How to Buy in Bulk When You Live in a Small Space
Buying in bulk can give you that extra experience. The combination of the cost savings and the fact that you don’t have to buy it again for a while can leave you feeling like you’ve actually managed to cheat the system. Until you get home and realize that you don’t have room for so many cans of soup – and in fact, you don’t even really like canned soup.
Living in a home with limited storage space makes bulk purchasing difficult. But with a little strategy, you can take advantage of the lower prices without stepping over water boxes to get to the kitchen.
Increase the number of items that you pass quickly
Of course, a pack of three toilet bowl cleaners isn’t all that big and is probably a good deal. But how long does it take for you to swallow three bottles of this substance, even if you are trying very hard to plant a clean bowl? It might seem counterintuitive to save that space instead to make room for a much larger cube of toilet paper, but you’ll get through it much faster.
Reserving storage space for items you will quickly use up is a more economical use of space (you get big savings over time because you shop more often), but it’s also just more convenient. No one wants to go to the store for four packs of TP while your year’s supply of lysol is taunting you.
Your bulk purchasing priorities may vary depending on the season; in winter, napkin boxes may be at the top of this list. Or it may vary depending on who you live with; If you have kids, I’ve found that bulky snack boxes, juice boxes, macaroni and cheese boxes make good use of precious pantry space.
Buy concentrated versions
You cannot make a concentrated version of a toilet paper cube. Over time, they only become more massive. So if you’re looking to add bulk to less-used items but have dedicated two-thirds of your space to storing paper products, buy liquid concentrates.
Some all-purpose cleaners, like this one , can be thinned with water in a separate spray bottle, so you actually have a lot more cleaning potential than you think. You can also find concentrated laundry detergent that comes in smaller bottles but lasts the same time as the big guys.
Share it with a friend
If you live in an apartment or condominium and your friend in the hallway is also complaining that space is missing out on an opportunity to save on bulk purchases, consider dividing the items.
You can save a lot on bulky paper towels, cereals and other non-perishable items; but if you don’t have room for 12 Bounty Super Rolls , perhaps your neighbor will charge you six rolls in exchange for a lot of cans of shredded tomatoes.
Don’t buy impulsively
The most dangerous part of buying in bulk, especially from stores like Costco or Sam’s Club, is that one great deal comes after another, and they all need your attention. Buying a chocolate bar on impulse at the checkout is one thing; Buying five tubes of toothpaste on impulse will lead to months (years?) of regret.
If you are short on storage space, you need to take a special strategy. Make your list before you go to the store and then turn on the blinders. You don’t see a giant container of nut mixture, 35 bags of Diet Coke, or a 25-pound bag of flour. If it’s not on your list, it doesn’t exist for you. (However, take this sausage sample – you are still human – and keep walking.)
If you start to feel as though temptation is taking over, put that item on your list; back home, check if you have a place for this. If you do, you can get it next time.