RoyalOrleans Posted March 20, 2009 Posted March 20, 2009 I've been called "cheap" and I've been called "frugal", with the former heard more frequent than the latter. I at least try the private brand equivalent and then compare it to the national brand. I mean, all in the celebration of fairness? Well, there are several items that I never skimp on (no matter my economic situation)... 1. Tide Detergent - Not Cheer or Gain because they are on sale. Nor do I deviate from the original formula, it is always regular Tide. 2. Regular Charmin Double Rolls - Well... I have a delicate anus. And with the ass-raping my IRA is taking, I hope they make a triple rolls soon. 3. Cascade Dishwasher Detergent - Come on! The Palmolive and Electrasol equivalents leave soap scum, etc on my dishes. I will not tolerate spots, Cascade has always proven its price. 4. Windex - Glass Plus and the private labels pale in comparison. 5. Original Listerine - No fruity or minty mouthwash for this old boy! The store brand isn't as strong. I find that mint mouthwash actually makes my breath smell worse! 6. Crest Toothpaste - Colgate and Aquafresh always tasted sugary to me. So I never buy them. Ohh... and I don't buy the whitening or any of the trendy varieties, just good old fashion Crest Cavity and Tartar protection. FACT: 38 years, I've never had a cavity. 7. Heinz Ketchup - Served at the Last Supper. 8. Brawny Papertowels - Despite the Brawny man shaving his trademark beard and delving into metrosexual culture, I still believe he makes a hell of a papertowel. This is the kind of papertowel that you can stretch a bit. 9. Lay's Potato Chips - Private labels are usually greasier and saltier, while Snyders and Golden Flake tend to be dry. Pringles? Nah-steeee! Regular Lay's potato chips or the Wavy variety when I feel the urge to dip! 10. Tropicana Orange Juice - I can't find "Low Acid" in any of the shelf space competitors or the private label. Ok... there you have it! Now, what are some of the items that you never skimp on! Quote To be the Man, you've got to beat the Man. - Ric Flair Everybody knows I'm known for dropping science.
snafu Posted March 20, 2009 Posted March 20, 2009 I've been called "cheap" and I've been called "frugal", with the former heard more frequent than the latter. I at least try the private brand equivalent and then compare it to the national brand. I mean, all in the celebration of fairness? Well, there are several items that I never skimp on (no matter my economic situation)... 1. Tide Detergent - Not Cheer or Gain because they are on sale. Nor do I deviate from the original formula, it is always regular Tide. 2. Regular Charmin Double Rolls - Well... I have a delicate anus. And with the ass-raping my IRA is taking, I hope they make a triple rolls soon. 3. Cascade Dishwasher Detergent - Come on! The Palmolive and Electrasol equivalents leave soap scum, etc on my dishes. I will not tolerate spots, Cascade has always proven its price. 4. Windex - Glass Plus and the private labels pale in comparison. 5. Original Listerine - No fruity or minty mouthwash for this old boy! The store brand isn't as strong. I find that mint mouthwash actually makes my breath smell worse! 6. Crest Toothpaste - Colgate and Aquafresh always tasted sugary to me. So I never buy them. Ohh... and I don't buy the whitening or any of the trendy varieties, just good old fashion Crest Cavity and Tartar protection. FACT: 38 years, I've never had a cavity. 7. Heinz Ketchup - Served at the Last Supper. 8. Brawny Papertowels - Despite the Brawny man shaving his trademark beard and delving into metrosexual culture, I still believe he makes a hell of a papertowel. This is the kind of papertowel that you can stretch a bit. 9. Lay's Potato Chips - Private labels are usually greasier and saltier, while Snyders and Golden Flake tend to be dry. Pringles? Nah-steeee! Regular Lay's potato chips or the Wavy variety when I feel the urge to dip! 10. Tropicana Orange Juice - I can't find "Low Acid" in any of the shelf space competitors or the private label. Ok... there you have it! Now, what are some of the items that you never skimp on! 1. Beer - I don't care thats it's $8.59. It's 750 ML's worth of triple fermented, 9%, heaven in a bottle La Fin Du Monde Quote "You can't stop insane people from doing insane things by passing insane laws. That's just insane!" Penn & Teller NEVER FORGOTTEN
eddo Posted March 20, 2009 Posted March 20, 2009 RO, your list is darn near complete. Th only things I differ with you on are the paper products. Our local Fry's brand (I think they are Kroger back east) toilet paper and paper towels are better than the big names. But Tide, Cascade, Crest, Windex, Heinz, and Frito-Lay Chips are the best in their fields (never been a Listerine fan.) I will add: No generic soda (Coke,) and it has got to be real Nyquil. Quote I'm trusted by more women.
hugo Posted March 20, 2009 Posted March 20, 2009 Rotel Diced Tomatos A1 steak sauce Cheap and good..Barbasol shaving cream, Suave shampoo. Quote The power to do good is also the power to do harm. - Milton Friedman "I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents." - James Madison
Old Salt Posted March 20, 2009 Posted March 20, 2009 I prefer Ruffles even though they're a bit on the greasy side - no other chips will do, don't like Lays. Had to give them up, though, when I went low-salt. Head and Shoulders for me. Quote
Ahhlee Posted March 20, 2009 Posted March 20, 2009 I enjoy being thrifty but I often do it by clipping coupons or watching circulars to get the best deals. I LOVE getting a bargain when I shop and am one of those annoying people who compares "cost per serving" and all that crap just to make sure I'm getting my money's worth. But like everyone, there are some things I prefer to splurge on: 1) Organic food when possible - I'm on a bit of a health kick and try to buy items with low sugars, pesticides and all that jazz. I'm no vegan by any means, but I like to be aware of where my food is coming from. 2) Decent pet food - I buy Friskies brand mostly and stay away from the low grade brands like "Special Kitty". Of course I can't afford the finer culinary delights like IAMS for my little fur balls. That's for rich folk....err, pets? 3) Bounty Paper towls...the quicker picker upper! - Yes, I am a Bounty girl. What I do is purchase a case of it before my business closes down for the winter and then write it off as an expense. Yay me! I also buy garbage bags, kitchen items and other odds and ends from my wholesaler to stock up the house with. Big savings, man. Big savings! 4) Charmin or Northern TP - nothing worse than wiping with something rough and scratchy. 5) Cheerios - "Toasty Oats" or whatever the knock-off is doesn't compare. 6) Bic pens - I have purchased generic pens before and they suck! I despise sitting and drawing a circle for 10 minutes trying to get the ink to flow, so I spend the extra money just to have something that works. I am also strictly a Sharpie brand girl when it comes to black markers. I'd die without them! 7) Name brand shoes - I don't do Payless. Good shoes and happy feet are worth the money. 8) Decent clothes - I don't need couture items but I'll spend extra on something that isn't going to unravel after the first wash like something from Wal-Mart. 9) Salon hair products - I'm a stylist so I can buy them at the wholesale stores. The OTC stuff leaves too much wax buildup and that's BAD! 10) E.P.T pregnancy tests - I don't really need to explain why, do I? 11) Good booze - Yummy! 12) Nyquil - I agree, eddo. That's where it's at! When I need to knock myself out for the evening, it's worth the money. I agree with pretty much all of RO's list, too. Especially the Heinz ketchup. Generic ketchup is NASTY!!! Bleh. Quote
mercury Posted March 20, 2009 Posted March 20, 2009 Pretty much the same list, with a few exceptions I'm good with minty mouthwash, but it does have to be Listerine. I'm also a Crest girl, but I like a whitening boost, so I use thier Vivid White stuff. And I've had several cavities in the course of my life Ketchup... I'll go with Hunt's if it happens to be on sale, but that's as far as I stray from Heinz. But, reallly... I don't eat much ketchup, so I don't know why I'm so picky about it. Bounty or Brawny for paper towels. Viva if I'm really feeling like a big splurge is called for. I'll agree with eddo on the premium store brand TP's.... I also have a delicate posterior and would only use Cottonelle, but recently decided to try the local Grocery story stuff. It's soft and it's strong and it works! Target's premium is good, too. Fabric Softener: April Fresh Downy Good, brand name skincare is essential. Thankfully, I'm a simple girl and what I'm sold on is Cetaphil with the addition of a little baking soda and not some $300/oz ostrich placenta concoction. Feminine hygiene products. (Playtex & Always- no wings!) Hair care- I'm sold on Aveda this month. Home hair color: L'oreal Color Expert. Can't get my hands on the professional stuff anymore. Cosmetics must always be a known brand. I'm not loyal to any one in particular, but my foundation must be a mineral makeup; preferably Bare Minerals. Soap- Aqua Zest. Not any other colors or scents or brands: they make me itch. Sharpie markers are not substitutable. I buy them in all tip sizes, from super fine to the jumbo huge Magnum size (which will get you really, really high if you've just marked several boxes, stashed them in a closet and have to spend more than a minute in there with them) and normally use them for writing and drawing, and not just marking. Crayons: Crayola is the way to go. cheap crayon colors might be named different things, but when you scribble them on paper Robin's Egg Blue is no different than Sky Blue.... and that sucks. If I buy a pack of 96 colors, I want 96 DIFFERENT colors, dammit! Ali: Not feeding your pets IAMs is a good thing... it's pretty much just expensive crap. Purina has been recommended to me by several vets, so when I have pets, that's what they eat. Quote
emkay64 Posted March 20, 2009 Posted March 20, 2009 Heinz Tomato Juice--all the others taste like the tomatoes came from some ty farm near Chernobyl. Heinz ketchup---but I like the chili ketchup one. Tastes spicy and kinda gourmet...occasionally I like fauncy ketchup on my Mac and cheese. Pet Food---Royal Canin--I eat well. My pets do to....and a good quality food really does reduce waste Cleaning products---kinda embarrassing....OCD here (shut it)...I LOVE the cleaning product aisle. Windex, Javex bleach, Pine Sol or Mr. Clean (lemon), Murphy's Oil Soap for my hardwood, Sunlight laundry detergent (cause I have sensitive skin), Downy fabric softener (no snuggle dammit)....and those two tone sponges that are yellow on one side and green scrubby on the other......whew! Glad garbage bags Melitta Espresso whole bean---I've tried many...but these make strong, smooth, coffee.....and when brewed with Madagascar cinnamon...makes a truly superb cuppa joe. Burt's Bees Lip Balm and i.d bare lipgloss---I don't wear much make-up ever...the standard brands do the trick...but I just have to have these two things. I love tingly lips (and I don't mean that in a dirty way ya bunch of sickies....well...maybe....just not this time). Liquitex or Golden acrylic paint--The pigment load is high and therefore beautifully bright...I accept no substitutes. Quote
Ahhlee Posted March 20, 2009 Posted March 20, 2009 and those two tone sponges that are yellow on one side and green scrubby on the other......whew! I love those, too! I think they are Scotch brand. I use them all the time. 1 Quote
mercury Posted March 20, 2009 Posted March 20, 2009 damn... I left Liquitex & Golden off my list...but they belong there, too Quote
eddo Posted March 20, 2009 Posted March 20, 2009 Merc uses the same soap I do- Auga Zest! I have to have Wrangler jeans, although I do buy k-mart brand for work jeans. They suck though, so I am seriously considering just buying Wrangler for work jeans too. (I am a diesel mechanic, so my jeans get real nasty at work. ruining cheap jeans doesn't make me cry as much at night.) Scotch Brand Invisible tape- 3/4". Generic sucks. Dog food- Pedigree. anything else gives the mastiff some nasty gas, lol. Skechers shoes. I have Skechers work boots, dress shoes, and tennis shoes. Although I did get a pair of Avia (sp?) for Christmas, and they are very comfortable. Q-tip brand cotton swabs. Gotta do the real thing when I am sticking long pointy objects in my ear. Quote I'm trusted by more women.
mercury Posted March 20, 2009 Posted March 20, 2009 you aren't supposed to stick them in your ear.. they are for swabbing the outside. Quote
eddo Posted March 20, 2009 Posted March 20, 2009 you aren't supposed to stick them in your ear.. they are for swabbing the outside. nope, they go in my ear, lol I have always had issues with getting ear infections, so anytime I go swimming, or shower, I HAVE to get the water out. Quote I'm trusted by more women.
mercury Posted March 20, 2009 Posted March 20, 2009 Riley gets ear infections easily, too.. I found some homeopathic stuff that's great for swimmer's ear. No q-tips required Quote
snafu Posted March 20, 2009 Posted March 20, 2009 I used to be just an average Ivory soap guy but I've been experimenting with the body wash soap now. My son is into the Axe products while I?ve tried Old Spice and Dial. Of course you got to break down and get your own exfoliating loofah sponge. Womaly yes but I like it too. Quote "You can't stop insane people from doing insane things by passing insane laws. That's just insane!" Penn & Teller NEVER FORGOTTEN
RoyalOrleans Posted March 21, 2009 Author Posted March 21, 2009 I almost forgot... BLACK SHARPIE!!! [attach=full]2285[/attach] You've got to have a Sharpie marker for all sorts of handwritten labeling, etc. I prefer my all caps block letter manuscripts to typing labels any ol' day of the fukken week! 1 Quote To be the Man, you've got to beat the Man. - Ric Flair Everybody knows I'm known for dropping science.
eddo Posted March 21, 2009 Posted March 21, 2009 that twin tip is the shiznit! Quote I'm trusted by more women.
mercury Posted March 21, 2009 Posted March 21, 2009 [attach=full]2286[/attach] this one will get you high just by being in the vacinity of it. Quote
hugo Posted March 21, 2009 Posted March 21, 2009 Tony Chachere's More Spice Seasoning Barack Obama dartboards 1 Quote The power to do good is also the power to do harm. - Milton Friedman "I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents." - James Madison
Ahhlee Posted March 22, 2009 Posted March 22, 2009 [attach=full]2287[/attach] this one will get you high just by being in the vacinity of it. Oh for SURE!!!!! "Magnum". heh...heh...heh. 1 Quote
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