Here is a breakdown of how you could be saving a lot of money by buying bulk/wholesale

Option 1: Lets say for this example you are using a bottle of shampoo that costs $10 which lasts you 1 year.
Shipping is $5 so $15 total.

Option 2: You see a deal online for 5 bottles that has a 10% discount at $45 + shipping $5 = $50

Lets do some maths over the next 5 years.

Buying in bulk is $50 a more significant investment upfront but let's see how it stacks up vs buying in individual portions

If you were to buy the same bottle of shampoo 5 times you dont get 10% discount and have to pay shipping 5 times instead of once

(10 + 5)*5 = $75

But thats not where it stops because we all know that goods and services increase in price over time. That is the increase rate of average 2.5% per year.
Different products will have different rates but let's say on average its around 2.5%.
The same shampoo you buy today at $10 is expected to be $10.25 and shipping 5.125% and again increase by another 2.5% ontop of the new price.
Thats
2025 $10+$5
2026 $10.25+$5.13
2027 $10.51+$5.25
2028 $10.77+$5.38
2029 $11.04+$5.52

Total $78.85 thats a saving of 57.7% not the initial 10%.

It is a discipline and can be taken to extremes don't just buy 50 years worth of toilet paper like an idiot. Hopefully you can apply some common sense here.


Other benefits you save some time going to the store once. If its a physical store add more time out of your day and gas money when you leave your house. This all stacks up
You dont have to think about shampoo for the next 5 years.
Less packaging and less fossil fuels being burned
General convenience of having extra and being ready for next disaster/lockdown/zombie apocalypse.

Obv this financial strategy relies on non perishables and locks you to use that product for years to come.
But if you are happy with it then its a real difference maker.

You can apply this to many things in your life like phone/internet plans, and other utilities like power and water bills.
You can even negotiate your rent if you pay in advance say for a whole year landlords usually love tenants who can do that and will be happy to throw in 1 or two weeks of free rent (just make sure its written in contract)
Like I said it does require you to have money upfront and if you are living paycheck to paycheck it can be difficult. Hopefully you can make steps in the right direction.

Buy in bulk it will make your life 10% - 50% easier. Being poor is expensive stay rich my capitalist friends.

I followed this advice and now my restroom looks like a storage unit.

You missed the part about common sense.

I always do this myself from a wholesale club.
While this may workout for yourself, when having a household with multiple people can cause issues.
Others in the household overusing since there is 'endless' supply for them.

Expire dates is another major factor (yes, even shampoo in your example have a date on it).
Storage of good and keeping them in good condition is another one.

Bulk is always a win for value.
Although upfront cost, which is a big factor for people at times, will limit many of people from doing this.
Can not really buy 2 years of shampoo and then have no money left for a pack of cheese.

Generally, 2~3 months supply for general good is good and 1 month of supply for shelf-stable food.
Fresh food is weekly, which is the main part which can not be avoided.

Well I included within this post "apply common sense" and mentioned non perishables. This is why crayons need to be labeled "Not for human consumption".

Imo if you need me to spell it out for you that don't just buy 50 loafs of bread then you have bigger problems and shouldn't be making decisions without a caregiver.

Lock in people this is elementary.

My bad.
Didn't intend to make you feel offended from my post if you did feel that way.
Was agreeing with what you posted, and tend to do it myself when I can.

And yes, common sense should always be applied, like you said both times.

All good djsem.

The point of buying in bulk is so you don't have to go to the store. Time is money.