Buying in bulk isn’t always best. Frugal first timers and long term frugalistas alike would be forgiven for having a “bulk is best” mindset, but it is very important to study the labels.

All supermarkets have labels which state the price per weight. Unfortunately they don’t stick to a standard, so when comparing different size packets of the same product or like for like with other brands you’ll often find yourself staring at price per 100g and price per 1kg and trying to do a quick bit of mental arithmetic o workout which is cheapest. Ok, so it’s not so difficult in this example, but how about when there is a special offer such as 3 for 2? It rarely tells you what the price per weight is when you’re taking advantage of the offer, something I find irritating as I’m not great with maths, not least when I’m shopping with my toddler.

I often see examples where its cheaper to buy less of a product, and this is something I don’t quite understand. Perhaps the shop sells more of the reduced quantity item so gets a good stockist discount? Either way, pay caution and don’t always go bulk. Going bulk is usually the most sensible choice, but if it’s not cheapest and/or the product is perishable is it really worth it?