7 Tips on When to Buy Generic or Name Brand

generic or name brand

Save or Splurge? When to Buy Generic or Name Brand

by Andrea Woroch

Corporate spending on marketing and advertising is the number-one reason name-brand products are pricier than store brands. Sometimes, this investment turns sour and leads to legal repercussions. Kellogg recently settled a class-action lawsuit for misleading marketing claims about the health benefits of its popular Frosted Mini-Wheats cereal.

Since buying store-brand items can save consumers up to 30 percent, parents infuriated by this lawsuit may be inclined to go all generic. However, some name-brand products are actually better values than their generic counterparts. Here’s a handy reference list to help you determine when to save and when to splurge.