Do you really save money buying food and supplies in large quantities?  The answer is yes.  There is a difference in places to buy food in bulk, though, so do your homework.  Basically, when it comes to savings there are supermarkets that have great sales when you can stock-up, there are co-ops, and then warehouses or clubs, such as “Costco” or “Sams/Walmart.”

Supermarkets are often most expensive, unless there are sales.  Make it a regular practice to look at the circulars and ads online and in newspapers and local “shopper” papers.  Recently, I saw canned vegetables as high as $1.75 regularly on sale for only $0.33!  Time to stock up!

Co-ops, or Food Cooperatives, are usually membership organizations where people band together for health foods, organics, or healthier foods in bulk.  I find that these are generally about better quality, but not better prices.  Sometimes, foods in co-ops are more expensive, and require additional volunteer time.

Warehouse outlets and food clubs offer the biggest savings overall.  Most require a nominal membership fee, such as $25 per year.  You might want to share a membership with a friend or neighbor.  One reader shops every Saturday with her neighbor-friend on a single membership.  They each buy what they need, have coffee together, then load the items in their separate cars and off they go!  No need to split bulk items.

A tip or two:  
–also buy storage bags or containers at the warehouse stores, then freeze or refrigerate your foods.
— Buy flour in bulk, but freeze it first.  That way any insect eggs that are dormant in the flour will be killed, thereby allowing longer storage.
— Be careful buying large quantities of items that are “trigger” foods for you.  Remember: out-of-sight, out-of-mind.

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