Nothing beats getting a bargain, but have you ever bought something on the cheap that turned out to be better than the top-shelf version?
An Internet user asks people to share their stories of when a budget option served them well. Sometimes, the branding lies.
Table of Contents
1. Stretching the Family Dollar
Though size may be an issue when buying cleaning products from the local dollar store, some people swear it saves them a fortune. One contributor describes how they are “quarter the price and work just as well as brand-price glass cleaner, Scotch-Brite, and sanitizer.”
2. Makes Perfect Hisense
“The biggest surprise so far has been the $200 Hisense TV bought during a Black Friday sale,” adds a retail gladiator. Who said fighting through hordes of deal-hungry soccer moms wouldn’t pay off?
Another Hisense champion pitches in with her assessment that their Chinese TV “outlasted two Samsungs.” Eat that, Samsung.
3. Off-Brand Medicine
“If you look at the active ingredients on (brand labeled) ibuprofen versus the store brand, they’re the same,” boasts a deal-grabbing shopper. “Same with nose spray — I’ll never understand why saline water should cost over five dollars.”
I understand this approach regarding food choices, though some medicine manufacturers have been in the game all this time for a reason.
4. IKEA Kitchenware
A commenter claims that their “Ikea wok” is made to last.”It has outlasted many pricier pans and has remained non-stick for over 20 years,” declares the home chef.
I, too, can attest that IKEA makes excellent cookware. I bought some silicone-tipped tongs almost 15 years ago, and I still use them today.
5. Fake Oreos
“I haven’t found an Oreo-style cookie yet that was bad,” asserts a cookie-loving commentator. “Some are a bit different in flavor or texture from Oreos, but I have never found a brand that isn’t good.”
Oreos aren’t rocket science, as much as we all love them. Two chocolate cookies with sugary frosting inside. How hard can it be?
6. Makeup
For anyone who wears makeup, one thread observer recommends a low-shelf product that works just as well as the well-marketed brands. Why spend those extra few dollars just for nicer packaging or commercial appeal?
“Those Andrea Eye-Q makeup remover pads,” she begins. “They can take off stubborn makeup and moisturize to boot.”
7. Trader Joe’s Hair Mask
Americans love Trader Joe’s for its good quality food products and friendly service. However, it isn’t only food they sell.
One happy shopper raves about their hair mask range. “Shea Butter Coconut Oil Hair Mask,” she adds. “It works better than Aveda Damage Remedy on my thick wavy hair.” Sorry, Aveda!
8. Chinese Work Shorts
I lived in China between 2014 and 2016, where I had a local Chinese version of Walmart (and it was nothing like Walmart). I bought two pairs of simple, thick, single-pocket shorts, which I still wear today and do not intend to replace them.
Who said Chinese quality is not good?
9. Supermarket-Brand Tea
“I buy supermarket-brand Earl Grey from Sprouts, and it’s my favorite plain Earl Grey I’ve ever bought, hands down,” claims a fellow tea drinker. “I stopped buying tea when I go out because why buy tea when I can just bring better, cheaper tea from home?”
I applaud this story, and I have a similar outlook. Nobody outside of a home in the U.K. makes a decent tea. I have yet to drink one anywhere.
10. Knock-Off Birkenstocks
A contributor swears by the same pair of knockoff Birkenstocks that they buy from Walmart instead of the expensive originals.
“I have my original pair: five years old, and they’re still going strong.” explains the thrifty commenter. “I lose one or leave them in the rain, or they disappear, but I get so much wear out of them.”
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This thread inspired this post.
I’m John Schmoll, a former stockbroker, MBA-grad, published finance writer, and founder of Frugal Rules.
As a veteran of the financial services industry, I’ve worked as a mutual fund administrator, banker, and stockbroker and was Series 7 and 63-licensed, but I left all that behind in 2012 to help people learn how to manage their money.
My goal is to help you gain the knowledge you need to become financially independent with personally-tested financial tools and money-saving solutions.
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