Comments on: Ten Surprising Things I Like to Buy in Bulk

By: Sa Co

Sa Co — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:37:22 +0000

LOL, my wife complains about the holes in my socks as well. = )

By: Patt Colucy

Patt Colucy — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:45:18 +0000

To really know prices you need to keep a price book. I read about keeping one in “The Tightwad Gazette” by Amy Dacyczyn.I right down the cheapest price/unit I find, date and store where purchased. You can start one by writing down prices from your store or stores and maybe use ads. This way you will be able to decide if joining the wharehouse will save you money. Amy felt that stocking up on lost leaders, great sales by grocers that are sold at or below cost to get you to come into their store, is yur best bet. I have found this to be true for me as well because I only use a few name brand items, grow some of my own food and make most things from scratch. If yu do decide to join consider these two things. Share your membership with another person.This person could shop with you, you pay and you could settle up later. If the items you buy there are non perishable, stock up before your membership is up and then not join again for 6 months so that in 3 years you will only pay for 2 years membership.

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:53:44 +0000

I’m with you Jim (#83), I have tried CFL’s in some of my fixtures. I have found that they work well for closets and some other rooms that you don’t really need to see in. Bad for around bathroom vanity when you want to know what you look like before you leave the house. in most applications there is just a displeasing yellow light.

I do love Sam’s, if only for milk. We drank 281 gallons last year (my boys wanted to keep track). It was a savings of over $500 compared to grocery store prices. We buy other things in bulk and freeze them into smaller portions. For example spaghetti sauce which comes in #10 cans, can be put into ziplock bags and frozen flat, along with many other items.

Good article, gets people thinking about their own spending habits.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:30:22 +0000

Warehouses are basically useless these days.

Saving the obvious TP and other bulk grocery idems (RICE!) – these stores have been made obsolete for most consumer items via the internet.

CD/DVD-R – Basically free on the internet if you time it right with instant rebates on Newegg.

Toothbrushes, C’mon – hit amazon and wait for a sale. Same goes for light bulbs, Restaurant.com gift cards, Socks, office supplies, etc. Using Amz prime, it’s essentially the same cost as a yearly membership at Costco when you factor in time and gas driving, sales tax, and convenience of free 2nd day shipping. I move frequently so there is added benefit behind having all the extra boxes laying around.

The $.05 a gallon fuel difference is more than made up with a proper rewards card paid off every month. Some places such as Giant Eagle in the midwest offer .10/gal for every $50 you buy in groceries, that’s more like .13-14/gal with a rewards card, even more when linked to upromise.

Video games? Can’t beat half.com, craigslist, or freecycle, or any of the other book-swap sites.

The only things on the list that are still cheaper/more convenient are grocery bulk paper items and tires, which is debatable if you find a local shop that will match any advertised price.

Moreover, what is the opportunity cost of tying up your hard-earned $$ into stocking inventories of shit you don’t need for months? Are the savings and time-value of money (inflation/deflation) factors really more than what you would earn in investment returns (tax-free, or deferred)? If you’re lazy, yes. If you’re savvy, no.

Check out slickdeals.net

By: Tabby

Tabby — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 02:38:45 +0000

I just want to say that I work for my local Walmart, and it’s not evil! I make a decent wage, get decent hours, and even earned a quarterly bonus this quarter.

By: J.

J. — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 15:36:12 +0000

I would love to shop at Costco rather than Sam’s, but Sam’s is literally a block away, while Costco is on the other side of town. My husband and I have found that a small trip to Sam’s can be done on foot.

As for what to buy where, I spent 5-10 hours making a price book for 8 stores in our area, and it saves a ton of money. Sam’s is cheaper for some things, but more expensive for some. For, example, dish detergent is cheaper there, but dishwasher detergent is cheaper at Target. Also, watching for sales and rebates is critical, as is coordinating trips so you don’t waste gas.

By: donna m

donna m — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 23:56:51 +0000

I’ve never thought about buying most of those things at sam’s club but I do buy a lot of my cat food and litter there. It is so much cheaper. Buying the gift cards there makes a lot of sence. I never really thought about getting them there before but I sure will now! Even if we buy them to use ourselves. We go out to eat every weekend!

By: Cheap WoW Gold

Cheap WoW Gold — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:32:22 +0000

Guess what I want to buy in bulk? It’s my wow gold! Just like what you said u saved more in bulks.

By: chuck

chuck — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 16:04:00 +0000

You all have decent points,but on the other hand
just imagine all the other options you have lost. By American,build our republic back up
support freeddom choice and common sense.

By: creig

creig — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 04:27:44 +0000

sam’s club is my domain for all things in bulk.i get the usual paper supplies.socks.underwear and other assorted items that i may need from time to time. i have found though when making a purchase such as a refrigerator, computer,camera and many other things from camping equipment to furniture after looking everywhere for the cheapest price including if the item must be delivered that sam’s club beats out many other stores online and brick&mortar stores. when i am going to make a purchase over $100 i look at least 5-10 places and if i am going to spend $200-$2000 i look for days or weeks and sam’s comes out cheapest at least 75% of the time.

By: cheap wow gold

cheap wow gold — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 07:50:36 +0000

Great article! Do they sell wow prepaid cards too?

By: Way of the Future

Way of the Future — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:34:07 +0000

The first thing I saw was the light bulb thing and no CFL’s…energy waste is a serious contributor to waste both monetary and environmentally.

Does Trent ever respond to comments?

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:46:29 +0000

I’m having a hard time digesting Trent’s advice and opinions. I’m sorry but anybody who tries to prove how to save money by finding a different location to buy VIDEO GAMES is not mature enough to handle their own personal finances, let alone try to tell other people what makes smart financial sense.

Reading through his blogs I’ve seen numerous posts where he bashes his parents for their financial practices (the same practices that clothed, fed, sheltered and educated him). He even whines in one post for not getting an allowance.

Seriously, This kid is a long way off from truly understanding the world around him, and he’s got a long road ahead of him before he garners my respect.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:14:03 +0000

Well, apparently you aren’t allowed to make comments not liking CFLs since my original comment apparently was never approved. I think I’ll continue reading blogs that value differing opinions instead of requiring that readers toe the company line.

By: Jihan

Jihan — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 03:57:02 +0000

Is Sam’s club really inexpensive to buy things? I am just curious because it’s been mentioned a few times in the post. I don’t think there’s one nearby where I live, but it would be nice to have one.

By: NYC reader

NYC reader — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 02:17:57 +0000

Before everyone gets intoxicated on the “Walmart is evil” groupthink, I suggest you Google ‘Costco eminent domain’ (without the quotes). You’ll soon find out that Costco has a long history of using/abusing eminent domain (government condemning and taking over private property) so they can build their stores without regard for the people who own/live on/work on the private property.

While you’re at it, Google ‘Costco cemetery Yonkers’ (without the quotes) to read about the history of a New York Costco that erected a store on land that once held a Jewish cemetery. The developer agreed to disinter the bodies and rebury them, but did not do so. The remains of at least 137 children are now somewhere under the Costco parking lot. The NY State attorney general sued, and they paid $100,000 to settle the case.

Both Costco and Walmart are businesses, not charities. Neither has clean hands in the ethics department.

There are plenty of businesses that treat employees and suppliers the same or worse than Walmart. I don’t see anyone boycotting Cracker Barrel (LGBT discrimination), Foot Locker (age discrimination), or Denny’s (race discrimination).

That said, I must add a disclaimer that I shop at both Walmart/Sam’s and Costco. The money I save shopping at these two stores allows me to direct more of my money to charities and causes I believe in. That’s my tradeoff for frugality. Your sense of personal ethics may differ from mine, and you may find it objectionable to shop at one or both of these stores. That’s perfectly ok. Just don’t go on blathering about how wonderful Costco is and how evil Walmart is without a reality check.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:53:24 +0000

Savings on baby formula will pay for our Costco membership several times over this year. When I add in the nickel or dime savings on fuel the $40 is well worth it!

By: Lou

Lou — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:51:26 +0000

Next time you need paperclips, go to your bank and ask them for some. My bank will give me an envelope full of paperclips and are happy to get rid of them. They, of course, are used and will be a mixed bag of colors and sizes. I haven’t purchased paperclips in years!

By: Kate

Kate — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:09:12 +0000

Is it just me, or has anybody else noticed a correlation between when Trent went “full time” with his writing career and when he stopped responding to comments left here?

DB Cooper @ 6:14 pm January 29th, 2009 (comment #46)
I have noticed, too. That is one thing that I miss a lot.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:32:25 +0000

Fris- As an employee at Michelin, I can say that the tires we make for Costco and Sams are the same physical ingredients and quality as the name brand, even though the tread pattern may be slighty different (trademark and customization for the customers). I can’t speak about Goodyear and the others. If Michelin puts our name on it, we want the buyer to be happy. Maybe your cars need alignment ?