How to get the most from supermarket specials in 10 seconds
Most specials are a real saving. Three quick checks — unit price, usual price and the cross-store test — help you pick the best of them.
· Edited on
Australians love a half-price sticker, and most specials are a real saving. Some save you more than others, though, and the biggest ticket isn't always the best buy. Three quick checks, about ten seconds in all, make sure your money goes furthest.
Check 1: compare the unit price
Larger supermarkets — and their online stores — must show a unit price on the ticket: dollars per 100g, per litre, or per each. It lets you compare pack sizes, multi-packs and specials on equal terms. Sometimes the bigger pack at its regular price is cheaper per gram than the smaller one on special. Before the big red number impresses you, read the small grey one.
Check 2: what does it usually cost?
A “was $8, now $5” ticket saves you $3 against the “was” price. What matters for your budget is the saving against what the product usually sells for, and a price history shows that at a glance. If it usually sells for $8, it's a great time to stock up. If it has mostly been around $6, you're saving $1 — still worth having if you need it, but maybe not worth filling the pantry for.
Check 3: is it the cheapest anywhere today?
Supermarkets put different products on special in different weeks, so another store's special — or even its everyday price — sometimes beats this week's ticket. One search across stores settles it.
Let the app do the ten seconds for you
Mai Pantry runs all three checks in one search: every supported supermarket's price side by side, each with its unit price, plus the product's recent price history (the last 30 days free, a full year with Mai Pantry Pro). When a product is on special, its page also tells you whether it's a real saving or around its usual price. Stock up on the best ones; the rest can wait.