Walk The Walk

There you have it – just two of the many store brands I use. If I’m willing to put a store brand IN MY EYE, don’t you think you could try one, too?

Tip Of The Day: To All The Store Brands I’ve Loved Before; A Photo Essay. Proving once and for all that I practice what I preach, I do as I say, and I don’t take any wooden nickels. Or something. Moving on.

Tip For The Weekend: Honestly, I feel sorry for everyone in the blogosphere, because none of you will be spending time with The Cutest Boy On The Planet (otherwise known as my nephew, Piglet), and I will. It sucks to be you, but life is tough sometimes.
So my tip for you poor, unfortunate souls? Make due with some other adorable baby and snuggle the heck out of them. Ask permission from his/her parents first, though.

Further Elucidation Of My Cheap Deal: I’ve said it many many many times, to the point where you probably want to track me down in the vast northern wilderness where I live and beat me with a name brand product, USE THE STORE BRANDS. Name brands are fine, I guess, but store brands are just as good and much less expensive. Dare I say it? They’re CHEAP. And? FABULOUS.


For the uninitiated amongst you, store brands are the knock-off products on the store’s shelf labeled with the store’s name. Such as Cub Foods, Roundy’s, Target, and that wonky stuff that begins with an E from Wal-Mart. I’m totally blanking on the name right now.

Probably because I hate shopping at Wal-Mart. Seriously, CLEAN YOUR STORES. Is that so very hard?

Anyway, stores make their own version (usually the exact same product without the fancy name brand label) of just about everything. Packaged food, beauty supplies, health supplies, even spices:


Ah, Flavorite. My first store brand love.

They even make store brands of Rachel Ray’s favorite product:


And if you call it EVOO in my presence, I will THWAP YOU. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Some folks claim that store products are inferior to name brands, and on occasion, they’re sort of right. For example, Target-brand Pantene is not quite as good as the real Pantene – it’s not as rich or as moisturizing as the real thing. However, Target’s version is also half the price as the over-priced Pantene and it works good enough.

Which is really the whole point – most store brands are as good as the real thing, and if they aren’t, they are GOOD ENOUGH. They do the job, they do it cheaply, and they don’t ask for anything from you. Except for maybe a little respect and understanding of their cheap ways.

And besides, makers of Pantene and all other mid-priced to expensive shampoos and conditioners? And soap? And laundry detergent? I’m not going to pay premium prices for something YOU RINSE OFF IN UNDER 1 MINUTE. Why would I want to watch my hard-earned cash circling the drain?

Here’s my challenge to you, my fearless readers. Pick just one new store brand and give it a try. Except for Target’s Thin Wheats – those are nasty, and you’ll simply have to buy the real thing. Fortunately Wheat Thins go on sale all the time. But I digress.

Try one new store brand and then send me an e-mail at thecheapchick@gmail.com. I’ll post the best review in an upcoming episode of Cheap But Not Easy, and that winner will receive a $10 gift card to the coffee shop or fast food place or book store of their choice. Do we have a deal?