Common bulk buying mistakes at the supermarket and how to save more!
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Shopping doesn't get much more convenient than bulk buying—you can easily purchase enough items to stock up your pantry for weeks in one stop. It’s also
Though it certainly is convenient, purchasing in bulk isn't always sensible or smart when it comes to saving.
Nine Honey ‘Supermarket Sleuths’ columnist Jo Abi and her husband Shamus visited their local supermarkets to check the bulk items offered and compare the prices with smaller packages.
Jo shared her experience and gave tips on saving more money when doing groceries!
Shamus checked ALDI’s blueberries. The 170g pack was $11.71 per kilo, while the 330g pack was $13.30 per kilo.
Jo said, ‘That’s the price you need to check to ensure you are paying the lowest price possible, the per unit pricing.’
Both items were marked ‘Product of Australia’, but it wasn’t clear if the two had quality differences.
It is highly recommended to pay the closest attention to the price points–not the overall price–as these will indicate which is the cheapest product to choose.
Jo then turned her attention to the pre-packaged ones that came pre-selected and saw the packs of nectarines and peaches sold for the same price.
‘They were the exact same price at $7.99 per kilo, meaning you aren't getting any better value whatsoever,’ she said.
When it came down to choosing, Jo went for the loose fruit to pick what she wanted.
She bought the 1.6-kilogram container of hommus for $9.99, thinking that she and her kids could finish it within two weeks.
However, that wasn’t the case.
‘We did at first. But the problem is when you eat a lot of something, you sometimes get sick of it pretty quickly. I suppose we all decided to take a break from it for a couple of days,’ Jo said.
‘Then we forgot about it. Then it expired.’
She said that while the price of the larger container of hommus was better than smaller packages, it wasn’t worth the savings as it has a short shelf life.
She concluded that reducing waste is the best way to save, and she won’t be making this mistake again.
‘Reducing waste is the best way to save when it comes to groceries, so I won't be making this mistake again unless I plan to split it with others to ensure none goes to waste,’ she said.
What do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments below!
Though it certainly is convenient, purchasing in bulk isn't always sensible or smart when it comes to saving.
Nine Honey ‘Supermarket Sleuths’ columnist Jo Abi and her husband Shamus visited their local supermarkets to check the bulk items offered and compare the prices with smaller packages.
Jo shared her experience and gave tips on saving more money when doing groceries!
Shamus and Jo compared the prices of bulk items and smaller packages at their local supermarket. Credit: honey.nine.com.au
1. Check the per kilo price
Just because an item comes in two different sizes doesn’t necessarily mean the larger pack will be the more economical comparison.Shamus checked ALDI’s blueberries. The 170g pack was $11.71 per kilo, while the 330g pack was $13.30 per kilo.
Jo said, ‘That’s the price you need to check to ensure you are paying the lowest price possible, the per unit pricing.’
Both items were marked ‘Product of Australia’, but it wasn’t clear if the two had quality differences.
It is highly recommended to pay the closest attention to the price points–not the overall price–as these will indicate which is the cheapest product to choose.
2. Loose fruits may offer better value
Jo and Shamus’ fruit search didn’t stop with blueberries. The next things on their list were peaches and nectarines, which were sold at ALDI for $7.99 per kilo for loose fruits.Jo then turned her attention to the pre-packaged ones that came pre-selected and saw the packs of nectarines and peaches sold for the same price.
‘They were the exact same price at $7.99 per kilo, meaning you aren't getting any better value whatsoever,’ she said.
When it came down to choosing, Jo went for the loose fruit to pick what she wanted.
3. Bigger items don’t always mean you can save more
From ALDI, the story shifts to Costco, where Jo spotted a bucket of Obela Classic Hommus when she went shopping. It was a much larger container than the ones she used to buy.She bought the 1.6-kilogram container of hommus for $9.99, thinking that she and her kids could finish it within two weeks.
However, that wasn’t the case.
‘We did at first. But the problem is when you eat a lot of something, you sometimes get sick of it pretty quickly. I suppose we all decided to take a break from it for a couple of days,’ Jo said.
‘Then we forgot about it. Then it expired.’
She said that while the price of the larger container of hommus was better than smaller packages, it wasn’t worth the savings as it has a short shelf life.
She concluded that reducing waste is the best way to save, and she won’t be making this mistake again.
‘Reducing waste is the best way to save when it comes to groceries, so I won't be making this mistake again unless I plan to split it with others to ensure none goes to waste,’ she said.
What do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments below!
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