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We admit that a five-pound can of tuna isn't appealing, but buying in bulk saves lots of money, trips to the store, and peace of mind -- last square of toilet paper, anyone?
- Soap Whether buying bars or liquid soap, bulk is the way to go. Invest in a 12-pack and store a few unopened bars in your lingerie drawer to give your unmentionables a fragrant touch. They work just as well in T-shirt drawers and closets, too.
- Pasta Pasta is affordable in just about any quantity, but you save even more by buying it in bulk, and you can never have too much on hand. It's got a long shelf-life. It's the perfect meal for last-minute guests or family dinners. And it easily becomes an art project to engage kids on rainy days. If you have toddlers, store dried pasta in fun containers and let them play with it or break out the glue and drum up some nifty craft projects.
- Pasta Sauce Jarred pasta sauce is a staple, good for making everything from mini-pizzas to hearty veggie-infused primavera mixes. It also jazzes up a baked potato and steamed veggies. You can never have too much of the stuff.
- Toilet Paper There's something really comforting about seeing a cabinet stocked to the brim with toilet paper, because there's nothing worse than running out. Besides, you know you'll eventually go through all of it, so why flush money down the toilet by buying much more expensive four- or six-packs?
- Diapers Blowing your hard-earned cash on diapers is always a bit painful (when all your little angel is going to do is pee or poop in them). But if you have to do it, here's the reality: the more you buy at once, the cheaper they are. Buying in bulk can save you between five and ten cents per diaper and it adds up quickly. So unless your baby is going to magically get potty-trained in the next month, go ahead and invest in the mega-stash of diapers.
- Nuts Buy a small cocktail-sized can of nuts and you'll pay the price -- as high as $10-plus per pound. Instead, think big and you'll save big! Roasted almonds, raw walnuts or unsalted cashews are ideal as healthy snacks, cocktail munchies, salad extras, or baking goodies.
- Wine Buy a case of wine at most beverage stores or supermarkets and you save an automatic 10%. That's worth toasting!
- Candy If you're a chocoholic like us, this is a good bet. It's always nice to have on hand when you entertain last-minute visitors -- everyone appreciates a little something sweet after dinner. And the next time you throw a kid's party, make your own goody bags with the tasty treats. A little silk bag filled with caramels or mints can even work as a last minute hostess gift.
- Coffee Skip the daily visit to your corner coffee shop and buy the five-pound bag to brew at home. Store it in the freezer to preserve freshness. Keep a pitcher of iced coffee in the fridge for afternoon pick-me-ups. Or truly indulge by pouring it hot over cold vanilla ice cream, and create your own irresistible Italian dessert called ‘affogato' -- delicioso!
- Bottled Water If you don't have a filter, you can get a case of bottled water for a fraction of the price per bottle that you'd pay for a fancy solo bottle of H2O. Keep some stored in the car, stash a few for emergencies, and of course remember to recycle the containers!
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