The Ultimate Guide to Affordable Household Essentials

Inflation is taking its toll on consumers. Tightening budgets and cutting costs are becoming our new way of life. Switching from name brand to generic is an easy and effective way to cut costs just a little bit more.

We all feel it. The impact inflation has on our monthly budgets is noticeable. Even when we stick to buying necessities, the bills just keep growing. Many consumers are looking for ways to save on basic household expenses. One of the easiest ways to cut back on spending is to swap to generic brands wherever possible.

Making the swap is easy if you know which products to buy to get the same quality for a lower cost. We’re here to help. Here are our picks for the generic household essentials that can save you the most money. We’ll also share the best generic grocery items and paper products in this money-saving series.

Deals on Home Essentials

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A Black & Decker steam iron with a sleek design featuring a white and blue color scheme, an ergonomic handle, and multiple fabric settings. It includes a steam burst function, anti-drip system, and a smooth soleplate for efficient ironing.

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Macy's: Sale & Clearance under $10

Set of 2 Christmas tabletop signs featuring festive directions like \“Santa's Workshop,\“ \“Candy Cane Lane,\“ and \“North Pole.\“ They're adorned with holiday accents such as Santa's hat, pine cones, and greenery on sturdy red and white bases.

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Holiday Decor under $20 at Macy's

A woman is wearing a long-sleeve plaid top and matching plaid shorts in shades of blue, green, and white.

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Up to 85% Off JCPenney Clearance

60 Days of Deals

A family poses with snowmen in a winter landscape, captured in a wrapped canvas print.

$16

$112

Save 85%

11" x 14" Custom Canvas $16

20-piece Northlight glass ornament set featuring colorful round baubles in red, blue, green, and pink, with various silver designs like stars and stripes. Perfect for decorating Christmas trees.

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Up to 85% Off Christmas Tree Ornaments

A tall, slim Christmas tree with a silver metallic finish, decorated with multicolored ornaments.

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80-90% Off + 10% Off Holiday Decor

A plush, folded faux fur blanket with a textured, tufted surface in gray and white, featuring a soft, sherpa-like lining.

$11

$35

Save 70%

Reversible Micromink to Sherpa Throw $11

Frango Candy Cane Chocolates come in a 1 lb (453g) box with a red and white striped design. The chocolates are square-shaped and stacked beside the box.

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40-50% Off Frango Chocolates

A large jar of Skippy Creamy Peanut Butter with a blue label, emphasizing its 5lb weight.

$10

Save 22%

5lb Jar of Skippy Peanut Butter $8

Stacked holiday-themed fleece blankets with patterns such as cardinals, snowflakes, and Christmas ornaments.

$30

Save 80%

Holiday Plush Throws $6

A stack of various patterned plush blankets, including plaid and snowflake designs.

$50

Save 85%

Reversible Holiday Throw $7

Stacked plush blankets in beige, green, red, blue, and gray.

$24

$80

Save 70%

Ralph Lauren Micromink Queen Blanket $24

A snow-flocked wreath adorned with frosted pine needles and several pinecones, creating a wintry, festive look.

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Holiday Wreaths $17 or Less

A box of Quaker Instant Oatmeal with 48 packets, Maple & Brown Sugar flavor, marked as a heart-healthy option.

$11

48ct Quaker Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal $11

A person relaxes on a sofa, covered with a large, soft turquoise plush blanket (90\“ x 90\“), while reading a book. Nearby, a stack of books rests on a table.

$23

$75

Save 69%

90" x 90" Plush Blanket $23

Harry & David Moose Munch Premium Popcorn, 1 lb 14 oz (850g), features caramel-coated popcorn and nuts with milk and dark chocolate. The drum is adorned with festive snowflakes and includes flavors like milk chocolate, classic caramel, and dark chocolate.

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50% Off Harry & David Moose Munch

A variety of groceries from Thrive Market, including Banza pasta, scout snacks, Chomps, and Rao's sauce, displayed alongside Oatly, snacks, and other assorted items in a Thrive Market box.

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30% Off Thrive Market + Free Gift

A bed with floral-patterned bedding set including a duvet cover and pillows.

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3pc Queen Reversible Comforter Set $24

The Keurig K-Duo Hot & Iced Coffee Maker is a dual-function machine with a carafe and single-serve pod brewer. It features cup size options and a strong brew button, suitable for making both hot and iced coffee.

$67

$99

Save 32%

Keurig K-Duo Hot & Iced Coffee Maker $67!

A Blackstone outdoor griddle grill with four burners, featuring a flat top cooking surface, side shelves, and a propane tank underneath.

$250

$350

Save 28%

Blackstone 36" Hard-Top Griddle $250

A pink Bella Holiday Mini Waffle Maker featuring a festive design with dogs in holiday sweaters, reindeer antlers, and surrounded by gifts and candy canes.

$20

Save 65%

Holiday Mini Waffle Makers $8

Calphalon Air Fryer, a countertop appliance with French doors, features a digital display, adjustable temperature settings, and various cooking functions, including toast, bake, broil, and air fry.

$150

$320

Save 53%

Calphalon Air Fryer $150

A Black+Decker countertop convection toaster oven with dials for temperature, function, and timer settings.

$60

$115

Save 47%

Black & Decker Air Fryer Toaster Oven $60

Red and navy patterned foam kneeling pad.

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Team Throw Blankets from $9

Cleaning Products

Generic cleaning products kill germs as effectively as name brands. You'll want to confirm that the product has a registration number from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the label.

The EPA reviews and registers household cleaning essentials that are effective against common pathogens. A product that has an EPA registration number has gone through testing to prove that the product protects against the germs it claims. Use the EPA’s search tool to review a product’s registration. This will confirm that the EPA has approved the product’s claims for disinfecting.

Sunscreen

The most important things on a sunscreen label are SPF and broad-spectrum protection. The SPF should be at least 30. And you never want to choose sunscreen without broad-spectrum protection. Notice that the brand name is not included in either of these important factors. The FDA regulates both name-brand and generic sunscreen for safety and effectiveness. These regulations are also true for moisturizers and cosmetics that contain SPF.

CVS-brand sunscreens have gotten rave reviews when compared to their name-brand counterparts. Another favorite is Walmart’s Equate Sport Lotion SPF 50.

Over-the-Counter Medications

Big brands rely on our fear that generic will be somehow less effective than the name brand. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must approve all medications for safety and effectiveness, regardless of the brand.

Walmart offers a 100-count package of Tylenol Extra Strength 500mg gel caps for $11.47. Walmart’s own Equate brand has a 100-count extra strength 500mg pain reliever for $4.97. The active ingredient in both medications is 500 mg acetaminophen. The inactive ingredients do differ, but you’re paying for the active ingredient. You’re paying over 56% more for the name on the box, and you save over $7 by buying generic!

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Batteries

Generic brand batteries will save you money. Whether they’re as powerful as their name-brand counterparts depends on the battery type and its use. Our tech experts, Mike Ahene and David Dritsas agree that generic batteries are a great budget buy. But this is only true when they’re used in low-powered items like toys, clocks, and TV remotes. For these items, you’ll always want to buy generic. When it comes to high-powered tech or items you use often, tests show that name-brand batteries do outperform generic brands.

Mike also suggests going with rechargeable batteries to save money in the long run. It’s a bigger investment, but you’ll spend less on batteries throughout the device’s lifetime. David advises that name brands like Energizer and Panasonic will outperform generic-brand rechargeable batteries in the long term.

Buying Generic Household Essentials

Buying generic brands will save you money. Read labels and confirm that the generic brand is comparable to the name brand you love. Work to change the mindset that brand names are better. This will help you start saving money on household essentials. If you do love snagging deals on brands you love, we can still help! Download our free app or set up deal alerts for your favorite brands to stay in the know about the best deals online.