Welcome to the Back to Basic Series. This series has included Stock Up Prices on Meat and Stockup Prices on Toiletries.
Today, I am going to cover household staples. Household staples can mean alot of things, so I am going to cover a wide variety of items. Also, I will list my stock up prices vs. my buy prices for these.
The buy price is the absolute max I will pay for the product. (unless there is an absolute dire emergency, but when you have a stockpile like mine, that doesn’t happen often) The stock up price is my normal buy price – meaning this is what I would pay and I would buy more than 1. Of course, there are always opportunity to do better than these prices. Many of these items I can get for free as well.
Your prices may vary and this is just a guideline.
Paper Towels (single roll) $.75 buy price, $.50 stockup price
Ziploc Bags (sandwich sized) $1.o0 buy price, $.75 stockup price
Ziploc Freezer Bags $1.00 buy price, $.75 stockup price
Tissues (brand name) $.75 buy price, $.50 stockup price
Trash Bags (kitchen sized) $1.50 buy price, $1.00 stockup price
Trash Bags (large container) $2.50 buy price, $2.00 stockup price
Dish Detergent $.75 buy price, free stockup price ( note – Dawn is free on a regular basis, I don’t pay for dish soap).
Dishwasher Detergent (Finish 20qt ) $1.75 buy price, $1.00 stockup price
Paper Plates (Dixie) $1.00 buy price, $.50 stockup price
Hand Soap (dial) $.50 buy price, Free stockup price
Laundry Detergent (26loads+) Laundry detergent varies greatly
Purex Buy Price $1.99, $1.00 stockup price
All Detergent Buy Price $2.99, $1.50 stockup price
Glass Cleaner $1.00 buy price, $.50 stockup price
Toliet Bowl Cleaner $1.00 buy price, $.50 stockup price
Fabric Softener $1.00 buy price, $.50 stockup price
Next week I will look at Pantry Staples.
MONICA says
And desinfecting wipes?
MONICA says
Thanks for this! What about JetDry, for the dishwasher?
Liz says
What is your buy and stock up prices for toilet paper?
Kathrine says
Hi Shannon,
When it comes to your All and Purex prices, to which size are you referring (ounce wise)?
anna says
the prices you have listed for paper towels are for single rolls….for the packs that are 6 or 8 would you just multiply the single roll stock up/buy price? for instance 4.50 ?
Shannon says
@anna,
actually no Anna, they would be less —thats a good point, I should update this.
Liz says
I see those prices and in my area one would never be able to find those kind of prices;
around here stock up in detergent is $2.00 and I fell like I got it for free.
Of course I am talking about free and clear kind.
I just bought a few today and had to go back out and get some for my aunt and dad bc that was such a great price.
I will wait and see the trash bags bc again I am happy and have yet. Bags for $.99. I just started shopping at RA
Things in Boston prices are much much higher that yours seems to be, I am always stump on the food prices on your neck of the woods.
Shannon says
@Liz,
I respectfully disagree. If you have a CVS, Wags and Rite Aid – you can meet all these prices, regardless of where you live.
Brenda says
Just wanted to put in my 2 cents…something I figured out in the last few months was how to get the things I struggle to get at a rock bottom prices at a lower pricepoint. I’m talking about the things that I am brand loyal to (and there aren’t many left). For example, with lotion I have sensitive skin so I stick with the brand I know works well. If I have depleated my stockpile & need some, I can use the deals for the week at CVS to get my total high enough to use the $4/$20 coupons they e-mail out every few weeks & then use the free $4 credit from the coupon (& hopefully pair with a sale & coupon) to drop my price for buying the lotion. This idea can be used with a variety of things & really helps keep my specialty item costs low.
Shannon says
@Brenda,
Excellent point Brenda – and these are strategies I am going to address during this series. There are ways to get everything for less! Thanks for the input.
Brenda says
@Brenda,
Not only do we share the same name, but, we have the same tip!
I don’t have a CVS in my area but I do the same thing with Rite Aid.
Also, with the recent changes to Target’s coupon policy (accepting coupons at face value, regardless of item price) I have found that it’s a great place to purchase items that I don’t have coupons for with the coupon overage on other items.
BTW, Shannon I really appreciate that you are doing this back to basics series. As someone who has been couponing for a few years I have found it helpful to have a refresher course and pick up some new tricks of the trade!
Leighann says
For paper towels, I have gotten really picky and do not want to pay anything for them. I wait for the marcal small steps coupons (haven’t seen any for a while, hoping that some pop up in the next month) for free or $1 off, and I get the single rolls for nothing at my local grocery store.
I won’t pay for dish liquid, either, other than to get the coupons to get the dish liquid. I use the 50c coupons to double at my local Fred’s on Saturday, and when we were getting the $1/1 Gain dish liquid coupons, I stocked up with about 60 bottles of that.
Jenna says
@Leighann, I saw those marcal q’s last year around this time. It seemed like there was a new coupon every month! However, no store in my area carried them! At least not the singles that were free. I was so sad :(
Brenda says
@Leighann,
Don’t know if you already used it, but, there was a Marcal Small Steps coupon in the RP 1/2/11.
Kristin says
Thank you Shannon! This is a great tool! I’ll be sharing with my fb friends :)
Morgan says
Thank you so much for this guide!!! I just started couponing and was wondering what other people consider good stock up prices. This list is wonderful and I can’t wait to see your pantry stock up price list!
Kandy says
Thanks for this guide! I call myself a Krazy Coupon Lady, but I also have this nagging feeling in the back of my mind that questions whether or not my fellow Krazies would think I made a good purchase. I will definitely be using this and your other guides!
anna says
where/how do you get the trash bags so cheaply? Is this for store brand or name brand? This is one thing we always use but I can never find them as cheap as you listed……am I looking in the wrong places??
Shannon says
Well, this week they are $.99 after coupon at Rite Aid. Target, Kmart – sales are not frequent, but when they come up, I take advantage.
anna says
how did I miss that deal at Rite aid? lol. I am going to have to go find the rite aid post :)
thanks for all your help. There are 8 of us (6 kiddos) and every penny we can save helps so much! Thanks :)
Shannon says
@anna,
he he you didnt it starts this Sunday! sorry :)
anna says
oh okay. thats why I couldn’t find it. what coupon is required?
Tina says
@anna, I am curious. What garbage bags are going to be .99? I looked at the ad a million times. I must be slipping – lol!
Jenna says
@Shannon, I saw at Rite Aid that Glad was on sale along with RA tall kitchen bags… are you referring to the RA kitchen bags? They are BOGO with $5up wyb $15. Is it $.99 after $5 up? I haven’t stopped by RA to check their prices yet.
Jenna says
@Jenna, Nevermind, I just remembered that there was a $3/1 offer on the Glad that expired. :( Didn’t get that one!