Are you wondering if buying in bulk would be cheaper for your family? Here’s some tips for saving money and preserving bulk foods!
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In a Nutshell:
Yes, buying in bulk can save some serious grocery money! One reason buying grocery items in bulk can be cheaper is because less packaging materials are required. You can also save money by buying individual items in bulk during sales when prices are low. If you’re interested in bulk shopping, consider how much of an item you’ll actually use within the shelf life and how much storage space you have available.
Throughout this last year I’ve been experimenting with buying my groceries in bulk. I’ve found ways to save, and I’ve also found ways to lose money. Like when I accidentally let half a bag of shredded mozzarella get moldy in the fridge. Oof! Overall I’ve been able to learn and tweak my buying habits when bulk groceries actually fit my families needs. I think my biggest issue to overcome was storage and getting used to dropping larger amounts of money up front to save later on. Hopefully you can learn from what I’ve discovered and save even more money yourself!
Is Buying Groceries in Bulk Cheaper?
Often times buying in bulk is almost always cheaper per unit, but that’s not always the case. You should always compare grocery prices when you’re shopping to find the best deal. It’s important to know that bulk items are typically cheaper per unit but because there are more units in each package that makes them more expensive. For example, a gallon of milk will cost more than a half gallon, but the price per ounce will be cheaper in the gallon.
Why is Buying Groceries in Bulk Cheaper?
There are a number of reasons buying groceries in bulk is cheaper. First, there is less packaging required than selling individual items. Second, companies also offer lower prices for more units as an incentive to buy more. If you buy wholesale straight from a manufacturer you also save money by cutting out the middle man (grocery store).
Grocery Items I Buy in Bulk to Save Money
These are the items I’ve discovered my family will actually use and save money.
- Flour: I buy the 25# bag of bread flour from Sam’s Club. Because I make homemade bread and pizza doughs, I’m able to go through all that flour.
- Sugar: I bought this 25# bag from Sam’s Club but found that I don’t go through as much sugar in the warmer months as I do in the winter and Christmas baking season. In the future I will likely buy 1 bag/year and then buy smaller bags as needed in the summer.
- Pancake Mix: I like to buy this resealable 10# bag from Sam’s Club as a quick and easy meal to have on hand.
- Vinegar: I keep the 128oz jug from Walmart on hand for recipes and for cleaning out my coffee pot and dehumidifiers. There are larger bulk options (cheaper per ounce) at Sam’s Club but I don’t use enough of it in a year to make the savings worth the space
- Vegetable Oil: This 2 pack from Sam’s Club is my favorite and significantly cheaper per ounce than the Walmart options
- Shredded Cheese: I use shredded cheddar and shredded mozzarella cheese often in my recipes so we keep large bags of both on hand. I have found that I use the cheddar more than the mozzarella so I’ve been freezing half the mozzarella bag to preserve it longer.
- Applesauce Pouches: For the kiddos…and sometimes myself! These are $0.41 a piece which is more expensive than the jugs of applesauce but they’re great portable snacks
- Yogurt Pouches: Same story as the applesauce pouches but these are cheaper at Sam’s Club than Walmart. Both are more expensive than I’d like because they’re a name brand. Still waiting for Great Value to come out with a dupe!
Groceries that are Cheaper to Buy in Bulk on Sale
Some groceries don’t come in bulk sizes or have smaller packages go on sale for cheaper prices than bulk. These items are usually butter, meat, and seasonal fruits and veggies. Often individual pounds of butter will go on sale at the end of the year (Holiday baking) and June (Dairy Month). During those times I stock up to get me through until the next time I can buy them on sale. This kind of bulk buying can also save me money throughout the year! If you’re wondering when to look for sales, check out this Seasonal Sale Cycle Guide my friend Kristen made.
Shelf Life of Bulk Items
While bulk items are usually cheaper per unit, it’s important to consider shelf life of the item when buying. This way you’re actually getting a good deal and not wasting money. For example, if you find that a large tub of cottage cheese is cheaper per ounce than a smaller container but you only use cottage cheese for 1 recipe per month then you’ll likely end up letting the leftover cottage cheese go bad. If you throw away any of the product, you’re likely not saving any money. You would have been better off buying the smaller container.
Storage of Bulk Items
Sometimes the price difference per unit of a bulk item is minimal but the size difference of the product is huge. For example, it’s cheaper per ounce to buy a 25# bag of sugar than it is to buy a 1# bag of sugar. You could save a good amount of money in the long run if you use a lot of sugar but if you don’t have the space or proper airtight storage for these products then you’ll be annoyed and how little room you have in your pantry for any other products.
Storage for Dry Bulk Ingredients
For storage of dry bulk ingredients like flour and sugar, I’ve found a food safe 5 gallon bucket with a gamma lid works best for air-tight storage. If you live near a Menards you can pick up a gamma lid and bucket locally for cheaper than Amazon. I prefer the twist top gamma lid to a regular snap on top because it’s easier to remove.
Storage of Cold Bulk Ingredients
Refrigerated and frozen items can take up quite a bit of space too. If you’re going to buy a refrigerated product like shredded cheese or butter in bulk, you might consider freezing some of it to preserve it longer. This way you don’t end up throwing any out if you don’t use it all by the Use By date. Did you know you can even freeze milk?
Meats are another great thing to buy in bulk. I like to buy my red meats on sale in the summer and chicken when it’s on sale at Aldi. I haven’t yet tried to buy a pig or cow from a farmer but that’s one of my goals for next year! Regardless, it’s important to have enough freezer space to preserve your bulk groceries. If you don’t already have one you might consider buying a chest freezer for more storage. I have a 5 cubic foot freezer similar to this one. I think if I were to restart, I would have invested in a larger freezer but this does the trick for beginners!
Have you tried buying any bulk items? What did you save the most money on?
This was very helpful! I have considered buying flour in bulk, but did not know how to store it. The 5 gallon bucket is a great suggestion!
I love my 5 gallon bucket! The gamma lid makes it so easy to get in and out but keeps everything fresh!