Clark Howard's Tips

July 15, 2008

If you've looked at the prices of diapers and formula lately, you're apt to start crying like a baby. Many manufacturers have been passing costs on to consumers for the past few months. Now comes word that Procter & Gamble is bumping up prices by as much as 16% on brands like Tide, Ivory, Gillette shaving cream, etc.

That means there's never been a better time to try off-brands or store brands; in many cases, the quality of the product is just as good. For example, there's little difference between cheap and costly shampoos.

In his TV work, Clark once interviewed a professor who chemically analyzed different shampoos and confirmed their sameness. Conditioner, however, is a different story. So if you must blow money, buy a cheap shampoo and splurge on a nice conditioner.

But Clark's message stands: Ignoring store brands is risky for your wallet. You could save between 30% and 60% by going the generic route.

Consumer advice courtesy of