Does a Bulk Store Really Save you Money?

Buying bulk is usually going to be less expensive if you break the price down per unit. But, if you’re not able to finish everything you buy and end up throwing half of it away, you could spend a lot more than you would have by buying the standard size. There are a ton of things to keep in mind when shopping at a bulk store, so in this post, I’m going to share my thoughts on whether or not a bulk store can save you money.

costco or sams club bulk warehouse store

Does a Bulk Store Really Save you Money?


costco money saving tips

Check the unit price to find the best deal

Before you buy something in bulk, you need to do a little math to determine whether you will be getting the best price. The best way to do this is to use the bulk price and divide it by the number of items in that package. That will be your unit price or price per unit. This number is what you need to compare when determining whether the bulk or your standard grocery store has the best price.

 

Will you be able to use it all?

Your fridge and freezer can extend the life of many food items that would otherwise go bad, but it can’t save everything. If you are limited in space or don’t have a lot of space to work in the first place, you want to rethink buying everything in bulk. The best items to buy in bulk are items that can last a long time, such as rice, nuts, grains, and other items with a long shelf life. However, if you use a lot of an item and can go through the entire thing before it goes bad, then buying it in bulk can also be a good deal! The important thing to determine is whether or not you can use the entire thing!

 

costco or sams club money saving

Bulk stores typically cut down the price by sacrificing other areas

Bulk stores can be a great deal because they are usually giving up something in exchange for the low price. For example, shops like Costco carry only a few brands even though all of their items are in bulk. Many bulk stores may get rid of excess packaging, require you to bag your own groceries, and even package those items yourself in bulk bins. These stores don’t just get these crazy deals; there is usually a reason for it! Ask yourself if those reasons are still okay with you before you consider shopping there.

 

If your bulk store requires a membership, you need to be careful

Sam's Club, Costco, and other bulk stores usually require some membership to walk into the store and shop there. This means that to save money, you have to pay back the membership cost and THEN SOME on your purchases. If you won’t be shopping very often, then getting a bulk store membership won’t save you any money!

saving money at a bulk store

You don’t have to always shop bulk to save money! As you can see here, there are many cases when it doesn’t always save you money! But, there are also plenty of opportunities when it will! Keep these things in mind the next time you want to consider buying in bulk.

I went for years without a Costco membership after writing a few blog posts about it. I shared what I don't buy at Costco {though after reading through it, my opinion has changed on A LOT of it!} and why I hate Costco {many of those thoughts are still the same!}. 

Every family will have to approach their finances and their situation differently. How do you feel about shopping bulk stores? Do you feel like you are saving money?

Want more money saving tips? Check out these posts!




 

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