Organic Strawberry Jam - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #24 - Organic Strawberry Jam:

Today I am comparing Smuckers' Organic Strawberry Preserves to Costco's store brand, Kirkland Signature's Organic Strawberry Spread. Both contain the same ingredients, organic strawberries, organic sugar, fruit pectin and citric acid. As far as taste goes, they both taste very similar. When it comes to texture, there is a difference however. The Costco brand is a lot more runny. I would compare it to a homemade freezer jam consistency. The Smuckers brand is more solid. I suppose it just depends on your own personal preference, but that is the only real difference that I can tell between the two. The consistency doesn't bother me, it does tend to squeeze out the sides of my daughter's PB&J but she makes a mess no matter what so that doesn't matter much. There is a HUGE cost savings with switching to the Costco brand so in my opinion, it is well worth the switch. Not to mention it is delicious. It is a rather large jar so you have to go through it pretty quickly like we do to make it worth it.

The Cost Comparison (as of 7/17/11 at Costco and Target):

Smuckers Organic Strawberry Preserves (12oz): 4.29 (.36 / oz)
Costco's Kirkland Signature Organic Strawberry Spread (42oz): 6.59 (.16 / oz)

That's a savings of 10.83 if you switched to the Costco brand!! The name brand is over twice as much as the store brand. HUGE, in my opinion.

Canned Black Beans - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #23: Canned Black Beans:

Today I am comparing Bush's Black Beans to Target's Market Pantry Black Beans. Both come in 15.5 oz cans. Both have the same ingredients: prepared black beans, water and salt. Both look the same when opened - the beans are the same size and shape. When I tasted both to compare though there was a slight difference only in the level of saltiness. The Bush's brand seemed saltier to me. Sure enough, when I checked the sodium levels, the Bush's was higher. 480mg per serving vs. 400mg per serving with the Target brand. 90% of the time I rinse the beans before cooking with them and this process gets rid of most of the sodium anyway. However, since the price difference is notable, they taste the same and the Target Brand is lower in sodium, I will go with the store brand on this one for sure.

The Cost Comparison (as of 7/9/11 at Target):

Bush's Black Beans (15.5 oz can): 1.09
Target's Market Pantry Black Beans (15.5 oz can): .67

That's a difference of .42 - well worth the switch, in my opinion.

Men's Disposable Razors - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #22: Men's Disposable Razors:

Today I am reviewing Schick Xtreme 3 Sensitive Disposable Razors and Target's Up and Up brand's Men's Sensitive Skin Triple Blade Disposable Razors. Both come in packs of 10. The Up and Up razors are grey and blue and the Schick are black and blue. Both have triple blades and have a moisturizing strip at the top of the blades. If I had to be really picky, I would say that the name brand felt a little more solid and heavier in the hand. The Up and Up brand seemed lighter and a little cheaper when it comes to the plastic handle. When it comes to the blades, we could not tell a difference. When tested, both of these razors did an equally good job of shaving close to the skin without any problems at all. Therefore, I would say that the Target Up and Up brand is a great buy and well worth the switch, in my opinion.

The Cost Comparison (as of 6/30/11 at Target):

Schick Xtreme 3 Men's Disposable Triple Blade Razor for Sensitive Skin (10 pack): 10.99
Target's Up and Up Men's Triple Blade Razor Sensitive Skin (10 pack): 6.59

That's a savings of 4.40!!!! Huge, in my opinion and well worth it!