Find the Cheapest Item in Every Grocery Category Without Opening 12 Tabs

You know that tiny moment before checkout when you wonder, "Wait, is this cheaper at Sheng Siong?" Then you open one app, another website, maybe a delivery tab, and suddenly you're doing spreadsheet cosplay over eggs and toothpaste. Not very glamorous lah.

Tokku is built for exactly that mess. Instead of checking every retailer one by one, you can use Tokku to find the cheapest item for each category across different stores. Rice, dairy, snacks, drinks, household basics, baby items, toiletries: the point is not to be perfect. The point is to stop guessing.

Category shopping beats random promo hunting

Supermarket promos are loud. Category savings are quieter, but they add up better.

Start with the aisle, not the store. If you need cooking oil, milk, fruit, tissue, and instant noodles, the cheapest basket may not come from one retailer. Tokku lets you compare the item category first, then decide whether a split shop is worth the effort.

Look for repeat items. The best categories to check are the ones you buy again and again: rice, eggs, milk, bread, vegetables, snacks, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and baby basics. A small difference on a one-off treat is nice. A small difference on a weekly item keeps coming back.

Let the retailer win only where it actually wins. FairPrice may be good for one category, Sheng Siong for another, Cold Storage for a specific import, RedMart for delivery convenience. That is the whole idea behind the three-supermarket weekly system.

See Tokku's top picks by category

The section below is pulled from Tokku's homepage. It shows value picks by category, using current product data and retailer price gaps where available. Use it as a quick scan before building your weekly list.

If one category looks useful, tap into it and compare similar items. Some days the cheapest choice is the obvious house brand. Other days, a bigger pack, bundle, or different retailer quietly wins.

How to turn this into an actual shopping plan

Don't try to optimise your entire life in one sitting. Start with five categories you buy every week.

Build a weekly core. Add rice or noodles, protein, vegetables, dairy, and snacks into My List. Keep the list boring on purpose. Boring repeat items are where price comparison has the most power.

Check category picks before you add extras. Before tossing in sunscreen, wet wipes, cereal, or biscuits, scan the category first. This is especially useful for items from the skincare and toiletries price check, where Guardian, Watsons, and supermarkets can each win different products.

Split only when it makes sense. Saving S$0.30 is not worth a 40-minute detour. Saving across five categories, or combining a delivery basket with a nearby store run, can be worth it. Tokku gives you the comparison; you still get to choose the sanest route.

What "cheapest" should mean in real life

The cheapest item is not always the smallest price tag. Check pack size, brand, freshness, expiry dates, delivery minimums, and whether your household will actually finish it.

For pantry staples, bigger packs can make sense if you have storage and will use them. For produce, the cheaper option is only cheaper if it doesn't wilt in the fridge. For baby supplies or skincare, the right product matters more than shaving off a few cents.

That is why category comparison works best as a habit, not a rule. Use Tokku to surface the strongest options, then apply common sense. Very unsexy, very effective.

→ Compare prices on Tokku — find the cheapest picks by category before you shop.