This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

You've probably heard many stories how recession and bad economy affects people all over the world. It's true, a recession scares people. It often leads to lost jobs, stocks dropping value, etc. Money is tight these days and everyone is looking for ways to survive the recession. However, there are ways to recession-proof your lifestyle. Try charging less and paying cash for more of the little things like dinner and groceries.

A new nationwide study reveals that more than eight out of ten supermarket shoppers see no improvement in the economy, and 40% said conditions were worse. The findings of "Recession, Recovery & Store Brands" are based on a poll of almost 800 main household grocery shoppers conducted in February 2010.



Well, one of the most effective ways to adjust your spending is by tweaking your grocery budget. I still find that cooking my own food at home is less expensive than going out. I was raised that everyone came home and ate around the family table, but now I am choosing to eat out because I don't have time to cook for myself and I don't even know how to cook.

During tough economic times, 62% of consumers said they plan on buying more store brand products as they attempt to stretch their food dollars. I know it can be a challenge for families that need to save money but want to eat healthy. But, there are plenty of healthy options you can use to save money without sacrificing your health.

Go generic! There's really no need to spend extra money to get name-brand versions of your favorite foods, especially the foods you purchase often. In fact, quite a few generic products are nearly identical to the more expensive national brands, so nutritionally speaking, there's no benefit to trading up to higher priced name-brand versions. Save money and select store-brand versions of items (unless, of course, your favorite name-brand is running low-cost specials). Eat well and stay healthy!



43% of shoppers who tried store brands for the first time in categories where they used to buy only national brands obviously find that store brand products are usually cheaper than private brands and some of them are of comparable quality such as Parent's Choice. Virtually 97% of shoppers who switched to a Store Brand are pleased with their decision and 49% say their new store brand selections compare "very favorably"! Moreover, shoppers who identify themselves as "frequent" buyers of store brands are at an all-time high.

So do you faithfully stick to a particular brand of products or prefer to try various brands?