Worcestershire Sauce - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #26: Worcestershire Sauce:

Today I am comparing Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce to Target's Market Pantry Worcestershire Sauce. Both come in 10 fl oz bottles. There is quite a price difference but the taste of the store brand just doesn't even compare to the name brand. The Lea & Perrins brand has such a deeper flavor and tastes quite differenent from the Market Pantry sauce. The ingredients are also very different where as typically when comparing a store brand product to a name brand product they are similar. One noteable difference though is that the Market Pantry brand does not use HFCS. The Lea & Perrins brand uses HFCS and HMCS (high maltose corn syrup). However, due to the sharp contrast in taste, I will have to go with the name brand on this one.

The Cost Comparison (as of 9/8/11 at Target):

Lea & Perrin's (10 fl oz): 3.04
Market Pantry (10 fl oz): 1.37

Despite the savings of 1.67, I will stick with the name brand on this one.



Apricot Scrub - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #25 - Apricot Facial Scrub:

Today I am reviewing and comparing St. Ives' Apricot Scrub to Target's Store Brand, Up and Up's Facial Scrub. Both come in 6oz bottles and are easy to squeeze out the product. Both appear to look the same. There is a difference when it comes to smell. In my opinion, the name brand smells much more appealing. It is a lighter, fresher scent as compared to the Up and Up brand's scent. Also when it comes to performance, I would say that the Up and Up brand left sort of a residue on my skin and the scent seemed to stay as well. The Name Brand has fewer ingredients which seem a bit more "natural" than the Store Brand. All in all, I simply prefer the name brand in this case. Despite the cost savings with the Store Brand, I'm going to go with the Name Brand on this one.

The Cost Comparison (as of 7/24 at Target):

St. Ive's Apricot Scrub (6oz bottle): 3.00 (.50/oz)
Target's Up and Up Apricot Scrub (6oz bottle): 2.14 (.36/oz)

Though it's a big savings, in my opinion, I would stick with the St.Ives brand.

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!

Nail Polish Remover - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #21: Nail Polish Remover:

Today I am reviewing and comparing Sally Hansen's Moisturizing Polish Remover to Target's Up and Up Nail Polish Remover. Both are similar shape bottles and are blue in color. The ingredients pretty close. The Sally Hansen comes in a 10oz bottle and the Up and Up brand, an 8oz bottle. When tested on ease of removal of nail polish, there was not a clear winner in this case. Both worked quickly, with just a few swipes of the cotton ball. I would say that the Up and Up brand needed an extra swipe but that would not deter me from buying it again. With 2 coats of polish and a top coat, more time is needed for proper removal with both brands. I would say that the Up and Up Nail Polish Remover is a good buy and worth the switch.

The Cost Comparison (as of 6/4/11 at Target):

Sally Hansen Moisturizing Polish Remover (10oz):  3.94
Target's Up and Up Polish Remover (8oz): .97

That's a savings of 2.73!! Well worth it, in my opinion.

Canned Organic Diced Tomatoes - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #20: Canned Organic Diced Tomatoes:

Today I am comparing Muir Glen's Organic Diced Tomatoes to Whole Foods' Store Brand 365 Organic Diced Tomatoes. I purchased both in the 14.5oz size. Both are made from California Tomatoes. Both have the same ingredients with the only exception being that the Whole Foods brand uses sea salt instead of regular salt. As far as taste, I would say that they taste almost identical and it is really hard to find any difference. The only thing I will mention is that there is a slight difference in consistency of size of the dice in the 365 brand, if that matters to you. To me, it does not.

The Cost Comparison (as of 5/10/11 at Whole Foods):

365 Organic Diced Tomatoes (14.5oz) - 1.69
Muir Glen Organic Diced Tomatoes (14.5oz) - 1.99

That's a savings of .40! Well worth the switch, in my opinion.

Graham Crackers - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #19 - Graham Crackers:

Today I am comparing Target's Market Pantry Brand Graham Crackers to the old standby, Honey Maid. Both come in 14.4 oz boxes. The ingredients are pretty much the same with a few small exceptions. The crackers look the same as well. There is a bit of a difference now when it comes to taste. The Target brand is fine, it's just that the name brand tastes better, more "grahamy" if you will. I'm going to have to stick with the good 'ol Honey Maid for my S'Mores this time.

The Cost Comparison (as of 5/12/11 at Target):

Target's Market Pantry Graham Crackers (14.4 oz) - 2.54
Honey Maid Honey Grahams (14.4 oz) - 3.39

There is quite a price difference on this one. Almost a dollar. The Market Pantry brand is good and if you didn't do a side by side comparison like I did, you might not even notice a difference. Even still, I'm going to have stick with the brand name myself.

Canola Oil - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #17 - Canola Oil:

Today I am comparing Crisco Canola Oil to Target's Store Brand, Market Pantry, Canola Oil. Both come in 48 Fl oz bottles. Both have only one ingredient. Yep, you guessed it - Canola Oil. Both are also made in Canada. The bottles are the same shape and size. They both taste the same and I can tell no difference at all between the two. There is quite a large price difference and therefore, I would say this is a great buy and I would definitely recommend switching to the Market Pantry brand.

The Cost Comparison (as of 5/12/11 at Target):

Crisco Canola Oil (48 fl oz) - 4.14
Target's Market Pantry Canola Oil (48 fl oz) - 2.94

That is a savings of 1.20!! Well worth the switch, in my opinion.

Plastic Wrap - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #16 - Plastic Wrap:

Today I am comparing Glad's Cling Wrap to Target's Up and Up brand Plastic Wrap. Both come in 300 sq ft rolls and are in approximately the same size box. They look the same, however, the Target brand appears thicker than the Glad brand and the Glad brand seems to tear off easier than the Target brand. The most important test, I believe, is how they stick. This is where there seems to be the main difference. The Glad brand wins in this test. It just seems stickier. This is an age old battle and can be particularly annoying. While neither is perfect, I would choose the name brand as it is less annoying when attempting to stick to a container of food.

The Cost Comparison - Glad vs Target's Up and Up (as of 5/1/11 at Target):

Glad Cling Wrap (300 sq ft) - 2.84
Target's Up and Up Plastic Wrap (300 sq ft) - 2.44

The savings are just not worth the hassle of wrestling with the store brand plastic wrap, in my opinion.

Facial Tissue: Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #15 - Facial Tissue:

Facial Tissue is one of those products that everyone just calls by the most popular brand name, Kleenex. "Quick, I'm gonna sneeze - pass me a FACIAL TISSUE!!" Another example of this would be Band-Aids. I don't even know what else to call them. Anyway, today I will be comparing the good old Kleenex brand to Target's Up and Up brand Facial Tissue. Both come in a box of 100 and in a variety of colorful patterns. Both have the plastic sleeve that you tear off and the oval opening that you try and rip off without tearing the rest of the box. I found this equally challenging on both boxes. Once you manage to not destroy the box, both tissues come out just as well. There doesn't seem to be a huge difference between the two. I would say that the Kleenex brand is a little softer and the Up and Up brand feels a little thicker. I don't think that the difference is enough to stick with the Kleenex brand, in my opinion.

The Cost Comparison: Kleenex vs. Target's Up and Up (as of 4/27/11 at Target):

Kleenex (100 count) - 1.62
Up and Up (100 count) - 1.39

If you switched to the Target brand, you could save .23 a box. Doesn't seem like much but when you add up these small savings over a whole shopping trip, it really makes a difference in your wallet.

Children's Gummy Multivitamins: Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #14 - Children's Gummy Vitamins:

Today I am comparing L'il Critters Gummy Vites to Target's Up and Up Children's Gummy Multivitamins. Both come in different sizes but I have the 190 count bottles. I have always purchased the L'il Critters but since our bottle is almost empty I picked up the Target brand to do a comparison and see if it is worth the savings. Both bottles are the same size and shape. The vitamins are the same colors and shape (little bears). Remember to keep these high up and out of reach of your little ones because these look and taste just like gummy bears. The vitamin and mineral content is identical. There is 1 gram less sugar though in the Up and Up brand which is nice. The ingredients are almost identical with a couple of minor differences as you get further down the list. Both use natural colors and flavors which is great. I really don't see much difference at all. They taste the same, look the same, have the same amount of vitamins and minerals and are almost the same when it comes to ingredients so therefore I would say Target's Up and Up brand is a great buy.

The Cost Comparison - L'il Critters vs. Target's Up and Up (as of 4/22/11 at Target):

L'il Critters Gummy Vites (190 count) - 10.69
Target's Up and Up Children's Gummy Multivitamin (190 count) - 9.24

That's a savings of 1.45! Well worth the switch, in my opinion.

Organic Squeeze Yogurt Tubes - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #13 - Strawberry Squeeze Low-fat Yogurt Tubes:

Today I am reviewing and comparing Stonyfield Organic Yokids Strawberry Squeezers and Trader Joe's Organic Strawberry Squishers. Both come in packs of 8 - 2oz tubes. Both have the same packaging and are easy to open. The ingredients are identical. I actually can't tell any difference between the two. Both taste great and my 3 year old loves the yogurt. They are also great in the freezer for a frozen treat. So far my Trader Joe's only carries the strawberry flavor but perhaps in the future they will make the other flavors that Stonyfield makes. Though Strawberry is best as it has less sugar than the other varieties. Anyway, I highly recommend the switch!

The Cost Comparison (as of 4/19/11 at Trader Joe's and 4/14/11 at Target):

Stonyfield (8-2oz tubes) - 3.79
Trader Joe's (8-2oz tubes) - 2.79

That's a difference of 1.00!! That is huge in my opinion. Especially since the ingredients are the same and they both taste identical. Well worth the switch....

Sandwich Bags - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #12 - Sandwich Bags:

Today I am reviewing disposable sandwich bags. I am comparing the Ziplock Brand to Wal-Mart's Great Value Store Brand. These little baggies are staples in most households. I decided to see if it is worth it to switch to the store brand or if the trusty Ziplock brand holds true.

Both baggies are about the same size and can hold a peanut butter and jelly sandwich just fine. However, when it comes to the zip top closure, there is a difference. The Wal-Mart brand is more difficult to close and get a good seal. The Ziplock brand closes with one swipe where you have to go over it a couple of times to be sure you have a good seal with the store brand. This may or may not be a big deal to you. I suppose it is a personal decision.

When you compare the prices, there is not much of a difference at all so I think I will stick with the name brand on this one.

The Cost Comparison (as of 4/2/11 at Wal-Mart):

Ziplock Sandwich Bags (120 count) - 2.67
Wal-Mart's Great Value Sandwich Bags (100 count) - 2.18

When you do the math, there is really only about a 5 cent difference between the two, taking in consideration of the different counts in the packages. Therefore, I would stick with the name brand, in my opinion.

Brown Sugar - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #11 - Brown Sugar:

Today I am reviewing brown sugar. I am comparing Wal-Mart's Great Value to the C & H brand. Both come in 2 lb bags. There is no difference between these products besides the packaging and the name. They are the SAME. There is a huge price difference. Why are you still buying the name brand?

The Cost Comparison (as of 4/2/11 at Wal-Mart):

C & H Light Brown Sugar (2 lbs) - 2.12
Great Value Light Brown Sugar (2 lbs) - 1.36

There is a .76 price difference. That is a big savings in my opinion. Since the products are the same, it's a no-brainer!

Toilet Paper - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #10 - Toilet Paper:

Today I am reviewing toilet paper. I am comparing Cottonelle to Target's Up and Up brand. There is a clear difference between these two brands in my opinion. The Cottonelle is much thicker than the Up and Up brand. Both feel equally as soft but since the Cottonelle is so much thicker, one could safely assume that you could use much less to do the job. In that case, you could also assume that the name brand would last longer than the store brand which hypothetically could cancel out any savings. Trying to tell my 3 year old to use less could be challenging though. Anyway, TP is a very personal preference so I will go ahead and say the name brand is probably the best choice but again, it is subjective.

The Cost Comparison (as of 3/19/11 at Target):

Cottonelle 18 roll pack (545.4 sq ft) - 11.99
Target's Up and Up 18 roll pack (572 sq ft) - 9.99

There is approximately a 2.00 savings with the store brand but since the name brand is so much thicker, it is a wash, in my opinion and the name brand just seems better to me.

Paper Towels - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #9 - Paper Towels:

Today I am reviewing paper towels to see if the name brand does the best job or if the store brand can be a great substitute. I chose the Bounty brand and Target's Up and Up brand. Both have almost an equal thickness. If I had to be really picky, I would say that the Bounty brand is a little bit thicker. Both worked great on glass and both were comparable in absorbency. I actually got the two mixed up during my tests and thought that what was the Target brand was actually the Bounty brand. Once I looked back at the package, I saw the pattern and realized my mistake. That should be proof enough that the store brand can be purchased instead of the name brand without sacrificing quality.

The Cost Comparison (as of 3/15/11 at Target):

Bounty (8 roll pack - 495.7 sq ft) - 12.49
Target's Up and Up (8 roll pack - 462 sq ft) - 9.99

With approximately a 2.00 savings, I would say that the store brand is very comparable to the name brand and is a great buy.

Sharp Cheddar Cheese - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #8 - Sharp Cheddar Cheese Block:

Today I am reviewing Sharp Cheddar Cheese. I compared three different brands. Costco's Kirkland Brand, Target's Market Pantry and Kraft. I purchased the Target and Kraft brands in the same 8oz package (though the Market Pantry comes in a 1 lb block as well at my Target) and Costco's in the only size available, 2lbs. After a blind taste test between my husband and myself, we agreed on the following: The Kraft brand came in first place, having a creamy texture and a strong sharp cheddar flavor. The Target Market Pantry came in second having also a nice sharp flavor though not as nice of a creamy texture. The Costco Kirkland Brand came in third place having not as strong of a sharp flavor and also not as creamy as the name brand. So, in conclusion, we would rate the name brand the highest. When considering the huge savings though on the Costco Brand, I will continue to buy it as I think it tastes great and the price difference is amazing.

The Cost Comparison (as of 3/15/11 at Target and Costco): Target, Costco and Kraft:

Kraft Sharp Cheddar Cheese (8oz) - 2.49
Target's Market Pantry Sharp Cheddar Cheese (8oz) - 2.09
Costco's Kirkland Signature Sharp Cheddar Cheese (2lbs or 32oz) - 4.99

The Kraft brand (purchased in the 8oz package) is almost twice as much as the Costco brand. Therefore, if savings is what you are after, I would definitely recommend the Costco Brand as there is not a huge taste difference. If you are going purely on taste and texture, I would recommend the Kraft brand.

Oat and Honey Granola Bars - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #7 - Oat and Honey Crunchy Granola Bars:

Today I am reviewing and comparing Oat and Honey Granola Bars. The Nature Valley brand and the comparable product from Target and Wal-Mart's store brands. All three come in 6 - 1.5 oz/2 bar packs. While the ingredients are similar in all three, there are differences which I believe affect the taste. In my opinion, the Nature Valley brand is the most "natural" and has the most "whole" ingredients. Target would be next in line in this category with Wal-Mart in third place. On a taste level, I would rate them in the same order: Nature Valley, Target then Wal-Mart. I would definitely buy the Target Market Pantry brand as it does compare well and is close to the Nature Valley brand. I would take a pass at the Wal-Mart Great Value Brand however. The taste is too dissimilar and the ingredients are not as "natural" as the other two brands. There is not a huge difference in price but neither is there in taste with the Target brand so I would choose the Target brand unless the Nature Valley happens to be on sale which it often is.

The Cost Comparison - Nature Valley, Target's Market Pantry and Wal-Mart's Great Value Oats 'N Honey Granola Bars (as of 2/12/11 at Wal-Mart and 2/18/11 at Target):

Nature Valley: 2.50 at Wal-Mart and 2.69 at Target
Target's Market Pantry: 2.44
Wal-Mart's Great Value: 2.00

You would save .25 while shopping at Target and switching to the Market Pantry brand. This is a decent savings and in my opinion worth the switch though the savings is not as dramatic as it is with other products. Though the Great Value brand is a much larger savings, I would not recommend the switch as the taste is too different.

Men's Shaving Gel: Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #6 - Men's Shaving Gel:

Today I am reviewing and comparing the Edge Brand's Sensitive Skin Shaving Gel to Target's Up and Up Store Brand's Men's Shaving Gel Sensitive Skin with Aloe. Both products are very similar however my husband says that the Up and Up brand doesn't lather up quite as well. It does moisturize quite well though he says and other than the lathering, he doesn't notice a difference. I think the packaging on the Up and Up brand isn't quite as nice. The plastic "button" on the top that you press to release the gel seems cheaply made, like it could break easily. However, my husband believes that these two issues are not enough to keep him from switching from the name brand to the store brand and therefore, we will be switching to the Up and Up brand as the savings are great.

The Cost Comparison: Edge Men's Shaving Gel Sensitive Skin to Target's Up and Up Men's Shaving Gel Sensitive Skin with Aloe (prices as of 2/18/11 at Target):

Edge (7oz): 1.97
Up and Up (8.75oz): .98

The Up and Up shave gel costs approx. .11 / oz and the Edge costs approx. .28 / oz. Therefore, the Up and Up is a much better buy and in my opinion, worth the switch.

Baby Bottle Drop-In Liners: Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #5 - Playtex Drop-Ins:

Today I am reviewing the Playtex Drop-Ins system disposable baby bottle liners to the the Target Up and Up brand liners. Both products are the same and the Up and Up brand fits just as well in the Playtex bottles. I see no difference at all between the brands. Both are BPA free. Because of the substantial price difference, this is a great buy and I would highly recommend them.

The Cost Comparison: Playtex Drop-Ins vs. Target's Up and Up (as of 2/14/11 at Target):

Playtex Drop-Ins (50 count): 5.89
Up and Up Bottle Liners (50 count): 2.97

That's a savings of 2.92!!! If you used 6 liners a day for a month, you would save 10.51 by switching to the Target brand!! Well worth it, in my opinion.

Eucerin Plus Intensive Care Lotion: Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #4 - Eucerin Lotion:

Today I am reviewing Eucerin Plus Intensive Care lotion and how it compares to Wal-Mart's Store brand, Equate. Both bottles hold 16.9 FL oz and have identical ingredients with the exception of the added ingredient, sodium hydroxide, which falls at the very end of the ingredient list in the Equate brand. Ingredients are listed in order of amount in the product, from highest to lowest. Since this ingredient is at the end, the effect should be minimal.

To me, both lotions smell the same (relatively no noticeable scent) and go onto the skin the same. Both are effective at soothing dry skin and moisturizing for a long period of time, especially during these dry winter months. I believe there is no noticeable difference between these two products. As there is a big difference in price, I would choose Wal-Mart's Equate brand.

The Cost Comparison: Eucerin's Plus Intensive Care Lotion vs. Wal-Mart's Equate Intense Therapy Dry Skin Lotion (as of 2/12/11 at Wal-Mart):

Eucerin (16.9 FL oz) - 10.97
Equate (16.9 FL oz) - 6.47

A difference of 4.50!!!

V8 V Fusion Juice: Store brand or name brand?

Product #3 - V8 V Fusion:

Today I am reviewing the V8 brand's V Fusion Pomegranate Blueberry juice vs.Wal-Mart's Great Value store brand. Both are the same size, 46 FL oz, and both have the same shape bottle. The ingredients are exactly the same. After a taste comparison, I would say there is a slight difference in taste but both taste great and I believe that you would not notice that it was a store brand in a blind taste test. The Great Value brand also makes most of the other varieties that V8 produces.

There is a substantial price difference (.50) between the two and therefore, I would recommend purchasing the Great Value brand at Wal-Mart instead of the name brand.

The Cost Comparison: V8 V Fusion vs. Wal-Mart's Great Value (as of 2/12/11 at Wal-Mart):

V8 V Fusion Pomegranate Blueberry (46 FL oz) - 2.48
Wal-Mart's Great Value Pomegranate Blueberry (46 FL oz) - 2.98

Baby Wipes - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #2 - Baby Wipes

Today I will be reviewing baby wipes to go along with the diapers that I reviewed the other day. I should mention now that I am a regular Target shopper but will also review other national store brands such as Wal-Mart, Costco, Trader Joe's and Walgreens. Since Grocery stores tend to be regional for the most part, I will avoid them in my reviews for now.

Anyway, back to the wipes.

Target vs. Pampers (both - unscented):

The main difference between the two is that the Target brand, Up and Up is not as thick as the Pampers wipe. The Target wipe is also textured as opposed to flat with the Pampers. The size of both wipes is similar and both work great with my wipes warmer. Well you would think that the thickness of the Pampers would be better for cleaning, I actually think that the Target wipe is easier to get in between the chunky rolls on my baby's upper thighs. Not to get too into detail here, but since she is a girl baby, I like to think that the thinness off the Target wipe is more comfortable for her when I clean her cracks and crevasses.

In my opinion, the Target Up and Up wipes are just as good if not better than the Pampers Wipes. I actually prefer them and would buy them even if they were the same price.

The Cost Comparison - Target Up and Up Wipes to Pampers Unscented Wipes (as of 2/10/11 on Target.com):

Pampers Sensitive Unscented Wipes (512 count) - 13.49 or .03 / wipe
Target Up and Up Sensitive Unscented Wipes (720 count) - 13.69 or .02 / wipe

If you used 15 wipes per day for 1 year, the Pampers brand would cost you 164.25. If you switched to the Target brand, it would cost 109.50. That is a savings of 54.75!! Well worth the switch, in my opinion.

First Review: Baby Diapers: Store Brand or Name Brand?

I am a busy stay-at-home Mama of two. I have been searching and searching for a website that compares store brands to name brands and have yet to find one so I have decided to create my own in hopes that I can help other people out there like myself. I am always looking for ways to save but refuse to do so if it compromises quality. Please join me in my review and comparison of products and comment on which you prefer be it store or name brand and why. Let's get started!

Product #1:

Diapers

I was a die hard Pampers fan for the first 9 months of my daughter's life. I then discovered Target's store brand diapers and I never turned back.....well, until I had a newborn again. I will explain....

Target

I have found that Target's Up and Up Diapers provide just as good of leak protection as the name brand. The quality of the elastic and staying power of the fasteners is also just as good. The print on the diapers is adorable with a white background and green and blue polka dots. I have found that they hold just as much as do the name brands. I would say they do not feel quite as "dry" as the name brands do when they are wet but this has never been an issue for me as I do change my baby's diaper often enough (as one should). The diaper does tend to bubble out a bit in the front when it is full but again, all you need to do is change the baby regularly and this is not a problem. I have found this to be more noticeable on a smaller baby than an older one or a toddler. At night, I have experienced occasional leaking but I had the same issue with the name brands. I switched to an "overnight" diaper for night time and it was a huge improvement. The one issue that I have found is that this diaper is not quite as soft as the name brand but I believe this to only be an issue with a newborn when you want everything their skin touches to be soft as silk. You may find that you will want to wait to make the switch once the baby is past the newborn stage but it is not something that I would find to be a deal breaker at all. I used Pampers Swaddlers again for the first 2 months then switched back to Up and Up for my second baby. Overall, this diaper is a great buy and well worth the savings without sacrificing quality.

The Cost Comparison - Target's Up and Up to Pampers (Prices as of 2/8/11 at Target.com)

Pampers Cruisers size 3 (160 count): $39.87 or .25 / diaper
Up and Up size 3 (96 count**): 14.69 or .15 / diaper

If you used 8 diapers per day, the Pampers Cruisers would cost you 2.00 per day. The Up and Up brand would cost you 1.20 per day. Over the course of one year at 8 diapers per day, the Up and Up brand would save you 292.00!!!! That is a huge savings in my opinion and well worth the switch.

**The Up and Up brand's largest size box, though currently they have a "Club Size" that is larger.