With the economy in such dire straits, people have become acutely aware that being more efficient in their spending is a wise endeavor. Going to a bulk item store and buying large cartons of products seems like a good idea – and in a lot of cases it is – but not everything can be bought in large quantities. Actually, there are two main considerations in stocking and storing, these are (1), can the item be bought in large quantities, and (2), do you have the space and facilities to store said items? Within these two considerations, there are a few other things to think about.
There is a story about Howard Hughes liking a certain flavor of ice cream. His aids went to the maker of the ice cream and ordered a large quantity of his favorite flavor. Shortly afterward, Mr. Hughes decided that he didn’t like that flavor anymore and his aids were stuck with many gallons of ice cream. They solved the problem by giving it away to anyone who wanted it – for free. We see by this example that not every item is best purchased in great quantities.
Other items, like toilet paper and paper towels, for example, can easily be purchased by the pallet. These items will always be used so there is no danger that the item will go unwanted. Can we, however, store these items in such a way as to make sure that they will survive for a long time? Paper products should be kept cool, dry, and free from the elements. Do we possess a suitable garage or other storage room with temperature control? Buying in bulk is only good when the facilities for storage are adequate, otherwise it is a potential disaster.
Perishable verses non-perishable. Most fruits and vegetables cannot be bought in quantity; they will rot and otherwise go bad in a matter of days. We must shop for these items every few days so that they will remain fresh and healthy for us. Non-perishable items, like paper products, cloth products, or office supplies can last indefinitely so long as they are kept cool and dry. When deciding to buy in bulk, sit down with pencil and paper to decide what items are appropriate to buy in quantity and what items need to be bought fresh daily.
When to buy in bulk. Look for sales on bulk items. If you can find a sale on paper towels, for example, and you have the proper storage area, go ahead and buy how ever much you can afford to buy. It will last a long time in your storage area, it will be there when you need it, and you will have acquired it at the best price. Another way to know when to buy is when you get extra income. If you get a bonus check why not think about buying what is needed while you have the extra money. You would not want to run out of a needed item and find that you didn’t have the cash to resupply. Think ahead when you have some extra cash; you may not need the item now, but you will be happy that you planned ahead when the prices go up.