7 Things You Shouldn’t Buy In Bulk (Plus 13 You Should)

Knowing What To Buy In Bulk Can Save You Money

Buying in bulk, whether at a grocery store or a warehouse store like Costco, is a popular method that many people use to save money on food and household necessities. Even though the closest Costco is a good 30-minute drive away, I still shop there regularly to pick up things we use a lot of (and because I’ve learned a few surprising Costco tips that help me save even more!)

According to the USDA, the current cost of feeding a family of four at home is somewhere between $1,000-1,600 per month. That’s a lot of money either way, so it’s no wonder people are looking for ways to get the most out of their food and grocery budget, including buying in bulk.

The key to successfully saving money on bulk buys is knowing what makes sense to stock up on and what doesn’t. In this post, we’ll take a look at the best things to buy in bulk if you’re looking to save money, before moving onto some of the worst things to buy in bulk.

Note: We all have different budgets, shopping lists, and home situations, so you may not totally agree with these lists or the items on them. If there’s something you disagree with, I’d love to discuss it further, so go ahead and share your thoughts in the comments!

13 Of The Best Things To Buy In Bulk

1. Toilet Paper

Buying toilet paper in bulk can save you up to 50 percent versus the cost of buying a few rolls at a time. The challenging thing about buying a lot of toilet paper at once is figuring out where to store it all, but it’s worth the effort in my opinion! (The space under a bed is always an option!)

Want to make sure you’re getting the best T.P. for your money? Check out my Toilet Paper Showdown!

2. Pet Food

Whether your pet has special dietary needs or is simply a picky eater, you probably feed your pet the same food every day. So if your local Costco or Sam’s Club carries that type of food, buying it there is a no-brainer!

Not only will it save you money on pet expenses, but you won’t have to worry about restocking your furry friend’s food supply for a good, long while.

3. Meat

Warehouse stores typically offer good quality meat at a significant savings versus traditional grocery stores. But before you bring home a dozen pounds of ground beef, it’s important to make sure you have space for all that meat in your freezer.

Another important consideration when buying meat in bulk is what you’ll put it in to keep it fresh in your freezer. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — using a vacuum sealer is by far the best way to store meat in your freezer and prevent freezer burn, especially when you buy meat on sale or in bulk!

4. Storage Products

As I said, when you buy food in bulk, you’ll need to store it correctly! That’s why I recommend adding items like tin foil, freezer bags, and food storage containers to your warehouse shopping list — that way, you’ll have plenty of options when choosing the right food wrap for the job.

5. Vitamins

If you take the same multivitamin every day, you might as well buy it in bulk for a better price! However, that bottle of 500 vitamins is only a good value if you actually take them all, so be sure to note the expiration date before you commit to taking it home.

6. Diapers

From what I’ve seen, most baby-related websites estimate the cost of a year’s supply of diapers to be around $800-1,100. Buying diapers in bulk can save you plenty of money if you play your cards right!

Be sure to consider the timing of bulk diaper purchases — after all, you don’t want to stock up on diapers that your baby will soon grow out of. I suggest waiting until the baby graduates to a new size before stocking up.

7. Cooking Oil

Certain cooking oils, like good quality olive oil, don’t necessarily come cheap. Getting a large container at a warehouse store is guaranteed to be a better bargain.

However, if you rarely cook with olive oil (or rarely cook at home, period), you may not be able to use all of that oil before it expires (though there are plenty of uses for olive oil that don’t involve cooking!) So use your best judgment here to avoid losing money in the long run.

8. Canned Goods

Canned goods with distant expiration dates are always a smart bulk buy. Canned tuna, soups, and other canned goods can be around 30 percent cheaper at warehouse stores than at standard grocery stores.

Again, you should only buy canned goods you’re certain you’ll actually use. And there are plenty of canned and bottled foods that never expire, so buying those in bulk makes a lot of sense!

9. Batteries

Disposable and recyclable household supplies like batteries and light bulbs make excellent bulk buys. As long as you have somewhere to store them, you’ll get around to using them eventually! (Personally, I like knowing I have another lightbulb ready to go when I see a bulb in one my fixtures burn out!)

10. Oral Hygiene Products

Dentists recommend that you replace your toothbrush every three months, but the average American waits nine months to make the switch. So buying toothbrushes (or replacement brush heads for your electric toothbrush) in bulk is not only a smart way to save money, but a good way to encourage better oral hygiene practices too.

11. Cleaning Products

Your favorite cleaning products, or ingredients you use to make homemade cleaning solutions, are smart bulk buys too. Personally, I use things like baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and white vinegar all the time, so I always make sure to stock up on them when I’m at Costco!

Cleaning is something we all do regularly, so there’s no reason not to stock up on supplies you know you’ll get around to using eventually. Bonus fact about vinegar — no matter how long it takes you to use up your stockpile, vinegar stays good forever. You never have to worry about it going bad.

12. Dried Beans And Pasta

Dried beans and pasta are great pantry staples because they last a long time and take up relatively little space. Dry pasta will stay good for up to two years in a sealed container, while dried beans will last about a year. Cooking dried beans in an Instant Pot is fast and easy and you can save a lot of money over canned beans.

13. Soap And Shampoo

When it comes to hygiene products like soap and shampoo, some people are loyalists while others flit between varieties and brands. Buying soap or shampoo in bulk can be a good way to save money, but only if you buy what you already use regularly, or won’t mind using for the foreseeable future. (The same goes for razors and deodorant too!)

Now that we’ve covered what you should buy in bulk, let’s shift gears and take a look at what you may want to leave off your shopping list the next time you go to shop for bulk items!

7 Things You Should NOT Buy In Bulk

1. Chips And Soda

Chips and soda are big promotional items for supermarkets and grocery stores, especially around major events like sports playoffs or championships, national holidays, and even the changing of the seasons. Major manufacturers help retailers deeply discount these products on a rotating basis, so it’s not hard to get a great deal on them at your local grocery store.

2. Produce

You’re almost always going to better off buying smaller amounts of produce items at the grocery store rather than buying them in bulk, unless it’s something you use a lot of. Take smoothies, for example — if you make yourself a smoothie every morning without fail, then it would make sense to buy your greens or frozen fruit in bulk.)

There are plenty of opportunities to save on produce at the grocery store too, because there’s usually at least one in-season item on sale for a low price. Choosing the best fresh fruit can also help you save by avoiding waste, and it’s harder to do that if you’re buying it bulk in bags.

3. Candy, Snacks, Etc.

Although you can save money by buying candy, snacks, and other forms of junk food in bulk, it’s not be the wisest decision for your health. Personally, if I have a big stash of my favorite snacks somewhere, I end up burning through it all much too quickly and then I just feel terrible (both physically and emotionally!)

Unless you have rock solid self control when it comes to candy and snacks, saving a few dollars in the long run just isn’t worth the temptation.

4. Frozen Foods

Although frozen food will last a good long while, it’s not always smart to buy it in bulk. One common issue people encounter when buying frozen food in bulk is that it ends up taking over much of their available freezer space.

Another potential issue is whether or not you’ll be able to use it up before its expiration date. When in doubt, stick to buying canned foods in bulk, rather than frozen ones.

5. Nuts

Nuts can be quite a bit more affordable to buy in bulk. But unfortunately, the high fat content in nuts (especially in peanuts, pecans, and walnuts) can cause them to go rancid a lot quicker than you’d think. Storing them in the fridge will help make them last a bit longer, though!

6. Condiments

Ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and other condiments usually only keep for six months to a year. So unless there are a lot of hungry eaters in your house who apply their condiments in liberal amounts, you may not end up using them up in time! When you do buy them, store them upside down in the fridge to ensure a good seal and make them last longer.

7. Spices

The only spices you should buy in bulk are the trusty and essential herbs and spices you use frequently. Spices start losing their potency and flavor after about six months, so it makes more sense to buy most spices as you need them at a regular grocery store.

What do you buy in bulk?