5 Important Secrets You Need To Know About Crazy Bulk Buys

At one time or another most of us have taken the bulk buying plunge, vowing to set our family on a new path to saving mega bucks with those crazy bulk buys!

Brimming with excitement and armed with good intentions, reusable shopping bags, and even a list, we’ve loaded up the kids and headed over to the local warehouse club determined to conquer the grocery game, thinking “Yep, this is the day things change around here”!

We stepped inside the store and something happened. Before we knew what hit us, we got gleamy-eyed because it’s all so shiny and pretty, so different from my grocery store, and wait – are those angels I hear singing?

Our mind says, “WE NEED IT ALL”! “Kids! Get another buggy, we’re gonna save a bundle today!”

Right? Who’s been there? Well…maybe not to this degree but at one level or another most of us have fallen into the trap of thinking those crazy bulk buys are better.

The truth is that buying in bulk may not always be the smartest option.

Wouldn’t it be nice to know exactly what the cheapest crazy bulk buys at those stores are as well as the items you should steer clear of?

We’ve got the inside scoop to help you avoid common pitfalls like the above scenario and make you the smartest shopper out there!

Because when it comes those club stores, you can easily get overwhelmed with the big boxes and big prices they say you are saving.

And those big box stores come with samples that make you love more of what they have and those samples make you stay longer and spend more too!

So let’s take a look at these secrets to saving money at those warehouse stores with the basic rules of warehouse club shopping!

1. Saving With “Bulk Buying” Is A Myth

While it’s true there are some savings to be found by purchasing crazy bulk buys at club stores, that principle does not apply across the board.

A common mistake is to “stock up” on all the things you like (and more than a few things that just looked good).

By the time you get to the checkout line with your full cart(s), the total can easily be upwards of $300 or even more.

2. The Membership Fee

There are 3 national warehouse stores ~ Costco, Sam’s & BJ’s.

All clubs both offer savings books that have store-only coupons or sales on top of their already low prices. Topping them all is BJ’s for allowing “Stacking” of their store coupons along with manufacturer coupons on those crazy bulk buys!

In terms of overall savings, the cost of an annual basic membership must be considered. Costo’s Gold Star fee is $55, Sam’s Club Savings is $45, and BJ’s Inner Circle is $75.

If you are patient, they regularly have 30 and 60-day free guest passes so you can check them out and decide if membership is right for you! You can also keep an eye out on our website for membership deals from LivingSocial and Groupon. This is one of the best secrets to saving money so you don’t spend on a membership if you don’t like it.

3. There Are ALWAYS Buy And NEVER Buy Items

ALWAYS Warehouse Crazy Bulk Buys: Meat, Dairy & Batteries.

If you do not have a good meat market where you can get quality meat at exceptional prices, then your best bet would be Costco, Sam’s or BJ’s.

Butter and heavy creamer are always 50¢ cheaper than the grocery store sales, but milk & cheese are the same prices as grocery store sales, so you can buy it when you need it, instead of purchasing ONLY when on sale.

Batteries are consistently priced the lowest at club stores. They just are.

NEVER Warehouse Crazy Bulk Buys: Razors, Toothpaste & Paper Goods.

No more buying those warehouse razor refills at $30 a pop! Razors and toothpaste are consistently free or cheap at other stores when there are deals and you use coupons on top of that.

If you do not require a specific brand of these, then you can easily stock up for low prices at the grocery or drug stores. (Remember, unless you have a reason to need a specific brand, giving up brand loyalties is listed in the second rule of couponing ~ click here to see them all).

Paper towels and bath tissue crazy bulk buys are not cheaper at big box stores. Even the generic is not cheaper than Walmart!

You wanna know the best place to stock up on these items? Amazon. They offer a Subscribe & Save option that will save you a bonus 5%, and regularly even have a digital coupon to clip. Better yet, they’ll ship it right to your door ~ usually for free!

4. Know What You Can Store And How Much You Will Use

Let’s face it, 48 rolls of paper towels and 12 boxes of cereal take up valuable pantry real estate with those crazy bulk buys!

Overcrowding the home with our stockpile can quickly become clutter.

Here are some tips on how to stockpile in small spaces.

Did you know that leaders in the field of psychology say the connection between clutter and depression is real and more common than we may think? Clutter is distracting, overwhelming and over-stimulating, leading to feelings of guilt and even embarrassment.

Add the issue of waste and to see how that’s another reason we recommend buying only what we need and just enough to share at the stock-up price, employing the first rule of TrueMoneySaver.

Don’t miss these cheap organization tips to help you keep your house organized!

5. Stick To Your List

Ultimately, the most effective way to save at the warehouse stores (and really any store) is to exercise willpower on those crazy bulk buys. Willpower is one of the best secrets to saving money at club stores!

Armed with the Do’s and Don’ts of warehouse shopping, make a list and stick with it.

There are loads of tempting distractions inside. Just know that and don’t give in! You can ignore the angelic choirs singing over the bright and shiny pretties!

Your bank account, your pantry, your family and ultimately your peace of mind will be thankful you did steer clear of those crazy bulk buys!

If you are a couponer and live near BJ’s, then that would be your clear choice. Otherwise, wait patiently till the next trial membership for a Sam’s or Costco near you to become available, then check it out using the above 5 rules of warehouse shopping on crazy bulk buys.

Because when it comes those club stores, you can easily get overwhelmed with the big boxes and the prices they say you are saving.

And those big box stores come with samples that make you stay longer and spend more too!

So I hope you’ve learned these secrets to saving money at those warehouse stores with the basic rules of warehouse club shopping!

Bless your family tomorrow by learning the Do’s and Don’ts of warehouse shopping today!

Your Turn: What are the hardest crazy bulk buys for you to AVOID buying at the Warehouse Club? Let me know in the comments below!

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