Money Saving Tip 2: Bulk It Up

We no longer buy a lot of processed foods. After we reclaimed our ability to eat from nature we denied the cheap foods laced with gluten, casein, high fructose corn syrup, artificial dyes and preservatives. The problem that came with this lifestyle was it hit the pocket book and hit it hard.

One afternoon I went to several stores with the mission to price check. I found that although each store is really competitive in their pricing, that some products are way off the mark. For instance, a jar of Better Than Bouillon Bouillon at Giant Eagle was $2 MORE than the local health food chain, Whole Foods. Yes, I was surprised too.

Recently, I have taken an interest to the bulk section of the stores. Rice flour, dried beans, quino, brown rice, raw sugar, cereal, herbs, spices and other staples are in this section. I don’t know why I never explored this option before, but I have started saving loads of money with some planning.

I used to buy canned beans weekly. Whether for a steamy pot of chili, Mexican night or hidden in the GFCF mac-n-cheese, beans are an easy source of good protein. Although, a can of organic beans only costs just over $2.00, when you are using beans several nights a week that can and does add up. For the same amount of money, I bought a pound of pinto beans and black beans in bulk over a month ago and we are still using the same purchases. I have saved well over the amount invested and the bottom of the container is nowhere near.

We have switched our bread of choice to rice bread, but the cost, again, is enormous in comparison to a loaf of white bread. The cost difference is about $2.28 per loaf…. Ouch. For that amount, I can buy a pound and a half of brown rice flour and make my own. The other ingredients are also staples in the home (some of which, yep, are bulk).

What about meats? If you consume them, buy bulk. Ask the butcher to cut it down to portion size packages. They will do this at no extra cost. Fruits and veggies… well, don’t bother. You’re better off buying what you need on a weekly basis to prevent poilage.

Not only can you save money buying bulk, but you can increase your pantry’s stock at relatively good prices. Buying more at a time equals fewer trips to the store—saving you time and energy—something every mom is looking to do one way or another. I have come to the conclusion that bulk and dry may just be one answer to some of the pocket book tragedies of today’s economic challenges.