I am a bulk shopper.
I know. There are only five us, so yeah, it might make me seem a little neurotic.
But, I don’t do coupons and I can’t even pretend to try.
So, bulk shopping is sorta my one attempt at being food frugal while trying to feed some of the hungriest Dudes on the planet.
And, from what I hear, I’m in for it more when they hit the teen-ish years.
So I’ve put myself in Dude Food Acquisition Training. I call it D-FAT for short. You know, because I’m a dork and I think it’s funny.
Inspired by my desire to go to the store as infrequently as humanly possible so as not to be embarrassed a-la-crazy 3 year old style learn to shop economically when there are a number of hearty eaters in the house.
I am notorious for impulse buying when it comes to food; a few boxes of cookies here, a cupcake mix or two there, veggie burgers I have absolutely zero likelihood of ever consuming.
Plus, going to the store mid-week is just not me.
We live in the boonies. I mean not the Boonies, boonies, because everything you could ever want to buy is located within 20 minutes; but that includes the grocery stores.
And, I am not driving 20 minutes to the grocery store for a bottle of BBQ sauce and a pack of hamburger buns.
Since gas is ridiculously costly, and the thought of having to strap the 3 year old into the car and take him anywhere he may interact with the general population makes me want to puke a little, I limit my trips “to town” (which sounds so country) and only go when absolutely necessary.
Like only to get cupcakes and ice cream important stuff.
So, we buy in bulk, and it works for us.
We go to *INSERT BIG BUY STORE OF YOUR CHOICE HERE* twice a month and on alternating weeks we go to Wegmans so I can do my happy dance naked in their aisles which is not as unsanitary as it sounds stock up on freshness.
Which means you only spot this Dumb Mom with her screaming tribe of raised-by-wolves children in a food selling store 4 times a month.
Can I get a woot?!
It’s the only way to keep me sane and I love it!
I know some people don’t think bulk shopping can work, but I’m about to convince you, because I know I’m right want you to experience fewer-trips-to-the-grocery-store bliss too!
Dumb Mom’s Guide to Bulk Shopping: 5 Things That Make It Worth It. Totally.
5. Non-perishables. Like paper goods and detergent and such. Unless you live in a storage-less hovel, this pretty much makes it worth the $40/year membership fee. You can stock up on paper goods like TP and napkins and such because it doesn’t go bad and one can never have too much toilet paper.
4. Gas. If you are near a membership based store that has its own gas station it’s totally worth it in this economy. In my town, Costco gas averages 7 cents a gallon less than other places that allow you to use your ATM card for purchase. If you are like me and buy 20 or more gallons per week, that’s a a $70-or so savings! I stink at math and even I know that’s enough to make my $40 membership a good deal.
3. Samples. Seriously, this Dumb Family goes to Costco every other Friday at lunch time. We eat the face offa the samples and then we buy hotdog combos or pizza to round out our lunch. The hot dog combos are $1.50 and they come with a drink. Um, score!
2. Stuff babies need, stuff kids like, and stuff you want too. Diapers, wipies, even Pull-Ups and swim diapers are all cheap, cheap, cheap compared to like heaven on earth Target and that other super center that scares me to pieces. Yes, you have a thousand of them when you come home, but let’s face, you’re not really planning on potty training that toddler anytime soon anyway, so why not enjoy a savings?! Plus, they sell toys, and video games, and movies, and books for people who still haven’t switched over to an e-reader for much lower prices than many other places.
1. Fewer trips to the grocery store. This requires no explanation. It is simply awesome and you know it.
Now, go buy 700 rolls of paper towels and 16 pounds of flour. You will be thanking me next month!
I love my Sam’s Club and yes, the samples are fun and a little bit of heaven. But seriously, I can’t will myself to pay $2.99 for a package of 8 buns when I can get a package of 12 (or 16 for hot dog) for $1.88 there, every day. Love the lunch meat, cheese, fruit and stocking up on horrible food choices I just can’t resist like pancakes on a stick. (don’t judge)
We belong to BJ’s wholesale club and it’s absolutely beneficial for many of the reasons you list. However, I can’t let hubs shop there unescorted by moi because our saving on TP go down the metaphorical drain when he also comes out of there with things like new TV’s and other big ticket items we don’t need.
Oh how I LONG to be a bulk shopper. There are 5 people in our house too. And 2 of them (kinda) do their own shopping. I shop, almost daily it seems, for my “immediate” family which consists of me, the Mister and the baby chick. My MIL lives with us. And I do most of her shopping too (with her money, mind you! :-)). Then there’s my BIL who lives with us too (don’t get me started!) And he pretty much does his own thing.
Like most americans, we have a membership to one of the warehouses. However, I can’t seem to make myself go there often. Food storage is an issue for us. Mainly due to 3 different shopping tastes in our home (again, don’t get me started!). So I find myself going to the “regular” grocery store WAY more than humanly necessary during the week. Also, I’m a pseudo couponer. I’m doing good if I spend $200 and save a whopping $1.50! ARGH! (don’t get me started on THAT either!)
Someone save me! Anyway, if you’re ever in the Powder Springs, Ga area…will you come get me and take me to the “warehouse” and show me how to shop? I’ll be good! I PROMISE! :-)
I love Costco!!!! We go every other week, as well, and stock up on all the essentials. With 4 kids, you can never have enough TP or wipes, am I right??
Oh and the free samples are SO worth a trip there…I always tell the kids, “Come on…get your shoes on. We’re gonna go to Costco and have lunch!” I get to shop, they get to eat…it’s a win/win.
We buy some stuff in bulk, like paper towels and corn dogs. You can NEVER have too many corn dogs.
Another bulk buyer here! I know all about Dude Food Acquisition! (They seem to be especially hungry during summer vacation … what’s up with that?) Anyway, we do a huge portion of our shopping at Sam’s Club. I love that I can buy huge bags of boneless, skinless chicken breasts there for relatively cheap. And their milk prices = score!!
I also buy tons of T.P. and stuff like that. Good thing to keep stockpiled. Especially since my middle son eats it ….
I am a bulk buyer as well. I love it so much, I probably could use another pantry or maybe another house to fill.
No, I don’t need a Hoaders intervention.
We buy in bulk a lot too, but we don’t have a lot of storage room, so it leaves me trying to find room for everything.
I have to grocery shop every week because of the lunch situation. Lunch meat doesn’t last longer than 7 days once opened (or cut if fresh from the deli) and my little spoiled brat child doesn’t like hot lunch at daycare. Grr.