My Mom’s Decades-Old Grocery Trick Saves Me $20 Every Single Week

No, I’m not talking about shopping at a warehouse like Costco (although I’ve been a member for years). I mean the often-overlooked section of the grocery store where the bulk bins are. That’s where I save the bulk of my money on some of my most-regularly-used pantry staples, like rice, nuts, dried fruit, and other grains. 

Plus, it cuts down on unnecessary packaging and plastic because I can just reuse the same containers over and over again. Here’s why I’ll do it forever. 

I first learned about the joys of the grocery store bulk section from my mom. When I was younger, my family did a large overhaul of our shopping habits, and moved toward a more green way of living. We started up our now 20-year-old compost bin, ditched plastic when we could, and prioritized organic produce. 

My mom started loading up on rice and other grains in the bulk bin section — initially to cut down on packaging. But she quickly realized it had another benefit, too. She was saving roughly $20 a week on groceries simply by buying bulk. (No membership required, either!)

Now that I’m older, I’ve adopted this practice into my own life — and there isn’t a single downside. At my local supermarket, white jasmine rice is $1.99 per pound, compared to the roughly $2.99 a pound I’d pay elsewhere. It might not look or seem like a lot at one shop, but stacking multiple items like rice with other things like peanuts, quinoa, and granola makes a big difference in the long run (upwards of hundreds of dollars of savings a year!).  

It’s not just staple grains — bulk bins at grocery stores carry a variety of items wherever you are, but the savings still match. I recently moved to a new apartment and went to the local Mexican grocery store. The bulk bin in the back (score!) had whole tamarind pods for $5.99 a pound (compared to the $11.99 I typically pay for them). I felt like I hit the jackpot. 

And honestly, it’s an incredibly satisfying way to shop. My trips the grocery store are much faster because I spend less time choosing between the admittedly overwhelming number of brands on some shelves. I’m shopping with more intention and function, and saving a few dollars along the way.  

What are ways that you save money at the grocery store? Tell us about it in the comments below.