BUYING the right items in bulk could help reduce your monthly supermarket bill.
But if you haul the wrong items, you risk losing out on any long-term savings.
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To help, shopping experts at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have revealed which items are perfect for bulk buying and which to avoid.
John Stirzaker, consumer expert at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “Bulk buying is a great way to stock up on food and household items and save some money in the long run but we see a lot of people doing bulk buying wrong.
“One of the biggest mistakes people make is bulk buying things just because they’re on offer.
“If this is an item you never needed in the first place then you haven’t actually grabbed a bargain, you’ve just wasted your money.”
Here’s an ultimate guide to bulk buying before you opt to splash the cash.
Do buy dried items
Dry foods tend to last a long time so it’s worth stocking up on things like pasta, rice and coffee beans when they’re on offer.
For example, unopened pasta can last up to two years in the cupboards.
Sainsbury’s shoppers can bag 1kg of Spaghetti for just 56p.
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But shoppers at Aldi, Asda, Morrisons and Tesco could grab multiple packs of 500g for just 28p each.
Do buy toiletries and household items
Many toiletries, such as shampoos, conditioners and body wash, are suitable for bulk buying.
Household items like toilet paper, kitchen and toilet rolls and bin bags are also great to buy in bulk.
You can also save money by buying bigger boxes of these items.
For example, shoppers on Amazon can get 72 rolls of Andrex toilet rolls for just £29.85.
You’d have to buy eight packs of nine of the same toilet from supermarket shelves and the cheapest offer would still set you back £37.60 at Asda with each pack costing £4.70.
Do check expiry dates
Many items go on offer as their expiry date approaches in order to help get rid of stock.
Always check the expiry date before bulk buying, if the date is soon approaching it may not be worth the purchase.
If it’s something you think you’ll eat within a short space of time then jump on it.
Don’t buy cleaning products
It can be tempting to bulk buy cleaning products but they actually have an expiry date and lose their effectiveness as time goes on.
Most people don’t think that household products can expire too- with some being particularly short-lived, such as bleach.
For example, an unopened bottle of bleach has a shelf life of around 12 months before it begins to degrade.
Don’t bulk buy items you’ve never bought before
Trying an item for the first time and bulk buying it is a recipe for disaster that could leave you with loads of unwanted products if you decide it’s not right for you.
You’ll waste money and it’s not worth it in the long-term.
Instead, try a new item and see how it plays out before going back to do a big haul.
Don’t bulk buy if you don’t have the correct storage space
Avoid bulk buying items that you won’t be able to store correctly.
Improper storage could cause your items to go out of date quicker which will ultimately be a waste of money.
Canned and jarred food is best stored in a cool, dry space out of reach of sunlight.
Not having enough space to store your next bulk buy will damage your pocket.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
