Buying in bulk / stockpiling ....is it really worth it?

moanymoany

I do buy extra from time to time, but I've never found bulk buying works for me. It seems to me that to make it work you have to be quite organised and strict - which I'm not!

What happens is that when I buy in bulk it bumps up this months cost - unless it's a bogof and something I buy anyway e.g. toilet rolls - and I still spend the same other months.

exlibris

moanymoany wrote: »

I

What happens is that when I buy in bulk it bumps up this months cost - unless it's a bogof and something I buy anyway e.g. toilet rolls - and I still spend the same other months.

When I bought in bulk in the 70's I used to buy from myself. I would buy a sack of potatoes and bag them up into 5lb bags sorting out the large ones for jackets and the small ones for roasties. I would store them in the dark and when I used a bag put the shop cost into a tin. OK the first bag I bought I paid twice for but the tin then paid for the next with a bit over to enable me to buy something else in bulk.

I must say I was a SAH mum but the children learned how to weigh things by 'helping' me. I also bought coffee in bulk and kept it in small tupperware boxes. Can't remember what else I treated this way.

I also remember buying meat in bulk from the butcher but didn't pay myself back for this. I did have a burger factory, making about 10lb mince into burgers with the aid of my 'slaves' There were some moans by the chopper of onions but if they wanted to eat them they had to help make them. (chopping onions was rotated!)

HTH

oodlesofwotnots

Haven't had chance to read all the messages but thought you might be interested in a site called :
Mad About Bargains

http://www.madaboutbargains.co.uk/offers/Off_Your_Trolley.htm

You can see all the BOGOF and multibuy bargains on this site for most of the major supermarkets. It might make life a bit greener - you won't have to go driving round all the shops to find out what's on offer.

Happy shopping / saving

camaj

I think bulk buying is worth it if you don't use more than you would otherwise and if you pick the right items.

For me, the ideal thing to stock up on would be something you used regularly and was fairly small.Something like shampoo or toothpaste is ideal, and it never goes off. Food is a bit harder, it usually has a short shelf life and things like cans take up a lot of space.

If you ate it regularly, Marmite would be perfect since it lasts ages and a jar lasts a long time. Packet soups might be worth doing. Not sure about pasta, most of it has a medium shelf life but if you ate it several times a week it'd be worth it.

My dad stockpiles toilet rolls but they take up a lot of room so you can't store a years supply.

I guess the rule of thumb for me is to wait for a BOGOF on something I regularly buy and ask myself how much could I'd consume before they expire and how much could be stored

mardatha

Is there anywhere on here with a guide to buying in bulk or anything to do with it ?

Pink.

Hi mardatha,

Here you go! I've added your thread to it to keep the replies together.

Pink

skintas_2

i do buy bogoofs like bleach and toothpaste, showergel and stuff, i always buy 6 pints of milk a week and then 5 cartoons of milk. this becasuse if i run out, i used to go to the shops then come home with more than just milk, also if im outta bread in the morning. just so the the kids can have something to eat before they go to school

mardatha

where should I store porridge oats ? Do they get weevils like flour does ?

Cornishpixie_2

mardatha wrote: »

where should I store porridge oats ? Do they get weevils like flour does ?

Once opened I store in a large air tight container. Then I tend to use mine up by making Hob nobs for kids packs and snacks. I am left to eat the ready oats that thoughtful hubby, bought for me to make flap jacks

Cornishpixie_2

Also re bulk buying, I guess it depends on your circumstances and how regularly you use it. Things like toiletries and T rolls toothpaste I buy on offer. As I have 4 kids and Hubby I tend to work on the principal if I can hide it till needed then I will. Otherwise it would be consumed, used quicker. Don't think I would do it with meat or cheese because we would get feed up eating it. I do try buy pasta and rice on offer because I tend to base meals around it and pots. Hope this helps.One things for sure certainly don't visit the shops as often as I used to can't afford to:D