Thursday, February 6, 2014

Stocking up On Savings


Even if you’re a seasoned, independent adult, buying everyday necessities can sometimes be a downright drag. But there’s nothing worse than that moment when you find out that you need some paper towels, pet food, or cleaning products--and there’s none in your apartment.

If you have a busy life and also care about getting a good value on your household items, remember that you can have both of those things! All it takes is a little bit of planning. In fact, it can be cheaper and more convenient to stock up on some items, when you need them least.

Lifehacker.com published a helpful blog post last week featuring some items that you should always stock up on when you see there’s a sale. Here are some of them:

Cleaning Supplies
Potential Savings: $10 on laundry detergent, $6 on dishwasher detergent

If cleaning supplies aren't on your list of necessities, you either live in a dorm room or in a cave (and are apparently stealing WiFi from a nearby Starbucks). Still, even the average person probably doesn't think about purchasing these household supplies until they run out. However, you'll save an average of $10 on laundry detergent and $6 on dishwasher detergent if you buy in bulk ahead of time.

Paper Goods
Potential Savings: $9 on toilet paper, $27 on paper towels

Fact: There is never good time to run out of toilet paper. It's all that separates us from the animals! Paper towels, conversely, may seem to be a less urgent purchase, but a minor kitchen spill can quickly turn into a Messapocalypse if you're out of Bounty or Brawny. The only defense against a dearth of paper goods is proactive bulk-buying. In the last three months, we've seen an average savings of $9 on toilet paper multi-packs. Buying your paper towels in bulk is even better; you'll save $27 on average.

Nonperishable Foods
Potential Savings: $12 on coffee pods, $10 on beef jerky

When you're running low on funds, it helps to have a pantry stocked with sundry canned and boxed provisions. Nonperishable foods like breakfast cereals, coffee, ramen noodles, canned goods, and other such noms are all things that can be bought in bulk via Amazon's Subscribe & Save program, which yields big savings. In fact, we've seen an average savings of $12 on Keurigs coffee pods and the like in recent months, and an average $10 off beef jerky snacks.

Pet Care Items
Potential Savings: $15 on pet food, $7 on treats

As a responsible pet owner, you know that Sir Fluffykins and Sgt. Barksalot have very basic needs, the ignoring of which will result in mad and/or sick pets. To save your furniture from claw marks and your slumber from hourly wake-up calls, your best bet is to stock up on pet supplies with coupons and rebates from stores like PetSmart and Petco; that way you can save an average of $15 on pet food and $7 on treats, which both Fido and our bank accounts have been happy about for the last three months.


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