Imho, it IS rather pricy in today's economy, even at the "sale" price. As a senior & 24/7 caregiver for my hubby with alzheimers, I debated & argued with myself for months over spending so much on 1 thing to see IF I could help preserve our food items a bit longer if I vacuum sealed them. I've not used it enough yet to determine IF it will be of benefit to us under our personal lifestyle & shopping habits.