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Generic drugs are the “no name” drugs of the pharmaceutical industry. They generally come to the market after the patent of a brand name drug expires. Generic drugs are cheaper than their brand name counterparts, because you’re not paying for brand name, or the research and development behind the original drug. In Canada and the US (and most other countries), generic drugs are required to be bioequivalent to their brand name counterpart. This means you get the same product for a fraction of the cost.

Next time you go to the drug store for over-the-counter painkillers, skip the brand names and go generic. (Generic painkillers often come in larger containers, saving you even more money.)

At first it can be a little confusing, because we’ve come to know painkillers by their trademark brand names, not their generic names. This table gives the generic name of common painkillers:

For most men, shaving is a very regular ritual. Some of us are more diligent than others, but nonetheless, any regular event is an opportunity for savings.

Shaving products are a huge business, and in a saturated market, brands like Gillette (owned by Procter & Gamble) and Schick (owned by Energizer) know the only way to grow is by increasing market share or by making products more expensive. Razor blades have evolved from single blades to 4+ blades cartridges, with price increases to match. Unfortunately, the increase in shaving performance did not increase by the same amount.

A typical Schick Quattro razor blade will cost about $10, with replacement blades costing about $2.50 each.

But there are other options. You just have to look beyond the drug store or department store. Shaving supplies can be found much cheaper at your specialty men’s grooming store.

For the past 2 years, I have been shaving using a double-edge safety razor with single blades. You can spend anywhere from about $25-$100 for the razor (or more if you really wanted). I purchased mine from Men Essentials, a great online store for men’s grooming products. But the secret is the replacement blades.

Double-edge safety razors use single razor blades. So you’re not getting the 4+ blades of the fancy commercial razors, but most of that is marketing hype. With a little practice using a double-edge razor, you’ll get the same quality shave at a fraction of the price. Why?

Double-edge razor blades cost as little as $0.15 each. Yes, that’s right. Less than 10% of the cost of Gillette or Schick replacement blades. Men Essentials sells blades in 5-packs for $1.25 (or $0.25 each), I recently purchased a package of 100 Derby razor blades for about $15 on eBay, and similar deals deals are always available.

So I urge all men to give double-edge razor shaving a try. For some, it takes a little getting used to. But you’ll save a ton of money, and at the same time, reduce waste. A single razor blade is a lot less to be throwing out than a multi-blade plastic cartridge.

Bonus: Here’s an article to get you started shaving with a double-edge safety razor.

My gender prevents me from giving a personal anecdote here. Instead, I’ll rely on the testimonial of a coworker.

The Diva Cup is a reusable alternative to tampons or pads. Not only is it a more environmentally-friendly solution, but you’ll start saving money every month.

Read about the experiences of the Urban Green Girl and her Diva Cup.

There are certain areas where new and modern isn’t necessarily better. It’s just more expensive. But clever marketers have convinced us to drop traditional cleaning products in favour of over-hyped products that may work a little better, but mostly just make them more money.

In her Housekeeping Handbook, Martha Stewart discusses using a few basic products for cleaning your entire house. Not only are they cheap, but a couple of them are also completely natural, and environmentally friendly.

For a window cleaner, replace Windex with with white distilled vinegar, diluted 50/50 with water, in a spray bottle. Really dirty windows or mirrors will take a little extra rubbing, but it’s a much friendlier and less expensive cleaner. You can get 4-litre jugs of vinegar for just a couple dollars… that’s 8 litres of window cleaner once diluted.

For an all-purpose cleaner (cleaning counters, tables, etc.), mix 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid to every 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Now that’s one less cleaning product to buy, and that ratio dishwashing liquid to water goes a long way.

For scrubbing power, forget those harsh products like Comet. Granted, Comet is pretty cheap, you can save a little more, and be gentler on both your hands and the environment by using baking soda. Great for cleaning tubs and sinks, use it generously with a wet cloth. Again, it takes a little more scrubbing power than Comet, but it’s much more gentle on porcelain. Guaranteed not to scratch. Deodorizes at the same time.

Every month or so, use both baking soda and vinegar to clear out your drains in a very environmentally friendly and inexpensive way. Pour a generous amount of baking soda (about 1/2 cup) down the drain. (I use a chop stick to help get it all in there.) With the drain stop in hand, quickly pour about 1/2 cup of vinegar down the drain, and quickly plug the drain. The chemical reaction creates carbon dioxide and water (remember the volcano demonstration from school?) which, since you plugged the sink, is forced to flow down the drain, helping clear any buildup. Not for seriously clogged drains, but safe and effective preventative maintenance.

So when your current supply of cleaning products runs out, try these cheaper and friendlier alternatives.

For more great uses for vinegar, check out this page from the Vinegar Institute.

Footnote:
Martha Stewart’s Housekeeping Handbook is a great book for explaining how to clean and organize things around the house, how often, and why. It’s an excellent reference, with handy weekly, monthly and seasonal cleaning checklists, and a stain removal table that covers just about everything.