SMARTER SHOPPING
That tempting 3-for-2 offer: when you save and when you spend more
Getting a free item does not necessarily mean your shopping costs less. It depends on what you need and what you will actually use.
Utilia Work · 3 min read
A free item can still cost you more
Imagine three items priced at €5, €4 and €3 in an offer that makes the cheapest item free. The usual total is €12 and you pay €9: a 25% discount, not 33.3%. The offer mechanics and individual prices matter as much as the large “3 for 2” sign.
| Scenario | Result |
|---|---|
| You use all 3 items in the offer | €2 per item used |
| You use only 2 items | €3 per item used |
| You use only 1 item | €6 per item used |
The actual discount when prices are equal
At €3 per item, three items normally cost €9. With 3-for-2, you pay €6 and save €3: approximately 33.3% off the three items, not 50%. This example assumes identical prices and no extra conditions.
If you only needed one, you spent twice as much
One item would have cost €3. Taking the offer requires paying €6. It may be worthwhile if you will use the other two and avoid buying them later, but you have spent more today. Distinguish a lower unit price from lower total spending.
Waste can erase the saving
If you use only two of the three items, each used item effectively costs €3: the regular price in this example. If you use only one, it effectively costs €6. Check expiry dates, storage space and normal consumption before filling the basket.
Three checks before buying
Check the price per kilogram, litre or item; see whether the promotion makes the cheapest item free; and compare the total with a different pack without an offer. A planned purchase that you fully use may benefit from the discount. An impulse purchase may turn it into extra spending.
Keep reading
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50% off plus another 20%: that is not a 70% discount →
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