#92 Family Pantry – Better Buying Habits

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We’ve all seen Khloe Kardashians Pantry and dreamt of having one just like hers… so here is a great place to start.

The beginning of last year, my family and I decided to have a chat about bulk buying. We merged our dual family and started in January 2020 right before people started panic buying for COVID. That first month we went to Makro and we were surprised with just how many specials there were at the store. The best part came when we received our huge eBucks discount.

I’ve seen that most bulk buying habits end because of that huge bill, but we need to realize that the bill only comes once every couple of months. The partnership between Makro and FNB eBucks has recently ended so we’re starting to miss the discounts and the rewards. But it was certainly a plus for us when we started.

Coming back to January, we basically spent a lot to get our family pantry going, but the goods we bought in January lasted for about 3-4 months and some of the detergents and canned goods lasted pretty much all of 2020. With bulk buying, you need a cool pantry/ room where you can store the non-perishable goods and good freezer / fridge spaces for the perishable goods, and you would not need to panic buy or stress about any food spoiling.

When COVID hit, a lot of people went to Makro and the lines were curling all the way around the parking lot so we decided in March/ April that we will go back to Checkers Hyper. When we got there it was also full but hardly as bad as Makro. But buying just a half a trolley (few packets of groceries), costed the same amount as two full trolleys of groceries at Makro, and without that eBucks discount.

We’ve noticed how much the detergents cost in relation to what we started becoming accustomed to with bulk buying. For example, a refill pack of StaySoft at Checkers costs R34.99 where you’re able to buy 18 x StaySoft at Makro for R375.

That is a huge saving and for the next 18 months or longer, you wouldn’t have to buy StaySoft again. So a great way to start is to slowly buy one or a few items in Bulk, which then eliminates that need to purchase those products for an extended time. Eventually you will only need to buy a few fresh produce items throughout the year and replenish what runs out again.

Bulk buying is a lot more affordable after doing it for a while and you are never without. It limits your need to go out to the stores and you get way more for your buck. When COVID started getting really bad, and even now with the second wave, it has been a true blessing to not NEED to go to the stores and Makro has been the most nerve-settling place to shop because they’re so clean and on point with social distancing and sanitizing.

Another great thing about bulk buying, is that you’re allowed to stock up on some of your favorites like sweets and chocolates and pay basically half of what you’d normally pay for a lot less. We have been eating a lot and snacking a lot and the kids simply love having to go to the pantry and picking out their favorites.

Another great place to buy fresh produce where the fruits and veggies are A-grade and the specials are A-class, is Impala Fruits and Veg. You might go in there for just a couple fruits and maybe some nuts or healthy snacks, but you certainly don’t come out with just a few.

My family buys together and then we share the fruits and snacks amongst us so we always have great, quality, and healthy stuff to snack on. Surprisingly enough, this post is not sponsored by any of these stores, though it should be lol. But this little change is something I feel has helped us immensely with better buying with regards to quality and affordability.

We’ve even started buy bread in bulk! Who would have thought? There are a lot of deals to buying 5-6 loaves of bread for a fraction of what it normally costs, and to ensure the breads stay fresh, you toss them in the freezer! The night before, you just take them out and I promise you, they are soft and fresh in the morning.

Our little trips to pretty much anywhere has been so few, especially during the many levels of lockdown, and we have thankfully been extremely safe and cautious throughout 2020 and now moving into 2021. In the beginning, we went to Makro at 08:30 (opens at 9), so we’d be the first in and out pretty quickly. When we came back home, from shopping, we laid everything out in the sun, sprayed and wiped with sanitizer and then brought it into the house and pantry. We also stripped off out clothes and shoes and took a shower so we were extra careful.

We’re still being extra safe and removing shoes after being out, just as an added precaution. I think I could count the amount of times we’ve been to the shops all of 2020 and we haven’t run out of any essential supplies. Incredibly grateful for this and the success rate of bulk buying surprises me every day.

Would love to hear your thoughts on bulk buying and if you guys have any great tips to share too?