Toilet rolls are a must have item shopping and the costs can soon add up over the course of a year. Skint Mum looks at how to save money on toilet rolls.
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Toilet rolls are a must have when doing the supermarket shop each week and when the average person uses 8 sheets per visit to the loo, the costs can soon add up over the course of a year.
As Skint Dad was otherwise engaged, Mollie Green from BBC Radio WM invited me onto the show to discuss how to save money on toilet roll – listen from 1 hour 49 minutes. (link not available after seven days).
It’s an interesting discussion and one that people may not have discussed too openly as what happens in the bathroom is usually private. However, this conversation is how to bring down the cost of spending on toilet rolls and here are some of the tips from the Skint household.
Brand down
Recent research has been carried out to show the difference in value, luxury and overall performance of the toilet roll.
We use Lidl Everyday Essentials as standard in our household (which we don’t find too bad) and it actually the top of the chart for the best overall value.
Sainsbury’s Basics actually won the best performer, beating all big brands overall on value and performance.
Research taken from Bathrooms.com.
Buy online
When buying online you are able to get some good deals on bulk buys.
Groupon usually have good deals on household items and toilet roll, Approved Food also have very good prices on loo roll (but you’re not always able to bulk buy their products, depending on their stock levels).
You could even try shopping at an office supplier such as Viking Direct or Staples when bulk buying toilet roll. You don’t have to be a business to purchase from these places and the savings you can make are substantial.
Price per sheet
Don’t fall for cheapest is the cheapest, as it’s not as black and white as that. If you look to buy online, you can usually organise the products by price, giving you the lowest priced rolls at the top of the list. However, cheapest may not actually be the best value.
When looking to see the prices, supermarkets will show the cost of each unit as the cost of each roll. However, this may also not be your cheapest option.
You need to work out the cost of each sheet to see what value you are getting.
Take this comparison I found on MySupermarket:
Tesco Everyday Value Toilet Tissue – 200 Sheets per Roll (4 in a pack)
67p for the pack, which works out at just 16.8p per roll
Price per sheet = 0.00084p
Tesco Everyday Value Double Length Toilet Tissue – 400 Sheets per Roll (6 in a pack)
£1.95 for the pack or, quite a bit more than the last at 32.5p/Roll
Even though the cost is more, the price per sheet isn’t = 0.00081p
Now although the price per sheet doesn’t look that much different, the cost of the 6 pack is actually lower and therefore better value. The rolls cost more but, because there are more sheets, it actually works out cheaper.
To work out the cost per sheet, do this calculation:
Sheets on each roll multiplied by the total number of rolls in the pack, gives you the total number of sheets per pack.
Then, take the price and divided it by the total number of sheets per pack.
Squash the roll
A favourite in our household, this little tip has saved us lots of sheets. On average, research has shown that people use eight sheets per visit to the loo. Adding up quite quickly (especially when children pull without thinking), one of our favourite money saving tip is to squeeze the roll. When you then try to give it a tug, it doesn’t roll and you’ll have to be more conscious about how much you are using, rather than just being given as much as you can pull.
Use something else
Maybe not a preferred option in the UK, but millions of people across the world don’t use toilet roll…. just saying! That’s 70% – 75 % of the world’s population!! I’ve found a few bloggers (here and here) who use reusable cloth and have read that many other people around the world just use a hose to wash afterwards (like bidets used to more popular a number of years back).
And finally…
Once you’ve finished with the toilet roll, what do you do with the middle? Do you just recycle it, or jut throw it in the bin? Instead, why not use to to make something else useful around the house and maybe save even more money? Have a look at Skint Dad’s Pinterest board which is full of ideas on how to reuse the middle of a toilet roll.
Although nothing to do with saving money, the final point is whether you’re an under or an over. Apparently, if you roll it from under you’re more intelligent than if you have it from over. I’m an over girl, Skint Dad (when he does hang one) hangs it under.
Whether you’re an under or an over, it doesn’t really matter, the only intelligent thing is to make sure that you don’t over spend on those precious toilet rolls.
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Laurie @thefrugalfarmer says
It’s amazing how much you can spend on toilet roll if you’re not keeping track. We use a brand here called Angel Soft, which seems to have a great balance between cost effectiveness and quality. Also, I try and remind the kids not to use any more than three squares for “poddy” and to be conscious of how much they’re using for “poo”. It sounds a little over the top, maybe, but it’s cut our toilet roll costs by a good 20%. I totally admire those who use the reusable toilet squares, but I fear I’m too wimpy for that. :-)
Naomi aka Skint Mum says
Seeing the other bloggers talk about using reusables got me slightly tempted but then thinking about the hygiene (and that our youngest explores far too much – even when we tell her not to) I’m not sure if they wouldn’t work in our household.
Frugal queen says
I fold the toilet roll tube and put it inside another. I keep doing that until it’s a solid cardboard log. It then goes in the wood stove
Naomi aka Skint Mum says
What a great idea for recycling!
Ricky and I love following your recipes – congrats on your award win on Friday, much deserved!
not as backward as you think says
Controversial in the west but you can use water (like in the east) you will be cleaner and bonus save money on washing machine runs coz of skid mark undies lol
Naomi aka Skint Mum says
Lots of people used to use a bidet. I’m not sure why they seem to have gone out of fashion? Maybe it’s that bathrooms lack the space for another unit (I know we don’t have room for one!)
paidinchickens says
I’m not sure if my post went though.
We buy Nicky from farmfoods as they tend to have the best offer price and use less chemicals than other brands which is great if you are sensitive like me. Don’t forget to print the money off coupon off their website before you go.
We don’t do any other shopping there so we stock up on minimum spend and only shop when we are in the area to save on fuel x
Naomi aka Skint Mum says
We quite often just go to one shop to pick up things that are on offer so this is a great idea. For instance Tesco’s stock cubes are cheaper (and I actually think better too) than any other supermarket own.
I’ve not shopped in a Farm Foods before but would like to. The closest one to us is nearer to London, which is quite a trip!! Good tip on printing the coupons before you shop!
Allimack13 says
I say take the plunge & go tp-free with cloth!
sue walker says
great tip for this Halloween i saw, get a pack of glow sticks in the £1 shop i got a pack of 25. cut different shapes out of the cardboard tube eyes, mouth spooky stuff on Halloween when it gets dark snap your glow stick and put inside. you can place these in your windows, or your car dashboard and if its drive your drive or front garden, all you see is this spooky look in different colours!!! cheap decoration.
seben says
I used to buy Tesco’s value, double sized rolls. Then I found 36 rolls (200 sheets) for £3.25 in the Cash and carry. The quality seems ok.
Chris McCabe says
Use some body/baby lotion for a cleaner wipe.
jothejuggler says
Best value/cost /quality I’ve found is wilkinsons, if you have one nearby – £3 for 18 rolls
bestdavid098@gmail.com says
Everyone should stop buying Toilet Paper by getting a Hand Held Bidet Sprayer. With modern plumbing washing with water is the way to go and the best way to do that is with the Bidet Sprayer. 10X cleaner, healthier and saves money.
Ricky Willis says
That’s certainly an option. Not quite sure how popular it will be but there must be a market for it.