Great Advantages of Buying in Bulk Has Benefits of Saving Money

Brought to you by: Breez DeGuzman

Everyone has to eat, but there’s no reason buying food has to wipe out your family’s budget. If you’re trying to find a way to save money, you may want to consider the advantages of buying in bulk. This is one way that nearly every family can save money.

One place you can go to buy in bulk is a membership club such as Sam’s, Costco, or BJ’s Wholesale. They offer items in larger packages which help to lower the per-unit cost for that item. It’s important, however, to be prepared when heading to a membership club or you may find yourself spending more money than you intended.

Here’s how you can save money on grocery shopping in general:

* Before making any trip to buy food, start with a shopping list. Look through what you currently have on hand to decide what items you need. You may also want to create a meal plan for the week which will help you write out your shopping list and enable you to get only those items you need.

* Look through local newspapers to see what is on sale. Write those amounts next to the items on your list so you can compare the membership clubs with local prices. Usually the bulk prices (per unit price) will be cheaper, but that’s not always the case.

* Common items that are consistently money savers when buying in bulk include paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, tissues), cleaning products, generic medicines, frozen vegetables, and frozen hamburger patties. With other items on your grocery list, you’ll want to comparison shop to ensure you’re saving the most.

* Some membership clubs accept manufacturer’s coupons. They may accept in-store coupons, coupons sent as a membership benefit, or traditional manufacturer’s coupons. Be sure to use coupons on bulk items that you’re already planning to buy and you’ll save even more!

* Avoid impulse buying. If it isn’t on your list, don’t put it in your basket. You’re likely to be bombarded with food samples – go ahead and try them, but don’t allow yourself to be enticed to buy them if they aren’t pre-planned.

There are several benefits of buying in bulk. Buying the same item in larger packages means saving up to 30% on your purchase of your price. Less packaging also benefits the environment because there won’t be as much packaging placed in landfills. People buying in bulk generally eat better because they’re not depending on convenience foods which are considered less healthful.

Now you know the advantages of buying in bulk. You will enjoy the benefits of saving money, helping the environment, and preparing healthier meals. So, what’s holding you back from giving buying in bulk a try?

Brought to you by: Breez DeGuzman

Investing in energy-efficient appliances not only benefits you, the consumer, but it also benefits the environment. Here are just a few of the advantages to investing in greener appliances:

* Lower utility bills

Because of federal regulations, newer appliances are less expensive to run than older ones. Consider refrigerators – according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, a typical refrigerator with top-mounted freezer made in 1990 uses twice the energy of a modern refrigerator. Thus, replacing old appliances with new, energy-efficient ones will save you money and help finance the appliance. In the case of dishwashers and washing machines, the newer models not only use less electricity but they also use less water.

* More money in your pocket

In these uncertain economic times, being able to keep more of your hard-earned money is a definite advantage. While the purchase of a new, energy-efficient appliance will probably be a significant expense, it will pay for itself long before its average lifespan (15 years) is over. Also, there are federal tax credits available to green consumers, according to energystar.gov.

* Support of energy-efficient manufacturers

When you spend money on an energy-efficient appliance, you are helping to secure the future of the company that manufactured it. The consumer dollar speaks, and this sort of purchase sends a message to other manufacturers to produce more energy-efficient models. As the demand increases, the supply will also increase, and ultimately the price for such appliances will come down. Your purchase helps ensure that these appliances will be available and affordable in the future.

* Less use of fossil fuels

Fossil fuels such as coal are burned to make electricity, and these fuels will not last forever. We are, however, still dependent on them as our primary source of energy. As researchers continue to seek alternative energy sources, you can help “buy us some time” by investing in appliances that require less energy, and thus use less fossil fuel.

* Fewer emissions and less pollution

The burning of fossil fuels to make electricity produces emissions and pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. Sulfur dioxide is a by-product of burning coal, and when it rises into the atmosphere it mixes with moisture and forms acid rain. High levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have been implicated in global warming.

In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency officially declared fossil fuel emissions a health threat this past April. If your appliance uses less electricity, then it is ultimately using less fossil fuel, and that means fewer emissions, cleaner air, and a more stable climate.

When you decide to make your purchase, look for the yellow EnergyGuide that is required on every new appliance. This will tell you exactly how much energy the said appliance is expected to consume. You can fully expect that your household utility bills will decrease, and your peace of mind will increase – because investing in energy-efficient appliances is an investment in the future.