🛒 10 Cheap Off Brand Foods Better Than Name Brand

It goes without saying that inflation has hit many household budgets…hard. That’s especially true when it comes to what we’re spending on groceries. As we all look to pinch pennies where we can, one of the best–and easiest–ways to cut costs is by switching to store brand, generic or off brand foods when you shop. New research from grocery stores nationwide shows that private label sales across all US retail outlets rose $108 billion during the first half of 2023, an increase of 8.2% over 2022.

How much can we stand to save by swapping out the name brand for generic? According to Consumer Reports, about 25%. Not only can these brands save us money, many of these foods are just as good (if not better!) than their name-brand counterparts.

The HerMoney team recently shared 10 of our favorites. Here are just a few:

Almond milk: HerMoney’s Editor-in-Chief Kathryn Tuggle says the Thrive Market almond beverage is better than any pricey brand she’s tried. ($3.99 per carton at Thrive vs. $4.79-$4.99 for many other brands)

Canned tomatoes: “Wegmans has wonderful canned tomatoes — stewed, diced, and whole,” says HerMoney community member Pesha L. She buys in bulk when her favorites are on sale to keep her pantry stocked. The Wegmans canned tomatoes retail for $1.49 for 28 ounces vs. $2.00 for many other brands.

Greek Yogurt: When it comes to the nonfat variety of Greek yogurt, HerMoney community member Heidi Y. says the Friendly Farms nonfat Greek yogurt from Aldi is her favorite. The savings here is substantial — the Aldi brand is around $4.99 for a 32 ounce container, compared to $7.99 for the same size of Fage.

Check out our full list, here.

An ETF Strategy For Any Economy

So far this year, we’ve heard Wall Street strategists singing very different tunes. First, there was: Recession is coming. Recession is coming. But then practically overnight, the tune changed to: Soft landing. Soft landing. The mixed messages are enough to make an investor’s head spin. Particularly those investors who are not traders, but rather are in it for the long haul — using the markets to grow their money in order to achieve goals that may be years (if not decades) away. These goals include the purchase of a home, college for the kids, and retirement. If you’re an investor like this — and most of us are! — then you shouldn’t be trying to time the market. Instead, “what you need are tools that can help you understand different market dynamics at different times,” explains Jasmine Fan, CFA, and Vice President of iShares Investment Strategy. At HerMoney.com, Fan and her colleagues break down how different ETFs can be useful in helping to weather — or profit from — the sort of specific market forces that rear their heads from time to time. Take a look at some of the scenarios investors should keep in mind.**

Growing Your Career Beyond The Glass Ceiling With Elizabeth Pearson

When you think about what it takes to climb the career ladder, things like tapping into your network, putting in long hours at the office and being a team player might come to mind. But is there an essential piece of the puzzle we’re missing? Career coach Elizabeth Pearson says yes, and that’s trusting the universe to lead you in the right direction. As author of the book, “Career Confinement,” Pearson helps women in leadership positions take control of their careers and thrive in male-dominated fields. This week on the How She Does It Podcast, proudly supported by iShares, Pearson sits down with Karen Finerman to talk about how we can use spiritual practice and meditation to help us find fulfilling careers more aligned with our souls.

Pearson spent years working her way up the ladder in corporate sales, only to find herself feeling unfulfilled. “I liken it to a tigress being in a cage,” she says, “At some point that cage, even the big, cushy, large cage with the nice house in the suburbs and the two children and the perfect husband is still a cage.”

Listen in to hear how she tapped into the teachings of spiritual leaders like Deepak Chopra to break free and ultimately, create her own unique coaching program that infuses spirituality into one’s career path.

Are You Too Emotionally Attached To Your Money? It Might Be Holding You Back

“When I received my first $20 as a babysitter in my early teens, my dad took me straight to the bank where he insisted I save 10% of my earnings,” writes Lindsay Tigar for HerMoney. Those $2 made a lasting impact on her mentality surrounding money. While it’s great to save, that thinking held Tigar back from investing, and making her money work for her. “It took me many years — not to mention meditation and therapy — to separate my emotional attachments to my savings account, and understand that sometimes, risks are worth it.”

If you’re like Tigar, and emotionally attached to your money, there are ways to notice patterns and ultimately, break free. One of the biggest hurdles for many women is feeling like we aren’t able to make informed decisions when it comes to investing. We can build that confidence by creating a month-by-month blueprint, and simply investing small sums, which may be emotionally easier to process. Then, continue to grow our accounts as we gain confidence and get more comfortable. “When women do invest, they tend to hold a more long-term, conservative view with their investments, meaning they’re less likely to move in and out of the market, which may lead to higher returns,” explains Lorna Kapusta, the head of women and investing at Fidelity Investments. “Money is a very personal topic, which is why we all need to create a financial plan and ensure that our money is working as hard as we do.”

If you need a little extra help breaking free from money mentalities that no longer work for you, check out FinanceFixx. This coaching program, brought to you by Jean Chatzky, can help you build a financial plan that works for you and your lifestyle.

Speak Confidently In Any Room With Matt Abrahams

Most of us like to prepare when we’re asked to give a speech — no matter the size of the room or audience. But sometimes when we want to say something important, we don’t have time to prepare at all. So, how can we make sure the ideas we’re hoping to express come across confidently everywhere from a one-on-one huddle, to a packed auditorium? Matt Abrahams is an expert on sounding confident when speaking on the fly, and he’s the author of the number one best-selling book: “Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You’re Put on the Spot.”

On this week’s HerMoney Podcast*, Abrahams sits down with Jean Chatzky and shares his best advice on how to become better speakers (and listeners!) in any situation and particularly at work, where we want to be seen as leaders. Abrahams says the first thing we need to remember is there’s no “right way” to communicate. “There are better ways and worse ways but if we can relieve ourselves of that pressure of trying to do it right, we will actually end up doing it better,” he says.

Abrahams offers a helpful structure for saying exactly what we mean when speaking on the fly… He says to take a beat and ask ourselves these three questions before we speak: What? So What? and Now What? “The ‘what’ is my idea. It could be my product, my service, or my position on an issue. The ‘so what’ is why it is important and relevant to you. And then the ‘now what’ is what comes next,” he says. “By simply answering those three questions, it positions me well to package my information.” If you’re looking for a little extra confidence when it comes to public speaking, give the show a listen–you’ll be glad you did.

When you think about retirement, do you have a plan designed to help make your money last as long as you do? That is the biggest fear — by far — for women. To help make sure you’re ready for the future, schedule a Complimentary Retirement Review and Financial Plan. This special offer running through October 27 includes:

A guide toward your optimal retirement

Personal investment recommendations

An estimated retirement income summary, including Social Security benefits

Head here to receive yours today.¹

How ‘Place’ Can Make Or Break Your Retirement Years

It's clear that where you live shapes your identity, even in retirement, a time when many people may find a new place to call “home.” But how do you pick the right place to relocate to during the second half of life? That’s a question Ryan Frederick, an expert in the field of aging has helped many people answer. He saw a great need for people to be better informed about how to decide where to live during their retirement years. The keys to finding your right “place,” include considering financial health, purpose, and social connection when deciding where you want to be when you’re retired. Here are some other tips Frederick shared with us on a recent Your Money Map with Alliance for Lifetime Income.

More For You To ❤️

Women Small Business Owners Take Fewer Risks, Have Investment Confidence Gaps. New research conducted by HerMoney Media and Principal Financial Group® reveals a difference in confidence levels between women and men small and midsized business owners (SMBs) when it comes to their outlook for the overall economy, confidence in money management, and attitude toward risk. The research also revealed that women business owners are more focused on driving good employee experiences and outcomes than men. Read the full release here.

Saving Is Important, But It Isn’t Enough. According to research from BlackRock, more women than men say they put a high level of priority on saving money in order to facilitate living a comfortable life in retirement — but are we investing as much as we need to, in order to secure our financial futures? Here’s how to get invested and stay invested.**

Have a great week!

The HerMoney Team

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*The HerMoney podcast is proudly sponsored by Edelman Financial Engines. Unlock your wealth potential with our sophisticated wealth planning. Continue your journey at EdelmanFinancialEngines.com. Sponsored by Edelman Financial Engines – Modern wealth planning. All advisory services offered through Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. (FEA), a federally registered investment advisor. Results are not guaranteed. AM3143680.

**This is a sponsored post.

¹Limit one complimentary offer per household, per 18 months. Offer ends Oct. 27, 2023, and is only applicable to households with a minimum investable assets of $250,000. Offer criteria may be waived at Edelman Financial Engines’ discretion.

HerMoney is not a client, agent, representative or affiliate of EFE. Edelman Financial Engines (“EFE”) is a sponsor of the "HerMoney with Jean Chatzky Podcast,” created by HerMoney Media. Inc. (“HerMoney”) and provides cash compensation to HerMoney Media. HerMoney receives a sponsorship fee from Edelman Financial Engines depending on the number of podcast downloads, as measured by the end of the calendar year. The sponsorship fee is paid on a quarterly basis each year. In turn, HerMoney also provides promotional deliverables regarding EFE on the HerMoney podcast, newsletter, and social media channels. Due to this sponsorship arrangement, HerMoney has an incentive to endorse EFE and its services.

BLACKROCK and iSHARES are trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. or its affiliates (together “BlackRock”). The information provided in this communication is solely for educational purposes and should not be construed as advice or an investment recommendation. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of BlackRock. BlackRock is not affiliated with HerMoney.