Buying in bulk is a great way to save money if you do it smartly. Unfortunately, some people get a bad impression of bulk buying after having food go bad or buying a lot of something they didn’t like.
There are definitely items that make more sense to buy in bulk, and others that make less sense. Perishable foods are an obvious item to avoid buying in bulk, unless you are splitting with a friend or hosting a party.
Kitchenette items, however, are one of the smartest things to purchase in bulk quantities. Here are four reasons why:
- There is no expiration date
- This is not an item you’ll use more of simply because you have more
- These items can be stored almost anywhere. You can hide them in the basement, in the garage, or under the stairs if you need to.
- The price break is significant. You save more money on some bulk items than others. Kitchenette items tend to be ones on which you see the most significant savings. The warehouse stores get the same advantage, as they can buy these items in greater bulk as well, since there’s no worry of expiration or spoiling.
What Should I Buy?
The kitchenette items you should plan to purchase in bulk include:
- Paper Towels
- Toilet Paper
- Shampoo
- Soap
- Dish Washing Detergent
- Laundry Detergent
- Light Bulbs
- Office Supplies
- Trash Bags
- Paper plates, cups and napkins
- Diapers – this one is tricky because children do go up in size from time to time. Try to time a big bulk order right after your child has moved up in size so you have plenty of time to use these up.
- Office Supplies – Even if you don’t work from home, you can save money by purchasing the home office items you do use in quantity
How Do I Come Up With the Money?
Buying in bulk does require a little bit more of a financial outlay upfront. However, you don’t need to buy everything you plan to purchase in bulk in one outing. Stock up on paper towels this trip and toilet paper next time to spread out the cost. In a month or so, you’ll be stocked up on everything, and you’ll really begin to notice the savings.
Bulk Buying is Simply a Habit
Keeping track of your inventory of bulk supplies and being sure to buy as often as required can seem like a bit of work at first. But, once you get into the habit, it will become as routine as your current shopping habits. But, the good news is that once you get into the habit, having more cash in your wallet will be a new routine, too.
