22 Things I Always Buy in Bulk to Save Money

It is common knowledge, especially for regular consumers, that buying things in bulk is an effective way to save money. Here are 22 items you should always buy in bulk to get the best value.
By Cassie Smith - Financial Advisor
14 Min Read
Things to buy in bulk to save more money

What items at home do you use regularly? If you repeatedly buy these products in single packages, you are likely to miss a great opportunity to save money when you purchase them in bulk.

From your hygiene essentials to your kitchen needs, remember that purchasing in bulk or wholesale is considerably cheaper and saves you money on trips to the grocery store.

In this article, I’ll share 22 items you can buy in bulk to save some cash — and I’ll tell you just how much you can save!

Keep reading until the end to get more ideas on how to save money! 

1. Toiletries

One of the busiest areas of most households is the toilet and bath. 

Just imagine how often we use the basic things in our bathrooms and toilets, such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and toilet paper.

Let’s try to itemize these further and see how to save on each:

  • Toilet Paper: Every roll of toilet paper might seem cheap at about $1.30 per roll. However, check out what I bought in bulk at Amazon — 48 double rolls at $26.10. This converts to just $0.54 per roll and a savings of $0.76 for each roll, or $36.48 in total!
  • Shampoo and Conditioner: A gallon of Ginger Lily Farms shampoo costs around $23, while a 13.5 fluid ounce of shampoo is about $13. Since one gallon is about 9.5 fluid ounces, it will take about $123.50 to match the volume of a gallon if bought per piece. That is a difference of $100.50!
  • Toothbrush: It is recommended that a toothbrush must be replaced every 3 to 4 months. For a family of four, this means that a set of 12 Colgate toothbrushes for $7 can already last for a year!
  • Toothpaste: It takes our family time to consume a 5.1-ounce tube of toothpaste, but I find buying a 4-pack of Colgate Clean-Mint Total for around $16 still more economical than purchasing each tube for about $6. 
  • Razors: Razors need to be replaced regularly as they may cause injuries or infections once they turn rusty. A pack of 50 pieces of disposable razors will only cost you around $20. That is just $0.20 a piece!
  • Deodorant: Part of one’s hygiene is using deodorants. These keep us fresh and dry, especially if we tend to perspire a lot. A pack of Dove Invisible Solid Antiperspirant Deodorant Stick for women is just $23.50, making it $3.91 a piece.

Note: The prices above are meant to show how much you can save when you buy these toiletries in bulk. However, these can change occasionally based on recent offers and promotions. 

Make sure to click the links to check out their latest pricing! You might even get a better deal during a sale event.

2. Laundry Soap/Dishwashing Liquid

Cleaning the dishes and washing your clothes are two of the most common tasks for every household.

This means that your cleaning agents, like laundry soaps and dishwashing liquids, are a staple in every home. Stocking up on these items is a smart move and will save you a ton!

Pro Tip: Before buying laundry soap or dishwashing liquid in bulk, make sure you have tested them first.

Never load a ton of these products without knowing if they are effective in removing the stains on your clothes or the grease on your plates!

3. Women’s Hygiene Products

Women have special monthly needs that require hygiene products such as sanitary napkins, tampons, and panty liners. 

It gives us comfort and security that we have one ready at home and in our bags whenever we need it — once or even twice a month.

Hence, it is a practical choice to buy these items in bulk and save money in the process. 

A large stash of 58 Always Ultra Thin feminine pads costs only $10.47, or about $0.18 per piece, while a pair of 50 pcs of Tampax Pearl is only $21, or $0.21 per count. 

Aside from the money you save, you also get peace of mind that you have these nifty items tucked in your purse, bag, glove compartment in your car, or cabinet at home.

4. Trash Bags

How often do you take out your trash? For most of us, that is daily, especially for bigger families.

This makes trash bags one of the most used items to ensure proper waste disposal at home.

During the pandemic, I made sure that I had enough supplies of trash bags, and I got this huge pack of drawstring plastic bags. With 200 pieces of 13 gallons each, this lasted me almost an entire year!

This move saved me a lot of money both on the product itself and on shipping charges!

5. Ziploc Bags

Very few will argue with me if I say that Ziploc bags are probably one of the best inventions there is.

These items are very versatile — organizing stuff, storing food inside the freezer or refrigerator, preserving stuff, packing your snacks or sandwiches, and more!

With that much use, you would do well to stock up on Ziploc bags of different sizes. You’d never know when they will be handy.

6. Diapers and Wipes

For busy mothers, it is definitely difficult to juggle taking care of your baby and doing groceries every now and then. This same scenario applies if you have an elderly at home.

Considering how many times you may need to change your loved ones’ diapers in a day, it’s a smart move to buy larger packs of diapers and wipes.

A month’s supply of Pampers can cost only about $56; at 252 pieces, this is just $0.22 per piece.

For adult diapers, a large pack of Depend medium-sized diapers will only cost you around $0.70 per piece, while other brands of the same size that contain about 15 pieces a pack will already cost you $1.47 each.

For hypoallergenic and unscented wipes, Pamper’s set of 12 flip-top packs only costs about $34.37 but will last a long time.

Pro Tip: If this is one of your biggest expenses for the year, consider Amazon’s Subscribe and Save program.

You can have five of your most used products automatically delivered to your home for free based on the frequency you have set, and get a 15% discount on top of that!

7. Batteries

Have you ever been frustrated when some of the items you usually use suddenly run out of batteries?

It is practical to stock up on batteries to ensure that you can continue to use your remote control, mouse, transistor radio, and other battery-operated items at home.

However, avoid really cheap ones that last only a few days. Go for more reliable brands, such as Energizer or Duracell. 

Depending on your battery-operated items, you may also want to stock up on different sizes as well. 

8. Cotton Balls

Like tissue paper, cotton or cotton balls are also one of the most essential items at home.

You can use these to clean wounds, remove makeup, and clean your stuff, among others. 

Having a huge stack of regular cotton pads or balls in your drawers will definitely save you time and money. 

These items are also quite cheap. Imagine buying a pack of 500 cotton balls for only $9.99

9. Adhesive Bandages

One of the worst situations is having an emergency at home, such as cuts, wounds, and bruises, and lacking adhesive bandages to cover it.

Having 1,500 strips for only $36.53 is not a bad deal at all, especially since adhesive bandages do not have expiration dates.

However, note that as these items age, their adhesives may dry out and become less sticky. 

So, it is also best not to overstock beyond what you can practically use for a longer period of time.

10. Alcohol

Alcohol has been a big part of everyone’s lives, especially during the time of the pandemic and beyond.

Personally, the pandemic made me so conscious about washing my hands and disinfecting my work area with alcohol to keep me worry-free.

I found purchasing 70% isopropyl alcohol in 1-gallon containers at $25.95 much cheaper in the long run compared to ones sold at 32 ounces for $11.95.

I slowly transfer the content of the gallon to smaller spray bottles for ease of use.

11. Light Bulbs

Some of you might be surprised to see this on this list, but yes, storing light bulbs will save you a lot of money! 

These items are long-lasting and practical to store, so you do not need to leave your house in case your light gets busted, especially at night.

A 24-piece pack of Sylvania 60-watt bulbs will only cost you around $30, which converts to $1.25 per bulb. 

Buying smaller packs of 4 to 6 bulbs can cost you around $3 to $4 per piece. That is a lot of difference in potential savings! 

12. Pet Food

Whether you have a dog, cat, bird, or fish, it is practical to store up pet food, but not too much to the point of spoilage.

It is common knowledge that larger packs or sacks of pet food are much cheaper than buying them by the kilo.

Some pet store owners will even give you freebies or bonuses for bulk pet food purchases.

Pro Tip: Watch out for promotions on new brands of pet food that are usually offered at discounted rates, especially if you buy larger packs.

13. Tape

Tape is another frequently used item at home or at the office that you cannot do without.

Whether it be masking, invisible, packing, electrical, or double-sided tape, these items play a lot of role in fixing, marking, and holding stuff together, making it a practical move to purchase them in bulk.

Depending on how often you use them at home or at work, buy enough that will last you for several months to a year at least.

Just to give you an idea, a pack of 12 rolls of transparent tape will only cost about $10 or $0.83 per roll.

14. Gift Wraps and Gift Cards

In life, there are many occasions, celebrations, and events where you would need to buy gifts for your loved ones.

Instead of always paying someone to wrap your gifts for you, stashing up on gift wraps and gift cards at home and wrapping your gift yourself is a great way to save a lot of money.

Pro Tip: When buying gift wraps in bulk, choose neutral-colored ones that would fit most occasions, like white or blue. 

Similarly, for gift cards, select ones with common messages, such as “For You” or “Congratulations!.” This way, you can use them for any celebration as needed.

15. Alcoholic Beverages

When you go to your local grocery store, you often see six-pack cases of beer or wine that cost 10% less than if you bought them individually.

If you are an avid wine drinker after a sumptuous meal or love to share a can of beer while watching your favorite TV show with a friend or a sibling, you can save money by buying packs instead of per bottle.

Buying alcoholic beverages in packs does not mean that you have to finish everything right away. You can store them and drink moderately.

16. Meat

Proteins are an essential part of everyone’s diet, regardless of age. They help in muscle repair and are necessary for the body’s daily functions.

In fact, a 2019 survey reflected that the average household spends about $980 on meat every year. 

With this much spending, imagine how much you can save on buying meat in bulk, such as fish, beef, pork, and chicken, at much lower prices.

Pro Tip: To make meat last longer in your fridge, place it in a single layer and secure it using a double wrap of foil and parchment paper. Airtight containers also work best.

Further, the ideal temperature for storing meat to prolong its shelf life is between 0°C and 5°C (32°F and 41°F).

17. Coffee, Tea, and Juice

You can save more on your usual beverages at home by buying coffee, tea, juice, and milk in larger packs, either in powder or liquid form. 

A 38.4-ounce pack of Folger’s Classic Roast can make up to 305 cups of coffee. This can last your family for months, even if all members are frequent coffee drinkers.

Meanwhile, as an avid tea addict, I love sipping my hot tea at night after a good meal. I loved how I saved money with this package of two big bags of Lipton Black Tea for only $23.02.

If you have visitors occasionally and serve juice quite often, buying them in bulk is a practical choice. You can check out large packages like this 44-pack of different flavors of Tropicana juices for only $24.84.

18. Cooking Oil

Cooking oil is one of the most used ingredients in anyone’s kitchen. 

What is great about purchasing cooking oil in large containers is that they can last from 1 to 2 years at room temperature.

Once opened, they can still last up to about six months.

To show how much you can save, I have purchased this gallon of Amazon’s Happy Belly Vegetable Soybean Oil for only $10.48. 

Meanwhile, a pack of two of 16 fluid ounces of other brands of pure vegetable oil costs around $6.48.

At this price, it would take you as much as $25.60 to purchase several bottles to reach 1 gallon.

19. Vinegar

One of the most versatile items in the kitchen is the vinegar. It removes foul odors, cleans stubborn stains, removes rust, and unclogs faucets!

It is so functional that it can even replace many expensive cleaners.

Not only that — it beats so many other ingredients in terms of shelf-life, too!

If you want to save more, go for larger packages. Let’s check out this difference with the Calyptus 30% Pure Super Concentrated Vinegar.

Buying a gallon of this product will already save you a lot of money at $24.99, considering you still need to dilute its contents. 

However, if you decide to get a package of 2 gallons, that will just be $36.99 — that is already a savings of $12.99!

20. Canned Foods

What goes to your mind when you are advised to stock up on food items due to an upcoming storm or even an impending pandemic? Almost all of us would have canned food topping our lists.

Provided that the cans are not dented or damaged, they have a long shelf life. They are also easy to store and prepare.

Many of these canned goods come in packages. 

When stocking up, also throw in some variety — a good mix of corned beef, smoked ham, tuna, chicken breast, mushroom soup, and baked beans should do the trick!

21. Aluminum Foil

One of the most popular ways to store food is in aluminum foil. This keeps the food clean, fresh, and protected.

Given how often we use these foils, it would be difficult to run out of it. The solution? Buy in bulk! 

Since these are rolled, they do not take up much space in your kitchen cabinets.

You can get a package of two 200 square feet of Reynolds Wrap for only $23.08, giving me a 20% discount compared to buying these individually. 

22. Snacks

Snacking is a regular activity and bonding moment at home, especially for families with kids.

Though the type of snacks each family consumes depends on their preference, it is a smart move to purchase these in bulk.

From chips to cookies, pretzels, popcorn, or trail mixes, buying in large portions or packages is more economical — so long as you can control yourself from getting more!

Things You Shouldn’t Buy in Bulk

Although buying things in bulk may seem logical and economical, this does not always work.

Sometimes, you may fall into the trap of sellers dropping their prices really low for a huge group of items.

Though this might be tempting, always ask yourself if you can benefit from it.

Will they spoil before you consume them all? Will they expire in a few days? Are they still functioning well?

Here are some perishable items that you must avoid buying in bulk:

  • Fruits
  • Vegetables
  • Milk and eggs
  • Bread and baked goods
  • Herbs and spices
  • Condiments

Aside from these, you must also consider your storage space and your consumption behavior. 

If there is a chance that the item you are planning to buy in bulk will just spoil or take up space on your cabinets for a very long period of time, avoid buying!

Which of the items in this article do you also buy in bulk? Do you have other items that you wish to add to this list? Share it with us, along with any questions you may have, in the comments below!

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By Cassie Smith Financial Advisor
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Hey there! I'm Cassie Smith, the founder of Love to Finance. With a bachelor's degree in finance, I share insights and tips on personal finance, frugal living, budgeting, and other financial advice that can make a difference through this blog. My aim is to make finance approachable and fun for everyone. Outside of the blog, you'll find me hiking with my rescue dogs, Lucy and Frankie, enjoying the simplicity and beauty of nature.
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