Have a Small Household? You Should Buy These 5 Items in Bulk Anyway

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Bulk buying is smart for families, but what about for just one or two people? Keep reading to learn which products you can buy in bulk to save money. 

Buying in bulk is a smart way to save money, but don’t fall into the trap of assuming you need a membership for a warehouse club to do your bulk shopping. Personally, I’ve opted against a Costco membership, but I still buy in bulk sometimes. I just get my bulk deals on Amazon, Chewy, and sometimes at my local grocery store. And what’s more, I have a small household that consists of one human and three cats.

So while I don’t generally buy perishable food in bulk, I do buy the following items in large quantities to ease the strain on my personal finances. And if you have a small household, I recommend making the same move.

1. Paper goods

Even with a small household, you likely go through your fair share of items like toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, and paper napkins. The great thing about buying them in bulk is that they don’t go bad.

But one potential problem is that you’ll need space to store your mighty haul of toilet paper, and if you live alone or with just one other person, you might be in a smaller home without much extra space. So if you don’t want to constantly trip over paper towel packages in your living room, be sure you have the space to store them. I keep my stash of paper towels on top of my fridge and a pile of bulk toilet paper rolls on top of a cabinet in my bathroom.

2. Batteries

Despite the continued progress of technology, I’m willing to bet that you still have devices in your home that run on alkaline batteries, or even those tiny button batteries. Wall clocks and TV remotes, I’m looking at you.

Batteries are a great item to buy in bulk, and they’ll last for years in a cool, dark place — the SpareFoot blog notes that unused alkaline batteries will keep for five to 10 years. Just park your big pack of AAs or AAAs in a drawer or your toolbox. Isn’t it great when your bulk buys don’t take up a ton of precious space?

3. Personal care items

Speaking of purchases with a long shelf life, look to bulk toiletries and personal care items to save money. This can include menstrual care products, soap, shampoo, razors, toothpaste, and beyond.

And you’re doing your future self a favor by having some reinforcements for these items on hand — ever run out of toothpaste right after a big grocery run because you forgot to add it to your list? I regularly buy toothpaste in two packs at my grocery store, and not only do I always have a backup tube in the cabinet (and often more than one), but I’m keeping more money in my checking account in the process. At my grocery store, buying one at a time costs $1 per ounce, but buying two comes to just $0.70 per ounce.

4. Cleaning supplies

If you have even a little extra space under your kitchen or bathroom sink, you should definitely buy your cleaning supplies in bulk. I only just recently finished the multi-pack of toilet cleaner I bought in 2020 — then turned around and bought another!

Just be careful with some of these items. For example, Real Simple reports that bleach can become less effective at killing germs over time, which could generate a false sense of security if you’re cleaning up a potentially infectious mess (raw meat on your kitchen counter, perhaps?). Aim to buy products like dish soap and multi-surface cleaners in bulk, and keep a more limited supply of heavier-duty cleaners on hand.

5. Pet products

I might be the only human in my home, but I am outnumbered by three cats. As such, I always buy their food in larger quantities because I can get a lower per-pound price that way and I’m assured of going through it quickly.

For example, the brand of dry food my cats eat costs $3.50 per pound if I buy it in a three-pound bag from Chewy. But that price goes down to $2.64 per pound for the 11-pound bag.

If you have just one pet that doesn’t eat much, it might not make sense to buy their food in bulk, as pet food can go bad just like human food can. If that’s the case, are there other supplies you can stock up on for a lower unit price? Cat litter doesn’t go bad, which is why I buy it in 40-pound bags.

While it may be less advisable to buy produce, dairy products, and other perishables in bulk, even solos and couples can benefit from these bulk buys. To maximize your savings, I also recommend using the right cash back credit card to make your purchases.

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The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon.com and Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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