Great 'Best stuff to buy in bulk' Hunt

Trogglodyfae

I also use Bookers for bulk buying and I find it makes sense to do this with a group of friends/family. We can buy things in larger quantities because they are shared out amongst the group, which also means you are not storing things excessively.

Pet food works out much cheaper as does toilet rolls etc. We also bulk buy the meat which we then either cut down into smaller joints, slice into individual steaks, or package into family sized portions.

Also works well with sacks of potatoes and carrots etc. Tinned items are reduced down to maybe 4 tins per household and so on. If you cannot find a group of friends I am sure that neighbours would be only too happy to join in, especially older neighbours as I know they appreciate their shopping brought to their door.

You have to be a business to get a cash and carry type card, however I am sure there are some friendly business people who do not mind lending their card out to friends and neighbours, I have two cards for my business, one of my friends looks after the second card for me so that he can benefit and also in case I either mislay my card or just cannot get out of work to get to the cash and carry. Bulk buying is the way forward and much more fun with friends

KxMx

Also cleaning items, rarely pay full price and again I never run out.

Rick's_Bugs_&_Buses

Trogglodyfae wrote: »

You have to be a business to get a cash and carry type card, however I am sure there are some friendly business people who do not mind lending their card out to friends and neighbours, I have two cards for my business, one of my friends looks after the second card for me so that he can benefit and also in case I either mislay my card or just cannot get out of work to get to the cash and carry. Bulk buying is the way forward and much more fun with friends

There is another way to get a cash & carry card ... If you are a charity or club.
I run the bar for my motorbike club and we have a Bookers card, so I buy my bulk saver bits while I'm there, but pay for them on a seperate bill, so there's no confusion when doing the bar accounts

merri-drake

I tend to buy my clothes washing liquid when it is on offer and buy several at a time. I cannot remember the last time I paid full price. :j

Also, Lidl is selling 64 pack of Pampers wipes for 12 for £9 - well worth stocking up on as individual packs of wipes can cost up to £2.50 per pack! Also, my little one will need baby wipes for AGES yet!:eek:

I don't think that bulk buying everything is a good idea though - bulk buying an unusual new flavour of soup (for instance) then not liking it is not going to save money.

I do think it is mean when supermarket label a larger pack as great value, then when you look at the small print, the smaller size is better value for money.

merri-drake

merri-drake wrote: »

I do think it is mean when supermarket label a larger pack as great value, then when you look at the small print, the smaller size is better value for money.

Have just seen that the BBC One Show as just pointed this out too!

Trogglodyfae

Rick's Bugs & Buses : Good point and yes I forgot about that as I have only been back here in the UK for a year. So you are getting where I am coming from :T

This is all good then

natlie

Hi

I buy tea and coffee in bulk from ethical superstore I get a tin of Fairtrade coffee for a tenner 1000 teabags for £8 - I only buy Fairtrade. I love hot chocolate and it has to be cadburys to mix with milk I buy this in bulk as its much cheaper from online catering suppliers

I buy my flour in bulk from Dove Organics
Nat

tenuissent

I have moved over to vinegar for most cleaning purposes, and for making flavoured vinegars, and I make chutneys and other vinegar-related foods. Chinese supermarkets sell enormous containers of all sorts of vinegars, and I use See Woo in Greenwich. I worked out at the time how incredibly cheap (pennies) it is compared to small bottles bought in normal supermarkets, but forget the details now. It is hard to handle in the big containers, but can be decanted into plastic milk bottles. At one time I bought flour in large sacks from various mills and kept it in plastic dustbins to protect it from mice, but found that flour mites were a nuisance.

mongmoney

I live with 3 hungry cats, so I always bulk buy their food from pets @ hm, online through quidco. Click and collect method is easiest and I still get the cashback from quidco.
Most toiletries are bought when on offer, never ever pay full price for these,easily storables. Washing liquid, fabric conditioner, again always bulk. I have enough of the saino's offer stuff to last me well into 2012.
With regard to friends- I always tell my friends with kids whenever I see a really good offer for them. Try not to give away stuff that you have bulk bought or the savings vanish in your generosity. However, I am guilty of this, especially when some friends really do struggle.
Supermarkets are becoming more savvy and are putting large bags of rice and pasta on half price for us. Mr T is good for this. I currently have 5kg of rice and 5kg of pasta-not gonna starve over winter!
Loo rolls used be one of my bulk items but now I use Farmfds Nicky, at £2 for 9, no supermarket can match it. Always milk from there too, cheapest anywhere.
The greatest help for finding out about deals is on these forum pages. Other MSE'ers have helped me save a fortune and still have everything I want and need. My grocery budget has reduced from £250/mth to £160, and my freezer is full.

eternal_optomist

I try to save on stuff that goes down the drain to limit the 'drain' on my purse. eg toilet paper, detergents and toiltries in partic.
Toilet Paper - in Home and Bargain stores you can buy 18 rolls for £3.60
Detergents - same store, buy a packet of Soda Crystals,(80p) an 'old fashioned' way to soften water and boost the effect of other cleaning agents. Add a tablespoon to w.machine, mop bucket, sink etc. cuts through grease. - and you can reduce the amount of expensive detergent you need to use. (they're much more powerful than we all think so never be tempted to put extra in)
By the way - try Tescos cheapest own brand liquid Biological detergent (95p) - good for cleaning up pet accidents - as it doesnt contain ammonia pets tend ignore that spot again. Good for cleaning other 'spots' too!
Toiletries - Remember, just as much cleansing can be done with a simle bar of soap as with all the shower gels, bathing liquids/crystals. Dont leave your lovely bar of soap standing in water to disintegrate - invest in a soap dish/stand. Buy extra bars when on offer, uwrap and store in warm place - this hardens the soap and it lasts longer! this trick works with tights too - oo-ooh !
I'll have to stop as I'm beginning to bore myself, but having brought up 4 children you learn how to get the optiMUM benefit from many things to stay out of debt and even become a saver ....kwel!