Bulk buys - where do you go for bargains?

Munchkinsmum

We’d love to shop at our local refill place but just can’t afford it. So what do you get and where from? Any tips? Currently looking at 5l bottles of shampoo, 60pk of toilet roll and so on.

IntoTheForest

Toilet rolls I buy off Groupon as I get a small amount of cashback. I have found them at a better price at farmfoods (72 rolls for £13) but we don't have a store local to us. 

I get solid bars of shampoo so I am not sure where you could buy these, sorry! 

We buy a lot of food items at our local asian grocery store. Big bags of rice, lentils, coconut milk powder, spices, green tea leaves and sauces. I also use Wilton wholefoods a couple of times a years for others spices, oats, dried beans and snacks. They have a bulk foods section on their website. 

MrsStepford

Loo rolls - 40 roll packs from a catering & hotel supplier
Persil Professional Hygiene laundry powder in huge box and Comfort Professional 5 litre - Mole Valley Farmers or catering supplier as above or Amazon - whichever is cheaper at the time
Foil and clingfilm - catering supplier as bigger and longer rolls 
Organic chopped tomatoes 400g tins - by the tray, Costco
Teabags - stock up every few weeks with 6 x 80 teabag boxes, Sainsbury's own brand
Kitchen rolls - offers from wherever as too bulky to store many

I don't buy big boxes of dried herbs and spices as the flavour fades before we've used them up. I have been able to get multipack offers from Sous Chef. in the past.

Soap - I bought bars from delicatessens when buying food online and I'm still using them up. I bought a box of 24 Irish Spring soaps for husband, from an American store in London. 

When I buy direct from manufacturers/producers eg Hunter Gather, Fatt bars, Hunter Gather, I tend to buy a few more than I would in a store, especially with offers but usually not more than 4 - 6

SaveUkraine

For me it’s Always COSTCO for bulk buys 

bengalknights

Costco and JJ Foods

anotheruser

For many though, Costco is out of reach, plus you have to pay £33, so unless you do a lot of shopping there, difficult to claw back that cost, no?

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pumpkin89

anotheruser said:

For many though, Costco is out of reach, plus you have to pay £33, so unless you do a lot of shopping there, difficult to claw back that cost, no?

I agree.  I paid the membership fee one year for a one-off large purchase (I saved more than the fee on that one item) and bought very little else.  Most items are only fractionally cheaper than supermarkets - even if you want the specific brand, you can get a better price by waiting for a special offer and then stocking up.

newlywed

Also our nearest Costco is 40 miles away… so time and fuel cost can be an issue

scrummy-mummy

newlywed said:

Also our nearest Costco is 40 miles away… so time and fuel cost can be an issue

They do have an online membership for £15. It's £5.99 per delivery. Not all items are available, but it works out competitive for our household.

Katrin

I bake a lot of bread, so I buy flour directly from Shipton Mill. I have bought toilet paper, detergent and cleaning products through Groupon.

MrsStepford

Re: Costco as @scrummy-mummy says online membership is £15. No restrictions and I saved double my membership cost buying fans. 5.99 delivery seems a bit steep but that's only 99p more expensive than an overnight courier from a farm and some weekend delivery slots from supermarkets are more expensive. 

Suggest most useful for buying electrical stuff and bulk buying food. I compare with Amazon and Costco is usually cheaper.. Also good for keto items not sold in UK supermarkets.