You’ve seen the television shows – the people who have a spare room filled with toilet paper from floor to ceiling and enough candy bars to rival Willy Wonka. Bulk shoppers often get a bad rap. People assume they’re spending money they don’t have or buying worthless products that will only expire before all can be used. At best, through the TV lens they’re preppers ready for every disaster, at worst they’re hoarders who buy and buy on compulsion.
Bulk shopping can be useful, though. Before I’ve answered the question Should You Stockpile While Paying Off Debt?, but today I’m helping you through the process of buying in bulk and sharing my Top Ten Bulk Item Purchase list.
Bulk Doesn’t Always Mean Warehouse Stores
When people think of bulk purchases, they often skip straight ahead to warehouse clubs like Sam’s, Costco, or BJ’s. You can make bulk purchases at almost any grocery store or even on Amazon’s Subscribe and Save Program. I’m not a big fan of any store or program that requires you to pay money simply to shop at their store. If you weigh the options and feel like a monthly or annual fee is worth it for your family, be sure you check for the best deals on obtaining the membership. Often Groupon or Living Social run specials on memberships that include gift cards and other perks. You’ll also want to be certain that your place of employment doesn’t offer a membership as a job perk. Sometimes retailers like these really do have the best unit prices. At other times, you may be better off making a purchase at your regular grocer or big box, simply buying more units.
Pay Attention to Unit Price
Speaking of units, I cannot preach enough – “Just because a product is in the biggest box doesn’t make it the cheapest. Just because something is packaged in the smallest container, it’s not the most expensive.” If you want to be an ace bulk shopper, you need to get very good at mental math or have a calculator with you at all times. Some stores break down price per unit or ounce on tags (although the math gets fuzzy when an item is on sale). Compare the unit price in exact measurements too. How long is the roll of toilet paper? Is it measured in inches or feet? Marketers are brilliant and you have to look closely and pay attention to details to make sure you’ve got the best deal possible.
Avoid the Traps
If you’re smart about it buying in bulk, especially at warehouse stores, can really save you money in the long run. I cannot wait to share my favorite purchases at the end of this post. However, you must be sure you don’t exit the building with a big screen TV and a diamond ring, too. Not unlike the Grocery Shopping Hacks I shared last month, you need be smart about how much time you spend in the store and avoiding aisles where you don’t need to make a purchase. Set your shopping spidey sense to high and keep away from problem areas.
Skip Multipacks
Spoiler alert: It’s not really buying in bulk if you’re purchasing a ton of single serving packages. You’re going to overpay for basically what amounts to more waste – plastic, foil, and paper miniature boxes. You’re still smarter if you buy the big bag and then subdivided it into your own individual servings of chips, carrots, cereal, or snacks.
Stick to the Basics
While the fancy lotion with a lower price or the enormous package of high end candy seems like a fantastic deal (and could be much better when you compare unit prices), you need to stick to the basics when it comes to buying in bulk. Think: meat, frozen veggies, toilet paper, rice. Consider your storage space and your freezer space, too. If you don’t have a place to keep the items where they will not quickly spoil, you should skip the purchase.
Without further ado, my top ten bulk purchases:
- 1. Meat: It depends on the cut and again you need to pay attention to unit prices, but you can score a fantastic deal on meal. This week, I picked up boneless pork loin for $1.66/lb. at Sam’s Club. Even ALDI typically prices it closer to $2.49/lb. so this was a fantastic deal. I did have to come home and cut up the meat into family size servings – I was successfully able to split the entire cut into three very large meals. I did the same thing with boneless, skinless chicken breasts for $1.89/lb.
- 2. Rice: I can’t say enough good things about rice! It’s a dish with incredible flexibility and you can buy a 25 lb. bag for an incredible low price. I always know we have a side dish on hand because a bag will last us at least 6 months, if not more.
- 3. Toilet Paper: You need it. You never want to run out. I purchase TP via Subscribe & Save and save money in more than one way. Not only do you avoid the higher unit price of a smaller package, but you also avoid the hidden cost of running out to the store to purchase a necessity and coming home with dozens of extra purchases.
- 4. Frozen Veggies: Again, frozen veggies are an arsenal side dish that I always have on hand. Purchasing them in bulk allows me to quickly whip up a nutritious side with very little work.
- 5. Deodorant: I know this seems like a crazy one, but I typically buy 4-5 units of deodorant when purchasing it. Again, I choose Amazon to buy it because I can almost always find a cheaper price per unit on it and usually can find coupons for it too (did you know Amazon had coupons?).
- 6. Cheese: Everything is better with cheese! Plus, if you didn’t know you can freeze the cheese and make it stretch further.
- 7. Gum: Never, I repeat NEVER, purchase a single pack of gum from the grocery checkout. I promise you’re getting ripped off if you do. Even if you merely head to the candy aisle to pick up a multipack, you will save money.
- 8. Spices: Whether you purchase more than one container at a time at your local grocer (I get ours at ALDI!) or you buy herbs and spices from an online bulk supplier, you will save more money if you purchase spices in bulk. Be sure you check the expiration dates though!
- 9. Soap: A single bar of soap isn’t a hefty investment. However, it is one of the regular needs we all have which again can cause us to run out to the store and end up making unnecessary buys. Plus you typically save money (depending on brand and size) when you choose to buy more than one at a time.
- 10. Dried Beans: Even if you don’t purchase a 10 lb. bag, you’re better off buying dried beans in bulk than purchasing their canned counterparts.
What do you buy in bulk? I’d love to know where you’ve saved extra money by opting for the larger size!
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out The Debt Free Devotional
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