2. Spices and Seasonings (Great Value)

A dash of this and a pinch of that can turn a simple meal into something special. But as you stock your spice rack, you’ll notice that those little jars of flavor can add up quickly. A small container of a name-brand spice like McCormick can often cost four, five, or even six dollars. This is a perfect area for a frugal product swap to Walmart’s Great Value brand.

Spices like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cinnamon, and oregano are simple, single-ingredient products. The contents of the Great Value jar are often indistinguishable from the name-brand version. You are paying for the same dried and ground plant. The main difference you’re paying for with a national brand is marketing, advertising, and a fancier bottle. For items you use frequently, the savings from switching can amount to $20 or $30 over the course of a year, just on seasonings alone.

This is a great time to practice using one of the most powerful affordable shopping tips: comparing the unit price. The unit price is the cost of a product per unit of measurement, like per ounce or per pound. It helps you see the true value, regardless of the package size. Most shelf tags at Walmart show the unit price in smaller print. If they don’t, you can calculate it yourself with some simple math.

Your Money-Saving Move: Let’s do a quick product comparison with some simple math. Imagine a name-brand bottle of garlic powder is $4.50 for 3 ounces. The Great Value version is $2.50 for 5 ounces. At first glance, the Great Value is cheaper, but by how much? To find the unit price, you divide the total price by the quantity. For the name brand, it’s $4.50 divided by 3 ounces, which equals $1.50 per ounce. For the Great Value brand, it’s $2.50 divided by 5 ounces, which equals just $0.50 per ounce! In this case, the Walmart generic brand is three times cheaper. This simple calculation makes the choice crystal clear.