Buying in bulk can reduce the amount of money you save on grocery and household products. Whether you shop at a large warehouse store or a local grocery store, you can take advantage of bulk savings. Taking the time to learn the principles of bulk buying before you visit a store can help you make smart choices when you shop.
Prepare Before You Shop
Shopping with a list is important, whether you plan to buy a few things or a lot of items. Using a list reduces the possibility that you will buy unnecessary products, which defeats the cost savings of buying in bulk. Include items on your list that you use every week, such as canned goods, frozen foods and paper products. If you spot a good deal and buy one of these products when you shop, temporarily cross the item off your list until you start to run low on it. The University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County suggests developing a form you can photocopy or print from your computer for weekly use.
Reviewing grocery and warehouse store advertisements before you shop can help you save money. Advertisements may contain information about special bulk purchases or promotions. If you spot an item you can use in your weekly or monthly menu, add it to your list.
Shop Wisely
Compare unit prices on both large and small packages of items. In some cases, the smaller item may actually have a lower price. DisneyFamily.com cautions that not every item sold in a warehouse store is a bargain. Before you put that mega package of paper towels in your cart, think about the storage situation in your home. If you don't have a place to store the paper towels, the cost savings may not be worth the inconvenience. It is also a good idea to think about how much space your purchases will take up in your car's trunk before you buy large bulk products.
Check Expiration Dates
Bulk packages of meat, fresh fruit and vegetables and perishable items may spoil before you can use them all. Bypass these deals if you know you won't use all the products before they expire or rot. Helpguide suggests dividing large packages of food into smaller, more manageable packages, and freezing those smaller packages for later use. If you're buying items that won't freeze well, such as some types of fresh fruit, consider splitting both the produce and the cost with a friend or relative.
Buy Large, Think Small
It can be difficult to resist temptation when you know that your kitchen pantry is loaded with 10 packages of cookies. Breaking large purchases into smaller storage containers can ensure that you don't grow tired of an item too soon or don't experience an unwanted weight gain. The LifeWhile website suggests hiding snack items and keeping only a few small bags or containers in your cupboard at one time.
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