Pulling the Paper Towel over my Eyes

Not all paper towel rolls are created equally. Do you really know what you are buying?

There are Regular rolls, Big, Double, Jumbo, Mega, Select-a-size and the list goes on. 

Say you have a Bounty $1 coupon and you want to maximize your savings, don't spend it on a 2 pack. It is true that you will save more with the higher count packages, but you need to check that size of the individual rolls to make sure you are getting a deal.

At the bottom of every package they breakdown the paper towels per roll, but remember if you get Select-a-Size, each little section counts as a paper towel.

Some examples: Walgreen's in April 2011-They are pushing these new Scott Naturals 6 rolls for $5-Choose-a-Size.

• So, with in-store coupon Scott PT $1 off 
• $1.50 Scott PT coupon from the internet= $2.50 for six or $.42 a roll. On the package it reads 68 paper towels per roll(one ply)- but this is for each section of the paper towel because it is perforated-so really 34 regular size towels per roll. Of course, the smaller size are great as napkins, so I always try to get select-a-size.

Then, at Target Bounty Extra Soft 12 Giant Rolls=18 Regular Rolls on package, 66 paper towels per roll(two-ply)

Bounty Extra Soft 12 Giant Rolls =  $14.99(sale)

• Bounty Extra Soft Coupon(12 rolls min) $2.00 (from P&G coupon book in Pampers box)
• Target $5 Gift card with purchase of 2 P &G items-I got Charmin too so apply half of $5 to the Bounty and the other half to the Charmin $2.50

Bounty (two ply) was 10.49 for 12 rolls at 52.43 sq ft a roll or 629.2 total = $.017 per ft
Scott (one ply) was 2.50 for 6 rolls at 37.9 sq ft a roll or 227.4 total = $.011 per ft
So Bounty is a little more, but that two-ply sure does go a lot further!

Anyway, I know this is a lot of math, but we all have used paper towels that aren't worth a toot and you have to use twice as many with some to do the same job as others. Keep in mind the thickness and ply and look at the bottom of the roll in the package. If you can see air pockets, that is not a good thing.

This concept applies to anything packaged in groups-like diapers, toilet paper, soft drinks, etc.

Because these items can be major portions of your budget(and everybody uses at least a few),  KNOW YOUR BREAKDOWN!!