Sentry Page Protection
How to Make a Grocery Price Book:
Stop Guessing and Start Paying Your Best Price
Learn how to make a grocery Price Book to track supermarket prices, compare unit prices, spot genuine specials and save money on groceries. Includes free A4 and A5 printable Price Book sheets updated for 2026.
Of all the things I’ve done over the years to save money, time and energy, keeping a Price Book is still right up there at the top of the list.
When I first started writing down grocery prices, I didn’t think of it as creating a Price Book. I simply wanted to know where I could buy the things our family used for the best price.
That simple habit went on to save us thousands of dollars.
And in 2026, when grocery prices can change quickly, pack sizes are constantly changing and a bright SPECIAL ticket doesn’t necessarily mean you’re looking at a bargain, a Price Book is every bit as useful as it has ever been.
What Is a Price Book?
A Price Book is your own personal record of the prices you pay for the things your household regularly buys.
You record the product, brand, pack size, price, unit price, store and date.
Over time, those entries give you something incredibly valuable: your own price history.
Instead of wondering whether $4.50 is a good price for something, you can check.
Instead of assuming the bulk pack is cheaper, you can compare the unit price.
Instead of buying something simply because the catalogue says it is half price, you can see whether it is actually close to your best buying price.
And instead of running from supermarket to supermarket chasing specials, you can make calmer, more deliberate shopping decisions.
That’s why I love a Price Book.
It takes the guesswork out of grocery shopping.
Your Price Book Shows You Your Best Price
After you have been keeping your Price Book for a while, patterns start appearing.
You begin to recognise the usual price of the things you buy.
Then you recognise a good price.
And eventually you know your target price — the price that makes you stop and think, Yes, this is worth buying now.
You may also begin to notice how often particular products come on sale.
Not everything will follow a neat sale cycle, and prices do change, but your Price Book gives you real information based on the shops you use and the products your household buys.
That is far more useful than relying on advertising.
Start Small — You Don't Need to Record the Whole Supermarket
Please don't think you need to spend a weekend entering the price of everything you have ever bought!
Start with the things you buy regularly:
Print a sheet for each product and start recording prices as you shop.
Your Price Book will grow naturally.
Within a few weeks you'll already have useful information. After a few months you'll have a very good picture of what your regular groceries really cost.
And eventually you'll only need to add an entry when a price changes or you discover a new best price.
Don't Forget the Unit Price
This is one of the most useful parts of a Price Book.
Pack sizes can make price comparisons confusing.
The larger packet isn't automatically cheaper.
The bulk pack isn't automatically better value.
And two products that look similar on the shelf may contain very different quantities.
Recording the unit price lets you compare like with like.
It might be price per kilogram, per 100 grams, per litre, per roll, per wash or per item.
Once you start watching unit prices, some supposed bargains become a lot less impressive!
A Price Book Helps You Know When to Wait
One of the great advantages of knowing your prices is that you don't need to panic-buy every special.
If today's price isn't particularly good and you have enough at home, you can wait.
If the price is genuinely excellent and the item is something you use regularly, you can decide whether your grocery budget and storage space allow you to buy enough to see you through to the next good buying opportunity.
That's smart stockpiling.
And that is how a Price Book works alongside your pantry, your grocery budget and your shopping list.
The Cheapskates Club Price Book Has Been Updated for 2026
I've refreshed the original Cheapskates Price Book and Guide for 2026 and created new printable sheets for the Member Hub.
You can choose the version that suits the way you shop.
Download the 2026 Guide to Creating and Using Your Price Book
Download the A4 Price Book Sheet — ideal for your main household Price Book, with plenty of room for entries.
Download the A5 Landscape Price Book Sheet — compact enough for a smaller binder or to take shopping with you.
Or download the Complete 2026 Price Book Pack and you'll have the guide and both printable sizes together.
Print as many Price Book sheets as you need for your household.
Then choose five or ten things you buy all the time and start recording their prices.
Don't worry about making it perfect.
Just start.
Because once you know what a good price really is, supermarket shopping becomes a whole lot easier.
Know your price. Know when to buy. And keep more of your grocery money in your pocket.
When I first started writing down grocery prices, I didn’t think of it as creating a Price Book. I simply wanted to know where I could buy the things our family used for the best price.
That simple habit went on to save us thousands of dollars.
And in 2026, when grocery prices can change quickly, pack sizes are constantly changing and a bright SPECIAL ticket doesn’t necessarily mean you’re looking at a bargain, a Price Book is every bit as useful as it has ever been.
What Is a Price Book?
A Price Book is your own personal record of the prices you pay for the things your household regularly buys.
You record the product, brand, pack size, price, unit price, store and date.
Over time, those entries give you something incredibly valuable: your own price history.
Instead of wondering whether $4.50 is a good price for something, you can check.
Instead of assuming the bulk pack is cheaper, you can compare the unit price.
Instead of buying something simply because the catalogue says it is half price, you can see whether it is actually close to your best buying price.
And instead of running from supermarket to supermarket chasing specials, you can make calmer, more deliberate shopping decisions.
That’s why I love a Price Book.
It takes the guesswork out of grocery shopping.
Your Price Book Shows You Your Best Price
After you have been keeping your Price Book for a while, patterns start appearing.
You begin to recognise the usual price of the things you buy.
Then you recognise a good price.
And eventually you know your target price — the price that makes you stop and think, Yes, this is worth buying now.
You may also begin to notice how often particular products come on sale.
Not everything will follow a neat sale cycle, and prices do change, but your Price Book gives you real information based on the shops you use and the products your household buys.
That is far more useful than relying on advertising.
Start Small — You Don't Need to Record the Whole Supermarket
Please don't think you need to spend a weekend entering the price of everything you have ever bought!
Start with the things you buy regularly:
- Bread.
- Milk.
- Flour.
- Rice.
- Pasta.
- Tinned tomatoes.
- Coffee or tea.
- Laundry detergent.
- Toilet paper.
- Meat.
Print a sheet for each product and start recording prices as you shop.
Your Price Book will grow naturally.
Within a few weeks you'll already have useful information. After a few months you'll have a very good picture of what your regular groceries really cost.
And eventually you'll only need to add an entry when a price changes or you discover a new best price.
Don't Forget the Unit Price
This is one of the most useful parts of a Price Book.
Pack sizes can make price comparisons confusing.
The larger packet isn't automatically cheaper.
The bulk pack isn't automatically better value.
And two products that look similar on the shelf may contain very different quantities.
Recording the unit price lets you compare like with like.
It might be price per kilogram, per 100 grams, per litre, per roll, per wash or per item.
Once you start watching unit prices, some supposed bargains become a lot less impressive!
A Price Book Helps You Know When to Wait
One of the great advantages of knowing your prices is that you don't need to panic-buy every special.
If today's price isn't particularly good and you have enough at home, you can wait.
If the price is genuinely excellent and the item is something you use regularly, you can decide whether your grocery budget and storage space allow you to buy enough to see you through to the next good buying opportunity.
That's smart stockpiling.
And that is how a Price Book works alongside your pantry, your grocery budget and your shopping list.
The Cheapskates Club Price Book Has Been Updated for 2026
I've refreshed the original Cheapskates Price Book and Guide for 2026 and created new printable sheets for the Member Hub.
You can choose the version that suits the way you shop.
Download the 2026 Guide to Creating and Using Your Price Book
Download the A4 Price Book Sheet — ideal for your main household Price Book, with plenty of room for entries.
Download the A5 Landscape Price Book Sheet — compact enough for a smaller binder or to take shopping with you.
Or download the Complete 2026 Price Book Pack and you'll have the guide and both printable sizes together.
Print as many Price Book sheets as you need for your household.
Then choose five or ten things you buy all the time and start recording their prices.
Don't worry about making it perfect.
Just start.
Because once you know what a good price really is, supermarket shopping becomes a whole lot easier.
Know your price. Know when to buy. And keep more of your grocery money in your pocket.