Pick a reference unit
For meat, cheese, and much fresh food: price per kg (or per lb). For liquids: per litre or per 100 ml. For pills/capsules outside food: per unit.
If the tag only shows pack price, divide: price ÷ quantity. Phone calculator is enough; the habit sticks in about two weeks.
Watch “2 for” deals
A “2 for $7” only helps if you’ll use both packs in time and the unit price beats the single pack. Otherwise buy one unit off-promo if it’s cheaper per unit.
Also check whether the promo size is smaller than usual: a discount on a reduced pack can cost more per kilo than the regular size.
Produce and baskets
“Per basket,” “each,” and “per kg” aren’t comparable at a glance. Estimate basket weight or piece count before you decide.
Pre-cut produce often costs far more per weight. Pay for convenience only if the time saved is worth the gap.
Flyer vs shelf
The flyer shows a headline price; the shelf (or scale) confirms the real unit price. If they differ, keep a screenshot or flyer page to ask for a check.
On SimpleICI, shortlist useful deals first, then confirm size and unit price in store—so you don’t chase a misleading big number.
The 10-second rule
If you can’t convert to the same denominator quickly, it probably isn’t a clear enough deal for you. Move to the next item on your list.
Write down the conversions you use often (e.g. lb ↔ kg) once. Every future trip gets faster.
Same denominator, same size, same need: those three filters beat any oversized price. Use SimpleICI to target deals, then confirm unit price on the shelf.
Ready to compare this week’s deals?