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submitted 3 weeks ago by njordomir@lemmy.world to c/frugal@lemmy.world

Flashback to my mother buying entire brown cardboard shipping boxes of cereal out of the back storeroom of the grocery store and storing it in her basement pantry 😀❤️

For those of you who have the luxury of buying in bulk, what do you buy in bulk when it's cheap? Do you do it because it's always going up in price, because it's seasonally expensive, or because it's a staple item that you always need. To what extreme do you go with your bulk purchase?

Examples from my own life,

  • toothpaste and mouthwash, buy when cheap store extra tubes, usually no more than 5-10
  • cleaning supplies, chemicals and towels. Enough to keep a backups closet stocked.
  • pasta, probably have enough for a couple of months
  • coffee, ten to fifteen bags
  • shoes, buy multiples if I find ones I like
  • consumable hobby items like bike intertubes

The basic idea is to identify the items I will almost certainly decide to buy then snag them up when they're at their cheapest to achieve long term frugality.

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[-] RoidingOldMan@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago

Canned soup. Huge difference in price from summer to winter.

[-] remon@ani.social 2 points 3 weeks ago

Weed. Up to 35% cheaper when buying on bulk.

[-] Krudler@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

In my city, there are only two products where it's really worthwhile to seek out major bulk purchase. Otherwise it's kind of an opportunistic thing you just get a deal when you can find one.

The two things are unsalted roasted hullled peanuts and cane sugar.

[-] Adulated_Aspersion@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago
  • Rice
  • Dry beans
  • Jarred Tomato Sauce
  • Instant noodles
  • Pasta (like you)
  • Freezer vegetables
[-] dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 3 weeks ago

how do you store your dry beans? I always end up with my beans getting too dry and they stay hard even after lots of cooking, dry beans have become something I can't buy in bulk and only fresh.

[-] hoserhobbes@lemmy.ca 3 points 3 weeks ago

Your beans are still dry after soaking them for 24 hours before cooking? Or you just rely on the cooking itself to hydrate them?

[-] dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 3 weeks ago

yes, even with soaking before cooking they remain dry. Even after boiling for an hour, cooling, and then simmering for hours. Even after simmering for multiple days - they just remain hard and never fully soften or cook.

[-] Adulated_Aspersion@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

Coffee goes bad faster than you think unless properly sealed and stored.

[-] sharkfucker420@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 weeks ago
[-] verity_kindle@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 weeks ago

Flour, sugar, yeast

[-] verity_kindle@sh.itjust.works 0 points 3 weeks ago

Powdered whole milk! Forgot to mention that. If you dilute it 15% less than the directions state and chill it overnight, it's very satisfying and tastes similar to fresh milk. I mostly use it as a powder in baking recipes and stir it into tea.

[-] Krudler@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

I keep powdered buttermilk around for the occasional time I need to dredge chicken

this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2025
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