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Name brand vs. store brand
Topic Started: Apr 10 2018, 10:19 AM (1,717 Views)
momof3inmn
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Lover of all things coffee!
DH did some of the shopping over the weekend without me. Toilet paper was on the list. He bought the store brand. I (jokingly) was giving him crap because the only toilet paper I EVER buy is Cottonelle with ripples and why would he suddenly think we should get the store brand??

So it got me thinking...what things do you refuse to buy the store brand of?

Besides toilet paper, off the top of my head, this is my list:
Oreos
Miracle Whip
BBQ Sauce (Sweet Baby Ray's)
Tooth paste
Most hair products
Dish soap
Dishwasher tabs
yougurt


And the opposite, products I almost always buy store brand:
Cereal
Ketchup and mustard
Mayo
Cleaning wipes (aka Clorox wipes)
Baking stuff (flour, sugar, oil, most spices)
eggs
butter
milk
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Ellerles
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Refuse to buy:
Paper towels
Toilet paper
Laundry detergent
Bacon

Always buy:
Milk
Eggs
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Peebles
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We do about 90% of the shopping at Aldi, so I'm fine with store brands in general. But here are the things I have to buy specific brands of:

Heinz Ketchup HFCS free
Brianna's French Vinaigrette
Nature's Path cereals
Some crunchy toothpaste we get at a local apothecary because why not?
Mrs Meyers cleaning products
and I won't turn up my nose at store butter but I do love KerryGold and will get it whenever possible. Luckily, Aldi sells it for cheap.
hair care products
bath soap (Shea Moisture because my skin hates me)
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MNGal
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OH do not mess with TP! I get the same. Cottonelle with ripples. I hate all other brands.

There are a few things I'll just go with the store brand on because there really isn't much of a difference but then there are some things I have to have the name brand on because I have tried the store brand and it didn't compare at all.

We get our butter and Milk from a local creamery usually but I'll substitute store brand milk in a pinch.

Things like bread crumbs, dry pasta, cereal, granola bars, certain cheeses, eggs (when when the chickens aren't producing well in the winter, otherwise we get those from MNguy's mom).

The more I think about it though, the more I'm realizing I do more brand names than store brands because I have tried the store brands and they sucked in comparison. I'll go cheap on some things but when I need something to work, I don't cheap out. So cleaning supplies are typically brand name.
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jeni_4
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Ketchup must be Heinz.
Mayo must be Hellmann's.
Cream cheese must be Philly.
TP - SO insists on Scott (because we have a cesspool). XH insisted on Cottonelle.
Tissues must be either Puffs or Kleenex.
Food bags must be either Ziplock or Glad.

I don't care about paper towels, eggs, butter, milk.
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MNGal
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Ellerles
Apr 10 2018, 10:27 AM
Refuse to buy:
Paper towels
Toilet paper
Laundry detergent
Bacon

Always buy:
Milk
Eggs
I always go cheap on paper towels.

But not tissues! PUffs with lotion ONLY. Do not try to give me some cheap ass tissue that will disintegrate in my hand while blowing my nose and making it raw.
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FrootLoop
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Naturally Frootilicious
Texas has a great chain called HEB, seriously awesome. I buy their store brand of everything including TP, it's really great quality stuff.
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beezknees
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I buy brand detergent and cleaners
Paper towels/tp (Kirkland brand, I like it better than the other national brands)
Pancake syrup (DH insists on Log Cabin)
Mayo (Hellman's or Dukes)
Deli (Boars Head)
Almond milk (Almond Breeze) other brands and store brands taste terrible to me
Coffee (Starbucks French Roast whole bean)
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inkedbooklady
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You people and your quaint little categories.
I actually prefer the Kroger brand TP.

Paper towels must be Viva.
Tissues must be Puffs.
Bleach must be Clorox.
Laundry detergent must be Tide.
Cleaning products are Seventh Generation.

I think nearly everything else is store brand.
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Bunny in a hat
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Always name brand:
Ketchup (Heinz)
Miracle whip
Mac and cheese (Kraft)
Spaghetti-o's (must be Original, no ABCs/123s or calcium, or "fun shapes" or meat)
Ranch (Hidden valley)
Toilet paper (Charmin, though I prefer Cottonelle. I've lost this battle)

Always store brand:
Yogurt
Sour cream/milk/cheese (basic cheese, like cheddar or mozz, not the good stuff)
Paper towels
Foil/cling wrap/baggies (double zip 4 lyfe! None of that slider crap)
Mustard
Rice/beans/pasta
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sfm

nothing
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ponyprincess

For all you brand name toilet paper people out there: What do you do when you are away from home and your preferred brand is unavailable? Or do you carry a roll with you wherever you go?

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MNGal
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ponyprincess
Apr 10 2018, 11:03 AM
For all you brand name toilet paper people out there: What do you do when you are away from home and your preferred brand is unavailable? Or do you carry a roll with you wherever you go?

Just deal with whatever is there but in my own home I'm picky. I'm not even sure why this is a question.
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Kanye West
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ponyprincess
Apr 10 2018, 11:03 AM
For all you brand name toilet paper people out there: What do you do when you are away from home and your preferred brand is unavailable? Or do you carry a roll with you wherever you go?

Just do without.

Not really. You use what’s available. Another reason I hate pooping on the go.
Edited by Kanye West, Apr 10 2018, 11:05 AM.
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notstillme
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Geek by proxy
Name brand must be:
Mayo
Tp
Paper towels
Tissues
Feminine products
Shampoo/conditioner (tho there are several I will use depending on sales and coupons)
Cream cheese when we buy it
Bread

Most everything else I'm fine with store/off-brand. I will do the coupon plus sale thing on name brands tho, so I can get some for less than store brand.
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MrsPott
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I get store brand of almost everything, except certain kinds of cereal. My kids' school collects box tops, and I never have any because we always get store brands. No, I'm not going to pay 80 cents more for a box of PopTarts so the PTO can get a dime back. I'll give you a dime instead.
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Kanye West
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I buy name brand TP, beauty supplies, cleaning supplies (except blue cleaner), soap, snacks.

I buy whatever is cheaper for most other stuff.
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notstillme
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Geek by proxy
MrsPott
Apr 10 2018, 11:06 AM
I get store brand of almost everything, except certain kinds of cereal. My kids' school collects box tops, and I never have any because we always get store brands. No, I'm not going to pay 80 cents more for a box of PopTarts so the PTO can get a dime back. I'll give you a dime instead.
We just by chance have a bunch. Like the stuff we normally get happens to have box tops.

You want them? They don't do daycare. IDK if the schools here do them, but I have another 4 years to worry about it.

PM me if you like, it if you don't anyone else who wants them you're welcome to them. I used to collect for a colleague but her kids are at a different school now so. I have a ton in an envelope. Prolly like 5 bucks worth lol!
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Aardi
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Book Pimp
You will pry my Heinz ketchup from my cold dead hands before I buy another brand.

I also require:

Dawn dish soap
Charmin toilet paper with the blue label
Kraft mac 'n cheese
Crest toothpaste

I'm pretty flexible on other things.
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Bunny in a hat
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Aardi
Apr 10 2018, 11:16 AM
You will pry my Heinz ketchup from my cold dead hands before I buy another brand.

I also require:

Dawn dish soap
Charmin toilet paper with the blue label
Kraft mac 'n cheese
Crest toothpaste

I'm pretty flexible on other things.
Is that because of you, or AB?
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MNGal
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Aardi
Apr 10 2018, 11:16 AM
You will pry my Heinz ketchupfrom my cold dead hands before I buy another brand.

I also require:

Dawn dish soap
Charmin toilet paper with the blue label
Kraft mac 'n cheese
Crest toothpaste

I'm pretty flexible on other things.
MNguy once got the store brand ketchup....it's one of the reasons I won't give up the grocery shopping chore even though I hate it.

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Starfish
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hammer5ed
Kanye West
Apr 10 2018, 11:05 AM
ponyprincess
Apr 10 2018, 11:03 AM
For all you brand name toilet paper people out there: What do you do when you are away from home and your preferred brand is unavailable? Or do you carry a roll with you wherever you go?

Just do without.

Not really. You use what’s available. Another reason I hate pooping on the go.
Squish a roll flat and remove the cardboard inner roll. Then you can slide the entire roll into a zipper-slider ziplock and take it with you. Pull from the centre hole and it will feed nicely. I do this when camping or travelling outside the country. It comes in handy in countries where toilet paper isn't supplied unless you have the correct denominations to pay the bathroom attendant.


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Gaping Maw
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I like the store brand low-fat mozzarella string cheese so much better than Polly-O, which I find way too salty.
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Aqua
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Sad Sack Puppy
I buy the Walgreens store brand of TP. It’s septic safe! And at least one of the kinds is softer than Scott, which is the name brand we feel safe using with our old plumbing.

And IDGAF about paper towels. Cheap is good.

Everything else pretty much is name brand.
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Aardi
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Book Pimp
Bunny in a hat
Apr 10 2018, 11:19 AM
Aardi
Apr 10 2018, 11:16 AM
You will pry my Heinz ketchup from my cold dead hands before I buy another brand.

I also require:

Dawn dish soap
Charmin toilet paper with the blue label
Kraft mac 'n cheese
Crest toothpaste

I'm pretty flexible on other things.
Is that because of you, or AB?
Both! Wendy's doesn't use Heinz, which we discovered when we ate there instead of hitting the drive-thru. AB took a bite and made a face like, "This isn't my ketchup." But he still ate it.
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Potatochiplady
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Most of what I buy is store brand, but only after trying the item out to see if it is acceptable to us. For the stuff where there's a clear preference for name brand, name brand is what I get.

Some of the name brand only stuff I buy:

Ketchup
Mayo
Mustard
Tissues
Aluminum foil
Baggies
Laundry detergent
Milk (from a local dairy)

Almost everything else I buy is store brand because we like the taste and quality as much as name brand versions.

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4catsandahusband
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Must have name brands:
Scotts Toilet Paper
Heinz Ketchup
Hellman's Mayo
Uncle Bens Rice
Dannon Greek Yogurt
Reynolds aluminum foil

Napkins, Milk, Eggs, Paper Towels can be store Brand.
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Designing Craft Maven
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Designing Craft Maven
I love the Kirkland brand from Costco. I also love the HyVee brands. I love to save money!
I do like Arm and Hammer Slide kitty litter the best though.
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Aardi
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Book Pimp
Since we're all Heinz lovers around here, I thought you'd appreciate this:
Spoiler: click to toggle
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MNGal
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Awww adorable!
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hmm

Aqua
Apr 10 2018, 11:51 AM
I buy the Walgreens store brand of TP. It’s septic safe! And at least one of the kinds is softer than Scott, which is the name brand we feel safe using with our old plumbing.

And IDGAF about paper towels. Cheap is good.

Everything else pretty much is name brand.
I’m super picky with paper towels, they have to be white Viva. The first time I went shopping with SO he gave me the side eye when I put his cheap ass hard paper with an ugly design on them paper towels back and replaced them with Viva. I will admit to gloating when his youngest son grabbed one and exclaimed ‘what the heck kind of paper towel is this?!? It’s so soft! It’s like a towel!’.


I also pretty much buy everything name brand. Growing up we were poor and NOTHING was name brand, now if I buy store brand it brings me back to that feeling.
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Karaokemama
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15 years is big metal chickens!
There are very few name brands I insist on and often it's more of a case of just not a random generic. We have Kroger, Food Lion and Walmart for grocery stores. Kroger's Private Selection house brand is very good and comparable to name brands in just about everything. Walmart's Great Value is fine for staples like flour, sugar, salt, etc but some things I won't buy.

Ketchup must be Heinz

Mayo must be Hellmans (though the Kroger brand with the similar label is actually quite good)

Coffee creamer is international delights sugar free italian sweet cream - but that's mostly because I haven't found that flavor sugar free elsewhere. I like the flavors for my coffee but don't need the sugar in "regular" flavors. If I can find sugar free seasonal flavors that works, and if not plain heavy cream with splenda works too.

Roommate prefers Charmin TP but I buy the Kroger version. It's not as soft or as plush, but last year I spent $7500 to roto-root and replace my sewer output pipe from the house to the street. I'm told Charmin is terrible for septic and sewer systems alike.

We make a lot of seasonings and sauces from scratch because roommate cannot have MSG so that's not really an issue.

Laundry detergent - either powder, or a name brand concentrated liquid. I'm not paying for water in a detergent bottle which is mostly what liquid is. For years I mixed my own powder detergent for about $25 for a year's worth.

ETA: Tampons are Tampax Radiant. Shampoo/Conditioner - I switch off between a few but currently am using a L'Oreal sulfate free. I try to find sulfate free item and avoid Pantene at all costs.
Edited by Karaokemama, Apr 10 2018, 12:28 PM.
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Edna
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The One True Sample Size
Aardi, that little smile just made my day!
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notstillme
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Geek by proxy
Find someone who looks at you the way mini aardi looks at Heinz. 😁😁

Laundry detergent, that's also name. That's more out of necessity, tho. My skin is stupid and likes to react to random things.
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Sheriaz

Name brand. Occasionally I will buy canned store brand beans for soup. I believe store brands are inferior. I think we are worth a few cents more.
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Lady Wolf
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Must be name brand:
Tide pods
Crest or colgatet toothpaste
Always for feminine supplies.
Dog food must be 4 Health

I go to Sally's for my hair care stuff so sometimes I'll get the Generic brand stuff

Pretty much everything else is store brand
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pollywog
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Name brands..
Heinz ketchup
Best Food mayo
Kraft mac n cheese
Kraft singles
Scott tp (we have a septic tank)

I will try store brand on most other things and have found them to be as good on lots of things.

I love the Kirkland cat food, I looked it up and it has ingredients comparable to the the really good brands.

I make my own laundry soap, and use vinegar to clean almost everything else.
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melonbird
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Heinz ketchup.
Crest toothpaste.
Arm and Hammer laundry detergent (I tend to be allergic to others)
Dawn dish soap.

I think that is it.
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Gills
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AssFish
I'm pretty name brand loyal to almost everything except disposable household items. I'll happily buy Target brand tissues, paper towels, plastic bags, tinfoil and the like, but do not mess with my Charmin or my beauty care items. I don't think I've ever bought a store brand food item, but I don't buy a lot of processed or canned stuff..
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Cecilia
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Cheerios have to be the real deal; none of the rest taste right. Rice Krispies? Doesn't matter. And yeah, toilet paper.

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soxgirl

Karaokemama
Apr 10 2018, 12:26 PM
There are very few name brands I insist on and often it's more of a case of just not a random generic. We have Kroger, Food Lion and Walmart for grocery stores. Kroger's Private Selection house brand is very good and comparable to name brands in just about everything. Walmart's Great Value is fine for staples like flour, sugar, salt, etc but some things I won't buy.

Ketchup must be Heinz

Mayo must be Hellmans (though the Kroger brand with the similar label is actually quite good)

Coffee creamer is international delights sugar free italian sweet cream - but that's mostly because I haven't found that flavor sugar free elsewhere. I like the flavors for my coffee but don't need the sugar in "regular" flavors. If I can find sugar free seasonal flavors that works, and if not plain heavy cream with splenda works too.

Roommate prefers Charmin TP but I buy the Kroger version. It's not as soft or as plush, but last year I spent $7500 to roto-root and replace my sewer output pipe from the house to the street. I'm told Charmin is terrible for septic and sewer systems alike.

We make a lot of seasonings and sauces from scratch because roommate cannot have MSG so that's not really an issue.

Laundry detergent - either powder, or a name brand concentrated liquid. I'm not paying for water in a detergent bottle which is mostly what liquid is. For years I mixed my own powder detergent for about $25 for a year's worth.

ETA: Tampons are Tampax Radiant. Shampoo/Conditioner - I switch off between a few but currently am using a L'Oreal sulfate free. I try to find sulfate free item and avoid Pantene at all costs.
I 'm curious about your dislike for Pantene. We love it. Is it awful, and I just don't know it?
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still nwihim
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I always cheaped out on laundry detergent. But one time Tide was on a really good sale price, so I thought I would get it. I washed everything in it, sheets towels, clothes and blankets. Ha, the whole family was itching and scratching.
I had to rewash everything in the cheaper stuff. That Tide was too harsh for us.
The things that have to be name brand for us are:
Heinz ketchup
Hellmans mayo
and Hefty trash bags
Cheapo trash bags were a particular nightmare. Garbage everywhere as soon as I lifted the bag from the can. Never again!
Edited by still nwihim, Apr 10 2018, 06:02 PM.
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Bets
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Most of the time I'm fine with store brand products but I recently decided that I do not like any other kind of cream cheese but Philadelphia (its okay if it is used in cooking though, but not for crackers or bagels).I only realized this after a block of store brand cream cheese had been left so long that the expiration date was 3 months past!

I prefer real Cheerios and sodas to store brand but I try not to complain if thats all we've got.

My family does prefer some store brand items as aell. I actually like Walmaet swiss cheese over store brand most of the time ( it is milder). Sis perfers Aldi sour cream and teriyaki chicken to other name brand products. Nephew prefers miricle whip over store brand but rarely complains about anything else.

Oh, and we get the " off brand" of zipper bags now because we go through them so quickly ( frosting).The name brand ones are good but too expensive and the inexpensive ones break too easily. Same with garbage bags.
Edited by Bets, Apr 10 2018, 06:26 PM.
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Deaners
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I want my pop to be name brand (diet coke for me, dr. pepper for DH), but lately I've been buying more and more no name, president's choice, store brand foods. Usually they have a more specific ingredients list, so I know I can eat them.
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BeerNutz
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Hammer5ed
God. For some obscure reason I bought Target brand TP a few weeks ago and it's the worst thing ever. It's worse than the stuff at work. And there's like 24 rolls of it, it's going to take forever to get rid of! I honestly kind of want to toss it but the cheap bitch in me won't allow it.

The Target pick-a-size paper towels are fantastic, however. I don't know what the problem is with the TP but someone's going to hell for it.
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Kanye West
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Life is too short for shitty TP. Toss it!
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BeerNutz
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Hammer5ed
Kanye West
Apr 10 2018, 06:30 PM
Life is too short for shitty TP. Toss it!
Shitty TP. Heh heh
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Miss Molly by Golly
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Aside from Costco's Kirkland brands for TP, Paper Towels and laundry detergent I think the only store brand I buy is Krogers Albacore Tuna in water. It is so much better than name brands.

I've never had a problem with Kirkland TP with my septic tank. I am required by law to have the septic tank pumped every 3-4 years.

Miss Molly
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Kanye West
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BeerNutz
Apr 10 2018, 06:32 PM
Kanye West
Apr 10 2018, 06:30 PM
Life is too short for shitty TP. Toss it!
Shitty TP. Heh heh
Donate it to a bridal shower for that terrible tp dress game.
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BeerNutz
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Hammer5ed
Kanye West
Apr 10 2018, 06:35 PM
BeerNutz
Apr 10 2018, 06:32 PM
Kanye West
Apr 10 2018, 06:30 PM
Life is too short for shitty TP. Toss it!
Shitty TP. Heh heh
Donate it to a bridal shower for that terrible tp dress game.
I could TP someone's house with it.

That's probably what I'm going to do. I wonder who it will be?
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