Thursday, August 25, 2011

The Value in a Single Serving Package


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I'm a sucker for a deal.  I love Costco.  I love coupons.  I love stretching my money.  I hate feeling like I could have paid less for something. 

When it comes to treats, I have realized that I need to apply a little analytical thinking to my math skills to get to the real bottom line.  Gather round, children.  It's time for Miss Sara's Math Lesson (I can't even type that without snorting coffee out my nose.  Sara + Math = Great Big Joke).  Anyhoo...

Sara = Wants a Swiss Cake Roll
Box of 6 Swiss Cake Rolls = $1.19; $1.19/6 = roughly $0.20 per Serving
Single Serving Package of Swiss Cake Rolls = $0.50 per Serving
$0.20 < $0.50
Sara = Buying Whole Box
But here's the rest of the story...

As previously mentioned, namely here & here (& innumerable other undocumented misadventures), Sara has a little problem we'll call "Portion Control."

Sara + Box of Swiss Cake Rolls in Hot Little Hands - Portion Control = Eating 3 Packages as a "Serving"
New Cost Per Serving = $0.20*3 = $0.60
$0.60 > $0.50
Sara = Buying the More Expensive Single Serving Package in the Name of "Frugality"

Know thyself.

2 comments:

  1. I love this post! I love your honesty and humor that you so creatively write with. For some reason I heard you say "Portion Control" much like Chris Farley says he has a bit of a "weight problem" in Tommy Boy. :-)

    ~Jamie

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  2. Wow, I have the exact same conundrum! I *hate* going grocery shopping because even though I'm buying for just me, it still takes me an hour and a half each week.

    I look at what's available, and I can't make my mind walk away from the fact that it is cheaper for the larger seving size of something, but I have no will power and will plough through whatever it is, is one sitting. Then I feel sick with guilt and sugar/salt/additives. So for my overall well-being and in the long run, I'm better off paying more, for a smaller serving.

    I am going to use your maths to help me remember this! Thank-you so much for sharing this so honestly. :)

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