It’s ridiculous how much extra we pay for branding and packaging, and how brainwashed we are by advertising. I used to think a well-known brand was better quality. But most generic foods are made by the same companies as the big brands anyway.

I’ve started buying generic food and other products whenever possible and have noticed little difference–except in the savings! Coupled with coupons, I’ve really reduced my grocery bills.

I have a bad habit of calling 411 whenever I need a phone number quickly and am on the go. But every time you call information for a number, it costs a dollar. And those dollars add up quickly.

Well, a friend told me about this number and I was a little skeptical at first, but then I read about it on Oprah.com.

Whenever you need a number, just dial 800-466-4411. It’s a free service from Google, and a great way to save in just one small way. I even programmed it into my cell phone. Click on the phone number I’ve underlined and you can watch a short video on Google’s web site explaining how easy it is to use.