Watch the unit prices at the grocery store
April 10th, 2008 | by mbhunter |Last night I bought a couple boxes of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese because my wife likes “the real thing” once in a while. (Yes, she knows that the generic brand is cheaper but she can taste the difference, and no this point isn’t negotiable.)
If given the choice between (a) individual small boxes (7.25 ounces), (b) individual “family-size” boxes (14.5 ounces), and (c) “value packs” of five small boxes, which one would you expect would cost the least? Possibly (b) or (c), but probably not (a), because it’s the smallest serving.
Well, the individual boxes were 85 cents each. The “family size” boxes were $1.86, which is twice the amount for more than twice the price. The “value pack” was $4.69, which is about 94 cents each. The smallest size was the cheapest, and the largest size was the most expensive.
Watch the unit prices!
7 Responses to “Watch the unit prices at the grocery store”
By Frugalicious on Apr 10, 2008 | Reply
I have noticed that. The 16 oz sour cream at the local grocery store is cheaper per ounce than the 24 oz and the 8 oz. Weird. I have also found the generic cashews are more expensive than the planter’s (a name brand). I suspect because the generic packaging is plastic, and the planter’s is cheaper.
I’m working on a price book right now. It is amazing how the pricing game works.
By Mr. Stupid on Apr 10, 2008 | Reply
Also be sure to compare unit prices across different stores when comparison shopping. In some cases, stores don’t carry the same sized items, so the only way to do it is with unit prices.
For the longest time, I was convinced WalMart had the best prices on everything. Then I realized that their price on cream cheese was a full 16% higher than my local Stop & Shop. I was comparing a 16oz vs a 12oz container.
Damn! It pays to take notes once in a while.
By Christine on Apr 10, 2008 | Reply
You’re totally right! I think there is the mentality that buying in bulk is always cheaper, which was the case in the past. Now it seems as if manufacturers are playing games with us!
By Mike on Apr 10, 2008 | Reply
Another thing to note is that when using coupons always (mainly) buy the smallest size as the same cents off on a small package is more valuable than on a larger size package
By Becky@FamilyandFinances on Apr 11, 2008 | Reply
I’ve also recently started a price book and noticed this same thing.
Also, I’m with your wife. Kraft Mac ‘n Cheese is the *only* way to go
By mbhunter on Apr 12, 2008 | Reply
Mr. Stupid: That’s right. No one place has the best price all the time.
Mike: Yes, a coupon knocks the most off the price of a small item. Good point.
We tried a price book but I think we were doing things a little bit too complicated. There was no tracking. We know good prices for what we buy the most, and watch those, and it gets us part of the way there.
By deepali on Apr 13, 2008 | Reply
Ok I had to laugh at KD being the “real thing”. I was thinking real along the lines of homemade!
I always check unit prices, and have never noticed that the larger sizes were more expensive (per ounce or whatever). Was the small box on sale? Interesting. I go with larger/bulk items because I’m trying to cut down on my consumption of unnecessary packaging.