Money Saving Tips-Buying In Bulk

Bulk Buying

With the rising cost of food, it's always nice to re-evaluate how we shop. One way to save money on groceries is to buy food in bulk when it's on sale. It can also be a wasteful way to shop if it's not done right. Here are some tips on how to make buying in bulk pay off for you.

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• Scanning the weekly grocery store circulars and making a list is the first thing to do. Most stores rotate what is on sale. So unless the store isn't going to carry the item anymore, you'll be able to buy it on sale again next month.
  
• Check for coupons before you go to the store. Many times stores have an item on sale and an additional coupon in the paper or online, so the savings is even greater.
  
• Do a quick check of your pantry and freezer to see how much of the sale items you can really store. Don't buy more than you can fit in your pantry or freezer. I know that sounds logical but sometimes when it comes to getting a bargain we are not always logical.
• If you have an extra freezer, using a vacuum packer makes storing meats, chicken, fish, cheese, vegetables and fruit much easier. You can buy those large family size packages at great prices and re-portion them into amounts you can use. You will also benefit from buying produce in season when it's fresher and costs less. Make sure you label and date each package. Store the oldest packages in the front of the freezer shelf so you use those first.
  
• Paper products like toilet paper, paper towels, tissue, storage bags, sandwich bags, etc. are perfect for buying in bulk. They will never go bad and no one wants to run out of these items.
  
• Staples are also great to buy in bulk. Again check to see if you have the room. Make sure to put the newest items in the back. This way you are always using the oldest items first.
  
• Cleaning supplies, as well as, hair and body care products are other examples of items that make sense to buy in bulk.
• Be careful about buying snack, cereals and other favorite foods in bulk. Most people get tired of even the most favored foods. Even kids will want something every day and then won't want to eat it again for a very long time. 
  
• Just remember, buying items on sale might not be cheaper than buying the regular priced store brand. I always check the price difference and many times the store brand is less, even when a name brand is on sale.