Manage Your Life
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The best buys at warehouse clubs
user
Almost every list of saving
tips includes some mention of buying things in bulk. But if you’re
not
the Gosselins or
the Duggars, are
warehouse clubs (like Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s Wholesale)
really that great of a deal? The answer is yes — if you know how to
shop smart. Read on to see which products make sense to buy in
bulk.
- Beverages - From sodas to Vitamin Water,
drinks are cheaper at warehouse clubs. Even if you aren’t in the
market for a two-liter bottle of tequila or an entire case of beer,
you can always use a cheap flat of sparkling water, and some
warehouse clubs have great deals on single bottles of wine.
- Paper Products - Sheet for sheet, buying paper
towels and toilet paper in bulk just makes cents (sorry). As long
as you have somewhere to store all those rolls, you’ll save big
bucks over your local drugstore or even big-box store.
- Meat - Some clubs, like Costco, offer higher
quality cuts of meat than your local grocer, and for a much lower
price per pound. Cut the meat into single-use portions as soon as
you get it home, wrap it up, and stick it in the freezer. Defrost
it when you want it and you’ve got a great meal for literally
pennies per serving.
- Movie Tickets - Some warehouse clubs sell
tickets to theme parks and movie theaters at a discount (sometimes
up to 30 percent). Tickets to Disneyland may not be a popular
impulse buy as you’re stocking up on essentials, but throw a pair
of discounted movie tickets in your cart and you’ve got a cheap,
fun date night to look forward to.
- Versatile Ingredients - Ingredients that
aren’t too perishable and that show up in the majority of your
recipes are a safe bet to buy in large quantities. Onions (about $3
for five pounds at my local Costco) last a while and go in just
about everything; huge cans of tomatoes can be used to make a
large, freezable batch of pasta sauce; a case of chicken broth can
be used all Winter for homemade soups.
- Toiletries - If you’re OK with the often
limited brands warehouse clubs offer, buying shampoo, conditioner,
and lotion in bulk can save you big time. If a gallon-size pump of
shampoo ruins the ambiance of your shower, keep your empty
containers from your last drugstore purchase and refill them as
needed.
Related Content:
10 Time-of-Day Discounts, From
A.M. to P.M.
Coupon Tricks From the Women
Who Started Coupon Parties
Dollar Stores Offering More
Groceries and Household Goods
Related: warehouse clubs, saving, discounts, costco, bjs
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Posted by JollyGreenMidget Mon Oct 12, 2009 12:19pm PDT
I love CostCo for most of these things. I'm a seltzer addict, and cases of Pellegrino or Perrier are soooo much cheaper there. And everyone I know raves about their meat, which I don't eat but my family loves. Cheeses are also a good buy there, fresh mozzarella or Jarlsberg Swiss is half the price of the regular grocery store. They also have good party platters.
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Posted by EW Tue Oct 13, 2009 9:28am PDT
Add to that list:
Milk
Diapers
clothes detergent
dish washer detergent
cheese
bread
pizza bites
cereal
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Posted by opiniononly Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:04pm PDT
Costco has the best steaks I've ever bought. The per unit price is far better than any other store in the area and quality is out of this world. It's a budgeted splurge when we buy steak, but well worth the cost.
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Posted by Frantastic Tue Oct 13, 2009 3:13pm PDT
I love love love Costco. Once switched to Sams Club. Didn't like it. I don't know the quality is just there. Like the meats alot.
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Posted by la fille triste Tue Oct 13, 2009 3:47pm PDT
Costco saved me as far as buying formula, diapers, and wipes for my daughter. Even the regular brands like Huggies and Similac are cheapest there. I don't know how I could manage it if I had to by them at the grocery store or Walmart, etc. Also while my husband was alive and I cooked frequently, I would buy the cases of chicken broth for soups and sauces, diced tomatoes, olives, etc. They last forever and it's so great having a kitchen consistently stocked with nearly everything you need.
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Posted by J.H Tue Oct 13, 2009 7:29pm PDT
Costco has great produce. I buy about 12lbs of green grapes, wash and freeze them and they last forever (but they get eaten in about 2 weeks.)
Vitamins are a steal as well!
They also have great seasonal things for your home: just bought a memory foam mattress pad, and a down comforter (great quality!)
Their photo center is awesome as well...and you can prep all your photos to be printed from home on your own computer!
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