Saving money is often a matter of modifying a series of small habits. Toilet paper is an easy target because it is a common household staple. Try these real-life tested tips and tricks to find the best toilet paper at the lowest price.
Stick with one or two brands of bath tissue.
Brand loyalty, buying one brand exclusively, usually results in overspending, but that is not necessarily true when it comes to toilet paper. I realized a package of the “plush”, more expensive tissue does not last any longer than the regular varieties. The thicker paper was more absorbent and should have required fewer sheets, but people seem to dispense a certain number of sheets without regard to the thickness of the paper.
Some brands of bath tissue also disintegrate more slowly. Carelessly using too much of it, a common occurrence for children, can cause a plumbing problem. Overall, sticking to one or two brands of toilet tissue saves money because you can estimate the true cost, dispense it effectively and teach children to do the same.
Buy in bulk when it makes cents.
Purchasing the large packs of bath tissue usually saves a substantial amount of money and results in the best toilet paper price. However, especially when using coupons, the smaller packs are sometimes a better value. Double check to see which quantity results in the lowest toilet paper price.
Beware of the giant rolls of bath tissue.
The larger rolls of bath tissue are convenient, but the paper is pulled taut and the texture is different than paper on regular rolls. I noticed this with the rippled and quilted bath tissue. Instead of having the signature texture, the tissue on the larger rolls is less pronounced. The average price based on regular rolls does not apply to the larger rolls. Either stick with single rolls or base price estimates on the actual roll size instead of simply multiplying the single roll price.
Forget unit pricing.
Unit pricing is an effective tool for comparison-shopping. Many stores include the unit price on the shelf tag to help customers identify the best bargain. Since each square foot of toilet paper is different, the unit price does not give an accurate comparison. For example, the cheapest bath tissue may appear to be a good value according to the unit price, but in real life, additional sheets are required to do the same job as a slightly more expensive brand.
Forget unit pricing and buy whatever toilet paper you like. Use it as you normally do, but make note of how long the package lasts. Continue to do this until you establish an average daily price for a few different brands. Now you can effectively compare the true cost and choose the best toilet paper for your needs.
Finding the best toilet paper price may not make you a millionaire, but it is an easy way to stretch your budget without sacrificing anything. Saving money on toilet paper does not require extreme measures, such as separating two-ply tissue into two rolls. Pay attention, reevaluate your shopping decisions and stop flushing money down the drain.
