The Pros & Cons of Bulk buying/Stockpiling

Prior to the announcement of lock-down, I proceeded to do my monthly Makro bulk buy shopping. To put things into perspective, my husband gets mini biscuits and a chocolate, as part of his “lunch box” to the office every day, so this is the only way I can go about shopping economically. Do not ask! Either I buy and pack it or he will eat a whole slab, instead of a “bar” per day. So, no, I was not stockpiling on toilet paper nor hand sanitizers nor doing any sort of panic buying! This is my monthly routine of doing things. Moving swiftly along. Whilst I was there, I saw a packet of those flower sponges and added the bag (4 in a bag) to my purchases since it saved me from stopping at another shop on my way home and this for 1 product!

As per usual, when I arrived home, Jason was on hand to help me unpack everything, which by then was quite a few purchases. What can I say, I am a sucker for their R100 deals, so I do buy bulk but on things that I really need. Anyway, never mind, a boot full of other stuff, his first question to me is, “Is there a reason why you have so many of these sponges?”. He was referring to the 1 bag of flower sponges. 1 not 5 nor 2, 1 bag! My response, “Because that is all they had and I was not going to stop at Clicks especially for 1 sponge.” Happy with my response, no more questions were asked.

Fast forward 2 weeks, after now using 1 of these said sponges, for 2 weeks (not a month as indicated on the bag) and the flower now resembles a pile of bandages, instead of a lovely blooming flower. Ladies, you must know what I am referring to? The flower is dead and unusable. As I am discarding of all the “petals”, I say to Jason, “Now you know why there is 4 in a bag instead of 1”. His response, “Well you get what you pay for”. Yes, indeed you do! Lesson well learnt. A definite con!

Now on the flip side of this, I was in another shop a few days prior to lock-down and there was a “special” on avocados. Now I did contemplate as to what I was going to do with a whole box, but the penny pincher in me reasoned that a box was cheaper than the buy 4 for R25, whilst in the box was probably give or take 15 small ones. A no brainer then, right? When I get home, the “help” was at hand and upon his eyes falling on the avocados, the question was asked, “Who is going to eat all these avocados?” Yes, you have guessed, this is not something that he eats willingly, unless it is on nachos! My response, “They were cheaper for a box than for 4”. He knew not to say anything else on the matter.

Fast forward 1 week and I am now halfway through the box and the remainder are beginning to look like they are browning too quickly. Google – “Can you freeze avocados and for how long? How do you freeze avocados?”. Answer – “Yes and see here how”. 2 bags of guacamole in the freezer later, problem of over ripe avocados solved. A definite pro!!

I am sure you can all relate to what I am referring to as pros and cons of bulk buying. Now please do not lie and say that you have never gotten caught, especially now in lock-down. How many of you have already started throwing away uneaten fruit and vegetables instead of using Google and investigating how you can freeze your fresh goods for later? I must confess, and please do not judge me, prior to lock-down I would have thrown overripe fruit and vegetables away without a second thought. Things have since changed and now I am trying to delay a visit to a shop to as long as possible.

I guess two very different examples, but what influences you when it comes to bulk buying/ stockpiling? How have you been forced to change your habits of buying? Have you made any changes at all or are you sticking to your “normal”?

For me, my habits have already changed around this. I wonder how much wiser on bulk buying and wastage, I am going to be at the other end of this. 2 more weeks to go, so only time will tell........

Until next time…….

Love, light and positive change,

Ophelia