In the October 2010 issue of Consumer Reports a study was conducted on the quality, value and taste differences between store brands and national brands. The results were quite interesting and surprising.

I have always touted using National Brands when they are sale-priced combined with a coupon savings. This has given me a 50-60% savings each and every time I shop. So here’s what Consumer’s found. They used 21 test items for taste and quality. Of the 21, 7 National Brands came in first, 3 Private Labels were the favorites and the other 11 items were a tossup. On the value scale, Consumer’s concluded that Private labels could save up to 30% or $1500 over the year.

To put this in perspective, if you never use a coupon, Private Labels might be for you. However, the best way to save is to combine many methods: Store Sale, coupons, double coupons, private labels, store coupons and any other tool that saves. All of this should take a common sense approach and you’ll achieve the best methods for you.

Refund Offers will net you the best savings but require you to mail away your proofs of purchase to receive your refund. And you can save in 3 different ways.

• A return of a free product coupon
• Cash back on the purchase
• Great premiums or gifts

In a typical year, I get back about $2500 in cash, in addition to the free product coupons and gifts. I place all my refunds into an interest bearing back account, and any expenses associated with my refund offers come out of this account. So my hobby is certainly money-saving and fun.

Some of the premiums include: T-Shirts, free movie tickets, stuffed toys, great kitchen-related items, insulated lunch bags, a Crockpot, the Energizer Bunny about 2’ tall, matchbox cars, lovely tote bags, wonderful child’s books, cookbooks, children’s items that served as a diversion when my kids came to me with bumps; more unique gadgets than I can list here.

The free product coupons are just about on every item. Most packaged goods, pet foods, cereals, paper goods all offer refunds in the form of a coupon. Among those that I like the best are the tie-in promotions offering a coupon on another product. For example, Wishbone’s refund on its salad dressing nets $2 back on the purchase of produce, Dole Pineapple wants you to make Hawaiian Chicken, that refund is $2 on your meat order. But the packaged goods are great too. I got a coupon for a free Cheer, the cost of the product around $15.

Refunding is worth the time, postage money, and effort. For more information, great offers, go to www.refundlebundle.com and start saving too.