The Basics Of Bulk Shopping 

I live in SW Florida, and I am ASTOUNDED at how many people who are natives here or long times do not have at least a 2 week stock. It boggles the mind!

My Grandfather (c.1907) lived through the Great Depression. he told me when WW2 started he had 26# of coffee stocked up & when the war ended he was on his last can !! As a result, I've been a prepper ever since I graduated high school in1976 !!

Costco for Business has great prices for bulk buying meat. Watch for special deals for close to dates. I just purchased whole pork loin for $1 a pound that was two days to that date. I cut it up and froze it right away. Makes for an affordable meal!

I toured a milk products factory and they processed & canned the same evaporated milk with 27 different labels in 3 languages. 27 different labels = same product. I have brand loyalty for very few items.

Definitely have to buy aluminum foil in bulk. We’re all gonna need a lot of hats.

When the great toilet paper shortage happened, I was fine for five months 😂😂

I had my loyalty card in my deceased mother's name. For a long time. (Same first initial). Let them track her purchases.

You need to meal prep with us more often, great chat thanks!

I don’t have a Sam’s or Cosco near me. We’ve only got a Meijer. I do have a friend who goes to Sam’s weekly. She’s ok with picking up some items for me. Flour, sugar, peanut butter, etc…. I appreciate her doing it for me. I only have to drive 10 miles instead of 2 hours. I’m very grateful!

One thing to remember is keep track of your preferences. I used to love pasta. Now I prefer rice over pasta. Luckily, I keep reasonable quantities and am aware of what I prefer to eat as time goes on. Remember also to consider changing health needs. Sometimes ordering online saves me from impulse buys. I love my farmers markets--(No chips to sneak into my market basket, lol). Having had to pinch pennies since forever, generic has usually been my go-to, along with unit pricing, shopping sales etc. Leisa, great ideas.

Went to Sam's today..won't say how much we spent..but we stocked up on can goods and meat mostly.. we do this about once to twice a year...when the hubs makes a dang good profit on a house..he paints and remodels.. we go.. I will vacuum seal the meats and we are set for a very long time.. we already have pasta and rice.. BUT we only stock up on goods we will eat!

One of the reasons I love ordering online (grocery delivery from walmart, Sam's club shipping) is that you can look back at the actual receipt to see how prices have changed. Our food storage is pretty well set, so i'm only having to buy pershibles every week or every other week. So now, I'm currently working on trying to pick one non-food item (household goods/personal care, etc) & stocking up on 6 mos to a year of that one item by tracking how long one unit lasts & calculating how much we would need for 1 year. Once i've got 1 year of everything, then I'll start on 1 ore year.

Ooh! Strawberries will be in their peak season in a couple months. Plan to fill the freezer for the year!

I have a love-hate relationship with loyalty programs, they track your purchases. Kroger keeps reminding me that I bought 14 boxes of tampons last order and asks if I need to add any to my cart this time!😂 like stay out of my business! 😂

from sad experience (and the reason i learned to can) unless you have serious power generation? do NOT depend on your freezer.

Gosh you sound like me talking to my friends and community. I have been into food storage for 40 years. I also only buy dairy and fresh fruit (when it isn't in season) when I store. I challenge myself to learn to cook one new type of food every other week. Right now I am working on pie crust and crackers. I just don't want all the goop they are inserting into grocery store food any longer. With a bit of time and determination you can make about anything and most time you will save $$ too. It is never too late to begin filling the pantry.

I’m still using up my pandemic toilet paper. When the pandemic hit the one thing I DID NOT have stocked was toilet paper! My son in San Diego couldn’t find t-paper, there have two females in their house. I mailed him a big box with about 4 dozen rolls.

My neighbor told me he has 5 freezers full of food. I was surprised. I had 3 extra large freezers in the past.

Tp shortage and empty shelves made me see the importance of storing up a few things it was nuts I'd never been though a hurricane or something like that before we live and we learn.

Reminds me making ugly beef stew tomorrow or the next day. Get the crockpot out. Then dig out something else. Clean out the old stuff. Been outside doing work on the good days we've been getting. 3 new raised beds. One done. I only get meat bulk at a butcher shop when on sale. Got a Gordon's close but no deals. No Sam's club or Costco nearby. I'm sure all delivery people hate me. Lots of heavy stuff. Heavy for me. Not getting younger.

I love buying in bulk it really does help , Thank you Leisa

Loyalty cards, just got a killer deal, butter 2 for $3, sugar and eggs the same, you bet I did it more than once.

I used to have a Sam's membership several years ago. But, it became inconvenient when they moved the store and was discontinuing items I was purchasing. Plus the sizes of some items were just too big for our family and didn't want to waste food, and at that time, I didn't have a lot of storage area. I now just watch for sales at a couple of stores for their weekly specials. Even though, I don't like the idea of having cards to track my purchases. I will use the digital coupons and sometimes buy the limits on sale. I go to a completely different store that does not track my purchases, to do my main grocery shopping. Plus, that store also has a bulk section, where I can buy pasta, seasonings, etc., by the pound (more or less, depending on how much I want). My impulse buys will be finding items in the discontinue section, which sometimes cost me more money than what I had planned on spending, but also saves me money in the long run.

Loved that you prepped for your week while you chatted to us .❤

Im in Hudson Valley, NY and a few months ago my husband and i had to finally make a decision to stop buying meat at the supermarket. The chicken always smells off and is pumped with some kind of liquid. Just doesnt taste right. And the beef is worse. Pink on the outside and brown on the inside. No thanks. We jumped the shark and are buying our meats from Butcher Box. Will do my meat canning from that stock as well. In this case, we had to expand the meat budget just so we know we're eating quality meat. We just couldnt any longer with the supermarket meat.

Awesome advice and suggestions. I'm a lot like you in having bought in bulk for more years than I care to say. Its nice not having to run out in a storm for things like toilet paper or whatever.

The closest Costco is 2 hour's from us, Sam's is about an hour. We go that way maybe once a year. Amazon ought to send me a Christmas card by now lol. What we have found, we have a hometown grocery store that buys local meats. So much better quality and costs than bigger stores and we support a local store. You named most of my bulk purchases I asked a manager years ago what was with the loyalty card's. He told me for their company it replaced green stamps. Now that's a throw back.

I use to work in a vitamin factory,some brands all we did was change the label

One of my sons recently sent me a video of a guy who ordered food from Walmart in 2022. He went and hit reorder those same things this year. In 2022, it cost him $126 for the stuff he wanted, if he wanted to reorder now, it was $414 for the exact same stuff.

We keep our Costco membership because we can have the non-perishable items delivered to our door. Costco’s enormous packages of toilet paper are legendary, but it’s the potty pads for dogs that we really need. Our spoiled little dogs refuse to go outside when the weather is bad. There are also some special items, like multi-grain gluten-free crackers, and maple syrup, which make it all worthwhile. Otherwise, as seniors with relatively small appetites, bulk shopping doesn’t save us enough to be able to get the variety on our shelves that keep us interested in food. (There was a time in my life when I couldn’t imagine not being interested in food.)

Despise the grocery store nearest me and their app to het the sale item.. that said they had corned beef for $1.27 lb limit 2. My son and i both downloaded the app for the deal and paid separately. Gotta do what ya got to do. Thanks for another great video!

Eating my crockpot corned beef and cabbage as we speak. I just got some and sat down.

I'm finding paper products go up and down like the the stock market on crack. One week it's 5.99 then the next it's almost 20 bucks (For the same size pack)!! I advise everyone strongly to save a few bucks and buy LOTS when you find a good special. 💗💗

I am so thankful i found you 😊 thank you for what you do

Here where I live in Ga. We have an Ingles they’re expensive but they do have sales. And they have gas rewards. I got gas Friday for $2.95 so if they have sales I will buy .

hi lisa 🤗 i bulk shop at local discount and warehouse stores and online. i shop the azure sales and maybe a few extra items if i need them at the time and the price is better than local options. yes, i factor in gas, time and physical effort. i don't like to run low, let alone run out 😂. i plan an hour to update my inventory after a bulk purchase to make sure i dont buy what i already have. tfs

In my area of Michigan I had to make a $57 return this past week for soup and #10 cans of peaches for our preps..they all arrived damaged. The soup cans were dented so badly they popped open. The #10 cans all four had dents as big as my fist in the middle. Sams gladly and promptly refunded then handed us a piece of paper to call the shipper and file a complaint. Mind you we had to drive 24 miles round trip to get our refund. Don't know how they can stay in business. We have used their curbside service since the jab started and love the conveience , but some items they don't carry in the store and your choice is shipped to you. At 70 things look pretty crazy right now.

If you join Costco you can have the items shipped for a minimal cost. Same with BJs. Plus at Sams will give free shipping and free pickup Some items I use are only at one of the 3 big box stores.

Bulk if it's what you actually do use! Love your vids Lisa ❤

I did the same thing with trash bags. Now I have enough for a couple of years. Opposite problem - thought I had 2 more tomato paste tubes. Nope - used part of my last one. Time to stock up again. My last shipped order was interesting. Hubby asked if they dropped it from the plane. 🤨 Funny not funny. Two cans were dented really bad and several with small dents. Opened and used the 2 that were in bad shape. Thankfully the dent didn't break through so used them. Always enjoy your videos.

I've found that my favorite Chinese restaurant has lots of food safe 5 gallon buckets that they've given me for free when I asked nicely. I simply put it in my bathtub and sprayed it with some Dawn Power wash and scrubbed the bucket clean. Gamma lids fit on them so I've got a bunch of free buckets for food storage. Also many grocery stores with in store bakeries will have 5 gallon buckets of frosting that again, if you ask nicely, they're more than happy to give them to you for free! You're saving them the disposal costs.

I went to our local grocery outlet store Sharp Shoppers last week. I buy things for 4-6 months. I took a friend to show her how much can be saved. The prices are 1/3 the price of Walmart. I get groceries monthly from Walmart pickup. I also love Azure Standard. I just placed my order for items I was getting low on. Meat products I buy local such as beef, chicken and pork. Having a stocked pantry is very important to me. Delivery here is very difficult and they leave items elsewhere or say they aren't available. Even say cant find the house.

I like buying in bulk, one thing I do is buy rice and vacuum seal it in 1 cup portions!

I stock up on a few things that are on sale that we don’t eat all the time but will keep forever. It’s good to have when there are shortages. Be surprised what will look good when you are hungry.

a few drug stores give monetary benefits so when you purchase your toothpaste etc, you are getting a great deal---often free. Great way to stock up.

Great ideas! Thank you for sharing. Blessings.

I am a $/unit shopper. I tend to do my own math. On WM site, have found errors & dislike that 2 similar products are displayed in different units (example: one in oz and others in lbs). So just easier to do it myself and this helps me know costs.

You know you talked about foil. I’ve always found that Reynolds was my best money saver because I could use it many times over on different dishes. We are just a family of myself and my husband. I’ve been using Reynolds small sheets and find I don’t overuse and it’s just the perfect size for me and my husband. I’ve been sick so I’m just catching up with your videos. I love you and the excellent quality of your videos. Thank you so much. Love 💕 and Hugs. 💙💙💙

AGREE110% not liking loyalty cards & Digital is the worse

I buy some of my meat from Sam's. It is $1 cheaper a pound than our local grocery store. I also buy the tubes of hamburger from them, but I go online to check what a case price is. Last year I got 80/20 hamburger for $2.50 a lb. I got some last week for $3.29, down from $3.69. I will buy some pork also, but that's about all. I get my spices from Spice Sage. I like their quantities and selection. I grow my own vegetables and can a lot so I don't need many groceries.

I found an awesome deal on pasta this month and potatoes I am making my own homemade hashbrowns and potato wedges for the freezer I have a Costco in my town I get some things there and some things at Walmart and a few other stores all my stores are within 10 15 min away my family thinks I am crazy for stocking up

I never use a list, doing the reverse works far better for me. I only buy what is on sale at rock-bottom prices, items, and buy WOW deals in bulk, but only I know I will use. Then, I decide what I will make with my bargains. Having a wide range of foods in my stash makes that very easy to do, no need to meal plan either. I eat plant-based whole foods, organic where possible, healthier, and far less expensive than eating meat. I also do not eat dairy, Grocery Outlet works for me, I buy from the bulk bins at Winco, or organic grains, beans, and the like came from Amazon. I also bought freeze dried foods when on sale. I shop the 'REDUCED' bins for fruits and veggies, use some now, and dry the rest. Having a garden, along with a DIY hydroponic set-up produces a massive harvest, and can be used outside or in the garage using grow-lights.

Great making lists for all the things😊 This months list is Laundry and Dish soaps some I have more than others. Food bags are ordered for the end of the month along with teeth cleaning supplies, deodorants etc

I need to try harder at stocking preps of one category at a time instead of a mix. I think if I DO do that I can spend £40, which is about $51, and my pantry will look really different after only a few weeks. I know my price point for most things to keep within that budget; taking into account any sales/offers obvs. Thanks as ever Leisa for hints, tips, help and advice.❤

Brand loyal to mustard Frenchs or plochmans only the rest I tried was to much vinegar in them and my 3 small freezers I keep I list on them and add and subtract as I go pantry the same way best way to run your inventory

I’m in Champaign, Illinois. We go to Costco when we have the extra to buy bigger. However, I agree that the meats are higher. I shop all the sales at the stores in my area. I go to whatever store has what I want at a price I want to pay for it.

I wish we had a better bulk store near us. While it is convenient, the BJ's we go to that's not even all that close, stopped carrying Folgers of all things. The dog food is hit or miss, and you can't do all your shopping there. I don't need gigantic sizes of everything, but yes, bulk rice, etc, is very good. But I have 300 lbs stored up for a family of two. If it weren't for the good price on gas and propane (went through a lot making maple syrup), we wouldn't continue our membership. I balk at the idea of membership to a store anyway, but I split it with a friend who works close to it. CANNED GOODS: All these prepper channels insist that you can stock up on a lot of canned goods and they don't go bad. I've found that not to be all that true. I bought the case of Cream of Mushroom soup, the cases of this or that, and boy that was a good feeling, until they were just two or three months past the date and not all that good anymore. One can hissed when I opened it, and I store them in a cool place. No dents in the can, that was tomato soup. Another can, just a quick lunch of Chef Boyardee ravioli, tasted a tiny bit off, I only ate one to see what would happen, and wound up lying down for a couple hours with a very grumbly digestive system. With that said, my home canned food can be two or three or four years old and is just fine. I'm currently eating green beans I canned in 2020. So, that's my 2-cents worth! We'll get a couple pigs this spring - boy the price went up on those, and on calves, too. Farmers couldn't even really get the gas money it took to take a Holstein bull calf to the sale in the past, and now they are, I've heard, going for a couple hundred dollars! We're working on higher charge electric fence for a steer later this year, and I have meat birds ordered from Murray McMurray. Hang on people for a rocky 2024.

Bulk buying is not for everyone but I do it because I live so far away from our big box stores and the traffic can be horrendous just trying to get there. I go to Costco about 4 times a year and only when I have business close to it. Once a year a group of us go to a Mennonite store about 3 hours away. I get some really good buys and it’s a fun day with friends. We buy a side of beef from a farmer. It may not be cheaper but it is a better cut of meat. We do buy ham and turkey in bulk when they go on sale after the holidays. We grow the majority of our produce and some spices so we don’t buy much of that. Happy Spring everyone.

Sugar isn't going on sale like it used to around holidays such as Easter, thanksgiving and Christmas. We stocked up I think in October with about 24kg. I was just comparing Costco prices on sugar online. 2kg is the normal bag we buy and I'm pretty sure my food pails hold 7 bags or 14kg each. Costco has 4kg bags of Redpath for 6.89 and 20kg bags for 41.09... It's still cheaper to buy a bunch of 4kg bags instead of 20kg bag, and the 4kg bag is really less than 50 cents cheaper than Walmart regular price. It's so frustrating.

I use the online ads for the stores we go to each week to track prices ... the only exception for me is BEEF, unless its burger, I won't buy it unless it has BONES in it, and they are getting nearly impossible to find, even roasts are coming boneless now.

I have some awesome Ledger Books that I bought on Amazon that has the pages number and a space in the upper right corner for the date. I write down every item I purchased at the store and how much I paid for it and my total paid at the top so I keep track of my monthly expenses and it's helpful to go back and look at what I paid for a item. I give my grocery receipts to my sister she does Fetch. Anyways I do both Sams Club 15 minute drive and Azure Standard for some items. They do have a great price on bulk Instant Oatmeal $26 for 25 pounds and that includes the shipping fee and the fee they charge if you don't buy X amount of money it still equals out to a little more than $1 per pound which is a great savings. We also have Gordon Food Service here and Costco though I've never been there. Sam's has a few items that are great prices. I bought a gallon of Ranch dressing it was $11 and the exp date is November. It saved me $1.35 off per 16 oz bottle versus Krogers or Aldi's prices. I have pint canning jars so once it's opened I will put them in those containers in the back of the fridge. I go through at least one of those bottles a month so I'm good. Aldi's has really jacked the price of their powdered coffee creamer up in recent months Sams Club has Nestle Carnation I believe is the brand exact same price per ounce.. so if I'm going to pay that price? I'll get the name brand product. They also have one called N Joy in the packets 1000 ct equals out to 2 cents per ounce but you have to have a better membership than my basic, considering that after my 1 year special membership is over whether to upgrade. I got the membership this year as a new member for $20.00 a great way to see if it's worth the money to keep the membership. Anna In Ohio

I wish we were neighbors!! I think just like you, I’m stocking like a nut😂

A way that I make sure I can read my receipts is, at the end of the month I put as many as I can on the printer and print them out, rinse and repeat until it's all done. This ensures that I can read them.

When my children was at home I knew how much non perishables we needed for a year. Walmart would put a big sale after Christmas I would take our truck and go shopping at Walmart and I would buy enough of everything we used for a year. Now I still stock up back in 2020 when stores were out of toilet paper I didn’t have to worry.

I love using my grocery store app to make my list because I can see what my total is and add preps to get to my budget total.

I have always been big on buying in bulk, but need to do it so much differently now that our 5 kids are grown in their own :)

I'm always looking for the cheapest price per ounce. I don't care what the package weighs or costs, I only care what the cost _per unit of weight_ is. And of course, always within the confines of what I have space for, and what I can eat over the next 12 months.

Lisa Jackie Guyette operated St.Vincent de Paul most efficiently and the lady could cook bake and homemaker.She didn't spend one penny more than she had too for her food.Her idea on brand loyalty was they can go pound sand and she checked everything

You are very smart. I am going to try that same thinking. Thanks Leisa. You’re the best.

Great topic. I don't have a Sam's Club near me, only Costco (they are not always the best price - delivery is a huge +). I am getting to the point because of dwindling numbers of people in the house, my shopping habits have changed and the amount has changed. You touch on a great point, look around and price check - you may be surprised at what the different stores in you neighbourhood are offering. I am fancy but love a deal - my butcher had "prime graded striploin steaks" on special this weekend and I took advantage. What I refuse to eat is this "ungraded beef/pork/chicken" that is popping up in some stores in my area. No thank you, I will eat something different. Have a great night 🥂

Azure Standard sells bulk spices.

Thanx Leisa for all the great advice. I love corned beef & cabbage. I've had it 3 times in less than 2 weeks. But thats ok. It was on sale for less than $6 per pound. Its normally over $11 per pound. I canned up what I could after removing the excess fat, I like a little left on for flavor. But it disappears way to fast.

I pretty much shop and stock up like you do. I try to buy in bulk when it makes sense. I normally don't even go to a store. I place a large pickup order for once a month. However, I do pack my son's lunch and that is a once a week pick-up order. That is where it gets expensive. He has to eat very healthy because of a recent illness so that's non-negotiable. I buy my meat from the farm where the beef is raised and processed. That is a huge savings. I also use an app called flash food. That app has saved me a fortune. I do a lot of canning and that also saves a ton in time and money.

As always, great video! Thank you!

I let Sam's club and B'J' membership because I am only buying for me. I live alone. I have canned up enough meat to last me a year. Though I just started canning pork a couple of months ago. Just started canning meatballs. I am getting low on my canned hamburger, so I'm watching sales for that now. I also am enlarging my garden this year. I'm on East Coast.

I fought my way through Costco twice this week due to an unexpected event that came up. I'm wondering now if I'm just not up to doing that kind of shopping anymore. Maybe online ordering is in my future.

I just started to stock canned roast beef and ham while the gettin is still good (not clearing shelves though) and at your suggestion. I have plenty of my own home canned chicken and locally raised ground beef. And am really stocking up on canned goods for things we eat lots of like enchilada sauce. Next up will be a pasta sauce stock up. We seem to eat the same 8-10 dishes over and over. I’m laser focusing on my pantry once again and am buying the higher priced stuff coz its not getting any cheaper! 😉 for some reason I just feel this urgency to beef up the pantry once again. Vitacost sells Frontier spices and has free shipping over $49 plus stackable deals. Most of my organic and regular spices come from them. Egg substitute is easy to use and on sale $4 for the equivalent of 34 eggs. 😊

I’m so thankful for Azure Standard, I’m dairy free and it’s a tremendous savings buying soy milk and coconut milk by the case

I did not know Azure had chicken frames. That’s tempting. I used to get one a month from a local-ish farm and made dog food & stock. I could do that again. 🤔

I love my Sam's membership and will gladly pay the membership even if I only buy the bread/pizza flour, jasmine rice, raisins and oatmeal. Batteries and I do buy my vanilla and spices there as well.

Thanks Lisa!

When I ordered canned foods online for delivery, Sam’s and Walmart sent me the stuff that was dented and nearly expired. So beware.

You are amazing.

I’ve had several things that I had to quit buying because the prices have just gotten stupid. Salad topping was one of them.

I am one person so this may not qualify as bulk buying for most people. I only have 2 grocery stores to shop at without driving over an hour thru a construction zone. I shop only the sale items and markdowns. It's the only way on my SS budget I can manage to buy most anything. It's the only way I can afford meat, mostly 30% off on the markdown and I have figured the best day to go, you can ask the employees and sometimes they will tell you when they mark stuff down.

Got quite some time, I bought in bulk with sales & lost leaders. More cash to set aside for 1x yr stock up (stuff that never seems to go on sale)😊

ACE hardware store (online only) has canning jars on clearance for 5.99 a case (12x8 oz). Other sizes have been sold out. So I ordered a few cases today. Anyone used PUR mason jars from ACE yet? I never had them before.

Mice will get into toilet paper and use it to make a nest. I know from experience. I now take mine out of the pkg. and put it in containers. Stacks better.

I usually do Walmart pick-up and I can go back and see previous purchases and the related prices. I often use this search feature when I’m wondering if something went up in price.

All excellent advice. For St.Patrick's Day, I picked up cabbages on great sale, and I've been dehydrating it for days. Some international markets are good for bulk grains, beans,legumes and spices. Amazon used to be good for some bulk items. Most good deals are gone, but there are still decent prices on some grains, herbs and spices. (You can lock in prices and /orkeep track of past prices.)

We do not live near any place that sells bulk items. We have one grocery store that has no sale prices so stocking is not an option we have available to us. I just canning stuff Ro keep my food in stock not having to go back to the store. That is my pantry plan.

I just buy in bulk for things that will keep.

Hi Leisa, I'm cooking corned beef and cabbage for tonight's dinner too. I think that I'm doing pretty well with continuing to stock my pantry especially since I don't buy anything if it's not on sale. The sales haven't been as plentiful around here lately.I might can some more carrots this week.

My wife and I go on a big haul about every 3 or 4 months. We spend currently about $600. We buy in bulk as much as we can. The wife plans out multiple meals so we know pretty close to what we will eat or use or can or just stock up the "emergency" pantry. We only go back to the store for milk or fresh veggies. You spoke of "Brand Loyalty", I am only loyal with peanut butter. Jif or nothing. It looks that we only spend about $50 a week to feed both adults, and we eat well along with personal use items and household goods. We have tried for years to get my in-laws on board but they just won't catch on. They go to the grocery about 3 to 4 times a week and my father-in-law is "Brand Loyal" on everything.

Gas prices always go down in January then rise slowly thru August with more driving. After Labor Day they go down again slowly. Average midwest gas prices in March of 2023 and March of 2024 almost exactly the same and down quite a bit from March of 2022,

I buy in bulk for paper goods and other things that we need. I don't mind using the store cards. I get coupons and special discounts on things every now and then. If it starts to get real personal I will quit using it. I mostly do Mperks from Meijer but I occasionally use a Kroger card.

My Costco is 1 hour away. I go 1a month also. But I have some things shipped too.

There is a Costco in Midland and Traverse City now.

My son says that I read all the store specials like I'm reading a novel 😂. Hi all from South Africa

We don't buy meats at Sam's or Costco. We bought a specific type of steak a few years ago when our son was visiting and we couldn't find it at other stores.