Paper plates, toilet paper, paper towels, chicken in can and tuna and zip lock bags and garbage bags
Paper plates. My wife calls them the Apocalypse plates!
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I love rice. I buy the 25 pound bag of Jasmine rice and fill one gallon ziplock bags.
Also, I buy the large size of many cooking items like soy sauce, Worcestershire, mayo, etc. and refill a small container that I keep in my kitchen refrigerator while the larger container is in my spare fridge.
Vitamins, pain pills, toiletries, and toothpaste are always purchased bulk when on sale.
I love Samâs and found a way to save even more. I use the PayPal debit card which gives you 5% back on every purchase for a selected category. I always choose the grocery category. This is where the fun starts. Everything I purchase from Samâs gets 5% cash back-including non-grocery items. I save even more if I use the shipping option where I then save another 5% on sales tax since I am in the country.
When my Mom was in a Senior Independent Living apartment, I tried to encourage her to use Costco. Maybe I was too analytical about it. We agreed that she didnât have a lot of extra room(bedroom, bathroom and living room/kitchen) however she was buying all sorts of things at the local grocery store and paying more than she should have. I suggested things like Costco toilet paper and storing it under her bed, etc. I also made the suggestion that she could band together with some neighbors, but some things and all share them. I believe because she grew up in a different time, she could not fathom buying in bulk. My Grandfather had a soda business and they delivered a case (24 bottles) of soda at a time. Back then it was amazing to actually have 24 sodas in the house AT ONE TIME! Imagine that!
So I know that as I get into older age, I will definitely be buying in bulk, even if just to co-purchase with neighbors.
Well, I purchase large packages of tp ever since my son texted me as I was on the way home from a trip cut short by covid that we had enough tp (??? was my thought). But as a household of two, bulk purchases donât really work.
Peanut butter 
I always grab the big jars when theyâre on sale. Itâs one of those things that doesnât spoil quickly, works in multiple meals, and is cheaper by the ounce. Plus, it saves me from those random midweek grocery runs.
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People should think twice about buying olive oil in bulk due to its shelf life. Some sources say it will start to go rancid after 3 months - - not to kill you but to get a nasty taste. Shelf life is even more important if you buy two grades (one for cooking and one as a finisher/marinade), because you risk having twice as much as you use. So, if you buy a 2-liter jug and are using 1 TBSP every day to sauté your onions and such, that 2-liter jug will last you more than 128 days - - well past the 3 months.
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I disagree, in part, with Spices and Herbs â We purchase whole pepper and possibly Taco or Fajita Mixes but as far as dried herbs like basil, oregano, thyme and rosemary, I either grow my own and dry them in a dehydrator or purchase a small bottle. We found the large containers of the dried herbs lose flavor over time and once the original vacuum seal is broken, the herb starts drying out faster.
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Agree! I bought EVOO from Costco one time and ended up pouring half of it out as it went rancid.
Doesnât olive oil have a short shelf life? I donât think we would use it nearly enough to make it worthwhile.
While Costco & Samâs Club are great ways to shop for those who donât watch for sales and use coupons, I have found I can beat their prices prices on paper products, cat supplies and meat by diligent shopping. For instance, I buy pork in bulk for $1.79 to $1.99 a pound at Kroger.
Tomato paste, I use it to make tomato juice. Itâs two cans of tomato paste plus six cups of water, and what I usually do is boil three cups of the water and then steep whatever fresh herbs I happen to have around (rosemary, oregano, thyme, etc.) for at least 15 minutes, and then put it all into a sealable jug along with a teaspoon or so of salt and shake vigorously for 30-45 seconds.
A bottle of Campbellâs tomato juice costs at least $3.50, so considering that I can get a box of 12 cans of organic tomato paste from Costco for right around $10, making my own is less than half the price of buying the equivalent number of bottles. Added bonus: I control the amount of salt. Commercial brands of tomato juice can be anywhere from 25%-40% or your RDA of sodium in a single glass, so making your own is a good move if you have to be careful with your sodium intake.