10 Items You Shouldn't be Buying in Bulk

I can’t resist a sale. I don’t buy things I don’t need, but when the opportunity to buy a favored brand at a lower price comes up, I go for it. Savings warehouses seem perfect to those trying to save on their grocery bills. One of the ways these shopping clubs offer you more bang for your buck is with bulk purchasing. Some items are definitely worth buying in bulk, but there are others that shouldn't be.

1. Brown rice

Who knew rice was perishable? Brown rice typically lasts for 6 months before it starts going bad. It stays fresher if refrigerated. Unless you have a large family or eat it daily, its not worth buying copious amounts of this grain. If you do want to buy rice in bulk, white rice is much more durable and can last up to 30 years.

2. Soda

Soda is one of those items grocery stores put on sale all the time to draw in customers. This means that your savings on buying soda in bulk is negated by all the storage space you'll need to keep it. Instead, simply purchase a few extra bottles when it's on sale at your local grocery store. 

3. Spices

Spices lose their flavor after 6 months, so stocking up on them might not be worth it in the long run. It’s best to look at your spice rack and if you use a spice daily, then it’s worth your while buying that extra-large jar. A solution for spices you use infrequently or in small quantities is to grow your own. It’s also important to know how to store these items to retain flavor. For example, storing spices near the stove or oven causes them to lose their flavor much faster.

4. Candy

Warehouse clubs always have the best deals on candy and snack food. You can save a lot of money buying these in bulk. However, what usually happens is that you end up eating more of them than you wanted to, especially if you know there’s lots of it in the pantry. Not only are you damaging your teeth, but it is a hazard to your health. It’s not worth the savings if it’s going to cost you that!

5. Sunscreen

While technically sunscreen has a shelf life of 3 years, in practice it’s a lot less. You’re likely to leave your lotion exposed to the hot sun when you’re by the pool or at the beach; however, high temperatures can break down the sunscreen’s active ingredients. Unless you’re very careful about how you store your sunscreen, it’s best to buy regular-sized bottles yearly.

6. Eggs

If you eat eggs daily, it might be worthwhile buying a large carton. However, eggs have a limited shelf life - they can last from three to five weeks and are best kept in the fridge. If you don't frequently eat eggs or bake, it’s best to skip out on this bulk saving.

7. Frozen food

You weren’t expecting to see this item on this list. If you’re lucky enough to have lots of freezer space frozen foods seem like a good deal. The trouble is when you overstock on this item the frozen goods expire before you even get to cook them.

8. Cosmetics and skincare

Most makeup and beauty products lose effectiveness after 3 to 6 months. Mascara and liquid foundation can last for up to a year. Another thing to remember when you see a deal on a jumbo jar of night cream is safety. Each time you dip your finger in for some cream there’s an increased risk of contaminating the product. It might seem thrifty to buy in bulk, however because cosmetics can be more expensive than your other household products, it’s best not to see money go down the drain.

9. Bleach

Bleach naturally loses effectiveness as it ages and can last for up to 6 months. While a large bottle on sale looks like a good deal, in reality few people use large amounts of this cleaning material. Unless you clean large areas daily, it’s best to opt for smaller containers at the grocery store.

10. Cooking and olive oils

Oils and fats tend to age quickly. Rancid oil has been linked to increased rates of heart disease and cancer. Both olive oil and cooking oils have an average shelf life of 6 months. So while you might be saving on your food bill, you might land up spending more on health bills.

A tip for buying olive oil is to choose a darker bottle. The oil will break down slower with less exposure to light.