To buy or not to buy: When to go generic at the grocery store
With inflation and rising cost of living, many Edmontonians are looking for ways to save money.
Home economist Getty Stewart says switching to generic can help cut costs at the grocery store. However, that doesn't mean it's the only option when it comes to saving a few dollars at checkout.
Switching to generic brands can save 20 to 30 per cent on groceries, but Stewart said shoppers who prefer big brand names don't necessarily have to sacrifice what they love.
Because there's almost always a difference in formula or recipe between generic and branded, she said it's up to shoppers to find what they like and find what they're willing to compromise on.
"Of course, when it suits your flavour and you like the ingredient list, what's in that product, then absolutely go for it. It's definitely a great way to save money."
One way to save money and not sacrifice on personal taste is to choose generic when buying single ingredient items, Stewart said.
"If I'm looking at just dark red kidney beans, it's a single ingredient," she said. "It's pretty hard to distinguish yourself from one dark kidney bean to another dark kidney bean, so this is someplace where I might look and test out generic brand products."
People aren't necessarily losing nutrients when choosing generic, she said, since branded foods aren't guaranteed to be more or less nutritious than the other.
"It really depends on each specific item, and always, unfortunately it's up to the consumer to read those ingredient labels to get what they really want."
The areas where people are likely to notice greater differences between generic and branded items are in prepared foods, flavoured items and paper products.
"Your paper towels or your toilet tissue, that's where there may be a difference in formulation and quality versus your generic brands and your national brands," she said. "So your tush may experience a difference between toilet papers.
"Let it tell you what it prefers."
Stewart said another difference is in the frequency in sales, and shoppers can save just as much money by taking advantage of sales and promotions rather than reaching for generic.
"That is a difference between the generic brands and the national name brands, is they often go on sale or have coupons you can find," she said. "Where it's almost impossible to find coupons for (generic) brands."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels will take the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Bank of Canada says financial system is stable, but risks remain
The Bank of Canada says the Canadian financial system is stable, but risks remain due to debt servicing costs among households and businesses and stretched valuations of financial assets.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Torchbearers in Marseille kick off the Olympic flame's journey across France
Torchbearers carried the Olympic flame through the streets of France's southern port city of Marseille on Thursday, a day after it arrived on a majestic three-mast ship for a welcoming ceremony.
Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Court to hear about search for remains as Winnipeg murder trial enters second day
A courtroom in Winnipeg is expected to hear testimony today about the search for the remains of the four victims of Jeremy Skibicki.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.