Ask the Readers: How Do You Find the Best Bath Tissue Deals?
January 30, 2013
This morning I thought I’d ask you guys to weigh in on an Ask The Readers question that many of us may wonder about from time to time. 
What would you say to a reader who asked the following:
I have been couponing for quite a while now, but I have one product that I find very confusing to buy: bath tissue!
Leaving all the gussied-up features aside, as well as brand names, I can’t seem to figure out what is the best deal. Do I compare rolls (“big” versus “double”), square foot vs size per sheet or something else? When I purchase, I never feel confident I am making the best, most economical selection.
Can you share any techniques you might have for assessing the multitude of features in bath tissue and finding the best buy?
I’d love to hear what you guys have to say – so leave your thoughts in the comments!
Use coupons and match them to sales. If I find a good deal I stock up.
I find when buying bath tissue the method that works best for me is going to Sams Club. It is usally a great price and the larger quanity helps you from running out which is important when regarding TP.
It depends on your family. We only use certain brands and if they gave the others away, I wouldn’t touch them. We have a septic tank and plumbers told us to steer clear of certain brands. PLUS, it’s my tush and it likes angel soft! lol
I am with you, Catherine. I wasn’t always so choosy, but then I bought one of the soft more-expensive brands and haven’t gone back to the cheapo/free TP. In this case, I will gladly pay more for what is comfortable
I have heard that Charmin is bad for septics because the TP doesnt deteriorate
We had to have our septic tank pumped twice in one year. The second company told us that Charmin (which is what we always used before) is the absolute worst TP when it comes to septic tanks because it takes so long to degrade. Not sure if that is true or just his opinion, but we switched and didn’t have any problems after that.
It is! My husband use to pump septic tanks for a living. Charmin, especially the ultra strong, is the worst for your septic tank.
The guy who pumps our septic tank recommended Scott 1000 as the best if you have a septic tank. It supposedly dissolves better than Charmin and some other brands. Since we switched, we stopped having problems with it!
Scott 1000 doesn’t have a lot of coupons out there, but I try and stock up when I can get a roll for less than .50. I find that CVS tends to have the best deals… But every once in a while I can get freebies on Angel Soft and the Charmin single rolls. I’ll pick those up to have for those “just in case” times.
rebates. i’m just now running out from the georgia pacific rebate in..october?
that, or use your staples rewards to pay for tp. that’s a good way, too.
good coupons for toilet paper are unfortunately few and far between these days.
I recycle my ink cartridges at Staples and use the rewards to purchase our toilet paper and of course will also look for coupons to use with that as well. We haven’t paid for TP in a couple of years.
I do the same thing at Staples as well.
I do the same thing. I use the Staples rewards I receive since they do not roll anymore. I usually purchase it when there is a $5.00 off of $25 coupon and I purchase several large packs.
I also have purchased it off of Amazon using Swagbucks if I saw a really good deal!
This is good advice! I always buy stupid stuff we really don’t need when mine are going to expire! I never even thought about Staples and toilet paper.
I just picked up 5 of the 20 packs of Scott for 35.00. I ued ink cartridges to pay for them. I also use Swagbucks at Amazon.com and transfer my generic prescriptions from store to store to get 25.00 gift cards. I just transferred 3 new ones twice to get 6 of the 25.00 cards at kroger and Walgreens. I spent 24.00 op to get the 6 scripts for a profit of 126.00. trashbags are next.
I purchase most of mine at CVS using manufacturer coupons and ECB.
Well those were some good suggestions, I am too always having trouble with finding deals for toilet paper. I am not picky about it though, my husband is. If I had to choose, I would buy Scott or something similar to it in a big pack, from my experience even though it’s so thin, it tends to last a long long time.
Its funny u mention this today, i always wondered the same on toilet paper. There was an article in this Sunday’s orlando sentinel by Jill Cataldo that says this: of course anything that is on sale or u can use coupons to get it half price is good, her stock up prices are, less than 25 cents per single roll, less than 50 cents per double roll & less than $1.00 for mega rolls.
One of the few things I am faithful to (brandwise) as a couponer is toilet paper. I only buy Charmin Toilet Paper. Coupons are very low in value when they come out (0.25 and it comes out normally once a month in the P&G). Since Charmin is not a cheap toilet paper to buy, I normally use my ECB’s or RR’s or Staples rewards to stock up on the toilet paper. If CVS runs the buy $30 get $10 deal (which happens often), I stock up on toilet paper.
That is exactly what I do i take the few low value Charmin Coupons I find, as that and Bounty are the only brands we like, and shop when CVS has a Sale and the CVS $30 get $10 deal because combined with ECB and lots of times $4 or $5 off $20 purchase the machine kicks out its a great deal to stock up.
I keep it simple and use .25cents per single roll as a guideline. When I see “double” roll, I count that as 2 single rolls. I know that the SQ FT varies by brand, but I really dont have time to calculate the absolute best price per sq ft. If its .25cents per single roll or less, its a stock up price for me.
Like Sandy I too am a Charmin girl. Generally teh coupons are very low value, however there are a few tricks to get better deals on Charmin.
1. Always request The sample boxes and coupons from P&G whenever you can. Those coupons are usually a higher value.
2. Pay attention to Publix coupons, P&G does Publix coupons tha tyou can stack several times per year.
3. Follow them on Facebook, sometimes they gvoe away high value coupons there too.
As for figuring price per sheet or fot or whatever I am at a complete loss there.
Every package of toilet paper has the square footage listed. Usually in parenthesis (251.5) Move the decimal point to the left 2 places and that is the stock up price for TP. My example would mean that this particular pkg’s stock up price would be $2.51 or less. I find this works for me when comparing single, double, mega….
If is more than that, it can be a buy, but not a stock up. If you need toilet paper, you don’t quibble over the price like you do when it is about stocking up.
1¢ per square ft is my stock up price for 2 ply. With four littles i cant just run int o drugstores for the deals of the week. Their carts arent big enouh to hold my kids.
There have been a lot of great deals on toilet paper lately. I ended up with a rebate for Angel Soft and Sparkle last year where I was able to stack coupons – from what I remember, I ended up with 12 double rolls of Angel Soft for $2 or so each after everything was tallied.
This week, Charmin is on sale at Publix – I used the P&G $1 off and the .25 off, and used it toward the rotisserie chicken (which lasted us for several meals). I was running low last fall on toilet paper, now I have enough for 2 or 3 months.
I will only use Charmin. When I buy the nicer toilet paper I have noticed we use less than when we buy cheapo toilet paper. I usually buy it at CVS when they run the spend $30 get $10 ECB.
Love Scotts 12 rolls at CVS when they are on sale I buy up to 6 packs and they last me a long time!!!
Vivian I’m with you I love myself some Scotts tissue. I just went to CVS yesterday an use my raincheck I had from last year in Oct. when they had Scott for $6.77. I also bought Purex utra pack (raincheck from July $1.99)
2 Scott @ 6.77 = 13.54
6 Purex utra pack @ 1.99 = 11.94
coupons i use
CVS specd 25 get $5 off total
2 CVS 2.00 Scott tissue coupons
2 MQ scott coupons $1.00 each
6 Purex coupns $1.00 each
$17.00 in coupons I use at CVS only paid $10.26
Sweet Deal!!!
Don’t you love when they have the waste $30 get $10 back plus your coupons it’s like literally paying nothing!!! CVS rocks with Scott!!! lol
I go by square footage, with one caveat: I won’t buy certain brands after trying them, no matter how cheap! I don’t think that square footage is the whole equation, though.
The factor that is hard to measure is how long the rolls last! It is a factor of square footage AND how sturdy the TP is, which is then complicated by personal preference on how ‘hard’ or soft it is. I read a comment about Scott Extra Soft lasting a long time, and I agree, but it is too scratchy for us, so I don’t buy it.
This week at Target you can pick up Charmin Mega rolls for $0.0024/sq ft, if you have the MQ’s and SQ’s and get back the $5 gc. To compare, Angel Soft at Walmart (without mq) is $0.016/sq ft, right now. Charmin wins!
Also, I don’t care if the tp is one or two ply; it really depends on the brand; i.e. Scotts ‘Extra Soft’ is 1-ply, but seems a sturdier (and unfortunately scratchier) than Angel Soft 2-ply.
OOPS, my math was in error!!! the Charmin at Target this week (with MQs, SQs, and gift card) is $0.020/sq ft, and Angel Soft from Walmart right now with no MQs is $0.016/sq ft. So Angel Soft still rules!
This may sound odd, but consider buying the STRONG vs. SOFT in the brand of your choice. Same quality and you use less. Unless you have a really sensitive bottom.
My target is $.25 per roll. Sometimes I can hit it, sometimes, I’m a little over, but never more than $.50. Generally, I look for deals on the ‘green’ toilet paper that most people don’t buy. Scott Naturals, Marcal Small Steps, etc. When I find good coupons, I buy a large amount, so I’ve always got a rolling stock. (no pun intended)
Failing that, one can usually find good deals on Angel Soft. They put out good coupons, are generally reasonably priced and if you have a Publix, there are often promotions to go along with the coupons.
As for the ‘double-mega-super-blah-yada’ roll size, it’s all a load of hogwash. One roll of toilet paper is one roll of toilet paper no matter how many times some manufacturer prints on the package that each roll magically somehow equals 4 rolls. I don’t ever buy the smallest, but my price is $.25 per roll and that doesn’t change whether it’s ‘mega’ or ‘super’ or ‘double secret probationary’ size.
‘Double secret probationary’ size, I just laughed so hard I scared the cat. Some years back, I used to buy (can’t remember which brand) toilet paper that had a significantly smaller spool in the middle– naturally they were discontinued, but I wish Charmin or somebody would pick up on that concept again.
This is a hard product to gauge but I generally wait until there is a 3.99/12 roll sale and use coupons with that it makes for a good deal. This past week I was lucky enough to find a 45 cent off coupon for angel soft and it was on sale for 1.00 a pack making it 10 cents a pack .. I stocked up ..mind you I have 5 kids so some items I have to have in bulk no matter the cost .:))
Those $.45 coupons were for double rolls, not the $1.00 single roll pack.
heres an idea…. i wrote to huggies diapers telling them that i love their products, they sent me (3) $4/1 coupons and (2) $1/1 coupons for all of the products they manufacture, which includes Cottonelle. I got my coupons in the mail with-in a week. It costs $4.99 for a roll of 6 of Cottonelle Toilet Paper at Publix. I paired the $4/1 MC with the $1/1 that is currently in the publix green flyer and got three packages completely free! its not a huge amount, but for one email to huggies, i got 18 double rolls of Cottonelle Bath Tissue for no cost.
This is a tough one, even tougher than diapers. To me it all comes down to less poop in my hands lol. First steer away from cheap brands, store brands usually dont hold and you end up uing twice as much regardless their square footage. I stay away from Scott and Angel Soft and Quilted Northern. Between Cottonelle and Charmin, double copons at Kmart during the Pg spend 30 get 10 or same deal at cvs without doibling. Walgreens has the cottonelle 12 pk for 5 and usually down to 2 or 3 when their coupons are available and can be stacked.
I am really picky about my toilet paper. My dad can find really cheap toilet paper at Bravo (their store brand I think?) and he’s tried to convince me to use it, and I just refuse, because no matter how cheap it is, it’s awful and I hate using it! I’m not a huge fan of Charmin, though I know a lot of people disagree with that, and I will use it if I can find it dirt cheap somehow, but honestly Angel Soft is my favorite brand, and you can usually find decent deals on it. A month or so ago at Publix I remember there was a great deal with it, I picked up a few during that. I recently bought some off of Amazon, of all places, for .42¢ a roll. Not the best price ever, but a good price, and to be able to stick with the one brand I know I like, I’ll take it!
Paper products are something I really love to have a good sized stock of. I keep atleast a year’s supply around because good deals are few and far between. I never buy TP at the grocery store. I get mine with the cash card or ECB deals at CVS or when it goes on clearance at Home Depot. Occasionally, a good deal pops up for it at Walgreens or other random places, but I have yet to see it cheap enough at a grocery store for me to jump on it.
I go by cost per square foot. This is one of the items that I find more cheap to buy at Costco. I know a lot of people in the couponing world gawk at paying a yearly fee to shop at a warehouse, but there are just a few staple items that make it worth the fee. One is toilet paper. The others for me are produce, milk, eggs, cheese and gas. My baby girl isn’t potty trained yet, so there are only two of use using toilet paper and we only have to buy a huge pack about twice a year. That means we only spend $44 a year on toilet paper.
We used Charmin exclusively until two days ago when the plumber who came for the stopped-up toilet told us and I quote: “Charmin is a plumber’s best friend”.
I too look at square footage. I have 2 favorite brands. I usually buy from amazon by the case and its shipped!!
After your post I couldn’t help but compare prices on Amazon. I got sidetracked by people’s often funny reviews of toilet paper. Haha.
Follow a savings blog that covers AMAZON, and they will alert you to the best deals!
When a RR deal is a money maker (like Pur-Absorb this week) I use that overage to buy TP. The estroven deal aligned with a charmin sale so I paid .98 for estroven and charmin. Just tax!
I usually go with Angel Soft and compare using the price per square foot. Angel Soft goes on sale often enough at Publix and with a coupon the price isn’t too bad. I never thought about going to Staples and using the rebates for tp. I’ll have to look into it!
I am an AMAZON girl. I buy all of my paper products off of AMAZON. I follow several savings blogs, and they alert me to the BEST DEALS when they come up. If it is a subscribe and save item, you get free shipping. (cancel the subscription once your order ships.) Yes, you buy it by the case, but it’s not like it is going to spoil. I like the convenience and the savings!
I also use amazon.com suscribe and save for toilet paper. Recently, I also bought Tide and Finish for much cheaper than I could at the store with sales and coupons. The amazon deal right now is the suscribe and save, they also have a $1.00 coupon to click to go towards the TP. It is 20.50 for 48 double rolls, plus free shipping. That would be less than 25 cents/roll (if you break a double roll down to 2 single rolls.) I normally just cancel the subscription under my account when my package comes in, that way I can “clip” another coupon when the subscribe and save deal becomes available again. It’s awesome, and I don’t have to worry about running out in between sales (plus I don’t have to worry about hunting down “the best deals” in town.) We only use Angel Soft.
I did 2 P&G deals this past week at publix all in the same transaction. I had 2 $1 store coupons (one from Target Hicoupon booklet, 1 from Publix donation sheet) and a $1/2 MQ (found inside product from last year). Found 2 of the “20% more free” packages they were advertising. added a bottle of tide with the $1.50 MQ + $.75 Target (hicoupon), 2 packages of the bounty (again 2 $1 Store q’s and 1 $1/2 MQ) a bottle of downy infusions ($1 MQ and was it $1 Target q? dont remember).And 2 roasted chickens for free
Added a $5/$30 Winn dixie Q, and got everything for like $24.00 all together. not bad for 8 relatively expensive items.
I have too used RR’s from Walgreens to scoop up some Cottonelle when theres coupons to go with it, or deals at CVS when the ECB’s are stacking up. Its nice when you have a stockpile built so you dont have to buy much, It makes it easier to be ok with spending $3 on a pack of TP.
It all comes down to personal preference . We have been using Scott for the last 20 years. We have a septic tank and we have had the least amount of problems using Scott. I always buy it at CVS when they have the $10 card or RR when you purchase $30 and of course I use coupons too. I wouldn’t use any other brand for any price.We are loyal Scott users.