Jun 17, 2021
6 Points To Master Before You Bulk Buy To Save
Things to remember before you start bulk buying
Bulk buying is one of the most common ideas that emerge when you search for money-saving hacks as a family. It has several advantages like including lower prices and low waste. Fewer trips to the shops, hence avoiding using fuel and leaving a reduced carbon footprint, are added benefits.
Before you join the bandwagon, you might want to consider the following if you want to save money by bulk buying:
- Do you have enough budget to bulk buy?
Bulk buying only helps in the long run. If you are already running tight on your budget, you might need to reconsider.
2. Do you have storage space in your house?
You will need shelving. Keeping things off the floor helps you save on the much need floor space and use only a small section to store and access more items. You can also use boxes or clear containers to store items on shelves. But I would personally not prefer items to be stored in containers as it puts me off of accessing them when needed.
For perishable items like fresh produce, meat and dairy products, you might need to consider a separate deep freezer. This is a challenge in itself. If you own a small fridge… they only come with small freezer sections which are not enough for storing items for the long run.
Before making this investment, make sure you have enough space in your house to place another huge appliance. There is no bigger inconvenience than having a huge item sitting in your house that looks and feels out of place.
3. Is your house pest controlled?
You wouldn't want rodents going through your items before you get a chance to use them.
4. Are you ready to be fully committed to being organised every time you shop?
You will need a proper system where you can easily access the bulk items and move them to the front as you bring more of them and place them at the back. You would want to use the items first that are getting close to their expiry date first.
For perishable items, you wouldn’t want to unload the whole freezer before you could access what you need. I guess storing items in resealable bags is much convenient. Using clear resealable bags lets you take out all the air from the bag which saves you space in your freezer and also lets you identify what is in the bag at a quick glance.
5. Do you have a budget to pay for additional bills?
Having regular pest control rounds is not the only additional expenditure that you will have to budget. You will need to consider that you will have to pay for an additional large appliance like a freezer at home. If you plan on getting one you will have to take a look at how much it will add to your monthly power bill and are you able to afford it in the long run.
All these expenditures in the long run can really add up. You need to do some major calculations to see if it will be worth it. You don’t want to end up spending more than you anticipate on saving.
6. Are you mentally ready to prep all fresh produce and meat to go in the freezer?
Mind you you will have to blanch many items and place them in bags. I say clear resealable bags are a go-to. I have a small freezer and they work very well for me. Instead of storing one or two containers of 2 items, I am able to store 4 to 5 bags of different items.
However, you don’t have to go for bags you could easily go with storage containers of your choice given you have a separate deep freezer.
Do a big shop when you have time on your hand and you can dedicate a few hours sorting the fresh produce and meat items on the day. For me, if a chore is not done on the day, it doesn't get done at all … meaning it will sit around and pest you but you are just unable to find the time and the motivation to get it done.
Living in a suburban small house, we have little to no options for saving in the long run by bulk buying. So, for a small family of four, we have to try to be frugal and creative in other ways to save money… bulk buying is not one of them.
However, if you think you can start saving by bulk buying, just remember to set in a budget and prep your house for the change. Pest control, storage space, adequate ventilation, appropriate heating and cooling system, are few of the major things you need in place before you begin.
