Many of us receive weekly circulars, coupons, emails, and app notifications from grocery stores, pharmacies, dollar stores, and other retailers advertising their latest sales.

But how many of us actually stop to compare the real cost?

Sometimes we see a sale and assume it is a good deal. For example, you may think, “I am already going to the pharmacy for medicine, and the orange juice is 15% off, so I will pick it up there.” Then, a few hours later, you go to the grocery store for chicken and vegetables and realize that the same orange juice would have cost less there, even with only a 10% discount.