With a recent stop at my local Costco, I was pleasantly surprised to see how much organic products they are carrying now! I found tomato products (diced, tomato sauce, paste) with the best prices I have seen, they even top Azure Standard! For example, organic tomato sauce (12/15 oz. cans) for $5.95, Azure sells same quantity for $15.95!
Check out my updated list with all the organic products that our local store carries in case you have one nearby.
Bulk Guidelines
Buying in bulk has it’s pros and cons, as discussed in where bulk buying goes wrong.
First, don’t buy what you don’t normally eat or would use. It might be a great deal, but if it is not a standard purchase or a staple item, don’t buy it. Don’t be tempted by organic pop tarts, please!
Secondly, limit your visits to these bulk warehouses and keep a budget! It adds up fast! I make a monthly stop at Costco and have a set amount to spend. Bulk buying is something to budget in because you may find a deal at one time that you aren’t prepared for if you haven’t set some aside specifically for bulk purchases.
Lastly, my solution with making sure bulk items are not used up too quickly (because we have a natural tendency to think because there is more, I can use more!) is to date them. I put the date they were purchased and then the estimated time it is required to last before restocking (based on previous wise usage).
For example, I have decided that one 1/2 gallon of coconut oil should last for about three months, so I wrote “mid-April-June” on the container, meaning it was purchased in the middle of April and must last through June. Or my large container of detergent should last 3 months as well, so I marked March-May. This has been extremely helpful and assists me in stretching all my bulk purchases to get there full value! I keep an eye on it…only use 1/3 each month!
Bulk buying can definitely save you money, but only if it is done wisely!
I wish we had a Costco around us, but we don’t (we live in the boonies). But for those prices on organics, it might be worth the hour drive.
Hi, I found your blog through links on Noblewomanhood.com and I am glad I did. During the last year we have made major health/nutrition changes and doing many of the things you are speaking of. I bookmarked you and plan on coming back to read more!
We also use Costco for a lot. Unfortunately the one close to us carries very little organic/natural items. But if I drive ten miles that Costco has a lot.
I am just now trying to make out lists of what I want to stock on a regular basis so that I can compare prices for Costco, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Food Co-op, Azure Standard, Safeway etc. I don’t want to go running all over the place, but one advantage to living in a city (which I generally hate) is that they aren’t far from each other.
I write the dates on stuff too. Especially laundry & toilet paper. These things don’t go to fast but it helps me budget better. I like it that I can go online & see if the prices have changed too. We have a local Sam’s Club here. I mostly the baked goods, noodles, household supplies & meat here. If I can I try and buy meat from a local farmer.
You are right about Costco having pros and cons. I love it..but I find the bulk items that I buy with such excitement tend to go to waste! What a good idea to write the “time frame” on the items. Thanks for the tip.. maybe I’ll actually remember I have a 10,000 lb of potatoes in the pantry lol