The best way to determine if a product is a good deal is by it’s cost per ounce. Walmart (and many other stores) print it clearly for you on the label, but it is very easy to figure out on your own too. You take the final cost of the product after coupon and divide it by the ounces it contains. So if a product is $2 after coupon and it has 10 oz, you know it is 20c per ounce (divide $2 by 10). If it doesn’t have an ounce listed, you can also find out the cost by using the serving size.
Sometimes the smaller product costs less per ounce then the larger product. You would never know this if you didn’t take the time to figure out the cost per ounce.
If you are new to Couponing, you might want to take a moment to read more in my Getting Started Couponing series.
RK says
I’ve started a spreadsheet in which I track best prices per ounce/unit for different items. For some things, I end up memorizing them, but for stuff I don’t buy as often, I am trying to build up a good list.
micaela says
i have figured this out for cereal at walmart before. (real brand vs. wm brand) and what the label said wasn’t right at all! it showed the wm brand to be cheaper but it was opposite!
Anna says
I taught my husband this trick when we first got married! I’m glad to be the daughter of a couponer- who I am now showing tricks to! Thanks for all the work you do!
Natalie says
Has anyone started a list of actual good prices per ounce or sq ft or whatever… meaning… I stand in front of the toothpaste and unless it’s 6 oz for $1 or less I just walk away because I have tried to do the math and it drives me crazy. I did catch a thread about cost per loads on laundry soap once, but I have not come across a list to decipher other items like toilet paper, papertowel, etc.
I have noticed alot of trickery on the prices and different sizes. I think that maybe they are counting on us being totally confused and not doing the math.
Alycia says
I hate trying to figure out the better deal on toilet paper! With all the plys (plies? lol) and double-triple-mega rolls, I have no idea how much I’m getting per roll. I guess they do list the dimensions and square footage, but I’m not that patient.
Bree says
I kept a list of toilet paper and paper towels and what I did was over the course of the year I figured which ones worked well. If toilet paper is cheap but goes quickly, it’s not worth it.
I didn’t figure the price per ply, size, etc. I just kept a list of the prices of the packs. For example, Angel Soft 6pk., Charmin MegaRoll 16 pk., Charmin Ultra Soft 32pk., etc. It was a lot, but I at least know how much to pay for those packs and I have an idea of what lasts.
As for the paper towels I just purchase what’s cheaper per roll. For me, the multipacks are more expensive than if I wait on sale and buy as individual rolls.
Not sure if any of that made sense :)