Buying in bulk can be a great way for your family to save money and it can also reduce the number of shopping trips you need to make – ideal if you live in a rural area or are avoiding the shops due to concerns around coronavirus.

It can also be an environmentally friendly option, as less trips means less carbon released into the atmosphere.

Once you’ve embraced bulk buying you’ll soon realise the benefits, but there are a few things to consider before you get started.

Buy in bulk pro tips

It’s all about the unit price

It’s important to focus on the price per unit to work out whether you’re actually getting a bargain when buying in bulk. Many people just assume a huge 20kg bag of rice will always be better value, but that’s not always the case.

Making comparisons can sometimes get complicated if there are special offers available as the unit price isn’t always updated, so you may have to get your calculator out and do some basic maths.

Team up with friends and family

Items with a short shelf life are best avoided, unless you’re making savings by teaming up with friends or family.

All kinds of groceries can be bought wholesale at low prices and while a single household may end up wasting much of the food, this might not be the case if you’re splitting the purchase with friends and family. You could even buy plastic containers in bulk, ideal if you’re separating things like trays of chicken breasts to distribute to your bulk buying buddies.

Make sure you have enough storage

You don’t want to deal with a kitchen counter cluttered with bags of pasta or have to step over piles of toilet roll to get to the bathroom, so make sure you have ample space in your home to store your bulk purchases.

This may be just the motivation you need to declutter your home. If you haven’t used something for 12 months, are you sure you need it? Because that 20kg bag of rice is going to need a new home.

So now you’re armed with the knowledge to make bulk buying work for your family, let’s look at a few things that are smart to buy in bulk…

1. Paper goods

You can benefit from huge savings if you buy your toilet roll and paper towels in bulk, but do bear in mind that you’ll need quite a bit of space to store it.

2. Canned goods

Canned food makes for the ideal bulk purchase thanks to its long shelf life and ease of storage. Trays of 12 or even 24 cans of staples like chopped tomatoes, kidney beans and tinned fruit can be found much cheaper than if you were to buy them in smaller quantities.

3. Pasta, rice and dried pulses

Pasta, rice and dried pulses such as lentils and beans are all available to purchase in bulk, and will last many years if stored appropriately.

4. Tea and coffee

When unopened, tea and coffee can last from several months to several years – some brands of instant coffee can last up to 20 years! 

5. Plastic containers and bags

Disposable plastic containers, sandwich bags and freezer bags can all be bought cheaply in bulk. They can also help you organise and share your bulk-bought products.

6. Cleaning supplies

Large volume containers of concentrated cleaning products are cheaper to buy and can help protect the environment due to lower water consumption and less plastic waste.

7. Toiletries

Buying hygiene and hair care products in bulk makes perfect sense because these items are used daily, have long shelf lives and are often available either in large single containers or in boxes of multiple containers at lower prices.

8. Toothpaste

Boxes of 12 tubes of branded toothpaste can be had very cheaply either online or at wholesale stores. Toothpaste typically expires in a couple years but 12 tubes won’t last long in most households.

9. Office supplies

Home office and school supplies are usually cheaper in August, so why not get your family stocked up for the rest of the year?

10. Batteries

There aren’t many things quite as annoying as the TV remote running out of battery when you don’t have any AAAs handy. AA, AAA and 9-volt batteries are all commonly used around the home and savings can be made when buying in bulk.

A few things to avoid buying in bulk

There may be some household items that you don’t realize expire.

For example, sticking plasters stop being sticky after a year or two, and sun cream only has a shelf life of two to three years at best.

Household bleach begins to lose its potency in as little as six months.

Brown rice and wholegrain products tend to contain fewer preservatives and spoil more quickly than the less healthy alternatives.

Nuts and seeds are expensive so it’s tempting to buy them in bulk, but unless you get through them quickly you’ll be surprised at how quickly the best before dates come around.

Olive oil can begin to break down after 6-12 months, particularly if exposed to light.

Once opened, spices can lose their flavour after just a few months.

Don’t buy in bulk for your baby, wait until they arrive before stocking up on dummies, nappies and bottles. They might not like the choices you make, buy more when you know they respond well to it.

Let’s get bulk buying

You’re all set to start buying in bulk and reaping the financial rewards! Just be sure to remember these pro tips:

• Always check the unit price and expiry dates.
• Make sure you have enough storage space before you buy.
• Consider the benefits of bulk buying with family and friends.
• Make sure you avoid waste by using all the items you buy.