5 Ways To Save Money On Household Items

You shop for household essentials month after month. You spend a lot of money and you think to yourself; How can I save money on household items?

The average household spends thousands of dollars every year on household items. Household items include; groceries, cleaning and laundry products, batteries, etc.

How much do YOU spend on household essentials? When was the last time you sat down and made a list of how much you spend on household essentials? Most people don’t because they are just used to buying what they buy.

When I bought my condo and for the first time had a mortgage. I decided to get serious about managing my spending. A mortgage is a big responsibility so I wanted to make sure I was not only paying it on time but also building an emergency mortgage fund.

I started managing the categories I could control. My goal was to spend less and save more. So what categories can you and I control? Household essentials! 90% of the time, we decided how much money we spend on household essentials.

So what if you could save hundreds (even thousands) of dollars by just changing how you shopped? Would you do it?

I’m guessing the answer is yes so let me show you how:

#1 – buy in bulk

You will save a lot of money when you buy in bulk or larger size packs.

Here’s an example of how buying larger size packs will save you money.

example – larger size packs

In the example above. You can see that the per ounce price is cheaper on the bigger size. The more products you save money on, the more money in total you will save!

Save money on household items by buying them in bulk or larger size packs. Here are examples of what you can buy in order to save money.

I’ve noticed that for some products, getting a larger size pack doesn’t necessarily always mean save you money. Simply divide the price by the total quantity (ounces, size, count, etc.) to see how much money you are spending per unit.

#2 – Don’t buy pre-cut or pre-sliced

I used to buy sliced cheese without realizing that if I bought the block instead, I would save a few dollars.

If you buy vegetables that are pre-washed and pre-cut, that will also be more expensive. Do the washing yourself it doesn’t take very long!

When you think about how much you are spending on each grocery trip and throughout the entire year. It adds up. Especially if you have a large family and are buying these items frequently.

#3 – buy fewer groceries

This can be really obvious but how do you actually do it?

First, before you go grocery shopping. Never go hungry. This will make a difference. You’ve probably heard this before but do you do it? This is your reminder 🙂

Second, before you go grocery shopping, know the meals you are shopping for. Don’t just buy different things and plan as you shop. You will end up buying for maybe 2 or 3 meals and by the 3rd day, you will be out of ideas because you bought random food.

I’ve done this so many times but I’ve learned my lesson!

When you are debating how many of each (tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, carrots, etc.) you need. BUY LESS. I’ve thrown away so much produce because I didn’t need it and it spoiled.

#4 – check your grocery stores’ weekly deals

Before you go shopping. Browse the stores’ weekly ad online. If your grocery store is having a deal on produce, meat, or anything dry. Stock up!

During the summer when berries are cheap because they are in season. I usually buy extra and freeze them. Also, meat and cheese freeze really well. So again, if you find a good deal, stock up.

I don’t go crazy looking for sales or couponing so if you don’t either it’s okay. You can still save money. Simply glance at your grocery stores (or a couple) weekly ad. I get a weekly email from my grocery store. You can also just google your stores weekly ad.

#5 – national vs private label

Many people think that a national brand item is better than a private label item. Is it?

Also, many people think that a more expensive brand is better than a cheaper brand. Is it?

Yes, some brands are better than others but do your research and think twice before buying the more expensive option.

Just because a product is a national brand and has been around for a long time. It doesn’t mean it’s a lot better than a cheaper alternative. Remember that when you see a commercial telling you it’s better, they are just trying to get you to buy it.

example: all detergent vs tide.

All detergent costs $0.068 per ounce and Tide costs $0.13 per ounce. Maybe you think that’s not a big difference but when you think about how often you buy laundry detergent. It definitely adds up!

At the end of the day. Just being conscious of what you’re spending is a great first step. Next time you come back from your household essentials shopping trip. Take inventory of what you bought and how much each item was.

Just remember that you can be saving hundreds (even thousands) of dollars every year just by changing how you shop.

Good luck and let me know your money saving hacks!

how to save money summary

If you implement the five ideas below, you will save money on household items.

1. Buy in bulk
2. Don’t buy pre-cut of pre-sliced
3. Buy fewer groceries
4. Review weekly sales
5. National vs Private Label

Although you might think this list is short. Following all 5 ideas will save you thousands and thousands of dollars.

Buying fewer groceries alone has already saved me $200 every month. In one year, that’s $2,400. Guys, that’s a lot of money.

It will take some planning and research on your end buy you can do it. You can definitely save money on household items if you make the effort.

Let’s me know how much you were able to save after implementing these tips! Is something missing from this list that has saved you thousands?