go up into luxury brand prices, e.g. Great Value cheese tastes just like Kraft cheese, but Tillamook is obviously going to taste better because it's usually double the price.

I only buy the brand name if there's some special thing about it, or it's the only one available, or if we just really don't care for a specific aspect of an off-brand or something. I have to spend extra money on fussy organic free-of-everything toiletries because I've had chronic hives for the past 5 months and I can't risk using harsh chemicals, and there are no store brands that don't use unnecessary preservatives.

Also, something to keep in mind is that generic medications can use different filler ingredients, so if a person has a rare allergy or condition, you can't always substitute for the real thing. And as was touched upon before, a store may not offer generic and brand-name in the same dosage or delivery type.

I've almost never had any issues with generic brands. But, I get name brand soap and cream, because I have sensitive skin and generics tend to have chemicals that react on my skin. Also, I get name brand contacts and contact cleaner, because my eyes are weird and need a specific prescription. As for the cleaner, I want to make sure my contacts are properly cleaned, and I feel like the name brand does a better job of keeping them clean.

I tend to buy generic brands, unless the item looks like it has been sitting on the shelf forever. I totally sympathize with over the moths in the rice box. I had that happen with some oatmeal. Ewww.

I don't buy generic tampons. TMI? I don't know, but I don't. Definitely not worth it, imo.

I also don't buy generic toilet paper or soda. Pretty much anything else, I will try it in the generic form if it's a good deal cheaper. If I like it, I stick with it, if not, I don't.

Omg, you have my deepest condolences ... that is one of the worst things ever D:

Totally agreed! Lady parts definitely deserve better quality than generic!

I will not buy generic peanut butter. It just doesn't taste as good!

My family tends to buy generic brands. A lot of times, the generic brands are just as good or even BETTER than their on brand counterparts. You just need to experiment.

^^^ agreed with the above. Generic cookies taste a little strange though. (and I refuse to buy clothing from Wal-Mart unless it's something I really, really like.)

I'm a student so I need all the generic things I can get! All my prescription medication is generic too - except BC because as mentioned above, my lady parts deserve better than that! Also, apparently my generic toilet paper is pretty decent because I always buy it generic!