15 Items You Should ALWAYS Buy in Bulk to Save Money

 

My grocery shopping routine has drastically changed over the years. I used to shop at 3 different stores EVERY WEEK to get the best prices and deals on the items on my list. It was exhausting. Now, I’ve become more flexible with the items I need each week. If the store doesn’t have what I’m looking for, I’ll improvise instead of driving across town to another bargain grocery store. I also buy items in bulk which saved me time AND money in the long run. Less things to buy each week = less time spent in the store shopping. And buying in bulk almost always reduces the cost of each item in the bundle. So, if you’re interested to know what items you should always buy in bulk to save money (and time!), read on.

 

15 Items You Should ALWAYS Buy in Bulk to Save Money

Paper Towels –

My husband and I go through paper towels almost a little too fast. I’m considering switching to all cloth towels in the kitchen for wiping up messes and messy hands, but then that translates into more loads of laundry. So we’ll see. I’m not 100% sold on using only cloth towels, and until I am I’ll continue buying my jumbo packs of paper towels.

Toilet Paper –

You gotta use it, there’s no way around that one. Actually, false. My dad owns a bidet, but I’ll pass on owning one myself. So why not buy TP in bulk to save money? I shove as many rolls as I can in our bathroom cabinets and the rest go into the hall closet. Stock up when you see a great deal. You want to pay attention to not only the price but also how many rolls you get and how many square feet are in each roll. Obviously, you want more square feet for your buck and thick rather than thin is always a plus!

Shampoo/Conditioner –

Two of my friends have access to professional beauty supply stores. When there’s a great deal on high quality shampoo in the massive jugs, I’ll have them buy them for me and pay them back. A gallon size jug of a high-end brand (Pureology, Redkin) conditioner and a shampoo last me a full year, and I have very long hair. I end up spending less on high quality shampoo and conditioner in one year than I would on drugstore brands. But if you don’t have connections to hook you up with salon quality shampoo/conditioner, you can also shop huge bulk containers at Costco or Walmart.

Batteries –

I always buy batteries at Costco in the huge packs. We use batteries for all kinds of things and they are expensive. It definitely saves us money in the long run stocking up on a big package of batteries and using them throughout the year.

Kodiak Pancake Mix –

This one is not for everyone but if you love a good protein pancake to start your day like I do, then Costco is the place to get your Kodiak pancake mix. We buy the huge box of mix when it’s on sale and it comes with 3 large size bags in the box. At individual grocery stores, the box is tiiiiiny and still costs around $10. That’s how much we can get it on sale for at Costco for over triple the amount.

TIP: Stock up on bulk items when there’s a sale! If you can help it, try not to buy a bulk item when it isn’t on sale. And definitely don’t stalk up without the sale price. 

Oats –

I love a good bowl of oatmeal topped with chopped nuts and fresh blueberries. I even add some protein powder and almond milk once in awhile to make it a higher protein breakfast if that’s what I’m feeling that day. Oats are cheap to begin with, but they are even cheaper if you buy a huge bag of them from the bulk section. Because they are a staple in my house for breakfast and for healthy recipes I bake, it makes sense to buy them in bulk.

Pasta –

Pasta doesn’t go bad (at least it never has for me) so it’s a great staple to stock up on in bulk and save for many recipes to come.

Preview:

Pasta Sauce –

Same as above. Anything that comes in a jar and has a long shelf life is a great idea to buy in bulk because it will cost you less per ounce than buying in smaller quantities. Plus, it’ll be one less thing you have to buy at the store weekly.

Toothpaste –

I like to buy bulk toothpaste when it goes on sale. I especially love buying the package of 5 boxes at Costco. I just recently bought Sensodyne toothpaste in bulk which is more expensive than other brands of toothpaste but I got it for a great deal! And I have very sensitive teeth because of a VERY stupid mistake I made in college once… (hint: falling asleep with teeth whitening strips on lol) So Sensodyne toothpaste it is now 🙂

Toothbrushes –

Not only do I love saving money on toothbrushes, but I also love having extras on hand in case guests spend the night and forget their own. I also keep one in my purse because you never know when you’ll want to brush your teeth on the go 🙂

Other posts you might like:

“35 Cheapest Food Items to buy at the Grocery Store in 2022”

“20 Items You Should Buy Now to Save Later“

Canned Goods –

This one is a no brainer, but it’s still worth mentioning. Depending on how much pantry/storage space you have, STOCK UP when there is a fantastic deal on any type of canned goods that you know you’ll get good use out of. However, DON’T go buying canned goods just because it’s a great deal but you rarely use that food item as a staple in your house. Trust me, you’ll end up throwing half your supply out when you run out of storage room and still haven’t used all your cans you bought 6 years ago. It’s not like I have experience with that or anything…whoops.

Frozen Items –

This one depends on the type of frozen items you’re buying. I’m notorious for buying frozen vegetables and then tossing them out 6 months later when they are pushed to the very back of my freezer and freezer burned to the point of no return. Nobody wants that for dinner…

If you know you’ll eat your veggies before they turn into ice crystals, go for the bulk bags of frozen veggies. I also like to buy meat in bulk and freeze it, as well as bread and frozen fruit.

TIP: Want to save even more money on your groceries? Use Ibotta to earn cash back every time you shop. I’ve earned over $1,000 in the past 4 years using Ibotta. It’s super simple, no scams or gimmicks I promise!

Simply download the app (it’s always free!), search and add the items you’re going to purchase (or just purchased) from your shopping trip, scan your receipt, and cash back will be loaded to your ibotta account within minutes. The best part is you’ll earn real money, no gift cards or coupons here. The minimum threshold is $20, and you can receive your cash via paypal or have it deposited straight into your bank account. It’s such an easy way to save even more money on groceries!

I have a code for you all to earn your first $10 FREE, all you have to do is upload and redeem an offer from your grocery shopping trip and you’ll earn $10 (in addition to the offer(s) you redeemed), on me! (for first time users only)

Download the Ibotta app and enter my code “ICNAYSV” or use this link here to download the app if you’re currently on a smartphone device.

Tampons –

I just recently discovered buying tampons in bulk and it has made me hate the fact that I have to spend my hard earned money on tampons just a smidge less. I like to buy my tampons in bulk at Costco but I’ve heard Amazon also has great deals on tampons in bulk. Shop around to find the best deal!

Coffee –

I’m an avid coffee drinker. I hate going a day without it, but I always make my coffee from home to save money. To save even more money on my morning (and afternoon) cup of joe, I buy coffee beans in bulk, freeze them, and take out only the amount I need for the week. Then I grind the beans fresh each morning. Nothin’ better.

Snack Food –

Grocery outlet is my go-to for snack food on a budget. I find my favorite healthy (er) brands there ALL. THE. TIME. for a fraction of the price that I would find them at normal grocery stores.

For example, I buy Pop Chips, healthy brands of popcorn, Food Should Taste Great multigrain tortilla chips, salsa, guacamole, Sabra hummus, Justin’s almond butter snack packs, Lara bars, Quest bars, Almonds, Kashi bars, and more for 50% off or more than they would cost at a normal grocery store.

So with that said, whenever I find one of my favorite snack foods for a major steal at Grocery Outlet, I stock up.

There You Have it… 15 Items to ALWAYS Buy in Bulk To Save Money

Don’t forget to check out my recent post to help combat inflation, “35 Cheapest Food Items to buy at the Grocery Store in 2022”.

If you have additional items you personally buy in bulk at the store that I didn’t mention above, feel free to share them in the comments below! I love learning new ways to save money and discovering where to shop the best deals. Don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss out on more posts like this one to maximize your savings.

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Below I’m sharing links and codes to earn money with my favorite saving money resources that I use on a regular basis and truly find valuable: (all of these are completely free to use/sign up for):

In-Store Shopping:

Fetch Rewards:

Scan any receipt (groceries, gas, restaurants, and more) to earn points towards cash back in the form of gift cards. I always cash out for Amazon. I use Fetch rewards in addition to Ibotta because Ibotta usually gives me more money back but takes longer to use. With Fetch, all I have to do is take a picture of the receipt and I instantly get points. Earn 2,000 points (4,000 when promotions are going) when you sign up for the fetch reward’s free app using my code – 6VQ1A

Ibotta:

Ibotta is an app used to earn cash back on purchases. Simply add the items you bought in the app and take a picture of the receipt to redeem your money back. I like to check the app before going shopping to see what high-paying cash back items are available. Get $10 on me if you get the free app and sign up using my code – icnaysv

Online Shopping:

Honey:

I use honey to get cash back when I’m online shopping and to inform me of price changes on online items. I downloaded the honey browser extension to my computer so when I’m online shopping, I will automatically receive cash back for qualifying items. No research or logging into the Honey website is required. It saves me money with zero effort. Honey also tells me if an item is a good deal or not. It will show me the item’s price over the past several months so I can see if it’s a good time to buy or if the item’s price is jacked up. This is my favorite feature of Honey’s by far because I can always make sure I’m not overspending. Get 500 points free ($5 value) when you sign up for honey (it’s free) using this link.

Rakuten:

I also use Rakuten in addition to Honey because they also offer cash back for many online stores. I use both because Honey shows me price changes while Rakuten does not, but Rakuten offers cash back on 3,000+ stores so if Honey isn’t offering cash back on a store, there’s a good chance Rakuten is. Rakuten also offers a free browser extension so you can automatically earn cash back without having to do anything. Just make sure the browser extension is downloaded to your favorite online browser and start earning cash back when you shop online. You can sign up for Rakuten  using my link (it’s free) and earn $30 cash back when you make your first online purchase of $30 or more. So essentially, my link gives you a free $30 purchase. Enjoy!

Secondhand Shopping/Selling:

Poshmark:

Buy new and used clothing for discounted prices and sell your own new or gently used items from your closet and earn money quickly. Poshmark also allows you to buy/sell home decor, shoes, baby toys, makeup/beauty products, and more. Get $10 free to use on Poshmark when you sign up for Poshmark using my code “meredithanne26” 

Mercari:

Mercari is another buy/sell app I use to buy and sell new or gently used clothing, shoes, and items. I love that I can use both Mercari and Poshmark to buy secondhand items because it raises my odds of finding what I want to purchase. Get $10 off your first purchase when you use my link to sign up for Mercari.