Buying in Bulk

06/04/15

Up until recently, I bought various things in bulk. I'm not so sure I should be doing that at my current level of saving-capability. Yeah, buying in bulk can definitely save in the long-run, when done correctly, but when it comes to food it just as often leads to me eating more of the expensive food items per day, destroying any savings buying in bulk could have netted me.

The key is to treat the stuff I have plenty of like a rare resource, so I don't waste it faster just because I have lots of it. With some items, like paper towels and toilet paper, I've gotten good enough at this to justify buying it in bulk. With most any other item, however, I have not.

And so, for right now, I'm not buying in bulk. I am building infrastructure to more carefully track my consumption habits. When I get sufficient data, I will consider what to buy in bulk, and will ensure my consumption of anything bought in bulk is as slow as before, so that I actually save money.

Now, if you excuse me, I'm going to go work on that infrastructure (aka, improve my bucket system).