I've realized one of the reasons I take too long to do the weekly shop is that I am sad enough to perform maths equations in my head at every aisle as I calculate the various merits of the numerous offers and their actual worth. Example: Today in Sainsbury's I was looking at the baby wipes with the knowledge that the pound shop sell the same item for a pound (funnily enough) yet the Supermarkets charge either £2 or £2.30 depending on their mood. As I (middle aged grump that I am becoming) begrudge paying more than twice what they retail for elsewhere I often wait until they are on offer which to be fair is quite often in a buy one get one free capacity, putting them back in the same bracket. This further knowledge compounds the fact that the RRP is a marketing tool to attract people to the apparent bargain that it actually is not and increases my resentment, but today the offer was a third off all baby products making a pack about £1.35 which as I needed a couple still had me thinking of them as too dear until I saw a 4 pack for £3. I know this is incredibly tedious but this is what I suffer in every aisle and why I take over an hour to throw an increasing number of groceries into my trolley. As frustrating as this is I know it is still quicker and more convenient than going to a number of different stores that I know to have a more honest and competitive pricing system. It may not be the most important issue but the pricing cartel is particularly depressing when the supermarkets play off each other in their advertising to appear the most competitive.