By now it's no news that filling your cart with generic goods rather than name brands can save money. But, despite persisting tough times, some Chicago customers are still holding out.
Sure, there are some generic brands that don't hold a candle to the real thing - scratchy toilet paper is a notorious one. But many are identical with the exception of the name on the package, say Chicago bankruptcy attorneys. There's nothing wrong with being a brand snob - at least, if you don't mind spending a few extra thousand bucks a year on household goods. But if you're looking for some extra money to pay down debt, you might consider rethinking your shopping strategy.
Don't like the idea of going generic? Start small with pantry and baking staples like, salt, sugar, flour and butter. They're made of the same ingredients, so they're going to be the same product. Any difference in taste or quality is simply a product of marketing. In reality, happy cows don't make better tasting cheese or milk. A cow is a cow.
Generic medicines are even more similar to their better known brothers. The Target brand ibuprofen you buy has the same effect on your headache as the ibuprofen that says Advil on the bottle, yet it saves you a few dollars. Want to save even more money? Ask your doctor about generic prescription meds. On average, you can save over $100 on each prescription, according to Investopedia.
It's ridiculous when you stop to think about how brainwashed we are by advertising -- we think Chiquita has the best bananas and Planter's the best peanuts. The truth is, we buy those names because we recognize them - not because they're better. If you can find a discount grocer in your neighborhood, you can buy the exact same produce for less. You can even save at the farmers' market by steering clear of fancy gourmet products and instead buying fruits and veggies may not be pretty enough for store shelves, but taste just as good or better.
Don't think of making the swap to generic as giving up name brands - think of it as getting free money. Money you can use to help pay the bills and lower that debt burden. Of course, if your debt turns out to be too much for you to manage alone, bankruptcy can help. Find out if there's a bankruptcy plan that can put you on the path to financial security when you try a free one-on-one debt analysis with a Chicago bankruptcy attorney.
