Thursday, October 30, 2008

Stretch Your Paycheck By Buying In Bulk

By Judy Turner

Buying in bulk is a great way to save time and money. There are so many advantages to shopping this way that it is amazing more consumers don't take advantage. Most large towns and cities have some form of bulk grocery store or wholesale club. You may be charged a membership fee but it is usually reasonable. Quite often a membership pays for itself after the first shopping trip.

Compare the cost of a single item with the cost per item when buying in bulk. For example, if you purchase a 12 pack of paper towels divide the price by 12 to see how much you spent per roll. If it is on sale then the savings are even bigger. Shopping this way means spending less and shopping less.

There are definitely certain types of food and household products that are the most beneficial to purchase in bulk. Paper products, soap and anything with a long shelf life are always good buys. The items that you go through daily are the ones that you spend the most money on. Many people may not find meat or other fresh products to be a worthy bulk investment. The truth is that anything that can go into the freezer is a good choice. Consider purchasing a large freezer and you will find that it pays for itself rather quickly.

Most certainly there are some products that are not recommended for acquiring in bulk. Perishable items that don't freeze well should be purchased in smaller quantities. Check for sales and plan your meals accordingly around these items to use them up quickly.

Many families find themselves running to the grocery store way too often. If you find yourself constantly stopping at the store in between shopping trips then that is your first indicator that buying in bulk may be best for you. Buying large quantities and breaking them into smaller ones will save you money and the time it takes to stop at the store frequently. Try to plan your menus in advance to avoid getting into a rut.

With the rising costs of oil and gasoline, saving time also equates to saving gas. If you take fewer trips to the store for meal items and buy more at one time, the need to run out for groceries will be less frequent. This certainly means less gas use. Making grocery purchases in bulk is effective in cutting a variety of costs. Consider the ways it can help your family save time and money that can be better spent in other ways. - 15485

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