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April 11, 2008
Toilet Paper and Personal Bubbles
I have no idea why this bugs me, but buying toilet paper drives me nuts. Maybe it is because it seems so expensive and just goes away, but that is the same with gas, food, ect. I think part of the problem consists of the fact that it takes up and entire aisle at Walmart so pricing out the best deal is next to impossible. Usually when buying an item there are a couple choices with a few brands including a generic brand. I'm all about generic brands to save $$, but by the time I get to the third option of toilet paper- I"m half way down the aisle with a 2 year old at my ankles asking for a drink. I take care of her and then can't remember what I had learned so far and have to head back to the end of the massive amounts of toilet paper to begin again. First, there is the regular 4 pack, then the 8 pack, but then they throw in the 4 pack of "double rolls". You keep going, the 8 pack or the 16 pack or perhaps they could entice you with the 24pack of "double the tissue"---- FOR THE LOVE! I think I need to take my engineer husband with a spread sheet and leave Belle with someone so I can finally end this giant debate of if what I'm buying is a good deal. Oh yes, then comes choosing the quality. There seem to be a few great toilet papers, a few in the middle and 1 in particular that my husband has banned from our house. Scott tissue... oh my goodness. They have amazing coupons and when I have them, I know that I am getting a good deal. However, the quality of this toilet paper (according to my husband) is worse than the dorms! :) However, I heard somewhere that when you have small children around you should buy the cheap nasty stuff because no matter how expensive the toilet paper is, your kids will take the same amount... I could see that. Hmmm. Anybody ever done the research/priced this out? Or maybe I'm just strange and people don't worry about it. But then again, I have a feeling that a few of you out there have thought this through as well... I would be very interested in your thoughts.
On a completely different note: I have a personal bubble. Thank you to Melissa Lennander( formerly Powell) -years ago, she tried her hardest to pop it completely. That didn't quite happen, but it has shrunk considerably. However, there are times when you come into contact with people and they stand or sit or talk to you so close that it just becomes awkward. This happened today. We were at the mall and Belle was running around the play place and I had to use the restroom. I left my stuff on the seat that surrounds the perimeter of the entire area. We came back from using the restroom and some lady had sat down about 8 inches from my stuff. While there was already someone on the other side of me, there didn't seem like any other option but to sit down. I kept thinking that I should pick up my stuff and move down the empty 10 feet of bench that was remaining, but that seemed rude. Anyway, this lady didn't seem to mind that I sat back down with my stuff, so she made no attempt to move. I tried to start a conversation with her- but that died quite quickly. So I sat... and sat... and sat all the while feeling more and more weirded out at the situation. Finally it was time to leave and I felt free! But seriously- did this lady not feel the awkwardness? Does she just like people that much? Was the remaining 10 feet of the bench not a good seat in the house? I have no idea.
Posted by Leah at April 11, 2008 01:02 PM
Comments
I usually buy Charmin Basic, unless there is something else that is on mega-sale. It is good quality and not too expensive (but also not the cheapest). TP is really hard to comparison shop, though!
Posted by: Alicia S. at April 11, 2008 02:25 PM
My vote goes to Angel Soft. Its good quality and less than all of the other big brands. I've started buying the double or triple roles beacuse they say that they are exactly 2x or 3x the normal amount. So for my money 3x the amount for 2x the cost, what a win. And, replacing the tp is just annoying anyway. Especially if you think about it too late. :) So, a 3x (Mega Role) 12pack of Angel Soft for $9.99 is a good shop for me. I agree this is a tough comparison shop, but unless I'm biased by the baby or the colors, I think this is a better deal out there (that's not dorm room qaulity). By the way, this is one of first blog responses and I guess its toilet paper that unleashes my passion. Kinda strange. I really do love Angel Soft though.
Posted by: Jonathan at April 11, 2008 03:33 PM
My vote goes to Angel Soft. Its good quality and less than all of the other big brands. I've started buying the double or triple roles beacuse they say that they are exactly 2x or 3x the normal amount. So for my money 3x the amount for 2x the cost, what a win. And, replacing the tp is just annoying anyway. Especially if you think about it too late. :) So, a 3x (Mega Role) 12pack of Angel Soft for $9.99 is a good shop for me. I agree this is a tough comparison shop, but unless I'm biased by the baby or the colors, I think this is a better deal out there (that's not dorm room qaulity). By the way, this is one of first blog responses and I guess its toilet paper that unleashes my passion. Kinda strange. I really do love Angel Soft though.
http://www.angelsoft.com/
Posted by: Jonathan at April 11, 2008 03:34 PM
I completely agree with you here. I also completely agree with Jason on his assessment of Scott. I like to buy Cottonelle when they are on sale. But I too, have this same problem when I buy tp. In fact, before I knew we were moving, I noticed ours running low, and I started getting all anxious about having to buy more! Oh I long for freedom from the chains of having to buy tp! I have never tried buying Angel Soft, b/c I am skeptical that it is actually as soft as I imagine an angel to be. Maybe I'll have to try it though.
Posted by: Wendy B. at April 11, 2008 03:58 PM
I've been buying the Target generic lately, and it is really pretty good. I usually try and buy a big pack on sale and I figure it is probably a reasonably good deal.
Posted by: Kirsten at April 11, 2008 05:41 PM
i am a deal junkie and a numbers nerd... my best assessment is that if a reg 4 pk of tp is under $1 its a good deal, so 8 rolls for $2 and so on. i have found the best deal is 79 cents for a 4pk of single rolls at aldi but it is low quality. i buy the 12 pk of double rolls at aldi for 5 bucks - it is much better quality, lasts us for awhile and is way under 1 for 4 rolls (or equivalent). i really like to feel like i get good deal and since dan doesn't care its what we use - i just get it every 3-4 wks when i'm at aldi. leah, i agree, i don't like spending much money on stuff that we need often and just use up! i also find it helpful to keep a small notebook and calculator as a pricebook, i find where things are cheapest and write them down, then i know if i'm in a hurry or distracted what the best deal is... per ounce, pound, each, whatever it is! if you are interested in more deals - check out the book the tightwad gazette if you haven't already, great tips and hints esp for stay at home women! good luck!
Posted by: Lindsay Cox at April 12, 2008 09:52 PM