Brand loyalty is a hurdle that deters some shoppers away from coupon and bargain picking at the supermarket and drugstores.

If you are insistent on, say, Tide, as the preferred laundry soap, well, then here is what happens: You will be annoyed with the shopping options during the weeks in which All, Cheer or Dynamo are the best deals and Tide seems to be very pricey. And maybe you’ll say couponing is not for you.

But, yes, it is.

Here is how you can handle that situation:

• Watch for and save the coupons that feature your favorite product. The Tide coupons, for example, are usually in the P&G flier that is distributed once a month. You will not see that coupon every week. If one coupon a month is sufficient for your needs, fine; if not, get involved in a coupon swap among your friends, co-workers or relatives or trade coupons at the library coupon boxes (Most of the library branches in Monroe County, Mich., host coupon swap boxes).
• Watch for the grocery sales that feature your favorite product. If you are very happy with a particular brand, remember that that other shoppers are too. The bigger detail to remember is that you will not find that item on sale every week. When you do see a sale, do not dismiss it. Get one even if you haven’t run out yet. If you wait until you do run out, you might end up having to buy that product at full price. Bad idea. If the sale price was so good that the item is out of stock, then ask for a rain check.
• Try a different brand when that price is good. The best time to try a competitor’s brand is when that price is cheap. I bought a can of shaving cream a couple of days ago for 50 cents after coupon – if my husband doesn’t like it, we’re only out 50 cents. If he does like it, that can of shaving cream was cheaper than his usual brand.
• Refill the other boxes and bottles to please a family member. I haven’t done this, but other bargain shoppers have. If you suspect the family member who insists you buy the expensive brand is more interested in the marketing rather than taste or results, one possibility is refill the old containers with whatever other brand you bought. The more ethical option is to instill a family rule that cereal, for example, goes into a plastic storage container labeled “corn flakes” or whatever. (Your bin doesn’t have to say which brand of corn flakes.)
• Look for your savings elsewhere. There will likely be products your family really likes that are going to cost way more than the alternatives. Do what you can about the cost of that toothpaste, soap, toaster pastries or whatever. Then cut your expenses as much as possible on other products. Example: My husband and I prefer name brand cereals over store brand. I’m also picky about coffee. But I find generic oatmeal to be quite acceptable. And the store brand chocolate sandwich cookies at Aldi’s are actually very good.