Free Republic

(An expert explains when bigger really is better — and when it isn't.) Buying a membership to a wholesale shopping club certainly can pay off — but it doesn’t always. Toss giant boxes of this or jumbo-size canisters of that in your cart without giving a second thought to price tags, and you probably won’t save enough to cover the cost of your membership. If you want to save a bundle when you buy in bulk, you need to shop smart — and we have the experts who can tell you how. Read on to learn where the real savings...

One of my resolutions for the new year is to begin a food storage program for my new house. Unfortunately, I live in a very rural area where there aren't any bulk food warehouses. The only bulk foods available are from extremely overpriced health food stores and co-ops. Wal-Mart prices are actually pretty good for canned goods, but I want to buy wheat, barley, flour, oats, beans, etc., in 25# or 50# bags. Can anyone point me in the direction of good sources for small quantities of staples? I wouldn't mind travelling once a year to pick the stuff up,...