Tips On How To Save Money

Tips For Getting the Most out of Your Warehouse Store Shopping Trip

Advice Seeker: Dear April,

A warehouse store just opened down the street from us and we're excited to get in there and start stocking up! However, we've never shopped at a bulk store before and we don't want to be stuck with tons of food that we don't have room for or that starts going bad. Do you have any advice for how we can get the best value out of our warehouse store shopping trip?

Sincerely,

That's A Lot of Food

April Masini's advice:

Dear That's A Lot of Food,

Bulk stores can be a great boon for working mothers -- or a big puzzle about where to store food and how to throw out everything that doesn't get eaten.

Tips for shopping at warehouse stores:

*Shop after having eaten. This is one place you DO NOT want to impulse shop.

*Have an idea of how much room you have in your freezer before you shop.

*Frozen entrees are great time savers. Stock up.

*Frozen meals that kids can microwave themselves are also great time savers.

*Go easy on the bulk produce. You may end up throwing out what you thought was a bargain because your family can't finish it before it rots.

*Stick to healthy stuff. It's easy to check out with a cart full of fun food and junk, but no actual "food."

*Don't feel that just because you're in a warehouse you have to shop like you live in one. You don't have to fill the cart.