There’s a been a bit of talk recently about stockpiling food ahead of Brexit. I’m not quite ready to go into full-on disaster prepper mode, but it did make me wonder about the advantages of bulk buying groceries on a household level. Purchasing normal foodstuffs in larger quantities can contribute towards a more sustainable lifestyle and some families find it save s them money. I thought I’d do a bit of research to see if we could make it work for us, and I wanted to share some of my bulk buying tips.
Buy the right goods
Some groceries are better for bulk buys than others . W e’re looking for products with a longer shelf-life , and products that you use regularly . The oats you have for breakfast every day are a good bulk purchase. A dozen jars of hibiscus flowers less so, even if they are reduced from £5 to 50p each. E xamples of good bulk buys are :
- bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar (particularly if you use them for cleaning)
- bin bags, freezer bags and sandwich bags
- cleaning products
- dried pasta
- herbs and whole spices (these are a great way to start experimenting with bulk buying)
- honey and sugar
- lentils, beans and pulses
- nuts and dried fruit
- oats and other grains
- salt
- soap and shampoo (although some people find that using the same shampoo for an extended period is bad for their hair)
- tea and instant coffee
- tins of tomatoes and beans
- toilet rolls and paper towels
- toothpaste
By the way, never bulk buy a product or brand that you haven’t tried before. No-one wants their family to suffer through six months of toilet paper that falls apart in use, or a dozen rolls of flimsy bin bags. On a related note, if you’ve made a terrible shampoo or liquid soap purchase, cleaning guru Fly Lady recommends using it daily to clean the toilet!
Have the storage space ready
The last thing you want is 24 tins of tomatoes and a pillow-s ized bag of tea cluttering up your hall, so make sure you’ve got the space before you make the bulk buy purchase . The characteristics of the best food storage spaces are:
- constant temperature (so avoid attics , garages and shed s )
- dry
- dark
- protected from pests
- protected from strong smells
Odd corners in y our self-storage unit could be used for stashing tins until you are ready to bring them into use – but check with your storage centre that you are allowed to store foodstuffs.
Club together with friends
C onsider splitting a bulk purchase with friends or family. When you see a great deal, do a shout-out on social media to see if anyone is interested : I’ve found whole spices go quickly this way . Also remember that the savings you make could allow you to donate to your community’s food bank – The Tussell Trust can help you find this – so that you can support families who have fallen on hard times .
In conclusion…
You have to be organised to manage bulk purchases, but it’s not too difficult and for a small amount of effort you can take advantages of the best prices and improve the sustainability of your lifestyle.
