Wal-Mart and Canned Veggies

Husband and I went to Wal-Mart over the weekend. I think that Wal-Mart has some decent prices on things that I use around the home. However, I also find that Wal-Mart is VERY crowded and sometimes that crowdedness is just not even worth it. We went anyway!

Originally, I went to get some laundry detergent. Someone once made a joke that you go into Wal-Mart for one thing and then come out with everything but what you went in there for. We did get a few extra items but we needed to get some food for us.

The other week I had made some brown rice with peas, carrots and corn that was quite good. I had put in some flavoring that was supposed to enhance the veggies and it tasted good. It smelled even better. So, Husband wanted to do that again. Off to the can veggie aisle we went. In order to save some money, I was getting the store brand veggies. I know they taste fine and they were a good value for me. Then, out of nowhere, Husband says he wants the name brand veggies. He says they taste better. Really? I had not noticed a difference. Usually I get the Harris Teeter brand can veggies and nobody said any different on the taste. Wow. I was a little shocked that he said that. No fight in store - I just exchanged the store brand for the national brand canned veggies.

I got to thinking. In a quest to save money, am I compromising taste? Am I becoming overconsumed with saving money? I did not think that I was but his comment got me to thinking about this. Can you have it both - saving money and getting what you want all at the same time? Is buying name brand a way to keep up with those Jonses? (On a side note, has anyone ever met the Jonses? How did that become a saying that we all know?) Is saving $1.80 worth it? (That would have been the savings on the store brand versus the national brand.) Does anyone else have this problem - wanting to save money and then a family member says that want a different brand? I will say that usually Husband is thrifty and for that, I am glad. Or am I wrong? Am I thinking too much into this? Who knows!! Anyone else want to add their opinion on this one?

Jennifer