One store or two? When the extra stop is worth it

Each week pick a primary banner based on deals that match your list. Goal: do most of the basket in one trip.

The second stop isn’t a full shop—it’s a short mission (2–5 items). Otherwise you pay in time and impulse buys.

Estimate net gain: (savings on targeted items) − (gas/parking) − (value of your time). If net gain is small, stay with one store.

A $4 discount rarely justifies a 25-minute detour—unless it’s a big-ticket item (bulk protein, truly low non-perishable stock-up).

Every store entry raises temptation. Use a written mini-list and a hand basket (not a cart) for the second stop.

If you often overrun the list on that “quick detour,” the detour costs more than the original deal.

On SimpleICI, compare flyers and search key products first. Decide the stop plan at home, not in the parking lot.

Write it clearly: store A = full list; store B = only items with a clear price gap.

A market or specialty shop for one specific item (e.g. a diet staple) can be worth it even without a “big” saving—if it’s rare and planned.

On overloaded weeks, one store almost always wins. Consistency beats perfect optimization.