One of the simplest ways to save on your grocery shopping is by buying store brand items.  Because you are just paying for the product and not all of the product package design and marketing of the item, you can easily save 25 percent or more on your purchase.

Buying generic goods is one of those no-brainer ways to save on groceries.  But did you know that there are ways to save money on store brand groceries and household goods that can save you even more money?

How to Save Money on Store Brand Groceries and Household Goods

With just a little savvy shopping, you can trim your grocery bill even more with these tips on shopping for generic items:

Watch for sales.  Yes, there are even sales on store brand items.  Grocery stores and discount stores periodically offer sales on their store brands to get you to try them.  Stock up when you see some great prices on pantry staples like pasta, rice, beans and paper products.  You’ll also find discounts on store brand items during the holidays, and be sure to check out the clearance section of your favorite stores for more savings.

Take advantage of customer loyalty programs.  You can save quite a bit on store brand goods if you shop at stores that have loyalty programs.  For example, using the rewards programs at drugstores like Walgreens or CVS will often allow you to score great deals on store brand over-the-counter medications, paper products, and groceries.  In addition to the deals, you’ll earn rewards that can be used on future purchases.

Look for store coupons.  Pay attention to your favorite store’s website and the sales fliers for coupons for store brand goods.  For example, Target and Walgreens often have coupons for their store brands.  These store coupons can help you trim the cost of those generic items.

Use shopping apps.  Check to see if your store has its own shopping app, and whether there are savings to be found there.  For example, you can use Target’s Cartwheel app to find savings of 5% or more off its store brands.  In addition, you may be able to earn cash back on your store brand purchases through apps like Ibotta, JingIt, or Checkout 51.  Just watch for cash back offers on “any brand” items, then submit your receipts for the store brand to put a little cash back in your pockets.

Take advantage of money-back guarantees.  Some folks stay away from store brands because they are afraid they won’t like the taste or the quality.  The good news is that most of the store brands come with a money-back guarantee, so you can return the product and get your money back if you’re not satisfied.  This is a great, low-risk way to discover what store brand items your family will enjoy.

Pay attention to unit price.  Make sure to calculate how much per item or per ounce you are paying.  Depending on the unit price, you could save more by buying the store brand in bulk, or you may save more by buying a smaller package.  Do the math before you buy.

Watch for scratch and dent sales.  Many stores have a scratch and dent section (and of course, there are whole stores devoted to this concept!) where you can buy store brand items in not-so pretty packaging or items near their sell-by dates for a fraction of the cost of new.  This is a great way to fill your pantry and save money on groceries at the same time.

Using store brands is a great way to stretch your grocery and household budget.  I especially like using those store brand items in ways that don’t get noticed.

What are some ways you save on store brands?

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