Meal Deals: should you buy by the pound or the bag

Stores know exactly what to do to make you spend the most amount of money possible. That's why you have to stay on your toes. A good example is the age old question: should you buy veggies by the pound or pre-packaged in a bag?? The quick answer is it depends. You really have to do the math to see which one is cheapest. I recently saw a 5 pound bag of potatoes for $2.99. But, the potatoes you can buy by the pound were priced 99 cents a pound. That means when buying the same 5 pounds you spend an extra $2. You might instantly think the potatoes that are pre-packaged are cheaper, but that's how stores get you to spend more.