5 Things You Should Always Buy Generic

1. Pain Relievers and Other Over-the-Counter Medications Acetaminophen – the active ingredient in Tylenol – is available in many generic products. Note that the generics aren’t similar: they’re identical. Why would you ever pay more for an identical product? This also applies to everything from cold medicine to eye drops – virtually every over-the-counter medication. The labels are right there – read them. Name-Brand Acetaminophen: $10.99 Store-Brand Acetaminophen: $6.99

2. Water It's amazing that people go to the store to buy something in a bottle that they could be getting nearly free in their kitchen sink. But even if you can convince me that bottled water is worth the money, you’ll have a heck of time convincing anyone that the gallon jug from Crystal Springs is noticeably better than the one from your local supermarket. And if you’re really concerned about water quality and/or taste – why aren’t you buying a filter and making your own bottled water?

Name-Brand Water: $1.25 Store-Brand Water: $.85

3. Milk There are connoisseurs of moo-juice that could distinguish name-brand milk from store-brand. Really? C'mon now.

Name-Brand Milk: $5.45 Store-Brand Milk: $3.39

4. Margarine It’s already a substitute for butter. Is it really going to negatively impact your quality of life to substitute the substitute?

Name-Brand Margarine: $1.79 Store-Brand Margarine: $1.19

5. Bleach You’re taking a cup of chlorine and adding it to gallons of water in your washing machine. How could any TV commercial possibly convince you that a brand name will make your clothes come out better?

Name-Brand Bleach: $2.25 Store-Brand Bleach: $1.67