Most of the people I associate with online and off are college students, college dropouts, freelancers, or artists of various sorts. I fall into several of those categories, myself. None of us have a lot of much any money, so it is absolutely necessary to economize. Sometimes this means buying the cheapest available products. Buying the cheapest products requires determining exactly which products those are.
A small bottle (14 oz.) of mustard costs $1.89. A bigger bottle (20 oz.) of mustard costs $2.19. Which bottle of mustard is cheaper? Duh. The small one. Which mustard is cheaper? Duh. The mustard that comes in the bigger bottle. Which one do you buy? Well… a bottle of mustard doesn’t go bad for upwards of a year. Duh. Buy the bigger one. Hell, buy the biggest one (I took the prices from Peapod, and they don’t have many options to choose from). You’ll probably want to make sure you buy the least expensive brand, too. Because it’s freakin’ mustard. Seriously. The ingredients consist mainly of water, vinegar, and mustard. You’re not going to notice much of a difference.
Unless you’re buying something that goes bad quickly (bread, for instance, and even then, you could potentially freeze it — not that you can usually buy bread in bulk anyway), you should almost always buy the biggest size possible. Or whichever option has the lowest price per unit (the local Jewel has smallest sizes of antihistamines and aluminum foil priced lower per unit than the largest — I presume they must have some sort of logic behind that). This doesn’t even require math skills anymore. Most stores have unit cost on their labels these days.
But what do I see people doing time and time again? Buying the smallest, cheapest possible unit of things (and often the smallest option is a brand name, bumping the ppu up even more). What suckers! You could have been saving those extra pennies, or at least buying beer with them (maybe economizing = more beer* will motivate you). Way to stay broke for the rest of your life! The usual excuse is “but I don’t have enough money to get everything I need, if I don’t buy the smallest one.” Okay. Fine. That works. For the tail end of one paycheque. Next time, think ahead. If you always go with the most cost effective option instead of the (momentarily) cheapest option, you won’t have to rebuy everything 12 times a month. You’ll just have to refill them as they run out, which will be much less frequently.
Now, times when you might want to consider buying things that are smaller or more expensive do pop up. Maybe you don’t have much storage space. Maybe the brand name of something is watered down. Maybe you don’t have a car and you can’t carry the largest fricken’ sack of potatoes home. Maybe when it comes to things other than groceries, it’s better to spend $150 on a pair of shoes that will last you 5 years than to buy a pair of $25 shoes every six months (plus, guys, better shoes will get you chicks). I’d tell you to work out the math, but if you can’t even figure out which bottle of mustard to buy, you’re a lost cause, anyway.
P.S. If you’re broke, stop buying bottled water. Seriously. You’re a moron.
P.P.S. 1-ply toilet paper won’t save you money. It’ll tear up your ass, and you’ll just use three times as much of it. 3 x 1-ply = 3-ply. It’s Cottonelle in bulk for my posterior.
* Not that you should be drinking beer, when it’s so much more cost and time effective if you buy the hard stuff.
Ooof!
This post hit home.
I hate grocery-shopping, the longer I wander the aisles, the more depressed I get about being broke/alone/ugly/etc.
I stopped looking at the labels years ago; my shopping choices are all made squinting at the PPU now. Or going without a lot of tasty things *sigh*
Beer in Bulk is good. God bless the Old Style 30-pack!
Ooof!
This post hit home.
I hate grocery-shopping, the longer I wander the aisles, the more depressed I get about being broke/alone/ugly/etc.
I stopped looking at the labels years ago; my shopping choices are all made squinting at the PPU now. Or going without a lot of tasty things *sigh*
Beer in Bulk is good. God bless the Old Style 30-pack!
Oh, geez, Old Style. Speaking of asses being torn up…
Oh, geez, Old Style. Speaking of asses being torn up…
I did not get a freezer until just a year ago or so. So I’m just getting used to buying larger things and freezing the remainder (mostly things like bread or meat for spaghetti sauce). Although it’s nice to be able to use pre-prepared vegetable-mixes that just go straight out of the box onto your plate and into the microwave without too much effort. I CAN cook, I just don’t like the amount of work that usually goes into it.
Buying in bulk (usually the house brand) works, but I still prefer to stick with the slightly more pricy supermarket I go to now rather than the “cheaper” alternative I pass on the way home from work, because many of the products just are of better quality.
I’ve also become a bit of a ramen snob. When my supermarket stopped carrying the brand of ramen I usually bought, I didn’t really like the new stuff they had instead. So now I only buy Ramen at the Chinese supermarket across town. But when I go there, I DO buy in bulk :)
I did not get a freezer until just a year ago or so. So I’m just getting used to buying larger things and freezing the remainder (mostly things like bread or meat for spaghetti sauce). Although it’s nice to be able to use pre-prepared vegetable-mixes that just go straight out of the box onto your plate and into the microwave without too much effort. I CAN cook, I just don’t like the amount of work that usually goes into it.
Buying in bulk (usually the house brand) works, but I still prefer to stick with the slightly more pricy supermarket I go to now rather than the “cheaper” alternative I pass on the way home from work, because many of the products just are of better quality.
I’ve also become a bit of a ramen snob. When my supermarket stopped carrying the brand of ramen I usually bought, I didn’t really like the new stuff they had instead. So now I only buy Ramen at the Chinese supermarket across town. But when I go there, I DO buy in bulk :)
I also agree that toilet paper is one thing that should be luxurious. My ass is definitely worth it.
I also agree that toilet paper is one thing that should be luxurious. My ass is definitely worth it.
So your intestines are not worth quality food? Remember, your ass ultimately benefits from that too …
So your intestines are not worth quality food? Remember, your ass ultimately benefits from that too …
I would trackback this… If my blog worked. At least I don’t feel alone with with what you said
I would trackback this… If my blog worked. At least I don’t feel alone with with what you said
*gasp* can’t taste the difference in mustard? Seriously? I mean if you buy the generic American crap that’s like totally lacking flavor (u intentionally omitted)…. I guess I can understand.
And yeah I dunno about other grocery stores but the main one down here is nice and often puts the price per oz on the price tags so you can see if bulk actually saves you money or not (sometimes it don’t matter).
*gasp* can’t taste the difference in mustard? Seriously? I mean if you buy the generic American crap that’s like totally lacking flavor (u intentionally omitted)…. I guess I can understand.
And yeah I dunno about other grocery stores but the main one down here is nice and often puts the price per oz on the price tags so you can see if bulk actually saves you money or not (sometimes it don’t matter).
Well, I’m talking about yellow mustard. Other sorts of fancy mustard, there’s probably a difference. I really wouldn’t know. I don’t even like mustard, most of the time. I’m in a temporary pro-mustard phase right now, though. I go through phases of liking and not liking yoghourt and tuna sandwiches, too. I’m currently pro both.
Store brand of a lot of other stuff does suck, though. I never buy any store brand cleaning supplies, for instance. They’re uniformly awful. Okay, I slipped up and bought store brand cleaning cloths last time (shouldn’t even be necessary, but I live with a bunch of guys, and if it’s not retardedly convenient, nothing ever gets cleaned). I thought “how much worse can they possibly be”. A lot. That’s how much.
Well, I’m talking about yellow mustard. Other sorts of fancy mustard, there’s probably a difference. I really wouldn’t know. I don’t even like mustard, most of the time. I’m in a temporary pro-mustard phase right now, though. I go through phases of liking and not liking yoghourt and tuna sandwiches, too. I’m currently pro both.
Store brand of a lot of other stuff does suck, though. I never buy any store brand cleaning supplies, for instance. They’re uniformly awful. Okay, I slipped up and bought store brand cleaning cloths last time (shouldn’t even be necessary, but I live with a bunch of guys, and if it’s not retardedly convenient, nothing ever gets cleaned). I thought “how much worse can they possibly be”. A lot. That’s how much.
Old Style for the poor like me is like a gourmet enema ;-)
Keeps me clean on the inside…whoo hoo!
LOL
Old Style for the poor like me is like a gourmet enema ;-)
Keeps me clean on the inside…whoo hoo!
LOL
Cleaning? What is that?
(Granted, I lack female companionship to educate me on the matter)
Cleaning? What is that?
(Granted, I lack female companionship to educate me on the matter)
Female companionship wouldn’t educate you whatsoever. I 100% sure that the guys I live with don’t even realize that cleaning is a thing that ever happens or that should happen. Because my husband keeps claiming that I “never do anything around here”. Yeah, that’s right. The floors, sinks, counters, windows, mirrors, toilet, shower, carpets, walls, cupboards, fridge and everything else in this apartment are all self-cleaning. And then guys always claim that they don’t clean because nothing ever seems dirty enough to need it. That’s not an accident. ksajhkjshd
We’re in need of a roommate for our empty bedroom. I’m thinking it’d better be a female.
Female companionship wouldn’t educate you whatsoever. I 100% sure that the guys I live with don’t even realize that cleaning is a thing that ever happens or that should happen. Because my husband keeps claiming that I “never do anything around here”. Yeah, that’s right. The floors, sinks, counters, windows, mirrors, toilet, shower, carpets, walls, cupboards, fridge and everything else in this apartment are all self-cleaning. And then guys always claim that they don’t clean because nothing ever seems dirty enough to need it. That’s not an accident. ksajhkjshd
We’re in need of a roommate for our empty bedroom. I’m thinking it’d better be a female.
Lol, yes! I hate how people spend money, when I used to work at Ralphs (Big Lebowski, lol.) the people with the foodstamps, they would buy like all this weird stuff, like brand name cereal and individual wrapped ham instead of the bulk and all kinds of things instead of being more efficient and getthing more for less. Maybe it’s brand only for stamps, but I always thought you could get any type of foodstuff and you can’t get alcohol and liquor…
Lol, yes! I hate how people spend money, when I used to work at Ralphs (Big Lebowski, lol.) the people with the foodstamps, they would buy like all this weird stuff, like brand name cereal and individual wrapped ham instead of the bulk and all kinds of things instead of being more efficient and getthing more for less. Maybe it’s brand only for stamps, but I always thought you could get any type of foodstuff and you can’t get alcohol and liquor…
Ah, see, your problem is not that the guys don’t clean anything, it’s that you’ve cleaned it before they get around to doing it.
I guess the difference is one of perception. Where you see a thick layer of dirt and grime, guys only see a thin film of dust not worth worrying about (yet).
As is my personal opinion, dust is not the same as dirt. Dirt is things like food spills, anything that would attract vermin and insects, or fungus and worse. Dust doesn’t qualify as either of those.
My place may look like it doesn’t get cleaned often (because, well, it doesn’t), but whenever I spill any food or beverages, I clean that up immediately. As a result, whenever I get around to actually vacuuming, everything can be removed with suction alone. No need for additional scrubbing.
Maybe that’s a guy-thing. I don’t know …
Ah, see, your problem is not that the guys don’t clean anything, it’s that you’ve cleaned it before they get around to doing it.
I guess the difference is one of perception. Where you see a thick layer of dirt and grime, guys only see a thin film of dust not worth worrying about (yet).
As is my personal opinion, dust is not the same as dirt. Dirt is things like food spills, anything that would attract vermin and insects, or fungus and worse. Dust doesn’t qualify as either of those.
My place may look like it doesn’t get cleaned often (because, well, it doesn’t), but whenever I spill any food or beverages, I clean that up immediately. As a result, whenever I get around to actually vacuuming, everything can be removed with suction alone. No need for additional scrubbing.
Maybe that’s a guy-thing. I don’t know …
Way to have sensitive sinuses!
Ah choo!
Way to have sensitive sinuses!
Ah choo!
You know, I have no problem with that.
Then again, I have no pets either, as that would probably be ten times worse. Anyway, I’d probably lose them between all the clutter.
Speaking of clutter, I’m sure some cleaning female presence would just misplace all my stuff, and I’d constantly be looking for things because they wouldn’t be where I left them.
You know, I have no problem with that.
Then again, I have no pets either, as that would probably be ten times worse. Anyway, I’d probably lose them between all the clutter.
Speaking of clutter, I’m sure some cleaning female presence would just misplace all my stuff, and I’d constantly be looking for things because they wouldn’t be where I left them.
Exarch, you’re making a couple of assumptions above… which leads me to believe that you’re one hell of a lot cleaner than most of the guys I’ve known. 1) You assume that there is some point at which guys will find the filth intolerable. In my experience, this is not likely to happen before hell freezes over. 2) You seem to assume that it’s a normal thing, even for guys, to clean up any small spills immediately. This is definitely not true.
I don’t have any problem with messy. I don’t really have any problem with dusty, either. My problem is with dirty. When I see a thick layer of dirt and grime, it’s actually a thick layer of dirt and grime. Dust, randomly strewn items… I’m just as likely to leave these laying around for a while as anyone else.
On the subject of clutter — it’s true. My husband can never find his things. Despite the fact that I always put them back in exactly the same place, tell him where it is, and show him again the first time he can’t find something. If he would just decide on a place for his own things other than stacked randomly on the floor or on top of surfaces that I need to be able to get at to clean… I’d be perfectly happy to put those things there. Unfortunately, I’m usually forced to find a place myself, and it’s probably not going to be optimal as far as he’s concerned. Meh!
Exarch, you’re making a couple of assumptions above… which leads me to believe that you’re one hell of a lot cleaner than most of the guys I’ve known. 1) You assume that there is some point at which guys will find the filth intolerable. In my experience, this is not likely to happen before hell freezes over. 2) You seem to assume that it’s a normal thing, even for guys, to clean up any small spills immediately. This is definitely not true.
I don’t have any problem with messy. I don’t really have any problem with dusty, either. My problem is with dirty. When I see a thick layer of dirt and grime, it’s actually a thick layer of dirt and grime. Dust, randomly strewn items… I’m just as likely to leave these laying around for a while as anyone else.
On the subject of clutter — it’s true. My husband can never find his things. Despite the fact that I always put them back in exactly the same place, tell him where it is, and show him again the first time he can’t find something. If he would just decide on a place for his own things other than stacked randomly on the floor or on top of surfaces that I need to be able to get at to clean… I’d be perfectly happy to put those things there. Unfortunately, I’m usually forced to find a place myself, and it’s probably not going to be optimal as far as he’s concerned. Meh!
I guess my mom was successful in bestowing at least some useful skills and cleanliness habits onto me.
I guess my mom was successful in bestowing at least some useful skills and cleanliness habits onto me.