Buzz
Even with a prepared shopping list, you might still waste time—and money—if you're lured by sale signs in nearly every aisle. Sure, saving money is important, but does it really make sense to pause and compare sale prices on different sizes and varieties of products available?
Unit pricing—which shows the cost per ounce, sheet, or other unit of measurement—is typically listed on the product’s shelf tag. However, comparing unit prices can be tedious, especially when brands display varying unit sizes.
This is why having a second shopping list for reference is essential: one that tracks your personal benchmark prices.
Reddit user thenewyorkgod shared their strategy for tracking 'benchmark pricing' for around 30 items they frequently purchase. By calculating the price per unit for the cheapest version of each product, they are able to assess whether a sale price is truly a bargain when it arises.
Here’s how it works:
I monitor the benchmark prices of each of these items, determined by shopping at the most affordable stores, such as Aldi and Costco. For instance, Costco Toilet Paper costs $.01 per square foot, Dove Shampoo is $0.18 per ounce, and Aldi aluminum foil is $.026 per foot. This method allows me to quickly assess whether a sale or clearance price on similar items, like Charmin at Walgreens or bulk foil at Costco, is truly a good deal by comparing it to my benchmark prices.
Other users joined the conversation to voice their grocery shopping frustrations, from the overwhelming number of “87 different pasta sauces” (which is quite true) to the “toilet paper math” that requires calculating the cost of single rolls, double rolls, and other variations. And that’s only if you stick to one store. If, like the original poster, you shop at multiple locations, it adds another layer of complexity to comparison shopping.
Here’s a snapshot of thenewyorkgod’s list. While it’s not extravagant, it serves its purpose well.
Why rely on your memory to recall the price of an item from your last visit and try to figure it out while pushing your cart? Because we all fall victim to decision fatigue. We make countless small decisions throughout the day, and by the time we reach the grocery store, we’re often mentally drained. Trusting your memory to judge whether a sale price is a 'good deal' is risky—not always, but often enough. While the impact of these mistakes may be minor in the grand scheme, if you're aiming to maximize savings, why not reduce the chances of making such errors at the store?
Having a list like this allows you to go on autopilot for a significant portion of your shopping. If one of your regular items is on sale, you can simply check your list, find the minimum unit price, and quickly assess whether the sale size offers a better deal than your established benchmark price.
