Ignoring bulk bins was my biggest budget meal mistake

I always went for the convenient packaged foods. My grocery costs kept creeping up without me noticing. One day, I did a price check and was shocked by the savings in bulk. Now I make a point to shop there first. It has seriously helped my wallet and meal planning.

4 comments

4 Comments

margaret8799h ago

Notice how we often pick the easy way now even if it costs more later. Your switch to bulk bins shows how stepping back can save money. It makes you question what other habits are quietly draining your wallet.

annahart2h ago

Yeah, it's crazy how your brain just accepts the packaged price as normal... I was the same way with rice and pasta for the longest time. Buying those boxes felt easier, but the cost difference is honestly wild once you actually look. @tessa_craig's friend with the spices is such a perfect example of that mental blind spot. It took me a while to get past the idea that scooping my own oats was somehow a hassle... but now my pantry is full of cheap glass jars and my grocery bill is way down. It's a small change in routine for a really big save.

the_amy8h ago

Totally get that. I started noticing how much leaving lights on was adding to my electric bill, you know?

tessa_craig3h ago

A friend of mine only bought those small spice jars for years. She was spending a fortune on like, tiny amounts of oregano and cumin. One day she compared the price per ounce to the bulk section and her jaw just dropped. She bought little jars to refill and cut her spice cost to almost nothing. It makes you wonder what else we’re overpaying for just because it comes in a pretty container, right?