As inflation eats into our household budgets, more and more American consumers are turning to warehouse stores like Costco and Sam’s Club. They have been seeing significant growth in sales and customer traffic in recent years Without a doubt often you can save money by buying in bulk and stocking up on items before prices go up.
But as appealing buying in bulk can be it is not always the smartest choice. Tracie Fobes of the website pennypinchinmom.com points out “that big pack of toilet paper may look like a great deal, but what do you pay at your [local grocery] store? What is the price per roll there versus what you are getting at Costco?” Before you toss a jumbo-sized quantity of anything in your shopping cart, ask yourself these key questions: “What is the unit price of the item?” “Can I get it cheaper at my regular grocery store, especially if I use coupons?” “Will what I am buying go bad before I use it all up?” To help you shop wisely, here is the lowdown on five products to buy in bulk and five products to avoid.
Buy these:
- Trash bags, ziplock plastic bags, tinfoil, and plastic wrap.
None of these products have expiration dates because they don’t decompose readily (although that’s unfortunate for landfills). If you can use them and have the storage space, go ahead and stock up
- Batteries
“With a shelf life of 10-20 years bulk-buying batteries can save you money and come in handy when emergencies strike” AARP Magazine advises.. “After all, nobody wants to be left in the dark during a blackout or a storm because the flashlight batteries are dead. Batteries have a really long shelf life — up to 10 years for most regular batteries and up to 20 years for most lithium batteries when stored in cool, dry conditions. Two exceptions: 9-volt batteries last up to five years, and rechargeable batteries typically last up to one year.”
- Toothpaste
Because we use toothpaste every day, buying it in bulk makes sense. However, don’t overstock. Some ingredients in toothpaste begin to lose their effectiveness after about two years, so shop accordingly.
- HVAC filters
You do know how to change the filter for your furnace and air conditioner (commonly, it’s just one filter for both systems) right? This is another item that has no expiration date, your HVAC filter should be changed every 3 to 12 months. Dirty filters not only reduce the air quality in your home, but they also make your system work harder, which increases your utility costs. HVAC filters can be a bit pricey, so when you see a good deal—stock up. (In addition to checking your warehouse store, keep an eye out for sales events at hardware stores and the big box home improvement stores.)
5. Underwear, undershirts and socks
“Things like tank tops, undershirts and basics that you need to wear under something are good bulk purchases,” says Julie Ramhold, a consumer analyst at DealNews.com. “The savings can be substantial: For example, a six-pack of boxer briefs typically costs significantly less than if you were to buy six boxer briefs individually. The same pricing advantage applies to other undergarments and socks sold in bulk.”
Don’t buy these:
- Spices
Southern Living Magazine reports that “[w]hile it may be tempting to stock up on ground spices when you see them on the shelf for a steal, unless you plan to use them up–it’s best to hold off. In fact, ground spices should be replaced every few years (two to three to be exact), because they expire, according to the USDA. ‘Ground spices lose their aroma and flavor more quickly, so it's wise to buy them in small quantities,’ the government agency states.
- Liquid Cleaning Products
“It might come as a surprise, but liquid cleaning products don’t last forever. As such, buying them in bulk isn’t necessarily such a thrifty idea,” Kiplinger Magazine says. “Liquid cleaning products tend to become less effective over time, so it's best to buy in smaller containers…. Anything containing bleach, for example, only has a shelf life of six months. If you've got a bottle older than that, you're not getting the same sanitizing or stain-removing power as you got when it was fresh. While other ingredients in liquid cleaning formulas typically last about one or two years, their potency still degrades over time, as do any fragrances you might have chosen the product for.” However, the magazine does recommend buying powdered cleaning products in bulk, as they have an “unlimited shelf life.”
- Canned Vegetables
This one could go either way— to buy in bulk or not buy in bulk. On the one hand buying in bulk may save you money, reduce the number of trips to the store, and give you a reliable food source. But look closely at the cans and you will see that they have expiration dates on them. If you buy too many cans and have to toss out some of them, your savings may end up in the trash can. Grocery store house-brand or generic brand canned veggies often sell for a lower price than the national brands at the warehouse stores.
- Condiments
The consumer-oriented magazine Real Simple warns that you should “put down that giant bottle of mayonnaise or ketchup. And know that condiments have a shelf life, especially once they’re opened. Ketchup, hot sauce, and cocktail sauce will stay fresh for about six months, but products like mayo, horseradish, and jams will only stay fresh for about a month or two after being opened.”
- Soda
Real Simple also shares a little secret about soda: “it will always go on sale, so there’s really no need to buy it in excess. And we’re not just talking about store-brand soda, soft drinks like Coca-Cola, Sprite, Dr. Pepper, and other well-known brands are frequently marked down, so you can purchase as needed and avoid having flat soda stored in your garage.”
