The popularity of warehouse stores like Sam’s Club and Costco encourage people to reap the rewards of shopping for their household needs in bulk. These stores tout cheaper prices for the average consumer who chooses to become a member of their warehouse club. But does everyone realize the savings?
Buying items in bulk quantities has its benefits, but it has its hazards, as well. Too often consumers are tempted by the vastness of the warehouse stores to purchase things they don’t really need or that aren’t really priced at bargain prices simply because the products are available. Getting all of the benefits of shopping in bulk quantities requires that the consumer do his homework and only make the purchases that will help him realize actual savings.
Only buy products you actually use.
Sometimes when you’re shopping in a wholesale club it’s easy to become enamored with the abundance of products available at discounted prices. However, if the product goes to waste in your closet or pantry, then it wasn’t a bargain, no matter what you paid for it.
Don’t buy more than you can use before the product will spoil.
Paper goods are great items to buy in bulk. They store forever (provided you have adequate space) and never go bad. You have to be a little more cautious when purchasing food stuffs, though. If you purchase fifty pounds of hamburger, but then have to throw out the last ten pounds because it spoiled, your purchase wasn’t quite as cost-effective as you hoped it would be.
Be familiar with the prices of products you use.
Not everything available at a wholesale club is a bargain. If you know how your favorite products are usually priced at your local grocery store, you’ll be able to determine which products really are a good buy.
Share the wealth of your shopping proceeds.
To help get your money’s worth out of your wholesale club membership, you can share your shopping bargains with friends or family. This alternative helps eliminate the worry about buying more than you can use in a short amount of time. You can share the cost of bulk items with friends or family and then split up the large, bulk purchases into smaller amounts that are more manageable for single families.
Buying product in bulk quantities can lead to a large savings for you and your family. You just need to be savvy about which things you purchase.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I wrote a post about this a while back and argued that it wasn’t really cheaper, especially if you eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables since they can’t be bought in bulk. It also tends to make me eat more since there’s more in the house for me to scavenge!
http://www.plantingdollars.com/frugal-living/does-buying-food-in-bulk-save-money/
this post applies to my minimalist tendencies. I dont like having things around me that i dont use in a regular basis so i prefer buying things that i need. I think God likes this in me
I agree… you must only buy things that you will actually use. Also, if you frequent warehouse clubs enough, you will find that they have sales cycles just like other retailers. Focus on the cost per unit/ounce/lb and educate yourself on the cost of similar products elsewhere.
I have no doubt that many people who shop at warehouse clubs end up spend a whole lot more than they otherwise might have. Clubs like that are designed to constantly have new and tempting things. But yes, I do believe that buying in bulk can really save you money, if you stick to the methods outlined in this post.