Buying in bulk is this really a good idea
We have all been there at a store that offers everything in bulk and end up leaving with hundreds of dollars in good deals. We get home and realize we don’t have the room to store all of it, and a year later we have barely put a dent in them. When buying in bulk you should limit it to household products. Don’t get sucked in thinking how good of a deal that pallet of pop tarts is, you will most likely end up giving them away or just throwing them away once you get burned out on them. Don’t get me wrong if you have a large family or are planning a get-together bulk is usually cheaper and the way to go.
You should ask yourself these questions when buying in bulk. Do I have room? Will it expire before I use it? Is this an impulse buy? Am I actually saving money, or just buying more of it because of their excellent marketing tactics? Do I have a list or am I going in without a plan?
Making a list and checking it twice
Santa most likely makes a list for the same purpose, it helps you stay focused and on track. Walking in a store with just a general notion that you are going grocery shopping can be very risky if you are trying to save money. When you have a list with everything you need before you walk in it’s like putting blinders on a horse, you aren’t looking around, but are focused on the list and items you need to put in your cart.
When things just don’t add up
When you go into the store the first item you pick up says 25% more free. On some occasions, if you look at the price per weight and do the math you may realize you aren’t getting a deal at all. Most people don’t do the math and end up getting the more expensive brand because they are getting 25% more. Another example is the buy one and get one half off ploy, sometimes it’s a great deal, and sometimes not. They may be upselling you on a brand and the thought of a good deal makes you buy.
Great value tastes funny
Most of us have had the off-brand soda, cereal, and snacks that definitely don’t taste the same. Some of us even made an oath that as adults we would never buy great value again. Something that some of us may not know is many great value brands taste exactly the same. Many of the canned goods, milk, and frozen meats taste the same. This may require a bit of experimenting so when you start don’t go all in. Don’t always pick great value thinking it will be cheaper. Sometimes other items will be on sale making them slightly cheaper than great value.
My momma told me to shop around
Shopping around is easy nowadays, we have the internet, newspapers, and various money-saving grocery apps. There are occasions that one store will have a sale but it is limited to a specific item. When finding sales for groceries you may end up having to go to a few different stores to get the best deals. This is where knowledge and wisdom come into play, you know you will save money on your hamburger meat if you drive the market across town, but you will spend more in gas doing so. In some cases just paying full price will save you the most money in the long run.
I’m so hungry I could eat a horse
Does this old saying insinuate that they are so hungry they will eat a lot or are willing to settle for something less appetizing. Either way, if you go into a grocery store hungry you will either buy things that don’t sound good once you’re not hungry, or you overfill your cart with items you like. In both cases, you will overspend and be reminded of this every time you go to the kitchen.
Summary
Grocery shopping doesn’t have to break the bank if you approach it with a strategy. Buying everything in bulk isn’t the best approach to shopping smart. Making a list is the best protection you have against impulse buys. Just because it says it’s a good deal doesn’t make it one, do the math to make sure it really is. Don’t avoid great value because of your childhood, some of it is really good. We have all woken up with regrets, don’t let them all be in the kitchen, eat something before you start.