There’s nothing quite as inconvenient as running out of the essentials when you need them most. Buying in bits and bobs is not only an enemy of your comfort and convenience, but of your budget too, especially when you don’t have a plan for your finances. Whether you’re single or have a big family, these tips will help you when you’re next grocery shopping.

The benefits of bulk buying

 Buying in bulk carries several advantages, here are just a few of them:

• Enables less spending – buying in bulk allows you to skip a month or two of shopping for certain goods, like household products.
• Reduces carbon footprints – bulk buying items means less packaging is used and therefore less packaging needs to be disposed of.
• Allows you to avoid daily/weekly trips – you’re shopping to last you for the next month, the only things that’ll need a top up are products with a short shelf life.
• Encourages conscious buying – buying in bulk pushes you to plan out your purchases and how you intend to use them, e.g. meal planning.

 Perishables that last

Contrary to popular belief, there are some perishables that can be kept for longer than you think. As long as the goods are stored under the correct conditions and in effective containers, they can outlive their expiry date. Other foods that perish at a slower rate:

• Apples
• Cabbages
• Potatoes
• Pomegranates
• Carrots
• Onions
• Lemons and limes
• Many others