Health Products: Nasal Strips

I suffer from allergies.  A lot.  Unfortunately I live in a place where tons of crops are grown and air quality plummets during the summer.  I also have two irresistible cats to whom I have mild allergies, although I wouldn't part with them for the world.  My husband is lucky and has few allergies.

My quest to find allergy solutions led me to nasal strips.  These claim to open up your nasal passages at night and improve your sleep.  I already take allergy medication but figured another thing couldn't hurt.  Let me preface my review by saying I use the name brand nasal strips on a regular basis, and they are extremely helpful.  While browsing the store, I found some generic ones at Safeway to test.  After all, it would be nice to save a few bucks.

I got them off the clearance rack for 50% off.

This is what the strips look like out of the box.  There are two in this sheet.

Instructions with a diagram.

The Good:  Nothing really, except the price.

The Bad:  These don't stick, at all.  I used the same procedure I normally use for my name brand nasal strips to remove oil and ensure maximum stickiness.  Nothing I did would get these to stay on for more than a short time.  They also didn't fit very well.  With a poor fit and no sticking, there was no point.  The half-full box is now decorating the bathroom.

The Verdict:  I would never recommend these.  They are a complete waste of money.  The name brand product is expensive, but MUCH better.  If you are concerned about price, look up the company and they will even send you a coupon and a free sample to try out.  If you can't afford the name brand at all, consider another option instead of this disaster.

Note: My husband actually found 6 boxes of the name brand (NOT Safeway) on their clearance racks recently.  At 50% off, they were a steal and I won't have to replenish my stock for a long time!

Health Products: Butterfly Bandages

When my husband had major surgery, we spend a lot of time searching for products to minimize the resulting scars.  Butterfly bandages were recommended as a way to hold the skin together to prevent stretching during the healing process.  As a result, we had the chance to test out Rite Aid generic butterfly bandages for several weeks.

Note the claim that these are waterproof
and won't stick to wounds.

• The Good:  The bandages did not stick to the wound, as promised.  They were mostly waterproof (but not completely).  After wearing them for a week, there was only mild skin irritation.  The bandages are latex free for those people who suffer from allergies.

• The Bad:  They were OK at sticking.  My husband gives them a 7 out of 10 on the sticky factor, and admits that name brand products are better in the stickiness category.  They did not work very well in joint areas.

• The Verdict:  My husband used two full boxes of these while recovering from surgery.  They were cheaper compared to the name brand counterpart, and despite being slightly less sticky it was worth the price difference.  If you are using butterfly bandages for a joint that moves constantly, it might be better to go with the stickier name brand, but these are adequate for most other jobs.

Household Products: Disinfecting Wipes

Much to my dismay, houses are not self-cleaning.  This review concerns household disinfecting cleaning wipes.  These wipes usually come in cylindrical containers dispensing one scented cloth-like item at a time.  Sure, it is probably cheaper to use vinegar or bleach and a reusable cleaning towel but sometimes you have to opt for convenience.

I received some feedback from a friend who regularly uses the wipes pictured below (Safeway brand).  She has a house full of animals and often hosts gatherings, which results in the need for frequent cleaning.

Ahhhhh, lemon scent.

Another view.

The Good:  These wipes get the job done.  They don't leave ugly streaks behind and they don't rip frequently.  The lemon scent is actually pleasant, unlike some cleaners with a stench powerful enough to clear the room.  Also, my friend says there are more in each package compared to other cleaners which makes them a good deal.

The Bad:  The dispenser thing is annoying sometimes, but both generic and name brand products seem to use the same clawed thing on top.  The cleaning power is worth occasionally having to squeeze your fingers in to fish out the next wipe.

The Verdict:  Safeway brand disinfecting wipes are definitely in.  If you are standing face to face with the cleaning aisle products and can't decide what to choose, these cheaper wipes are worth it.

Snack Foods: Pretzel Nuggets

All right, so continuing on the same vein as the last post, we had the opportunity to try some Safeway brand pretzels today.  I am not a big fan of honey mustard anything; therefore the reviews are based on people (including the husband ) who actually tried the snacks.

Honey mustard nuggets: time to see what "all the buzz is about!"

Ok, in the bowl they don't look spectacular, but it could be the camera.
I really need to use something besides my cell phone when possible.

• The Good: Apparently these pretzel nuggets are tasty.  The flavor is good and they were more popular compared to other snack foods.  The bag is resealable to keep them fresh, although they are unlikely to last long enough to require re-sealing.  Even the kitten snuck one out of the room when she thought no one was paying attention!

• The Bad:  Nothing really.  They aren't healthy but neither are name brand pretzel snacks.  Avoid if you need to cut down on sodium intake.

• The Verdict:  If Safeway has these on sale, buy them.  The price is usually right and the taste makes them worthwhile.

Snack Foods: Cheeze Puffs

Today we had a small gathering at the house.  That can only mean one thing: bring out the snack foods!  As always, my husband and I try to find munchies to satisfy our guests without breaking the bank.

One of our mutual friends stopped at Safeway to pick up some contributions to the snack pile.  As a result, we ended up with some generic cheese puffs.  See below:

Ok, so the technical term is "Trap-Cheese Artist"

Well, they definitely look similar to their name brand counterpart.

So, how do the cheese puffs with the funny name compare to their counterpart?

• The Good:  They are light, crispy, crunchy, and leave your fingers with that familiar neon orange powder coating.  The bag is resealable (and the seal actually lives up to its name) so the puffs stay good for a long time. 

• The Bad: They definitely aren't the healthiest snack, but no one (hopefully) picks these up with the intention of shedding pounds.   

• Verdict: Safeway brand cheese puffs are worth picking up.  They are consistently cheaper compared with their brand name counterpart, unless you happen to have a coupon/store sale combination to work with. 

Introduction and Site Index

And The Debate Begins...

In a bad economy, people are always looking to save money whenever possible.  As you look down your shopping list and walk through the grocery store aisles, you are usually faced with a few choices.  In one spot, you see the bright packaging of name brand products, familiar due to their frequent advertisements.  Nearby, a row of off-brand or generic products hangs out inconspicuously.  Often, the price tag on the generic product is cheaper, but is it really better? 

It's time to find out.

If you don't want to go through every post, here is a list of all products reviewed: [in progress]

Snack Foods:

Cheese Puffs
Pretzel Nuggets

Health Products:

Butterfly Bandages
Nasal Strips

Household Products:

Disinfecting Wipes