Comments on: Does Buying Food in Bulk Save Money?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 22:55:39 +0000

Bulk food saves money…no doubt about it…just compare per unit price with any non-bulk food store and its obvious. Many people have complicated lives and maybe lack the skills to make it work, but it’s less expensive for anyone who sets his or her mind on using bulk food and making it work.

By: Elisha

Elisha — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:20:11 +0000

I buy a lot in bulk. Most food items are good for at least a year with the exception of fats and oils which are usually 6 months to a year. I look at th experation dates to get an idea. I buy dry pastas, crackers, tuna, beans, flour, rice, etc. I have been teaching myself to can, so I can buy fresh produce in bulk and can it. I know what is in it when I can and it is not full of preservatives that way. I make my own jelly also, which when I calculated it out, cost less and had less sugar in it than store bought. I have a year to use my store and I rotate through all my items. That is the realy trick is buying stuff you use, so you do not find yourself throwing away large amounts of food from spoilage.

By: ElleX

ElleX — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 17:22:34 +0000

I do buy some items in bulk such as toilet paper when on sale and I have coupons. I have room to store a bunch of bulk items but I just don’t want to. I agree with Bradley in that these items have a holding cost. I purchase what I can use in a month or two. I keep all food stuff in one (3 shelf) cabinet. I, too, buy primarily fruits, veggies and nuts.

By: Norah @ Femita

Norah @ Femita — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:02:54 +0000

I guess a lot depends on what you buy in bulk. If I would buy tons of ice cream, it would be gone in a weekend but this doesn’t hold true for canned beans… Buying in bulk can be a great money saver if you restrict it to ingredients you use for dinner only. No candy, no snacks etc.
Norah @ Femita´s last blog ..How To Save Money On Groceries Without Sacrificing Food Quality or Taste

By: Deborah San Gabriel

Deborah San Gabriel — Sat, 29 May 2010 16:43:06 +0000

Do please be careful about buying bulk oils and some bulk pasta dishes.

The oils start losing their flavor and nutritional values after about year; longer than that, they start to go rancid. Keep oils in a darker place (like a pantry with a door) and away from warm and hot pipes (my hot water pipes go right through my pantry).

I used to buy mac and cheese boxes in bulk, but no more. I had no idea the cheese packets went bad! I had one two years old, and the dried cheese was getting moldy. A visual hint for those who like this stuff: if the powdery cheese becomes clumpy, or looks like large sand grains, it’s gone bad. You won’t have to taste it to find out. Most brands have a freshness date stamped on the box.

And, as always, check for cereal moths and larvae.

Bulk paper products can be stored under tables and in bureaus and closets. (I have a small place, too.)

When buying in bulk, don’t assume you’re getting the best prices. Use coupons religiously in stores that accept them.

Related to this and another entry, shop the perimeter of the store, so if you do use the dreaded shopping cart cited in the other blog, you’re sure to get the fresh foods first.

But don’t worry – we all need our indulgences

By: Bradley Gauthier

Bradley Gauthier — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 22:47:02 +0000

I don’t buy in bulk because of the holding costs associated with it. If I spend $40 on 8 boxes of cereal, instead of $6/month, what else could have been done with the $34 that month?
Bradley Gauthier´s last blog ..Workforce Motivation: 12 Psychology Concepts Every Entrepreneur Should Know

By: Other Side of the Fence Series

Other Side of the Fence Series — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:01:47 +0000

[...] Does Buying Food in Bulk Save Money? [...]

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:57:56 +0000

Hey Ileane,

Food and money is a bit of a gray area so I see my diet as an investment in myself, so I’m often willing to pay more for good food since it may mean more years on my life and better health… in the end what good is money if you’re not healthy? One of the things that opened up my eyes to this was the documentary “super size me” which if you haven’t seen you can watch it for free on hulu.com.

To be honest I think everyone should actually splurge at the grocery store by buying fresh produce and healthy foods because they’d feel better and thus be more productive.
Ryan´s last blog ..Hiking Diamond Head and Snorkeling In Waikiki

By: Ileane

Ileane — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:03:39 +0000

Hi Ryan,

I saw your site being featured over on Lisa’s blog.

I have to admit, I don’t have the most healthy eating habits so I’m going to take this concept a step further and say that eating out saves money for me too. I’m single so if I spend $5 at McDonald’s I save money, time and energy. I save on dish washing liquid, electricity, water, paper towels condiments…the list goes on.
When I actually go to the grocery store, I feel like I’m splurging.

I like it here, so I’ll look around some more.
Thank you.
Ileane´s last blog ..Twitter, Tweetmeme, and Your Retweets

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:21:33 +0000

haha, I’m totally with you there with the chocolate. We made cookies about a month ago and had an extra bag of chocolate chips… they were demolished after about 2 days… Out of sight, out of mind!