When should you go ahead and buy it, or stock up?

Guide to "Stock Up or Buy Now" Prices

It happens to all of us. We are out shopping, and we see a deal. The store says it is a good deal and you should buy now. But, is it really a good deal? And, if you don't have any coupons on you, are you making a good choice to go ahead and buy it now without your coupons? When should you stock up, or buy now?  Here, I have compiled my personal list of when to stock up. I am assuming that I don't have, or won't get, a coupon that would make it unreasonably cheap or even free. These prices are what are good deals when you pay for the items with or without a coupon.  

Laundry Detergent-Name brands like Tide, Arm&Hammer, etc.  When it will cost 40 cents or less a load.  *You can get a load for less than 10 cents when you find the Tide ANY coupons for $1 off... then go buy a travel size.  Make sure it doesnt exclude travel/trial size.

Kellogs/ General Mills Cereals- when you find a promotion, or have a coupon that makes your boxes of cereal $1.80 or less, that is decent. Really, though, if you take a moment or two here, it is pretty easy to get these for $1 or less a box when doing a promotion with a coupon. Coupons for cereal are plentiful and wont take 3 hrs to find/print.

Diapers/Pull ups- Stock up at $4.50/pack!  You can easily get them for $7.50/pack using non-fancy deals with coupons :) IF you pay more than $8.99/pack that is downright foolish.  (talking jumbo packs here, not boxes.  Boxes are SOMETIMES worth it, but they limit the coupons you can use.  You can only use one coupon, two if you are stacking coupons, on one box. You can use several coupons and stacked coupons on multiple packages, which usually makes this a better deal. If you ever see a box of diapers on sale for about $15 and the box is specially marked to come with extra coupons AND you don't currently have a diaper coupon, this is a good price on a box.)  About 20 cents a diaper is average. Please dont buy diapers at warehouse stores. That really is not a good deal when you can take simple coupons to Target or Walmart and use one per smaller pack for greater savings.

Wipes- Stock up at $3 or less for the bag refill packs of at least 180 wipes.  I got some a few months back for $2.50/pack at CVS.  Less than $1 a regular tub sized pack of wipes is a decent price.


School Suppies- 30 cents or less a pack of Crayola Crayons, $1 or less a pack of Crayola Markers.. ie back to school time. Buy enough for a year.  They go back up to highway robbery prices soon

PopTarts- $1.80 or less for the 8 count, $2.50 or less for the 12 pack  Look for the holiday versions, too. Oftentimes, after the holiday is passed, you can pay $1.75 a 12 pack for these flavors. You can get coupons on these sometimes too

Kandoo and other flushable wipes- $1 off coupons are easy to come by. Stock up using these and getting the packs for 50 cents a pack

Kid's clothes- $3/item is not a good deal unless you are at Carter's or Gymboree.  $1-$2 (if super nice) is an ok deal at Walmart or Target.

Packs of juice boxes and such- when you can get them for $1 or less for a pack

TOILET PAPER- Always remember this one!  when they come out to $1 or less for a standard 4 roll pack, that is a good deal.  SO, if you have a pack that is like 36 rolls, but costs $11, that is NOT a good deal. You take however many rolls it is "like having" (double roll type things) and divide the roll count by 4. That is the MOST you should pay for toilet paper.  IF you find 36 roll count for $9, sold! I am not talking working fancy deals here, or even necessarily needing coupons. IF you work a deal and use coupons, you can get TP way less. BUT my straightforward buy now cost is $1 for 4 rolls.

Bread-$1 or less a loaf is good. BUT definitely less than $2 for name brand

Name Brand Gummies... $1.88 or less a box

Gillette or Old Spice Body wash- FREE for the big size. Ditto on Deodorant. OR, at least BOGO. There are too many good coupons and drugstore deals to work to pay more than this on these items.

Olay or Nivea washes/lotions- less than $1 for the big sizes. Too many good deals and coupons to pay more for this. Pay $8 this week, next week it is $3 and there is a $2 coupon in the paper... just does not make sense to pay more for these items.

Crest Toothpaste/ Colgate- 75 cents if your kids MUST have that Dora one  OR you see a pack that boasts COUPONS INSIDE and comes with a sample of floss or something.. or less than 50 cents otherwise. Free usually, by taking a few minutes to find and work a deal.

Listerine/Mouthwash- free.. easy to do. Again, I hate to pay for mouthwash when you can coupon easily and get it free. IF you must spend money on it, the huge Listerine bottles go on clearance from time to time at stores such as Target. In this case, you can pay less than $3 for these, without a coupon.

Oral B toothbrushes- coupons make these less than 50 cents each for indicators/cavity defense.. or even free. IF you dont have a coupon, get thee self to Dollar Tree.  They cost $1 each at Dollar Tree.  Ditto for the toothpaste

Pregnancy tests- $1 or free-  Dollar Tree ones really do work as well if not better than name brand in this case.

2 Liter Sodas- Less than $1 each

Cases, or Fridge Packs, of 12 Cans of soda- $2.50 or less

Gallon Milk- Less than $3 

Dish Soap (Dawn)- Less than 50 cents or FREE 

Name Brand Paper Towels- Less than 75 cents a roll  

Bagged Candy- Think Hersheys, Twizzlers, etc. Like the Halloween-sized packs. $1.75 or less a big bag. 


Crocs- $7.50 or less a pair. Crocs.com runs to many sales that include free shipping to pay anything more than this on shoes like Crocs.

Restaurants- BOGO meals are usually a good deal. Figure in the cost of the drinks, tax, and tip, though. You will almost always spend more than you think you will at a restaurant UNLESS you get water and cheaper entrees. Also, check out local radio stations and tv stations for their weekly half-off deals to local eateries. And, restaurant.com has a long list of participating restaurants. You can spend $2 and get a $25 off a $50 meal ticket, or $25 off $35 pretty regularly. Google restaurant.com discount codes to search for the current 80% off code. Never pay full price for the restaurant.com deals. They run specials too often for that. AND ready the terms and conditions of the certificate you are buying before you purchase it.


 These are some of the prices I have committed to memory. Of course, I try to take the time to work deals that make these items even cheaper. If you don't have the time, and you need an item, this list might help you decide which brands to buy and where by taking a quick glance at your weekly circular.  This is just a list to let you know whether a sale really is having a good deal or not. If you have coupons to use, too, that is even better!


What are your buy now/stock up prices? What are the deals you can buy with a clear conscience when you don't have a coupon handy? Let us know!