To Bulk Buy or not to Bulk Buy, that’s the Question

Introduction – To Bulk Buy or not to Bulk Buy, that’s the Question

In a time long ago, pre-pandemic, pre -Ukraine war, and pre the many other catastrophes currently happening in the world, I would have told you to keep supplies to a minimum.

I am a minimalist and don’t like clutter. I can see a small Turkish supermarket from my bedroom window, and there is a pharmacy, stationery shop and Primark within walking distance of my flat. But that was then, 2019. Things have changed.

Do I still feel this way? If not, what has changed? What are the pros and cons of bulk buying? Read on to find out.

What is bulk buying?

Before going into the pros and cons of bulk buying, let’s give you, the reader, a quick definition.

According to the Collins English Dictionary, bulk buying is: ‘the purchase at one time, and often at a reduced price, of a large quantity of a particular commodity.’

An article on Marketing91 by Hitesh Bhasin defines bulk buying as follows:

‘Bulk buying is the purchase of large quantities of goods or services at a discounted price. It is usually done by businesses or organizations, in order to save money or get a better price. Bulk buying can also be done by individuals if they are able to find a good deal.’

Bulk buying really is that simple to define. If you purchase multiples of one and more than you need in a relatively short period, you buy in bulk.

Pros of Bulk Buying

After defining bulk buying, let’s look at the pros of bulk buying.

Bulk buying can save you money for sure, as buying in larger quantities is often cheaper. But, before doing so, think about whether you need an item and its sell-by date. We have all bought stuff because it was on sale or on the shelf as buy one get one free, only to discover that it was something we didn’t need. So, buying a lot of fresh food, for example, is counterproductive unless you have a big family.

‘When you buy an item in bulk, you’re almost always saving money on each use of that product. This might be a small difference per use – perhaps only a few pennies – but if it’s an item you use frequently, those pennies add up rapidly. If you save 10 cents on something you use daily, that’s $36.50 in savings per year.’ (U.S. News)

Further, buying in bulk reduces trips to the shops and thus lowers transport costs. It also lowers the temptation to buy unnecessary things that the supermarkets have conned you into purchasing.

Bulk buying also saves time as you need to go to the shops less frequently than if you bought only one of each.

If you buy produce in large quantities, you can reduce packaging as these items often don’t come in individual wrappers.

Especially when ordering online, bulk buying can reduce transport miles as you’ll only need one delivery instead of several. In an article on Source Bulk Foods, the advantages of bulk buying are put nicely:

Bulk goods require less overall transportation because there are less packaging components that must be produced and transported before to being filled. The transportation of bulk products is more efficient because they can be packed more densely on a truck in large sacks and boxes as opposed to smaller, individually packaged items (did you know that most crisp packets are actually 75% air!).

Be it an illness, a natural disaster or inflation, bulk buying ensures that you always have enough supplies in the house to get you through a couple of weeks.

Disadvantages of Bulk Buying

However, there are also some disadvantages of bulk buying.

If you buy large quantities of stuff, this will take up space in your house and clutter up your cabinets or, worse, your countertops. In addition, amongst all the clutter, you might be unable to locate whatever it is that you are searching for.

Bulk buying favours better-off people as you’ll need to pay more upfront than buying just one.

Conclusion – To Bulk Buy or not to Bulk Buy, that’s the Question?

There are many benefits to bulk buying, and if you have the space, I believe you should bulk-buy items that you regularly use to save money and ensure you don’t run out of essentials.

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trabantbettina

Bettina Anna Trabant, Founder of Life Organised, your professional organising and decluttering service in East London. Eco-conscious minimalist and avid tea drinker,