Buying in Bulk

Does buying in bulk really save you money? Or is it just a scam? Well, it depends on the product, store, and brand of the item you’re looking for. Here are a few of my favorite things to buy in bulk along with some tips on how to save money when shopping at bulk food stores.

A few of our favorites to buy in bulk:

1. Rice. This is one of our pantry staples that we always have on hand. I can make delicious rice in my instant pot and it’s such a versatile and easy side to keep on hand. While the average cost of 1 lb of white rice is roughly $1.30, a 25 lb bag of white rice is just $12.98 at Sam’s Club, making this a cheap side dish.
2. Nuts. We like to have nuts on hand for baking or the occasional snack. At our regular grocery store, nuts are so expensive, even when they’re on sale. At Sam’s Club, almonds and walnuts can be purchased in a 3 lb bag for under $10. Also, if you want your nuts to stay fresher for longer, try storing them in the freezer for up to a year.
3. Meat. Meat can be a budget buster for sure. Try buying meat in bulk and repackaging it into smaller, freezer-safe packages. I stock up on chicken, ground beef and turkey, italian sausages, and bacon when I see them on sale. Sometimes this is from a bulk food store but other times I just buy them in bulk at a regular grocery when I see a great deal.
4. Paper products. Costco toilet paper is my absolute favorite. There, I said it! Check out prices, not just per roll, but per sheet when trying to find the best deals on TP. I’ve always found the Kirkland brand to be the best bang for my buck.
5. Vitamins. We have found Sam’s Club has the best deal around on Vitamin D, which we take daily. If you buy the generic brand of supplements, we’ve always had great luck with getting them at bulk grocery stores.
6. Coffee. If you’re a fan of Starbucks coffee, then look no further than Costco. Their Kirkland brand house blend says right on the package that it is brewed by Starbucks! It’s about $16 for 2.5 lbs, which is a great deal for whole bean, Starbucks coffee. There are other whole bean and pre-ground varieties as well.
7. Vegetables. While I don’t typically feel like Costco or Sam’s Club have the best prices on fresh fruit (although the quality is amazing), their vegetables are usually a great deal. From salad to brussel sprouts, even broccoli and coleslaw mix, I love buying veggies in bulk and using them for a meal or two around here. Two lbs of brussel sprouts is only about 2 meals worth of a veggie side for our family of 6. Frozen veggies are another one of their great deals too.
8. Frozen fruit. It’s delicious, often organic, and much cheaper than I can find anywhere else.
9. Gift cards. While you might not need actual gift cards in bulk, if you have a trip coming up, Costco is one of the cheapest places to buy gift cards for retailers like Southwest airlines, Airbnb, certain restaurants, and hotel chains. This saved us over $150 on flights recently by buying the gift cards and then using them to pay for our flights instead of just booking them with our card.

Tips for saving money when buying in bulk

1. Only buy what you’ll actually consume. This seems to go without saying, but sometimes something can seem like such a great deal only to go to waste. I am guilty of this from time to time but I try to be cognizant when I am in bulk stores to only buy what we will use.
2. Only buy what you would buy at the regular grocery store. For instance, I have a tendency to buy beverages in bulk from time to time at Costco. Now, will these beverages get consumed? Yes! But did I need a 15 pack of Bai on sale for $15? Nope. It’s not a great deal if you wouldn’t have bought it otherwise. Skip meandering through every aisle looking for the coupon deals and make a list before you go. I’ve often heard people say they can’t leave a place like Costco without spending $200. That is not usually the case for me because I try to go in with my list of 10-12 things and come out with nothing or not much more than planned.
3. Stick to store brand items, if possible. I almost always shop generic. If I go to Costco and can only purchase a name brand item (i.e. Chewy bars), sometimes it’s not cheaper than the generic alternative at another grocery store. Keep an eye out for Member’s Mark, Kirkland, and generic brands from the bulk stores.
4. It’s only a great deal if you’ll actually use up what you buy. For instance, buying 5 lbs of oatmeal is only a great deal if you’ll use up all 5 lbs of oatmeal. Otherwise, you would have saved with a lesser quantity that you would have actually consumed.

For more tips on saving money on food, check out my other article here.

How do I justify the annual fee?

Often times, you can find Groupons or deals that make an annual fee close to nothing for the first year (a cash back card or free coupons for close to the value). If you’re willing to switch back and forth or allow it to lapse in between, this is the best way to go. However, if you get hooked on Costco and simply can’t live without it, you’ll be paying roughly $60 annually, or $5/month. To me, the $5/month is well worth the savings on just a few items alone. If you know friends or family who have one or the other, you could also ask them to get you the items you want when you don’t have a membership and then trade off. If you have a housemate, you can share the annual cost as one additional adult from your household can be added for free.

Is it really worth it?

I don’t know your family size or situation, so I can’t answer that for you. We enjoy having the option of purchasing larger quantities for our larger family. We feel the prices on most things we buy in bulk are excellent and the quality is great too. Maybe give it a try next time you see a Groupon or a deal that makes it virtually free. See for yourself if buying in bulk can save you money overtime.