Public Enemy Nr. 1: Things bought in bulk

The jibes about warehouse clubs are numerable. The idea of buying a 3-gallon tub of mayonnaise and rushing to use it before it goes bad may not seem like many people's idea of a good bargain. Plus the pounds you add just to "save" money!

But warehouse clubs like Sam's Club, BJ's Wholesale Club and Costco offer major discounts to customers on several name-brand and high-quality foods and household goods. They're able to offer savings by keeping costs low, making deals with suppliers and selling products in those ridiculously large packages. For an annual fee ranging between $40 and $50, the clubs sell merchandise at profit margins well below retail competitors [source: Warehouse Club Focus]. But not all bulk shopping deals are created equal. In general, you want to buy things you'll actually use, and won't go to waste. 

One of the most common pieces of advice that you see on frugal living blogs is that you should buy in bulk. As a general rule, it’s true that you’re probably going to save money if you buy items that you use regularly in bulk at a good price. But is that still true if you’re only shopping for one or two people?

The majority of articles that exist out there about buying in bulk assume that you’re buying for a whole family, even giant families. But what about all of us who live alone or who live with roommates? Does buying in bulk work for us? Possibly.

Tips for buying in bulk when you live alone include:

• Buy only non-perishable items in bulk. It doesn’t make sense to buy things that are going to go to waste if you’re the only one using them.
• Make a list of what you use regularly. If you buy something every week or two then it’s probably a safe item to buy in bulk. Otherwise, just have one more of the item in your pantry and add the item to your shopping list when you only have that one left.
• Get a group together to buy in bulk. Just because you don’t live with your family doesn’t mean you can’t buy for a group. Get a group of friends together who would like to buy in bulk. Split the cost and split the items so that you each get only the amount of stuff that you need at a lower bulk price.
• Get smart about money. Make sure that you’re able to calculate the benefit of buying something in bulk. You may get a better deal buying a single size item and using a coupon. Do the math!

 Toilet paper, paper towels and other paper products are among the most competitive product lines sold in the warehouse clubs. Chain grocery and department stores regularly have sales and offer coupons that approach the deals offered at the warehouses. So, to get the best value on big bulk purchases, shop around and wait for a good deal to come along. Depending on the sale and the store, bulk savings can approach 50 percent off regular prices [source: Wallet Pop, Consumer Reports].

Paper products are usually a pretty good bulk purchase, since they obviously never spoil or expire, and running out of them unexpectedly can be a big nuisance. But never having to run to the corner to buy a roll of TP is only convenient if you have room to store your surplus. So, buy only amounts that you can comfortably accommodate.

Perhaps having one extra package of anything would be enough to still your fear of being “caught” without a spare. Hey, the stores are open almost all the time!! We're not squirrels.

I used to buy paper towels, toilet paper,  tissue, underwear, etc. in bulk, which meant I needed room to store what hadn’t yet been used. Sometimes it never got used. It is sometimes cheaper to buy in bulk, but if you buy only what you need, when you need it, then you’ll just be spending the money necessary to get what you need. And in the end, you use less and pay less. And store less.

Portion Size Affects How Much People Consume in an Eating Occasion.

Short-term studies show that people eat more when they are confronted with larger portion sizes. Research studies have yet to assess the impact of portion sizes over long periods of time. However, the phenomenon of unknowingly eating larger amounts when presented with a large portion is an important aspect of weight management.

A study by Rolls et al. tested how adults responded to meals on different days of four different portion sizes of macaroni and cheese. They found that the bigger the portion, the more participants ate. Participants consumed 30% more energy (162 cal) when offered the largest portion (1000g) compared to the smallest portion (500g).

They also reported similar ratings of hunger and fullness after each meal despite the intake differences. After the study, only 45% of the subjects reported noticing that there were differences in the size of the portions served.

There have also been studies with portion sizes in general, not just food. If you buy the giant shampoo bottles at Sam’s, you will use more than if you have a small bottle. In the end, you may use more than you need which, sooner or later, means you’ve spent too much. As well as having to store the stuff!