Pantry Raid

With the economy still on it's ever spiraling downward motion, we have had to make some changes in our spending. Since we only have one income we try to pick and choose what we spend our money on, but still live life to the best we can! I do a majority of my grocery shopping at Publix, our local grocery store. We also shop for diapers, meats, and other items that we can buy in bulk at BJ's. I usually try to pop up to the Walmart Neighborhood Market in the middle of the week to pick up more milk and any other little things we need.

I have found some items that are generally cheaper at Walmart, but I prefer to do my major shopping at Publix. Some of the prices of food these days are OUTRAGEOUS!! One thing that I have begun doing is buying more generic food items. I decided to look in my pantry and share my thoughts with you as to what does and doesn't work as a generic item (in our opinion). I'll do a fridge raid next week (0:

Things that we've found work really well as generics:
rice (white and brown)
spices
pretzels (we prefer these actually!)
jelly
maple syrup
mustard
relish
pickles
sugar
salsa

The things that we've found that don't work for us:
cereal... I've tried 2 or 3 kinds and they just don't taste right to me
soda

I know we've tried more, but that is what we had in there right now... I'll share more another week. My goal is to try 1 or 2 new generic items each week.

What pantry items do you buy generic of? What have you tried that just doesn't work for you?