To BULK OR NOT TO BULK
Household Paper Items:
Toilet Paper (bad idea) cheaper when on sale at places
Pack of 8 $0.49 a roll
BULK - Pack of 40 – 2 ply - $0.62 roll
BULK Facial Tissues $1.33 a box
Not in bulk $0.89
LAUNDRY
Laundry Detergent (bad idea and good idea) cheaper other places.
Bulk - Tide Pods: $0.34 pod
Other - $0.42 per pod
Liquid
BULK – $0.34 per load
Other – $0.22 per load
Beauty Products:
Face wipes (good idea)
BULK $0.25 per wipe
Not Bulk $1.20 per wipe
Sunscreen – bad idea might be cheaper but does have an expiry date
BULK: $10 per 100ml – Neutrogena 60
Not Bulk: $17 per 100ml - Neutrogena
Spices and Nuts:
Spices cheaper but a bad idea as they go bad after 6 months. Nuts are cheaper by bulk but should be frozen to keep them fresh.
BULK : Almonds $6 per lb
Not Bulk $10.33 per lb
Food and Beverage
Soda (bad idea) often cheaper elsewhere
BULK $0.46 per can
Sale $0.33 per can
Dried goods – pasta – good idea
BULK: Spaghetti $0.43 per 100 g
Not Bulk: $0.80 per 100g
Health
Vitamins (good idea).
BULK Melatonin $0.08 a pill – Webber natural
Not Bulk $0.21 a pill
DÉCOR FINDS
Thrift Stores – Antique Side Table $5 purchase
Get to know your local thrift. Pick more affluent neighborhoods – better donations. Ex Mother – velvet curtains ($10 a panel)
Avoid shopping on the weekend. Pick a slower weekday like Tuesday.
Take your time – there is a lot of stuff – I go up and down the same aisles over and over.
Flip it over – know your labels.
Know your tags – the coloured tags mean different things – and when they will go on mark down.
Keep measurements in your phone of key areas or items you are looking for.
See beyond the obvious. How can you transform
Sign up emails – deal days.
HomeSense - ART and Poufs
Get to know your store manager – many stores get new product on Tuesday. But double check.
Think strategically – location is often tied to items. Ie downtown stores – smaller scale furniture for condo dwellers. Suburbs – bigger scale.
Get on the website – many of the stores will list their dept – be it gourmet or lighting. These will have the best selection.
Follow one of the many HomeSense fan Instagram accounts – they post new finds and locations.
Make a map – plan out a Saturday where you can hit a few in a row.
Enlist friends.
Tips for using 'Bunz':
Saved searches
You can search by hashtags
Category filters: search for ‘vintage’ or ‘retro’ or filter search results by category i.e, ‘Furniture’ or ‘Decor’
Check often.
Research – know the value of the item.
Inspect the item – no shame in walking away from a deal if its more beat up than you thought.
Dumpster Diving Tips:
Wear protective gear – mask, old clothes, etc Anti Bacterial wipes
Find out when your city does clean ups – always a week when larger items are put out for the trash.
Wander more affluent neighborhoods.
Check out retail store garbage – old displays.
Check out dumpster new house being remodeled – found an antique mantel this way.
Dive with a friend.
Have Large vehicle with furniture blankets.
Shower the minute you get home.
If you don’t want to go all dumpster – find out garbage days and wander that neighborhood. Often people put items out beside their garbage.
