Retailers love “Multi-Buy” promotions, such as “10 for $10” or “Buy 5, Save $5.” These deals are designed to get you to fill your cart. However, not all of them are good deals. Some trick you into buying more than you need at a regular price. Others, however, offer genuine, deep savings that are worth the investment. These six specific types of multi-buy deals are the ones that actually lower your cost per unit and are worth stocking up on.
1. The “Buy 5, Save $5” Mega Event
This is the gold standard of multi-buys, famously used by Kroger and its affiliates. In this deal, you get an instant dollar off each item at the register as long as you buy in multiples of five. The key here is that the base prices are often already on sale. When you stack the extra dollar off, you reach rock-bottom prices on cereal, cheese, and snacks. This is a legitimate volume discount that rewards you for pantry loading.
2. The “Buy 2, Get 3 Free” Meat Sale
Occasionally, stores like Harris Teeter or local chains will run a “Buy 2, Get 3 Free” sale on items like shredded cheese or chicken breasts. The math here is undeniable. You are getting five items for the price of two, which is a sixty percent discount. Even if the base price is slightly inflated, the free items bring the average cost down well below any standard sale price.
3. The “4 for $20” Meat Bundles
Many stores offer a “Pick 4 for $20” or “5 for $25” deal in the meat department. These deals allow you to mix and match packages of ground beef, chicken, pork chops, and sausages. The savings come from selecting the most expensive cuts included in the deal. If you choose four packages of high-value steak or ground beef, the price per pound is significantly lower than buying them individually.
4. The “Buy One, Get One Free” (BOGO)
The classic BOGO is a simple and effective multi-buy. It is essentially a fifty percent discount. The real value comes when you use it on shelf-stable items like pasta, rice, or canned goods. Since you have to buy two, you need to ensure you will actually use the second item. For non-perishables, a BOGO deal is almost always a “buy” signal.
5. The “Spend $20, Get $5 Catalina”
This deal gives you a five-dollar coupon for your next trip when you spend twenty dollars on participating products. This is effectively a twenty-five percent discount on top of any sale prices. It is a great deal for stocking up on household essentials like toilet paper or laundry detergent, which rarely see deep direct discounts.
6. The “Case Lot” Sale
Some stores run case lot sales where you get a massive discount for buying a full, unopened case of canned goods or drinks. This removes the labor cost for the store to stock the shelves, and they pass that savings on to you. If you have the storage space, buying a case of beans or tomatoes during this sale yields the lowest possible price per can.
Doing the Multi-Buy Math
The danger of multi-buys is overspending on things you don’t need. However, for these six specific deal structures, the math works in your favor. They lower the unit price enough to justify the higher upfront cost. By focusing only on these high-value multi-buys, you can build a stockpile of essentials for a fraction of the regular retail price.
Do you wait for Mega Events to do your shopping? What is your favorite multi-buy deal to stock up on? Let us know your strategy!
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