Friday 14th August 2009
by
One of the most common pieces of advice that I see on frugal living blogs is the advice that you should buy in bulk. There are pros and cons to buying in bulk but as a general rule it’s true that you’re going to save money if you buy items that you use regularly in bulk at a good price. But is that still true if you’re only shopping for one person?
The majority of articles that exist out there about buying in bulk assume that you’re buying for a whole family. But what about all of us who live alone or who live with roommates and shop only for ourselves? Does buying in bulk work for us? I think that it can if we’re smart about it.
Tips for buying in bulk when you live alone include:
- Buy only non-perishable items in bulk. It doesn’t make sense to buy things that are going to go to waste if you’re the only one using them.
- Make a list of what you use regularly. If you buy something every week or two then it’s probably a safe item to buy in bulk.
- Get a group together to buy in bulk. Just because you don’t live with your family doesn’t mean you can’t buy for a group. Get a group of friends together who would like to buy in bulk. Split the cost and split the items so that you each get only the amount of stuff that you need at a lower bulk price.
- Get smart about money. Make sure that you’re able to calculate the benefit of buying something in bulk. You may get a better deal buying a single size item and using a coupon. Do the math!
Do any of you single people out there buy in bulk? What are some other good tips?
Tags: buy in bulk when you live alone, buying in bulk, kathryn vercillo, money, Personal Finance, savings, should i buy in bulk, smartchick
Consider storage space. If you’re living alone, chances are your house or flat is going to be quite small. So while it would make financial sense to bulk buy toilet paper, say, where are you going to store it? A wholesale warehouse has practically unlimited storage space, you don’t.
Also, don’t set too much store by “What to buy in bulk” guides. You’re unique and there’s no universal rule. Me, I bulk buy eggs because it makes sense for me to do so. Yet most of the guides I’ve read tell you not to. Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of good guides but don’t make decisions based on those alone.
Also – and this is a point for anyone buying in bulk – make sure you don’t buy double the amount you usually would and consume it in the same time. It’s easily enough done and it negates any saving you would have made.