Bulk-Buying Is an Effective Way to Cut Down Your Bills
There is a reason why people prefer to buy their toilet paper in bulk at Costco rather than weekly at Walmart. Bulk buying cuts down the amount spent on an individual item, making it a cost-effective strategy. But some things are better left on the shelf until you need them. Here are things you should ALWAYS buy in bulk (and a few things that you shouldn’t).
Canned Foods
Buying foods ike canned beans, soup, and tomatoes can save you about 20% compared to buying single cans. These foods have a long shelf life, making them ideal to stock up on (even in cases of emergency).
Dry Pasta
If you regularly rely on Barilla to fulfil your daily calorie needs, it might be wise to stock up on it. Not only does dry pasta last long in the pantry, it also is endlessly versatile. From actual pasta to pasta salads, to mac and cheese, bulk buying these boxes can be extremely useful for you and your family.
Fresh Produce
This seems almost obvious but bulk buying and storing fresh fruits and veggies can be incredibly wasteful if you’re not going to use it. This is only sustainable if you have means to freeze the produce once you buy it.
Spices
It may seem like a good deal to buy cinnamon, cloves and cayenne pepper by the pound but, think about how much of the spices you use every day. Even if you cook large meals regularly, spices are often used less than a teaspoon at a time. If you store it for too long, it will lose its taste and potency, making it wasteful and useless.
Paper Towels and Tissues
From small kitchen spills to a constant runny nose, having paper towels around the house is very helpful, especially if you have young kids at home. It makes sense, then, to save up to 45% of the price by buying them in bulk.
Rice and Grains
Oats, millets, rice, and lentils are a healthy source of carbohydrates and are incredibly easy to make and serve. They also last for a long time if they are stored properly in air-tight containers. Making these a regular part of your diet and having them stocked in your pantry can be an effective way to reduce grocery bills.
Cooking Oils
This may come as a surprise, but cooking oils can go rancid faster than you think. If you have a diet that is not very heavy on oils and fats, it may be wiser to buy cooking oils one unit at a time.
Milk and Dairy Products
Yes, most of us drink milk and milk products in some form every day. But, they are also some of the most easily perishable items in grocery stores. Ultimately, even if you use milk daily, it is always better to buy it fresh every day.
Toilet Paper
No matter who you are, no matter where you live, you will always need toilet paper. There is a reason why people stocked up on it during the pandemic. Buying toilet paper in bulk can almost half the cost than if you were to buy it at retail prices.
Cleaning Supplies
Disinfectants, bleach, and all-purpose cleansers are a must-have around the house. They usually don’t expire for years and are used up quickly, making bulk-buying them more affordable.
Bread
Whether you prefer fresh sourdough or sliced white bread, you should always buy a fresh pack when you need it. Bread moulds incredibly quickly, and that mould can be fatal if consumed. So, next time you’re at the bakery section, be sure to only buy as much bread as you need for your family.
Eggs
With the current prices of eggs and other poultry products, it may seem more cost-effective to buy them in bulk, but eggs can rot incredibly quickly, and once rotten, they can cause food poisoning and salmonella. It is safer to buy eggs as and when you need them.
Pet Food
It will cost you up to 35% less if you buy Snuffles’s dog food in large 30lbs bags rather than the small 5lbs ones. It also gives you a more consistent supply and helps you reduce the waste generated over time.
Trash Bags
You will never regret having a few extra of these just lying around. This is true especially if you live in a large family or have many kids at home. Having an excess supply of trash bags not only lowers costs but helps you be prepared at all times.
Soft Drinks
Sodas go flat if stored unused for a long time. If you drink four cans of Diet Coke a day, yes, you should bulk-buy it. But if you drink sodas more like a treat, then you probably should only get one if you really want it.
Snack Cakes
Whether you prefer Twinkies, Little Debbie’s, or Hostess, there is no denying that such cakes can go stale really fast. Even if they are a regular cure for your sweet tooth, you should probably not buy more of them than you need.
Flour and Sugar
It's always good to have some flour and sugar on hand. This is especially true if you have a non-American diet or you bake regularly. Buying flour and sugar in bulk from stores like Costco can help reduce your grocery bills by almost 50%.
Frozen Fruits
If you make smoothies regularly or if you give your kids frozen blueberries as a quick after-school snack, it might be a good idea to bulk-buy them. Frozen fruits remain stable in the freezer and are a healthy way to manage your sweet tooth.
Condiments
We all have that one bottle of ketchup in our fridge that hasn’t been opened since 2011. Condiments like mustard and ketchup change taste and texture over time, so it is always better to only buy them as much as you need.
Nuts and Dried Fruits
Cashews, pistachios, almonds and raisins all have natural oils that add to their flavour. These very oils are the reason that they can quickly go rancid if they aren’t frozen. If you don’t snack on nuts or use them for cooking regularly, it makes no sense to buy them in bulk.
Snacks, Chips and Crisps
Whether you eat a pack of Flamin’ Hots a day or you take a couple of crackers every morning with your coffee, buying shelf-stable snacks in bulk can help you save a lot on daily necessities.
Diapers and Baby Wipes
Being a new parent is hard enough even without the last-minute CVS diaper run. If you have a newborn or infant at home, stocking up on diapers and baby wipes can be a wise choice. Not only is it cost-effective, but it prevents you from being stuck helpless after a major blowout.
Cosmetics and Skin Care Products
There is that little jar on every cosmetic product that tells you how long it can last once it's been opened. Such products have active ingredients that deteriorate over time and can actually harm you if used past the expiration date. Buying only when needed is the safest thing to do when it comes to such products.
Over-The-Counter Medicines
Yes, you should have some medicines at home to treat small ailments. These emergency medications are not particularly an issue. But, if you regularly stockpile medicines, it is worth remembering that expired medications can cause more harm than good.
Batteries
From your TV remote to your kids’ toys, most things at home today need a battery to operate. Stocking up on AA’s and AAA’s can help you be prepared and lessens the cost by up to 60%!
Cereal
Do you also start your day with a glass of cold milk and a bowl full of Fruit Loops? Well, even if you do, hoarding the Fruit Loops (or any other cereal) might not be a good idea. This is especially true if you live alone or in a small family. Large boxes of cereal can go stale before you can finish them.
Clothes
Trends, styles, and fashions change with the seasons. Every year, there will be something new that captures the zeitgeist. There is no point, then, to buy clothes in bulk, only for them to end up in a landfill at the end of the year.
Shampoo and Conditioner
Unlike other skincare items, shampoos and conditioners don’t have many active ingredients that become less effective over time. This means that buying them in bulk will not reduce their potency. Considering that we use shampoos almost daily, it is therefore preferable to buy them in bulk.
Pasta Sauces
If you live in a large family, you can easily go through a jar of Ragu in two days. Considering this, you might find it more efficient and effective to buy a 12-pack at Costco than to buy single jars. That being said, it depends on how much and how often you eat pasta at home.
Perfumes and Fragrances
Buying perfumes in bulk and storing them for later use might just be a waste of money. Perfumes lose their fragrance notes over time, meaning that if left unused for years, they become redundant.
Freezer Meals
Most homes don’t have an industrial-size freezer, so storing bulk-bought frozen meals might be difficult. Additionally, freezer burn could render them tasteless and even harmful over time.
Toothpastes and Toothbrushes
Buying these in bulk is easier than you think. Toothpastes, toothbrushes, and other personal hygiene items are often sold in multi-packs. These are essentials that we need every day and that need to be replaced every few months, so it makes more sense to buy them in bulk.
Magazines or Books
Displaying your book collection is a matter of pride for many readers but, if you live in a small house or have many family members sharing a limited space, your books can go from a collection to clutter really quickly. In such cases, it is more cost and space effective to invest in devices like Kindles to indulge in your literary fantasies.
Office Supplies
You remember buy a 12-pack of pens or pencils when you went back to school shopping? Well, that is a habit that you should continue even as an adult. Stocking up on everyday office supplies like notepads, pens, and printer paper can help you save up to 60% on the retail price.
