Brands / products you won’t cheap out on

This is why they hate us.

Q-tips

Shoes. The difference in quality, wear ability, and duration is around $50-$80 more for men's shoes. Spend the extra money and have nice shoes, maybe just fewer of them.

I was a lifelong Bounty paper towel buyer until I discovered Costco's Kirkland towels earlier this year. Much better, stronger and less linty. That 12-pack of towels now in my storage bin should last me well into next year.

Dishwasher soap (either Finish or Cascade), never store brands. I find I can’t tell the difference in toilet paper, papers towels. They can’t be the thin bottom tier ones, but most stores also have a higher quality line that’s just fine. My partner goes through a forest worth of papers towels every week, so it’s worth it to save on them.

Whatever you do OP, whether cheap or luxury. ALWAYS wipe front to back.

For me, it must be colognes. My favoite brands are Calvin Klein and Bvlgari.

Cigarettes

Linens.

Underwear: 2XIST, Calvin Klein, and recently a few pairs of Tom Ford.

Shoes: Agree 100% with R3.

Mayonnaise: Best Foods / Hellman’s.

In most other cases, I’m not super picky or loyal when it comes to name brand stuff.

Can you cheap out on a brand? It costs what it costs, unless it’s on special.

Products are different though. I have very wide feet and stand all day at work so I will spend whatever I can afford on the best shoes. Paper products in the bathroom and kitchen. Towels, underwear, wine and spirits, meat (fortunate to have a great butcher near me) and other groceries.

My fat daughter swears by Magnum ice cream bars.

Here is a side question to go along with OP's:

What brands/products did YOU USE to not cheap out on that you now find are NOT the quality they used to be:

For me - Bounty Paper Towels are not what they used to be. Less thick, less absorption. I now prefer Viva, (but wondering if I should sample Kirkland's after reading the post upthread).

Rent men.

Calvin Klein cologne? That horrid stuff is cheap and you can get it at any discount store like Marshall’s or TJ Maxx. You have horrible taste in cologne if you use that low-end crap.

R12 - is that you Cindy McCain?

Listerine full strength.

Mayonnaise = Hellmans (Best Foods), store brand is gross.

R12 always trust fatties and stoners for good junk food. And 24 hour eateries.

Scrubbing Bubbles

R2 I agree. The generic ones are never as good.

Cascade Platinum Plus dishwasher pods. Costco sells both those and their own house brand - Kirkland Platinum Shine or something like that. It's one of the few kirkland substitutes that just doesn't measure up for me. There is something different about the formula no matter how close it is supposed to be.

Mayonnaise - has to be Hellman's/Best Food's

Tide

Dr. Tichenor’s

When it comes to household products, I generally buy the brand. Store brand are usually lower quality or watered down in my experience.

Another endorsement for Kirkland paper towels and toilet paper.

Fragrances. It takes me a year to use a whole bottle so I always buy really nice ones.

I like the Kirkland paper towels but the toilet paper is going too far. I stick with the established brand names and buy the bulk Charmin option at Costco.