This monthly column was written by one of our Savings Stars. Our RetailMeNot Savings Stars panel is made up of master couponers and bargain hunters who share their personal journeys and expert advice with us every month. Learn more from them here.
We often see articles written by heads of large households, sharing how they like to bulk shop in order to feed their families and maintain their food budgets. It’s not all that often that those who are single and live alone write about employing the same tactics – but as a person who lives solo in New York City, I need to say that it’s not only something I like to do. It’s actually something essential to maintaining my livelihood.
Groceries seem more expensive than ever, and I’m constantly chatting with friends about how they feel as if they are spending more for less of late. But they often find it hard to believe when I tell them that I’m actually actively doing the opposite – spending less for more.
Here’s what I’ve learned by shopping in bulk for me, myself and I:
1. Shop the Sales – and Stock Up on the Best Deals
It’s actually incredibly simple and probably something most of us are already doing. Keep an eye on weekly specials and sale circulators at your go-to stores. Make note if some of your staple items are on sale. These are the non-perishable items such as rice, canned tomatoes, beans or pasta. If they are a good price, get as much as you have room to store. I always look out for the biannual Shoprite Can-Can sale and buy many of these items there. They will reward you for buying a case or more than a dozen units by lowering the price per unit even further than the current sale price. Stocking up at the lowest price per unit is the way to save money and plan ahead for those items you will use – this is also a great tactic for certain perishable items as well, as long as it’s items that can be frozen – so that you don’t ever have waste food by throwing anything out.
2. Bagged or Boxed Produce May Have Varying Weight – for the Same Product!
This was a fun tip I learned along the way that has helped me in a big way. A lot of us will stock up on boxed or bagged produce when it’s on sale, and it may seem like every one of these packages is going to have the same weight or amount of product inside. This is actually not necessarily the case.
“Consumer protection laws ensure these pre-packaged produce have to weigh at least the minimum advertised on the container and in many cases you can find some that weigh more but won’t cost you more,” says money-saving expert Andrea Woroch.
Make sure you are getting the biggest bang for your buck, always, by weighing the bag.
3. Know How Much You Can Spend – Before You Head to the Store
Bulk shopping sometimes means spending a lot of money all at once; but in doing so, you spend a great deal less in the longer term. It’s all about the lowest price per unit on those items you will ultimately always need and use.
“If you don’t budget for the month properly, that could cause you to carry the purchases on your credit card and paying any interest on these purchases takes the discount away,” says Woroch.
Make sure you stay on top of your budget by having a clear amount of what you can spend on groceries that week, especially if you are setting out with a stock-up-and-save shopping trip in mind.
4. Always Avoid Food Waste
Bulk purchases are about taking advantage of sales and spending more in the moment to save more over the longer term. But if you are bulk buying items like vegetables or dairy and then ending up with food waste, that’s not saving money. It’s, in fact, wasting money.
“Pay attention to how much fresh food you’re buying and what you will actually get through.”
Money-saving expert Andrea Woroch
“Pay attention to how much fresh food you’re buying and what you will actually get through,” says Woroch.
It’s sometimes better to spend a little more up front on smaller packages when it’s items you need to use or lose quickly.
“I actually prefer to shop more often and buy less when it comes to FRESH food so nothing ends up in the trash!” says Woroch.
5. Reconsider Canned Proteins
We’re all about saving money where we can, but we also love those dinners involving delicious fresh fish. While we’d never give up those grilled filets of fresh salmon, canned fish is something that we should absolutely stock up on when trying to save some cash by bulk shopping, as it’s affordable and has a long pantry life.
“Canned tuna, salmon, sardines and beans make it easy to keep proteins in the pantry, ready to be added to any meal, including lunch. Basing meals around canned legumes and seafood is an affordable way to reap the incredible health benefits of both the Mediterranean and Pescatarian diets,” says Rima Kleiner, MS, RD and blogger at Dish on Fish.
6. Fresh Produce is Great, but Frozen Produce is Essential
Don’t dismiss frozen vegetables!
“Frozen vegetables are a great alternative to fresh veggies when looking to lower your grocery budget and stretch your meals,” says Ingrid Chen McCarthy, Research and Development Chef at The Fresh Market. Frozen vegetables are more affordable than fresh vegetables pound for pound, and they have a super long shelf life.
“Frozen vegetables are a great alternative to fresh veggies when looking to lower your grocery budget and stretch your meals.”
Ingrid Chen McCarthy, Research and Development Chef at The Fresh Market
“You don’t have to worry about the guilt of finding that rotting head of broccoli in the back of your produce drawer,” Chen McCarthy says. While the texture may differ from fresh due to the freezing process, frozen vegetables can be substituted for fresh in many recipes. They’re also picked at their peak freshness and are available year-round, meaning you can still be making spring pea risotto when the craving hits in December.”
This is a great way to always have veggies handy, but not buy more than you need and have them end up in the waste bin.
7. Buy Family Packs of Meat or Fish
As I said, I’m single and live alone. It may seem weird, then, that the person who is feeding only herself is always buying family packs of items like salmon or chicken breasts. This comes back to the cost-per-unit tactic. Family packs, especially when on sale, will offer a lower per-unit cost than buying small packages of the same items. I just buy what I need in larger quantities, and then portion and wrap them, labeled, in the freezer. Plus, it’s really nice to know I don’t have to run out to the store if I want to try a new protein recipe – I can just grab it from my freezer!
The post How Bulk Buying Helps Me Maintain My Household Grocery Budget – and Stay Well-Stocked! appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
