Four Items For Which Name Brand is Necessary
I pride myself on being a good shopper. Fun Fact: My parents are currently remodeling a bathroom in their house, and they’re just buying everything I chose for my bathroom remodel seven years ago. Because I do the research, I choose the best, and I will never steer you in the wrong direction. All that being said, I feel very passionately about things you should never get generic, things you should never pay full price for (virtually everything), and store brand/generic picks that are perfectly fine — nice even! This week I’m going to go over some of my generic vs name brand alignments, starting with the good stuff… that’s worth it.
Metamucil
I have been a Metamucil devotee for years and years, but post-cholecystectomy I have been depending on Metamucil even more. It’s the easiest way to add more fiber to your diet (Only 5% of people get the proper amount of fiber?!?), and the benefits of fiber are HUGE. I start every morning with Metamucil, and since I’ve become gallbladder-free I’ve been having some in the afternoon as well. I would recommend Metamucil to absolutely everyone, but with a catch: Get the name brand, and if diet permits, get the real sugar. I’ve tried the Kirkland brand (it’s slightly orange flavored sand) and the sugar-free Metamucil (which made me realize sugar was doing a lot of leg work in terms of palatability), and my fervent recommendation is to buy the name brand, real sugar Metamucil, preferably on sale at Costco, but full price is still the best deal around.
Nespresso Pods
This is going to come up in my next rec too, but I really have a pet peeve about people spending significant money on something and then not using it as intended. I have a Nespresso machine, because I like espresso drinks and cold brew was making me feel not great (hot tip for those among us with delicate digestive systems: Espresso>Cold Brew>Coffee). The thing with Nespresso Vertuo machines (maybe original, idk) is that you can use 7 different types of pods, and when you put one in, the machine reads a barcode and knows exactly how to brew that pod to perfection. You don’t need to choose a cup size or a water temp or anything - just put in the pod and the machine magically makes a perfect version of whatever it is. So hacks to reuse the pods or crack open a pod and fill it with Cafe Bustelo or whatever “hacks” people are peddling aren’t good. This isn’t a Keurig! And no one is making you have a Nespresso machine! Sell it and buy a moka pot!
ZIIP Gel
I wrote a two parter on the ZIIP microcurrent device (here and here) and this is another thing that people try to “hack” that I just cannot abide by. If you’re going to spend hundreds of dollars on a gadget, why are you then trying to use CVS brand aloe gel instead of the gel the company supplies and recommends for their product??? I MEAN. If you’re in, you’re IN. Accept it. Or move on!
Charmin Ultra Strong Toilet Paper
I have tried Kirkland toilet paper. I have even tried cheaper Charmin varieties! But I will spend whatever I need to in order to have Charmin Ultra Strong TP in my life and my bathroom.
