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Step 1
Begin by visiting your local retailer that offers both name brand products and generic of the same product. Once you are at the store, look for the products that have the name brand and the generic that might say "Compare to" on the label. If you are buying a health or beauty aid, check for the active ingredients. If the active ingredients are the same, the product is generally the same product, simply produced by different manufacturers.
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Step 2
The generic price should be considerably lower than the name brand product. If it isn't, look at other generic products in the same category until you find the product that best suits your needs and the price that fits your budget. If getting a prescription filled, ask your pharmacist if there is a generic product for your prescription.
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Step 3
Store brands can be cheaper and still perform the task required. Compare labels of canned goods and see if they contain the same ingredients you want. Some generic brands may contain more sodium and cost less, but do you really need the additional sodium? In a case such as this, you would want to find a different brand (possibly the store brand) that is comparable to the name brand with the least amount of difference.
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Step 4
In most cases, generic aspirin has the same active ingredient as the name brand aspirin. When comparing health aids, make sure the quantity of the active ingredient is the same as the name brand. If it isn't keep looking until you find the same active ingredient in the same quantity.
