Food, household cleaners, and other necessities of daily living are very expensive. Especially with inflation hitting so hard over the past couple years. A simple tip to save money is to buy items that cost less in bulk.
Food and Household Items: A Huge Expense
Next to housing, transportation, and insurance, food and household items are one of the largest expenses facing the average person. The good news is that many of these items can be bought in bulk, saving a large percentage over what they would cost in smaller quantities.
Things That Cost Less in Bulk
Number one, there are a lot of items that can be purchased in bulk. Number two, many of those items are common household goods that the everyday person uses on a regular basis. This post contains a few of those items along with ways to save money on them.
Number 1: Snacks
Common snacks like pretzels, chips, nuts, etc. all are significantly less expensive in bulk. Instead of grabbing the small bag at a convenience store, purchase a large bag and then put the contents into a small baggie when you’re on the go.
That bag of snacks can also double for a quick snack at home. This is significantly cheaper than convenience stores or buying smaller quantities.
Related: How I Saved $50 at the Store in Less Than 45 Seconds
Number 2: Fruit
There are certain fruits that are easier to buy in bulk than others. For example, apples and oranges can be kept for a while and won’t go bad after a few days like peaches and nectarines. Sticking fruits in the refrigerator also extends how long you can keep them.
Buying fruit in bulk is also a lot easier if you have a larger family. Buying for five or six is a lot easier than one or two. My wife and I buy quantities large enough to last about a week before we go to the store again for our family of four.
Number 3: Drinks
I personally don’t buy soft drinks or flavored beverages but they are easy to buy in bulk. You can either grab the two liter bottles or other larger containers. Or if you want it to last longer, buy individual cans.
This also goes for bottled water and other non-flavored beverages. If you have a good sized space to store your drinks, you can buy even more in bulk as storage isn’t as big of an issue.
Number 4: Alcohol
Go to a bar or restaurant and you’re paying at least five dollars for one alcoholic beverage. Buy an individual can of beer at the store and you’ll pay less. Buy in bulk and you’ll be maximizing savings (other than not drinking of course).
It’s really easy to buy alcohol in bulk because it stays good for a long amount of time. Bourbons, vodkas, rums, etc. all last for a long time. Wines age very well as long as you store them correctly. So if you like to partake in a beverage now and then, buy in bulk to save some serious money.
Number 5: Toiletries
It’s really easy to buy toiletries in bulk, and it comes with big savings. Toilet paper, deodorant, dental floss, toothpaste, etc. are all super easy to buy in large quantities. I keep a bunch of these items in the bathrooms and replace them when we’re running low.
There’s no last minute trips to the convenience store to buy any of these items because we are stocked up for weeks and months. The trick is as soon as you see supplies are running low, replace them so you are always fully stocked.
This of course does not mean to do what people did at the height of COVID–like hoard toilet paper and paper towels. Just have enough supplies for the foreseeable future and stock up when you’re running low.
Number 6: Household Cleaners
Household cleaners like glass cleaners, shower spray, etc. all can be bought in bulk. I honestly bought a glass cleaner a year or two ago from Costco and still have plenty left over. Probably enough for the next year or two.
As long as you have a place to store them, you can do the same with a variety of other cleaners.
Number 7: Kids Food
Instead of buying small bags of snacks at the store or convenience store, buy in bulk. Prices are often half as much and there’s no reduction in quality.
If you need individual snack bags, put the snacks in a baggie or buy individual packs in bulk. Either way, it will cost a lot less than buying in smaller quantities.
Number 8: Cleaning Supplies
Cleaning supplies like paper towels, sponges, rags, etc. can all be bought in bulk much cheaper than individually. Throw those items under the sink or some other storage area and access them when needed. Oftentimes, things like rags and towels only need to be purchased every few years if you’re buying in bulk.
If you want proof, check out the price of paper towels in bulk versus individually. Buying individually is often twice as expensive (or more) than buying the big pack and storing the excess amount. It also prevents having to go to the store more often as your supplies are already in the house/apartment.
Conclusion
This post only addressed eight things that can be bought in bulk to save good money. The good news is there are probably hundreds of things that can be bought in bulk, you just need to figure out what you use/need and whether those items can be purchased in large quantities.
As your living situation changes (like moving from a small apartment with minimal storage space to a house with a garage/storage area), you’ll be able to buy more things in bulk if you want to. And as always, make sure to see the forest for the trees. Don’t buy things in such bulk that you have no room for anything else in your house or the bulk items start taking over your living room.
Being reasonable is key here. Pick what you want to buy in bulk and pick up large quantities of those items. For everything else, keep doing what you’re doing.
What do you buy in bulk? What kind of savings do you see from it?
