7 Tips for Smarter Supermarket Shopping

1Always check the unit price

Most shelf tags show a small unit price (per 100ml, per kg, per oz) beneath the main price. Train your eye to find it. If two items have different sizes or units, the unit price is the only fair comparison.

Example: Olive oil 500ml at $6.00 vs 750ml at $8.50. The larger bottle looks expensive — but per ml: $0.012 vs $0.011 → 8% cheaper per ml.

When the tag doesn't show unit price, or you want to factor in a promo: open DealCheck, enter both, and see the answer in 30 seconds.

2Multi-packs aren't always cheaper

Most shoppers assume "bigger pack = better value." But in 30–40% of cases, the price per unit in a multi-pack is actually higher than buying singles — especially for:

• Items currently on single-unit promo (sale on small, not the pack)
• Premium packs bundled with extras you don't need
• Brands that deliberately price packs higher to exploit the assumption

Spend 30 seconds checking before you commit to a big pack.

3Compare across brands before you decide

If you're not brand-loyal, compare at least two or three options. Example — 1L milk:

• Brand A: $2.80 · 10% off
• Brand B: $2.50 · no promo
• Brand C: $2.60 · Buy 1 Get 1

Most people grab Brand A (sale sign!), but Brand C at BOGO = $1.30 per litre is the clear winner — half the per-unit price of the others.

4Don't be fooled by red tags and big numbers

Stores use red labels, bold fonts, and large numbers to trigger a "deal" feeling — even when nothing is discounted. Common tactics:

• "$9.99" — feels like $9, not $10 (price anchoring)
• "Was $15.00, now $9.99" — the "was" price may never have been the real price
• "Special price" — sometimes the same price as always, just with a new tag

Always calculate unit price. Don't be moved by the label — only by the number.

5Shop with a list — never browse aimlessly

Unplanned browsing costs an average of 30–50% more per trip. Before you go:

• Build a list on your phone, every item you need
• Set a budget — e.g. "max $80 today"
• Follow a route through the store; skip sections you don't need

This removes impulse purchases and leaves room in your budget for the things you actually need.

6Time your shop strategically

When you shop affects what you can save:

• Weekday mornings — fresh produce at peak quality, no crowds
• Evenings (~6–8 pm) — fresh items near sell-by date marked down 30–50%
• End of month — stores run clearance promos to hit targets
• After payday (25th–31st) — retailers know wallets are full and run big deals

Avoid: weekend evenings — crowded, rushed decisions, less likely to compare carefully.

7Use a tool to decide in-store

Your smartphone is your best shopping companion. DealCheck was built for exactly this:

• Enter price + quantity for each item
• Select the promo type (BOGO, % off, pack mode)
• Tap Compare — see which item is cheaper per unit, and by how much

Free, no login, no personal data stored. Works offline after first load.