7 Generics That Work - (And No One Will Know But You)

I have nothing against Brand Names. I will use them in this article with respect and admiration. These brands did the research, branding and marketing to become very successful. I am only going to give you alternatives to these, so that you can decide for yourself which is worth more to you, savings or labels. No one will know but you.

1. Prescription meds. The price difference, even with medical insurance, is staggering. I do NOT, however, recommend going outside the US for medication. For every legitimate company selling you real prescriptions, there are four or five that are selling you knock-offs that do not have what your doctor wants you to take.

2. Pain relievers. Over the counter pain relievers are a necessity in most households. What many people don’t understand are the ingredients. I will go through them briefly here. The next time you go to pick up a pain reliever, look at the two bottles – brand and generic – and compare ingredients. **Be sure to look at milligrams** You will be pleasantly surprised to find the same ingredients in both:
a. Tylenol – Acetaminophen – comes in regular, extra strength and PM
b. Advil and Motrin – Ibuprofen – comes in regular and extra strength
c. Aleve – Naproxen – check milligrams
d. Excedrin Migraine – Combination of Acetaminophen and Caffiene. I use the generic at the first sign of a migraine and take a couple throughout the day and it works great for me.

3. Pet food. If you are buying your dog and cat food at a pet specialty store, you can save a lot of money and keep your pets just as happy and healthy by buying at the grocery or discount store. I don’t buy generic cat food, but found that the major brands put good products in regular shopping stores.

4. Phone service. DSL lines, cable hook-ups, etc., have come a long way and have almost non-existent down time. You can have effective, cheap phone service with unlimited long distance. Check with your cable TV provider or go online and find out more about Vonage or MagicJack.

5. Food. Everyone’s tastes are different, so you will need to find good generic foods through trial and error. Read the labels and find out which of the major companies is producing that generic. Then buy what you and your family will eat.

6. Decorating Services. You want your home to look good. But you are not sure that a designer and designer materials are in your budget. Every major hardware store (Home Depot, Lowes, etc) has Professional Decorators on hand to help you pick out all of the best pieces and materials. They have free classes to teach you how to do it yourself, giving you even more pride in your home. They also do installation. Learn and grow and make your home beautiful.

7. Clothing. Spend a small amount of money on a Personal Image Consultant. Find out exactly what makes YOU look your best. Then you can shop sales, last season’s styles and some discount stores. And you will always look stylish, knowing what looks good on you, and not on some magazine model.