Comments on: Overspending When Buying in Bulk http://moneyning.com/money-management/overspending-when-buying-in-bulk/ A personal finance blog where we share insights on carefully saving money, investing, early retirement, mortgages, stocks because the little things matter in achieving financial freedom! Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:01:45 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Bankruptcy Saskatoon http://moneyning.com/money-management/overspending-when-buying-in-bulk/comment-page-1/#comment-16935 Bankruptcy Saskatoon Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:10:30 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=1516#comment-16935 Interesting article! I definitely agree that people overspend when buying in bulk because they often stack up on things they don't really need. A good point was mentioned in the comments above about buying non-perishable goods in bulk rather than food/drinks. That is a great way to save in the long-run. Interesting article! I definitely agree that people overspend when buying in bulk because they often stack up on things they don’t really need. A good point was mentioned in the comments above about buying non-perishable goods in bulk rather than food/drinks. That is a great way to save in the long-run.

]]> By: Debt Consolidation Toronto http://moneyning.com/money-management/overspending-when-buying-in-bulk/comment-page-1/#comment-16645 Debt Consolidation Toronto Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:50:32 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=1516#comment-16645 This is a very valid point. As much as people would like to think that buying in bulk saves them money, they actually end up spending more than they really need to. Bulk deals also cause people to buy items that aren't necessarily on their shopping list, and they choose to buy them anyways as result of unmatchable prices. This is a very valid point. As much as people would like to think that buying in bulk saves them money, they actually end up spending more than they really need to. Bulk deals also cause people to buy items that aren’t necessarily on their shopping list, and they choose to buy them anyways as result of unmatchable prices.

]]> By: Aaron http://moneyning.com/money-management/overspending-when-buying-in-bulk/comment-page-1/#comment-11524 Aaron Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:54:43 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=1516#comment-11524 We buy fruit/vegetables, paper plates, and cases of Poland Spring water at BJ's. Everything else we find cheaper at Shop Rite supermarkets when it's on sale. We buy fruit/vegetables, paper plates, and cases of Poland Spring water at BJ’s. Everything else we find cheaper at Shop Rite supermarkets when it’s on sale.

]]> By: Funny about Money http://moneyning.com/money-management/overspending-when-buying-in-bulk/comment-page-1/#comment-11335 Funny about Money Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:12:12 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=1516#comment-11335 Well said! LOL...especially about the ice cream!!! Like Marcia, I try to build in some restraints when I visit Costco. What works best for me is to bring a shopping list and (the hard part!) STICK TO IT. Especially I try not to buy anything perishable in bulk, or anything I haven't tried before. If I don't really know that I like a brand and will use it up, I wait until I can try a smaller package before buying a lifetime supply. That said, there are some things that are a real joy to have in giant supplies, and that probably save money: Costco's awesome Garofalo spaghetti, for example, is as good quality as the best you can buy retail, anywhere. Toilet paper. Paper towels. Shampoo & conditioner. And if you can restrain yourself in the consumption department, you can't beat Costco's price on Corona beer by the case. Well said! LOL…especially about the ice cream!!!

Like Marcia, I try to build in some restraints when I visit Costco. What works best for me is to bring a shopping list and (the hard part!) STICK TO IT. Especially I try not to buy anything perishable in bulk, or anything I haven’t tried before. If I don’t really know that I like a brand and will use it up, I wait until I can try a smaller package before buying a lifetime supply.

That said, there are some things that are a real joy to have in giant supplies, and that probably save money: Costco’s awesome Garofalo spaghetti, for example, is as good quality as the best you can buy retail, anywhere. Toilet paper. Paper towels. Shampoo & conditioner. And if you can restrain yourself in the consumption department, you can’t beat Costco’s price on Corona beer by the case.

]]> By: Marcia http://moneyning.com/money-management/overspending-when-buying-in-bulk/comment-page-1/#comment-11311 Marcia Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:39:59 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=1516#comment-11311 Most of the time I go to Costco I can pay cash and get out of there without a cart. The key is knowing what's a good deal and what isn't. I still need a cart for those once-a-month diaper purchases. Most of the time I go to Costco I can pay cash and get out of there without a cart. The key is knowing what’s a good deal and what isn’t. I still need a cart for those once-a-month diaper purchases.

]]> By: Dominique http://moneyning.com/money-management/overspending-when-buying-in-bulk/comment-page-1/#comment-11262 Dominique Fri, 24 Oct 2008 23:38:41 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=1516#comment-11262 I do buy non-perishables in bulk especially if there is an offer - ie diapers for the baby as it does work out cheaper in the long run. I won't stock up on food or buy things in bulk even though it is cheaper as it does work out spending more when food spoils or if you do not actually need to use the product. I do buy non-perishables in bulk especially if there is an offer – ie diapers for the baby as it does work out cheaper in the long run.
I won’t stock up on food or buy things in bulk even though it is cheaper as it does work out spending more when food spoils or if you do not actually need to use the product.

]]> By: marci http://moneyning.com/money-management/overspending-when-buying-in-bulk/comment-page-1/#comment-11240 marci Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:46:23 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=1516#comment-11240 I find that buying non-perishables in bulk does save me money, even in my single person household. And no, I don't feel that it causes me to eat more or use them faster, as only a small portion of that is visible at any one time, plus I tend to hoard them as I know I won't be buying more until they go on sale again, or until I go back to Costco, which for me is a 4 hr round trip. Take a 25 lb bag of flour which was $7.99 at Costco, or $7.5o for the equivalent poundage on sale at Freddies. Or 25 lbs of salt, rice, wild rice, beans, sugar, cornmeal, etc. All those things will be stored away in airtight containers, and only a small cannister will be visibly available at any one time. And who's going to overdose on staples? Not! Spices I also buy in bulk - but I don't think I use more of them as I'm just pretty stingy with spices (due to price) to start with. Ice cream? One a month and only Tillamook and I don't really care what the price is - it's got to be Tillamook Ice Cream :) Takes self discipline to stick to the once a month ice cream, well, self-discipline and stepping on the bathroom scales every morning :) I buy cases of veggies, mushrooms, fruits, etc. Just because they are there doesn't mean I need to eat them right away. I actually enjoy the feeling of just knowing there is a year's worth of food tucked away in the cabinets. My problem is probably more of getting them used up :) I do write the month/year on the tops and rotate. I guess maybe I just have a frugal hoarders mentality - maybe that's why I am not tempted to use them up fast. Plus, I don't want to use them up, as I'd just have to buy more! I find that buying non-perishables in bulk does save me money, even in my single person household. And no, I don’t feel that it causes me to eat more or use them faster, as only a small portion of that is visible at any one time, plus I tend to hoard them as I know I won’t be buying more until they go on sale again, or until I go back to Costco, which for me is a 4 hr round trip.

Take a 25 lb bag of flour which was $7.99 at Costco, or $7.5o for the equivalent poundage on sale at Freddies.
Or 25 lbs of salt, rice, wild rice, beans, sugar, cornmeal, etc. All those things will be stored away in airtight containers, and only a small cannister will be visibly available at any one time. And who’s going to overdose on staples? Not!

Spices I also buy in bulk – but I don’t think I use more of them as I’m just pretty stingy with spices (due to price) to start with.

Ice cream? One a month and only Tillamook and I don’t really care what the price is – it’s got to be Tillamook Ice Cream :) Takes self discipline to stick to the once a month ice cream, well, self-discipline and stepping on the bathroom scales every morning :)

I buy cases of veggies, mushrooms, fruits, etc. Just because they are there doesn’t mean I need to eat them right away. I actually enjoy the feeling of just knowing there is a year’s worth of food tucked away in the cabinets. My problem is probably more of getting them used up :) I do write the month/year on the tops and rotate.

I guess maybe I just have a frugal hoarders mentality – maybe that’s why I am not tempted to use them up fast. Plus, I don’t want to use them up, as I’d just have to buy more!

]]> By: Andrea@foolsandsages.com http://moneyning.com/money-management/overspending-when-buying-in-bulk/comment-page-1/#comment-11235 Andrea@foolsandsages.com Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:42:18 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=1516#comment-11235 Hilarious picture. I did a <a title="Don't Buy In Bulk" href="http://www.foolsandsages.com/2008/09/03/frugal-living-dont-buy-in-bulk/" rel="nofollow">post about this</a> a little while ago because we just had a Costco open in our little town ... although I'll admit that the focus was more about not liking those big bulk stores than about actually buying in bulk. Hilarious picture. I did a post about this a little while ago because we just had a Costco open in our little town … although I’ll admit that the focus was more about not liking those big bulk stores than about actually buying in bulk.

]]> By: Debt Reduction http://moneyning.com/money-management/overspending-when-buying-in-bulk/comment-page-1/#comment-11221 Debt Reduction Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:52:51 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=1516#comment-11221 Naturally this how the big warehouse companies make money. For Example Costco. Do you know anyone that spends less than $400 everytime they go in here. What a gig...and they charge you a fee to shope there! Naturally this how the big warehouse companies make money. For Example Costco. Do you know anyone that spends less than $400 everytime they go in here. What a gig…and they charge you a fee to shope there!

]]> By: Danielle http://moneyning.com/money-management/overspending-when-buying-in-bulk/comment-page-1/#comment-11219 Danielle Wed, 22 Oct 2008 22:27:43 +0000 http://moneyning.com/?p=1516#comment-11219 Great post! I think that buying in bulk can be useful when you end up using ALL of it before the expiration date! LOL! On the other hand, in case it is food, doesn't bulk buying cause overeating? I mean, you already bought it right? So you better make sure it eat it all! :D Great post! I think that buying in bulk can be useful when you end up using ALL of it before the expiration date! LOL! On the other hand, in case it is food, doesn’t bulk buying cause overeating? I mean, you already bought it right? So you better make sure it eat it all!

:D

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