Compare unit prices and buy the amount you need

At the supermarket shelf, two packs seem to offer the same thing. One costs less; the other contains more. To decide which belongs in your basket, look at the price per kilogram or litre and the amount you will actually use at home.

1. Find the price per kilogram or litre

• Locate both the pack price and the price per unit of measurement on the shelf label.
• Compare matching units: €/kg with €/kg, or €/l with €/l.
• If the information is unclear or looks wrong, ask for clarification before choosing.

OCU explains how to read these labels and why they help you compare different pack sizes. The linked source is in Spanish.

2. Compare products that meet the same need

• Check the type of product, its ingredients and the stated quantity.
• Check whether the price is the regular price or an offer with conditions.
• Consider your family's preferences and needs too: price is only part of the decision.

Fictional example: a 500 g pack of rice costs €1.20 and a 1 kg pack costs €2.10. The first works out at €2.40/kg and the second at €2.10/kg. These figures are invented to illustrate the calculation; they are not current prices or a promise of savings.

3. Choose an amount you can use

• Check what is already in your cupboard before adding another pack.
• Think about your planned meals and the storage space available.
• Read the date and storage instructions, including instructions for after opening.

A larger pack with a lower price per kilogram may be a poor fit if some of it goes unused. Buy an amount that matches your household's actual needs.

4. Review your choice using the receipt

• Keep the receipt and check the amount charged.
• Make a note of the pack size you bought and whether the quantity worked for you.
• Use that experience to adjust your list next time.

You do not need to compare everything in the supermarket at once. Start with one product you buy regularly and expand the check when it feels manageable.

Keep track of your spending and record your shopping in Maurvia, available on Google Play. Reviewing your own records can help you decide which habits work for your family.