Let’s be honest — sometimes we’re not paying for what’s in the product, we’re paying for the fancy font on the packaging. Brand loyalty is real, but so is the markup that comes with it.
Here are 20 everyday items where the logo might be doing more heavy lifting than the actual product.
20. Bottled Water
It’s water. From the earth. And somehow slapping a mountain logo on it makes it cost four bucks.
19. Designer Toothpaste
The packaging is cute, but you’re basically brushing with the same fluoride as the drugstore stuff. Your teeth don’t care if it came in a minimalist tube.
18. Branded Trash Bags
You’re literally throwing them away. A strong generic bag does the same job for less — and you won’t cry when it rips either way.
17. Name-Brand Spices
Paying extra for cinnamon just because it has a familiar label? Nah. Store-brand spices taste the same and cost way less.
16. Facial Tissue
One brand claims to be ultra-soft and soothing, but honestly, your nose can’t tell the difference mid-sneeze. Save a buck and keep blowing.
15. Paper Towels
Fancy packaging won’t clean up a mess any faster. Generics work just as well and don’t require a second mortgage.
14. Diapers
Sure, the big-name ones promise clouds and magic, but many off-brands hold up just as well (and hold everything in). Your baby won’t know the difference — promise.
13. Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
Acetaminophen is acetaminophen. Don’t pay double for a name you saw in a commercial during football.
12. Laundry Detergent
Brand-name detergents have catchy jingles, but the ingredients are often nearly identical to the generic ones. Your clothes come out clean either way.
11. Fancy Dish Soap
You’re just washing forks. That little duck on the bottle doesn’t make your sink sparkle more.
10. Dryer Sheets
They all smell like “spring breeze” anyway. The store brand won’t sabotage your laundry.
9. Cleaning Wipes
Same chemical smell, same disinfecting power, less cash. Wipe away the brand loyalty.
8. Cotton Swabs
A plastic stick with cotton on each end doesn’t need to cost designer prices. Just make sure they don’t fall apart, and you’re golden.
7. Batteries
Big-name batteries swear they last longer, but studies show store-brand options often hold up just as well. Power to the people — and the savings.
6. Phone Chargers
The logo may say it’s “official,” but a quality third-party charger works just as well for half the price. Just read reviews and dodge the sketchy ones.
5. Shampoo and Conditioner
Some drugstore shampoos go full Hollywood with their branding, but they’re still packed with sulfates and filler. You’re not paying for magic — you’re paying for marketing.
4. Coffee Pods
Same caffeine, smaller price tag. Generic pods wake you up just the same — minus the boutique name.
3. Cereal
That name-brand box might come with a mascot, but the knockoff next to it tastes suspiciously familiar. Bonus points for hilarious knockoff names.
Read More: 10 Ways to Make Your Phone Battery Last Longer
2. Water Filters
It’s the same plastic pitcher and the same basic filter inside. Don’t pay double just for a household name.
Read More: 10 Items to NEVER Buy at Aldi
1. Razor Blades
Big razor brands would have you believe theirs are forged by angels. In reality, generic blades cut the same — without cutting your budget.
Read More: 15 Things You Should Always Buy Generic
