I buy generic, store brand, and no-frills whenever I can. They're cheaper and, more often than not, they're the same product or better than name-brand.
Take Frosted Flakes for example. Here in NJ, a family sized (24.7 oz.) box with Tony the Tiger on it goes for $4.28 at Walmart, which seems to be the cheapest price I can find without coupons. Meanwhile, a family sized box (26.8 oz.) box of Millville Aldi-branded cereal goes for $2.75. The Aldi version tastes the same AND it's bigger AND cheaper. Not sold on the Aldi version? Well the Walmart version, Great Value (26.8 oz.) goes for even less! It's just $2.30! Sorry, Tony. This must be why Frosted Flakes is branching out into new flavors like Strawberry Milkshake, because once the masses realize the normal stuff is cheaper elsewhere, he'd be put out to pasture.
However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Like Doritos. No knock-off flavored tortilla chips has ever come close to having the same flavor-punch. Same goes for crunchy Cheetos and Ritz crackers.
Ritz crackers are so crispy, thick, savory, and buttery. I could easily eat an entire sleeve like they were potato chips. I still fondly remember all those Ritz Bits commercials where the tiny crackers would skate around in cheese or peanut butter (PB is my preferred Ritz combo), so I'm no stranger to a Ritz sandwich, but, lemon? This I gotta try.
