Is that little voice in your head telling you that you’re overpaying for groceries? With food prices constantly on the rise, we all feel the pinch. But does it really make a difference which supermarket you choose?

We decided to put it to the test.

Welcome to the first Shopping Challenge! Our mission was simple: create a delicious, easy, and waste-free meal for a family of four and compare the total shopping basket cost at four of South Africa’s biggest retailers: Checkers, Pick n Pay, Woolworths, and Shoprite.

The results were genuinely surprising.

The Meal: One-Pan Boerewors & Sweet Potato Traybake

To keep things simple and realistic, we chose a classic “one-pan wonder.” It’s a hearty, flavourful meal that requires minimal effort and even less washing up. Here are the five core ingredients we shopped for, based on the standard pack sizes you’d actually buy:

1. Boerewors (~500g pack)
2. Sweet Potatoes (1kg bag)
3. Green Beans (~300g bag)
4. Onions (1kg bag)
5. BBQ Spice (standard container)

The Results: A Clear Winner Emerges

Before we dive into the details, let’s look at the final till slip. We compared the online prices for each item on the same day to ensure a fair comparison. The difference was staggering.

For the exact same shopping list, the price gap between the most and least expensive store was R44.85!

Here is a breakdown of the total cost for this one meal at each store:

As you can see, Shoprite was the clear winner at R126.61, while Pick n Pay was the most expensive for this specific basket. Imagine that R45 difference multiplied across your entire monthly grocery shop!

The Deep Dive: An Item-by-Item Breakdown

Where do these cost differences actually come from? Some items had similar prices across the board, while others varied wildly.

We’ve built this interactive table to show you exactly what we found. Hover over any row to highlight it, and click on the product name to see the exact item we priced. The cheapest option for each ingredient is marked with a ⭐.

Key Takeaways from the Data:

• Produce is a Big Deal: Shoprite was significantly cheaper on all three fresh produce items: sweet potatoes, green beans, and onions. This is where most of the savings came from.
• Don’t Assume: The biggest surprise was the boerewors! While many assume Woolworths is always the priciest, their Grabouw Boerewors was the cheapest on the day, beating all other stores.
• The Split Basket: If you were to shop at multiple stores to get the absolute cheapest price for every single item, your total basket would be R119.10. This proves that while one store can be cheapest overall, you can save even more by knowing your prices.

The Recipe: One-Pan Boerewors & Sweet Potato Bake

Now for the best part! Here’s how to turn your shopping into a delicious, no-fuss dinner.

Yields: 4 Servings
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 35-40 minutes

Ingredients:

• ~500g Boerewors, coiled or cut into chunks
• 3-4 large Sweet Potatoes (about 800g from your 1kg bag)
• ~300g Green Beans, trimmed
• 1 large Onion, cut into wedges
• 2 tbsp Olive Oil (or any cooking oil)
• 1 tbsp BBQ Spice
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C.
2. Prep the Veggies: Wash and chop the sweet potatoes into 2-3cm cubes. No need to peel them! Place them in a large bowl with the onion wedges and trimmed green beans.
3. Season: Drizzle the vegetables with olive oil, then sprinkle over the BBQ spice, salt, and pepper. Toss everything together until the veggies are evenly coated.
4. Assemble the Tray: Spread the seasoned vegetables in a single layer on a large baking tray.
5. Add the Wors: Place your boerewors on top of the vegetables.
6. Bake: Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, turning the boerewors halfway through, until the vegetables are tender and slightly caramelised and the boerewors is cooked through and browned.
7. Serve: Let it rest for a couple of minutes before serving hot, straight from the pan. Enjoy!

The Verdict

Shopping around isn’t just a myth your grandmother told you about—it can lead to real, significant savings. While driving to four different stores for one meal isn’t practical, knowing which of your local shops is consistently cheaper on produce or meat can guide your shopping and leave more money in your pocket at the end of the month.

• Top 28 Affordable Food Shops in Cape Town
• The R50 Secret: Who Really Makes Shoprite, Woolies & PnP’s House Brands in South Africa?
• The R12 Meal That Will Save Your Winter: A Hearty Cape Malay Pea Soup Recipe
• We Shopped for One Meal at 4 SA Stores: The Price Difference Was R45!
• The Baked Bean Battle | June 2025 | Newsletter

When you see a big red “SALE” sign, it’s hard to resist the urge to buy. After all, who doesn’t love a good deal? But here’s the truth: a sale doesn’t always mean you’re saving money. Retailers use clever pricing strategies to make discounts seem more appealing than they really are.

In this article, we’ll break down:

• Why sales can be misleading
• How vendors manipulate pricing to create false urgency
• A smarter way to shop—comparing prices across stores
• How to determine real value, not just perceived discounts

By the end, you’ll know how to spot real bargains vs. marketing tricks—so you never overpay again.

1. The Psychology of Sales: Why We Fall for Discounts

Sales play on our emotions. The idea of “missing out” on a deal triggers FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), making us more likely to buy—even if we don’t need the product.

Common sales tactics include:

• “Limited Time Offer!” – Creates urgency
• “50% OFF!” – Makes us feel like we’re getting a steal
• “Original Price: R200, Now R120!” – Makes the discount seem bigger

But here’s the catch: The “original price” isn’t always real. Some retailers inflate prices before marking them down, making the discount seem larger than it is.

2. Vendors Control the Price—Not the True Value

A “sale” is just a pricing strategy. Retailers decide what to charge, meaning they can artificially raise prices before offering a discount.

Example: The Illusion of a “20% Discount”

• Store A prices a shirt at R100, then marks it “20% OFF” for R80.
• Store B sells the same shirt for R70—no sale needed.

Even with the “discount,” Store A is still R10 more expensive than Store B.

Key Takeaway:

• Sales don’t compare prices across stores—they only highlight discounts from one retailer.
• The real question isn’t “Is this on sale?” but “Is this the lowest price available?”

3. Not All Sales Are Equal—Some Are Just Marketing Tricks

Some discounts are genuine, but others are designed to manipulate shoppers. Here’s how to tell the difference:

Fake Sales vs. Real Savings

4. A Smarter Way to Shop: Price Comparisons Beat Sales

Instead of chasing sales, compare prices across multiple stores for the same product.

How to Do It:

1. Use price comparison tools (Google Shopping, PriceCheck, Honey).
2. Check different retailers—sometimes smaller stores have better deals than big brands.
3. Look beyond the discount tag—calculate the actual cost per unit.

Example: Finding the Best Deal on Headphones

• Store A: “30% OFF!” – R700 (originally R1,000)
• Store B: No sale, but priced at R650
• Store C: Refurbished model for R500

Best choice? Depends on your needs—but Store B is cheaper than Store A’s “sale.”

5. The Real Question: Which Vendor Offers the Best Value?

Instead of asking, “Is this on sale?” ask:

✅ “Is this the lowest price for this exact product?”
✅ “Are there hidden costs (shipping, warranties)?”
✅ “Is the quality the same elsewhere?”

Pro Tip:

• Wait for genuine seasonal sales (Black Friday, end-of-season clearances).
• Track prices over time—some “sales” are just regular prices in disguise.

Conclusion: Stop Chasing Sales—Start Shopping Smarter

Sales can be great, but they’re not always savings. By focusing on real price comparisons rather than flashy discounts, you’ll avoid overpaying and make smarter purchases.

Next time you see a “SALE” sign, ask yourself:

• Is this really the best price?
• Would I buy this if it weren’t discounted?
• Can I find it cheaper elsewhere?

By shifting your mindset from “discount hunting” to “value shopping,” you’ll keep more money in your pocket—where it belongs.

• Top 28 Affordable Food Shops in Cape Town
• The R50 Secret: Who Really Makes Shoprite, Woolies & PnP’s House Brands in South Africa?
• The R12 Meal That Will Save Your Winter: A Hearty Cape Malay Pea Soup Recipe
• We Shopped for One Meal at 4 SA Stores: The Price Difference Was R45!
• The Baked Bean Battle | June 2025 | Newsletter