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Warehouse Grocery Shopping
Posted By Homekeeping Moderator
Also known as “More Is More”
All of the major warehouse grocery stores such as Sam’s Club, Costco, B.J.’s, etc. offer pretty much the same thing. Buying items in bulk, usually at deep discounts. What’s not to love about that?
Well, for one, a shopper can be tempted to overbuy, thus leading to waste. Food can expire, rot, or overstay it’s welcome in the freezer. However, there is good news. With careful planning, warehouse grocery shopping can be a great way to save money. And cut down on your trips to the “normal” grocery store.
We have a Sam’s Club in our area that I hit every 6 to 8 weeks. I buy all of our meats, frozen chicken and fish, plus a few extra items in bulk. My savings are substantial. I have a computerized list of all the things I would ordinarily purchase at Sam’s and when the freezer is near empty, I pull it up and simply delete the items I don’t need and print out the list. Now, here’s the trick to saving money. I only purchase what is on my list. I don’t let anyone lure me with their delicious sample tables into buying an item I don’t need. Those sample people are such a tease.
When I get home and unloaded, I lay down on the carpet to recuperate. Then I divide up the meats into meal sized portions and place them in freezer bags. I don’t have a large freezer, so I can’t go crazy. If time allows, I make up a few marinades and pour one into a meat bag, so that it’s ready to cook when I thaw it in a few weeks. Labeling your bags is kind of important here. I learned this the hard way. “What is that brown lump there in the back of the freezer?”
I don’t just buy meats in larger quantities. I buy things like large bags of shredded mozzarella cheese (yes, you can freeze it in smaller freezer bags), chopped pecans, and sliced walnuts. All of these can be divided into smaller portions and frozen. I find that some canned goods are a terrific deal in bulk, such as tuna and canned chicken.
You have to be careful in the fresh produce section. Since these items cannot be frozen, buy only what you think your family can eat. I purchase avocados, lemons, bananas, and apples.
Don’t forget to take your own bags! I also bring my big foldup freezer bag for the long drive home. Please share your warehouse grocery shopping experiences and what you save money on, in the comments section.
Also, hop over and check out Tammy’s Frugal Living section in Faithlifts. She’s got some great ideas on “going green.”
Written by DeeDee from It Coulda’ Been Worse.
Apr 23rd, 2007
I have a family of milk drinkers and we easily go through two gallons a week. We have found milk to be significantly cheaper at our Costco. Also we purchase cleaning supplies and some paper products there and diapers and wipes there also (in about two years I’m hoping we won’t be purchasing those anymore). We usually go about every two weeks.
I shop Costco alot. I get most of my meat and seafood there. Not only do they have excellent prices on grocery items, I buy most of my personal care and household supplies there too. I just bought contact lenses and glasses for my daughter at a fraction of the price I would have paid at my local eye doctor. The Costoco doctor was extremely thorough and I was very impressed by his professionalism. His staff provided excellent service too. We have saved well over the membership cost.
I buy all paper goods at Sam’s. toilet paper, diapers, baby wipes (are those considered paper?) I don’t buy the paper towels, I have a favorite, not sold at Sam’s.
I buy contact lense solution, razors, and other essential bathroom stuff.
I don’t buy cleaning supplies, but I buy the products to create my own cleaning supplies. bleach, vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and lemon juice.
buying the big boxes of powdered milk that you can reconstitute with fresh water as needed has really stretched our family dollar as we were buying a gallon a day and soemtimes even two, at $2.50 a pop. Now I spend $12 less on milk every week~ that’s almost $50 a month savings! We like the reconstituted milk as it is, but my husband was raised on all fatty foods including whole milk only so for him we mix it half and half with 2% and then he likes it. I save money too by making one gallon of chocolate and one of regular, saving the expense of store-bought ready-made chocolate milk ( my boys love their chocolate milk.) Just save the gallons you buy, rinse them out good and use them until you don’t want to anymore. Best tip my family has found yet! Well, besides the bulk frozen meats, that is!:)
We have been upgraded (due to family size) to actually benefit from visiting our local warehouse stores. We stock up on cereals, canned goods and lunch box stuffers (juice, fruit cups, etc) on a 6-8 week rotation. Diapers have also been a standing list item. We still by the store brand in bulk, because it does end up being less expensive. We tend to cook/entertain quite a bit, so getting our food items there for such events is also a bit of a saver as well. (Not to mention that Sams carries 2 of my favorite wines, and one of them you can only get there!) Our list is lengthy, but having bulk items in our pantry when we need them has made a difference in how often we call for pizza. And that, my friend, is savings!
I do the same exact thing. I go buy my meat at SAM’s and then divide them up in ziploc bags and add marinade then throw in the freezer.
I love their big thick pork chops, because you can cut them in half and it makes a lot.
Great post friend.
I’ll probably be the only naysayer for warehouse clubs, and maybe it’s just here, but everytime I’ve attempted to buy from costco or sam’s club, I’ve taken my calculator out with me and I haven’t found enough savings (or any savings.. usually more expensive) to justify a membership.. ie: diapers are more expensive at costco than at a walmart… for the most I’ve found it to be more expensive than buying at the stores near my house… that being said, it could be where I live… so buyer beware! Not all clubs are equal.. they vary from stores. As well, you can’t get items on major sales either… (ie. I’ve gotten various foods from my local sobeys for 1/4 of the price my brother has paid at costco b/c I got them on sale.. and I am talking the same thing size equivalent).
With that being said, I do do the same thing you’ve mentioned when I buy meat and so forth from my local store and it defineately does help cut down cost! (and stay away from the teasers! lol)
One of my friends and I often shop at Sam’s together and divide the spoils. With only three at home now (until our foreign exchange student arrives in August) and my friend with three little girls this works out great. Thanks bunches!
When I had all six of my kids at home I had a routine of making up a menu for two weeks after I looked at what was on sale in the local stores and what was in season that I could get as local produce. I have never shopped at Sam’s or that kind of place and I think I fed my kids for less than those who did this way with very little waste. Of course I live in the country and can feed scraps to the chickens which turn into eggs so nothing is wasted anyway!