Spinoff to buying in bulk

It may be a dumb question for some, but for smaller families, does it really pay to shop in bulk? Do you really save? I sometimes think that for us, a family of three (four, including a dog), it just doesn't pay to buy in bulk. I never really sat down and actually did the math. My husband claims that it does pay, whereas I tend to think that I get a better deal when I shop the sale at CVS.

What are your thoughts on this?

Message edited 3/17/2009 1:56:10 PM.

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

I find that most paper goods, toiletries, ziploc bags, and non-perishable food items are best bought at the grocery store on sale and with coupons, much better prices.

Meats, on the other hand are a really good deal at club stores. We are a family of two and buy the meats and put them into smaller portions to freeze. This definitely saves us money.

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

I have the same size family as you-dog included It does pay for us. When I was on maternity leave and was not getting paid-I was super frugal. I actually went through BJs and wrote down the price and size of everything we would buy there. I compared it to what I would pay for it at Stop n Shop, Wal-Mart or Target. Every single item was cheaper at BJs (except 2 items, but it was more expensive by a couple of cents). Plus at BJ's you can use regular coupons and sometimes they have store coupons.

Message edited 3/17/2009 2:01:33 PM.

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

Posted by cpanyc

I have the same size family as you-dog included It does pay for us. When I was on maternity leave and was not getting paid-I was super frugal. I actually went through BJs and wrote down the price and size of everything we would buy there. I compared it to what I would pay for it at Stop n Shop, Wal-Mart or Target. Every single item ws cheaper at BJs (except 2 items, but it was more expensive by a couple of cents). Plus at BJ's you can use regular coupons and sometimes they have store coupons.

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

well, we are 3 adults for the most part. me, dh, and MIL.

I don't really like shopping at Costco or similar places.

we don't need 64 rolls of TP or paper towels. an 8 pack lasts at least 2 months and they are always on sale at the pharmacy.

I don't like buying meats in bulk, b/c I don't like keeping them in the freezer for extended period of time. the prices are OK for the size...I just get the family pack at the supermarket.

we don't buy/eat processed meals so all of that is out. we don't need the jumbo ketchup, mayo, mustard etc. the most we would get are canned beans and cans of tomato sauce...doesn't really justify the cost of membership.

dh's brother has a membership, so sometimes we will get the afforementioned beans, sauce, and some tuna...but for the most part, I am find shopping at the good old supermarket.

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

We are a family of 2 + 2 dogs + 1 cat. I do some shopping at Sam's (it's closest to my house). I usually buy:

1. snacks (pretzel flats, hummus, stuff for DH for work)
2. Milk, he drinks a gallon a week by himself.
3. paper/plastic items
4. bottled water/instant teas
5. cat food
6. butter - I keep one out and freeze the others
7. spices - the dry rubs, etc. are so much more expensive at the store - especially now that the bbq season is coming..
8. cereal - DH eats it every day, lots of it

I stay away from produce, it's just too much for the 2 of us since it's really only me b/c DH does not eat veggies. Meat sometimes, but I usually take advantage of the big sales at Pathmark, etc. and then portion it out and freeze.

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

I had a free membership to BJ's for 1 month. It's 2 of us + 3 pets.

Somethings were cheaper, but I didnt want the large quantities. I also dont have a place to store the large quantities so that was an issue.

I also found that because it's bulk, prices are big, you walk spending $200 each time. I didn't like spending those large dollar amts at once.

However, since my membership ended I have not needed to go to Target or anywhere else. So maybe it was worth it.

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

It's just DH and I and we find it's worth it. I usually get some meats, cereal, seasonings, crushed tomatoes, pasta, soda, water, some cleaning supplies, shampoo and conditioner, etc. I find things last a long time. I go to BJs once a month and food shopping every other week to pick up the small things I don't get at BJs. It definitely helps keep costs down.

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

It's worth it for us. we get alot of our paper products there, as well as shampoo and conditioner, soap, dish detergent, laundry detergent, etc. it lasts forever and we spend less time in drug stores spending money on things we don't need.
We also LOVE costco's NY strip seaks, we feeze meats all the time because we never know when we'll be cooking dinner, so it's not an issue to have lots of frozen meat in the fridge.

But we don't buy the fresh produce- it would go bad so fast in my house. anything that's perishable and can't be frozen we buy at the supermarket.

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

We get both bulk and regular.

We get the sales/coupons, whether it's cheaper at BJs or the grocery store. Whoever has the sale we get it there.

We buy bigger package meat/food. I hate cooking every night so I cook for 2-3 meals. That way it's "grab and go".

We buy TP in bulk, sodas, waters, etc... I just hate running to the store. I actually NEVER go to the store. DH clips all the coupons, makes a list and hits the grocery stores 1 time per week.

ETA: We are a family of 3 (DH, Me and DS) and 2 dogs.

Message edited 3/17/2009 4:49:11 PM.

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

I go to Sam's Club every 6 weeks or so and usually get the same things every time. I also look at the circulars for local grocery stores to see if stuff I usually by at the club is on sale.

2 cases of bottled water
1 Rotisserie chicken (can't beat it for $4)
1 tray of chicken breasts (usually get 3-4 meals out of it for $16)
2 Pack of ground turkey (5lbs, usually get 5-6 meals out of it for $9)
1 container of lunch meat (great for our lunches for 2 weeks, I'll freeze half the package until I need it)
1 container of strawberries, blackberries and raspberries (I usually take some everyday for lunch and give the kids a couple of times a week until it's gone)
Bunch of bananas
eggs
milk
3 pack of soy milk
Box of diapers
box of wipes
fabric softner (usually get it every 12 weeks)
laundry detergent (usually get it every 12 weeks)
Dog food

ETA: We're a family of 4 plus dog

Message edited 3/17/2009 5:05:03 PM.

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

it's the two of us and two kitties and I really save buying in bulk. Toilet paper, paper towels and garbage bags are the biggest savings. Their batteries are well priced as well as some toiletry items.

I don't buy meat or produce reguarly because we won't go through it fast enough. I don't cook a lot during the week.

The best yet is that my dad goes and gets my stuff and gives it to me. I never have to set foot in the store!

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

We are a family of 2 and I am not a fan of shopping in bulk. Like some of the other posters, I think I do better with coupons and sales at the grocery store, CVS, etc. Plus, I live in a 2 bedroom apartment and don't have room for all of this stuff! If I had a bigger family, I would consider shopping there for certain items.

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

For us, yes and no. Buying in bulk is only worth it if you need, use, and have storage space for everything, otherwise it's a waste.

a lot of times you can get better deals at the supermarket or cvs during sales.

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

stuff that doesn't go "bad" it can be worth it. DH will take the time to know what we need, go to cosco see what it costs per unit/package compare it to a sale price in a regular store and figure out which is cheaper. IF the regular store is cheaper we usually drop off our cosco purchases, then go regular food shopping at pick up the sale item.

Platters, cakes, rolls etc can be very worth it if you are going to use it. Bread at least can be frozen.

As far as meats, cheeses we never buy in cosco anymore because it will always go bad before being used up.

Hamburgers/chicken breast/veggies frozen - depends on sales (gotta compare) but usually it is slightly cheaper at cosco if you have room in your freezer.

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

we're a family of 2 and IMO, we save a lot shopping at BJ's.

the $ we save buying chicken alone is worth the membership fee.

we don't buy a lot of stuff there, but what we do buy is well worth the $ to join (and the hassle of going there on a weekend)

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

I think so. The dog food is way cheaper, eggs are cheaper, as is milk there are bargins if you look for them

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

It saves a lot for non-perishable foods and household/health care goods. I do find we really can't get fresh food that can't be frozen or cooked/frozen unless we are having ppl over.
For example, just the $$ I save on vitamins is less the annual membership fee.

ETA: We are a childless couple

Message edited 3/17/2009 9:11:28 PM.

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

There are some things that I really get an awesome deal at BJs on. Shampoo and conditioner and razors are three of my top purchases. They're things that you don't want to have to go out and buy every other week, ya know? Also, cat litter and cat food is SO much cheaper. I almost wonder how I ever paid the supermarket prices for those things. I mean, for 20lbs of litter, I usually pay 12-14 bucks in the supermarket or target, that's the price of 40lbs in BJs. That's DOUBLE. And the cat food, forget about it, so much cheaper in BJs by at least half, as well. Laundry detergent and cleaning supplies are great deals, too.

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

My Ils are shop at Costco for just 2 people. They say it is worth it, but they do through out a lot of perishable things.

They also have the room to store things like toilet paper. I don't--and I have an aversion to buying to bulk though, so I don't do it.

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

I have compared all of my most used products between BJs & the grocery store or the drug store and this is what I've found, I always use coupons-
the paper products are usually not a good deal. CVS or walgreens blows the wholesale clubs away on price when they have a great sale.
Soda and other beverages can be much cheaper on sale at the food store-same goes for canned goods & sauces.
Garbage bags, ziplocks, foil are usually a MUCH better deal at a wholesale club
Laundry soap, most cleaning supplies, tampons, shampoo & other personal products are usually better at the wholesale clubs, and most families can use the bulk size in a reasonable amount of time.
Coffee, olive oil, and most produce is better priced at the wholesale club.

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

We are a family of 2.5 (baby on the way ) but I have always shopped at BJ's for items we use a lot of ex: granola, garbage bags, laundry detergent, peanut butter, bulk meats, fruits, paper plates & cups. I do my bulk shopping every month or 1.5 months.

I buy my toilet paper & paper towels at Stop & Shop or Target when on sale bc it is cheaper. I do a weekly shop at Stop & Shop & sometimes I do save a lot with mfg coupons & competitors coupons but in the end, doing bulk still saves us $$.

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

Re: Spinoff to buying in bulk

Milk and gas is sole reason for my BJs membership. when i pay almost $1.00 less per gallon of milk, it pays after 45 gallons that i buy...

typically 4 per week.

i have two kids that LOVE milk.