Bulk Items

Image Credit: Ryan Bovy © 2012

This is a very very large bag of rice. Now, although rice is requires a certain diet and palette, many college students buy in items in bulk similar to this.

Why bulk? It appears to save money is the simple answer. Buying in bulk, however,  requires a level of consistency that is sometimes bothersome (e.g. eating rice for every meal).

Some items make sense to buy in bulk because, no matter what, they will always be needed. Toilet paper is one of things. Purchasing toilet paper by the thousand makes sense; it will not go bad and you will always need it. On the other hand, buying items that have an expiration date require a different mindset when it comes to bulk. Do you really need four gallons of BBQ sauce? And can you finish it all in two months? Maybe, I don't know.

The new trend in bulk for college students is to purchase the enormous amounts of perishable foods for lower cost and then divide it into reasonable portions for several individuals. After all, it isn't saving money if you buy your four gallons of BBQ sauce at a discounted price , but have to throw out three gallons. It is necessary to be careful of what is bought in bulk, and not fall victim to the "I can buy everything because everything is so cheap" attitude if you want to save money.

It is easy to save a ton of money if you buy the correct things in bulk!