Buying Food in Bulk is often given as a method of saving money on your grocery bill, especially if you cook all of your meals at home. For most items that you purchase in “normal” quantities, you can find a much better deal if you buy in bulk.
However, there are a few things that you must be careful of when buying food in bulk.
The Dangers of Buying Food in Bulk
Buying Food in Bulk May Not Be Cheaper
This is especially true when you are shopping at a warehouse such as Costco that doesn’t except manufacturer coupons. Many times my wife and I have compared the prices at Costco with those at our local supermarkets. What we have found is that when there is a manufacturer coupon involved, oftentimes Costco loses!
Also, keep in mind that your local supermarkets will often run sales and other special promotions on various items. When this happens, the benefit of buying food in bulk is usually lost.
You also have to consider the fact that purchasing food in large volumes at warehouses is usually reserved for “name brand” items. So if your price per unit comparison is done on purchasing the huge package of the name brand verses the normal size name brand, you are not factoring in the benefit of buying the cheaper store brand.
Buying Food in Bulk May Cause Waste
Many times we can become enamored by how cheap certain foods are when we buy in large packages. However, we have to be realistic regarding our ability to consume that large quantity before the expiration date.
Buying mayonnaise in huge quantities just to save a few dollars doesn’t make much sense if half of what we purchase goes bad!
Buying Food in Bulk May Cause You to Overeat
Ok, so this may not be a problem for everyone, but I know that if there is something that I absolutely love and I now have a crate full of it, it will not last as long as the equivalent amount of smaller packages. This is especially true with snacks and drinks. They tend to go a lot faster when you have a boatload! Of course by doing this, you have essentially wasted any savings that you were able to gain.
It also isn’t good for your waistline.
How to Avoid the Dangers of Buying Food in Bulk
Know the True Cost
You can avoid falling into the trap of buying more and not saving, by knowing the true cost of all of your options. If you don’t mind the store brand of an item, then use that when comparing prices to the large volume package.
Also, keep track of how often the local supermarkets offer specials on the item, and be sure to check out this coupon database to see if there is currently a coupon available. This way you are sure to make a proper price comparison when considering buying food in bulk.
Know Your Limits
First, you must be sure that what you are buying can last as long as it needs to before you are able to consume it. Obviously, this isn’t the case with toilet tissue or paper towels; but you have to be careful when purchasing perishable items in large quantities.
If you don’t want to pass up on an amazing deal, try getting together with a few friends or another family. You can split the costs and the groceries to ensure that you get a great deal and avoid waste! This is also a great idea if you do not have the room to store all of the food!
Be Realistic
If you know that you have a problem with having 50 candy bars in your house at one time, then it would be best for you to pass up on the 50/$30 deal! Again, this is another area where you need to come up with a plan before walking through the doors of the store. If having too much of a good thing is going to be a problem, then either split the food as mentioned above, or pass on the deal.
photo by cleverclevergirl
Reader Questions
- Do you buy food in bulk? If so, how do you avoid wasting your money?
- What items are better purchased in smaller quantities?
- Are you a part of a food co-op, or even an informal group of friends that make bulk purchases together?
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
I have found that a garden – even a small garden – is making a difference in what I buy. This economy has really hit our business the last few years, and we’ve cut our salaries by at least half and we’ve gone through our cash cushion. I HAVE to find ways to save. The price of lettuce keeps going up and we like our salads, and my brown thumb is turning green just in time. My daughter is out of the house and my son is usually working at a local restaurant or working out with friends, so many of our meals are now for one or two, depending on our schedule. I can go out to the garden and pick a few leaves of lettuce (and tomatoes are a-comin’!) and beet greens and make a salad without racing to use the whole head before it goes bad. No waste, fresh food, and very convenient. I plan on growing some lettuce on the shady side of the house in containers when the heat gets too much. I’ve also found kale to be an awesome green to grow – no bugs have touched it, and it’s very healthy.
Now, if I can keep from killing my eggplant! /crosses fingers
Be smart buyer. Buy only the important and necessary.
Great tips to all reader…
Wow, it’s amazing to read how many couples disagree over this issue. I think that in this case, you must keep track of these bulk purchases to chronicle what was wasted and what was not. Now you have that record as an objective 3rd party, and can avoid an argument.
There are definitely some times where Costco and others stores like it provide a huge discount. Especially on items that don’t have a short shelf life!
Buying in bulk has made us become much more careful shoppers even at the grocery store.
I know that for budget reasons, many people like to buy in small quantities and shop every few days.
I guess having kids makes it worse if they decide to make their own coffee, or have a snack binge when you’re not looking!
Thanks for all of the great comments!
You need to distinguish between fresh (perishable) purchases and staples. If it doesn’t spoil, and you will use it, the big box store is usually a good deal.
When the purchase is fresh, I try to share it with my mom, who eats more fresh food because I shlep it from Costco.
It’s important to think through how two people (my current household size) can eat a bale of spinach. It takes some planning, but that’s the cost of savings.
There is a presumption that large quantities mean a better price. My experience with Costco is that I must be a savvy buyer because not all products are cheaper on a per item basis. This aside from possible waste due to large quantities.
Oh no! That sounds like something my kids would do
I am still looking for a perfect lock for the pantry!
We found the same thing – Bulk buying was not cost effective when it was just the two of us (before kids).
I agree that going shopping with a full stomach is a must! That goes for the kids too LOL!
I agree that buying in bulk in not always cheaper. Since I have been using coupons often, I have not shopped at a warehouse store much. I like to match up coupons with current sales to get rock bottom prices at drugstores and grocery stores.
Costco (and other bulk purchase stores) can offer some real benefits, but the thing is, purchases need to be made carefully. At least that’s been my experience.
It’s important to go to such places on an empty stomach …unless you satisfy those cravings with samples at Costco:)
But really, going there while full allows one to more accurately determine with a clear mind what you will actually eat, and whether or not things will be wasted. I agree, if not made carefully, bulk purchases can cause people to either overeat or waste.
All this said….I really like Costco!
My husband and I have gone back and forth on this one. We used to live in a town where Sam’s Club was very convenient for us. It was easy to save money on gas and even grocery items. We would go once or twice a month.
When we moved, we realized it was not as convenient, more of a hassle to get there. We were not saving on gas as often, but chicken, ground beef, paper products and cleaning supplies were still worth the occasional trip. When our year was up, we did not renew. Six months later we are finally low on our paper products, but found a great deal at Target and had coupons galore to use. For the two of us, buying bulk just is not worth it, but combining coupons with sales makes a bigger difference.
I have told my wife not to buy Costco’s chocolate covered raisins in the big square tub, because I know I’ll eat them every time I hit the kitchen or see them. I’d rather buy a box of Raisinettes now and then, even though, as she says, they aren’t as plump and juicy. And I’ve learned through experience not to buy Costco produce, there’s just two of us and we dont’ use it up in time.
you are 100% right. Buying food in bulk, make easier access to it and than it may cause overeating. managing a household includes not only to find out the priorities but also the right quantities… great post.
Then there is always the chance too that your children will have a field day in the pantry while your not looking and decide to play cooking.
I had my 4 year old and 5 year old decide to make coffees with water and lost a 2kg bag off coffee and gained a lovely new stain on the carpet.
So yes I’d agree sometimes it does cost you money to buy in bulk
I buy some items in bulk as long as it is a really great deal and I can store till used without spoiling. I have also noticed at Sams that some items/brands are not cheaper in bulk, sometimes the identical brand in smaller quantities was cheaper per unit at the Wal-Mart next door to Sams.
I think they’re banking on what I call “The Auction Mentality” where the consumer believes that just because its in a warehouse club or listed in a auction it has to be cheaper.
I never buy in bulk as i always over estimate what i need and also i eat more if i have the food in the house. I try to buy what i need just for a few days.
Great post. I’m a Costco shopper and most of the time what I buy there is toilet paper, ground meat.some frozen items cleaning supplies and canned goods. For me it’s more cost effective to buy the 5 pound package of chicken nuggets at $10 than to spend $6 a pop every time my kids want a “Happy Meal”. Plus I can monitor what sides they have with it and no cheap plastic toys to deal with.
There are times when I think it’s better to buy some things at the supermarket than Costco especially when I have a coupon for it. Although if I have Costco coupons I will stock up sometimes it’s a better deal.
Great article here and the tips are very comprehensive. For sure many entrepreneurs with small and big businesses are going to benefit from this. Keep it up!
@ Travis, I really have a mental picture of you throwing away a huge load of stale cheeseballs!
You have to plan very well in order to take full advantage of these bulk items.
My wife is a huge fan of club stores and buying in bulk. I hate it. She buys those huge containers of cheeseballs from Sam’s Club for like $6. Great….until I throw half the thing away 2 months from now when they’re stale.
The only time I like buying in bulk is when an event is coming up that I KNOW we’re going to use all of it in a short period of time – and I first confirm that it’s cheaper per item.
Plus, buying a huge amount of something – even when it is a little cheaper per “unit” usually costs so much for the whole package that it just destroys a weekly budget.