Buying items in bulk at Sam’s Club might seem like a good idea. After all, buying more at once saves you money, right? Well, not always. Some of these items are better off purcahsed in small quantities from your local grocery store instead of at Sam’s Club.
20. Bacon
This might go without saying, but you probably won’t eat enough bacon to merit buying it in bulk at Sam’s Club. Unless you’re shopping for a downright huge family or buying for a restaurant, opt instead to just buy bacon at the grocery store.
19. Milk
Milk spoils quite quickly. As such, there’s not much in the way of savings to be had buying it in bulk at Sam’s Club. You’d need to be drinking half a gallon of milk or more per day as a household in order to make bulk purchases even remotely feasible.
18. Diapers
You shouldn’t buy diapers from Sam’s Club. It’s not that diapers spoil, as, of course, they don’t. It’s actually just because they’re usually more expensive from Sam’s Club than the generic brands offered at Target and Walmart. Saving money by avoiding wholesalers is technically possible!
17. Personal Care Items
Like food and medications, many personal care items have expiration dates. Many of those may be a year or less. While they may not spoil like food does, they will lose their potency and effectiveness over time. They will also lose their scent and flavor. You won’t realize your savings buying in bulk as you will only create more waste.
16. Detergent
You might be surprised to learn that detergents have a shelf life. While they don’t spoil like food, over time they lose effectiveness. Old detergent won’t clean as well as a fresh bottle. Unless you have a large family and do laundry daily, those giant jugs of detergent may break down before you use them.
15. Coffee
Freshness matters when it comes to coffee. It only takes a matter of days for powder coffee to go stale. Even if you buy and grind your own beans, the shelf life is months at best. In actuality, coffee prices between grocery stores and Sam’s Club aren’t that far off. You’re not saving as much as you think buying in bulk.
14. Cooking Oil
Many people don’t realize cooking oils expire within a few months. While the savings may be attractive, having to buy six quarts of cooking oil is way too much to consume before it spoils. The average family won’t use that much. And once you open the oil – its time is limited. Oil is fat, and fat goes rancid.
13. Flour and Baking Powder
In many cases, a standard bag of flour from the supermarket expires before the average person uses it all. Same story for baking powder, which is only good for a few months. Both these items are cheap enough at grocery stores that there is no need to buy in bulk and have most of it go to waste.
12. Spices
Except for salt, all seasonings and spices have a limited shelf life. They don’t mold or spoil per se, but they will lose their potency. Some whole spices, like peppercorns, can last longer. However, ground herbs fade in about a year. Many people may not deplete small bottles of certain spices within a year, let alone Sam’s Club’s giant containers.
11. Sodas
You might be surprised to learn that you can get the best deals on soda at your local grocery stores rather than at Sam’s Club. And really, what diehard soda-lover wants to buy and drink generic brand sodas? The only reason to buy soda at Costco is if they have a particular brand you can’t find at your local market.
10. Produce
Many people throw out a lot of produce even when buying standard amounts. Therefore, buying produce in bulk is usually not worth it. It will only result in even more waste. The exception would be when you’re going to have to serve a large amount of people and can be sure most will be consumed.
9. Gigantic Canned Foods
There’s no issue with buying standard-sized canned goods in bulk. These typically have a long shelf life and adequate portions. However, giant-sized canned goods are designed for cafeteria and restaurant settings. Unless you’re certain you will use the entire can, you’re bound to have significant leftovers after opening. These can spoil in your refrigerator before you use the remainder.
8. Pharmacy Items
It’s not a good idea to buy over-the-counter (OTC) medications in bulk that aren’t used often – such as cold or pain relievers. These have shorter shelf lives and may expire before they’re used. Items you use more often, such as daily vitamins and OTC medications might be okay to buy in bulk for a large household or frequent use.
7. Sunscreen
Unless you spend every day of the summer in the sun, it doesn’t make sense to buy sunscreen in bulk or in a bulk-size container. Plus, when sunscreen reaches its expiration date, it begins losing its effectiveness. Buying in bulk, the sunscreen could expire before you even open some of it.
6. Gift Wrapping Supplies
Sam’s Club offers a large variety of different wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows. But how many gifts do you actually give annually? Buying in bulk, you could have piles of these supplies taking up space for years. Plus, you may want to switch up your designs. Do you really need a $45 six-pack of ribbon?
5. Books
The prices on books at Sam’s Club seem like a great deal. However, most of the books are for children or young readers. There aren’t many choices for adults, and even those selections are slim. You’ll find better deals at traditional or independent bookstores when they do clearance sales. Used books through Amazon are another good option.
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4. Condiments
Although condiments have a long shelf life, those “best by” dates do matter and some products can taste strange after a while. Unless you routinely go through certain types of condiments rapidly, buying them in bulk doesn’t make sense. The exception might be if you’re hosting a big event and will have lots of mouths to feed.
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3. Sam’s Club Brand Chips
Sam’s Club’s variety pack of potato chips seems like a deal. It features barbecue, sour cream & onion, cheddar & sour cream, and classic (think Ruffles). However, reviews say half of the 1-oz bags were barely full. One bag had only six chips in it. One video weighed the bags and several weren’t even half an ounce.
Read More: 10 Items You Should Always Buy in Bulk
2. Beauty Products
The problem with buying beauty products in bulk is that most of them have a shelf life of six months to one year. Therefore, if you do decide to buy products in bulk, factor in this expiration timeframe and how quickly you typically go through the product. Otherwise, it’s best to buy beauty products on an as-needed basis.
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1. Breakfast Cereal
Unless you have a large family and everyone’s going to eat cereal for breakfast every day, buying breakfast cereal in bulk will likely be money lost. If you buy cereal in bulk, you may also want to invest in airtight containers to store it in after you’ve opened the box. This will help extend its shelf life.
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