Co-ops and buying clubs!

Co-ops and buying clubs
D.J. Cooper “Surviving Dystopia”

Last week we talked about pinching pennies and ways to save with projects aimed at reducing the costs of some of the things we need.  Another way to save money and make those pennies last is to buy in bulk, Co-ops and buying clubs.  If in the long run you can reduce the expenses of your household wouldn’t this be something you would choose to do?

Buying items in bulk can be a fantastic way to save a few pennies but we also need to remember these things must be stored.  When buying in bulk a few things need some special care, for example; Perishible items.  Taking care to establish safe methods of storage for such items is critical, so you can be sure you are saving those extra pennies.

There are a few ways to purchase in bulk:

• There are ways such as buying clubs;  The big box bulk buying clubs like Sams or Costco.  One thing with these is you must pay a membership fee and be aware that the prices may or may not be less.  Another kind of buying club might be a social group buying in large quanitities together and splitting up into shares.  You can create your own buying club easily with friends and family.
• There is what is known as as CSA or “Community Supported Agriculture”,with this you deal directly with the grower. Often times being a local farmer a definition of such might be; According to one I found called the “Barking Cat Farm” they discribe it as: “In essence, it is a mutually beneficial arrangement, where in exchange for your commitment to buy a share in our farm’s harvest, we commit to grow exceptionally high quality vegetables and herbs, and deliver a bountiful portion of it to you every week of the subscription term. Become a member of our CSA program and every week throughout the subscription term you will receive a share of fresh, naturally grown, in-season produce and herbs.” barkingcatfarm.com
• The Co-Op is another, this I am sometimes confused with as it can seem like a buying club, except when you buy your membership like a big box chain you kind of own into it… it also differes from smaller buysing clubs because often times they are simply buying wholesale and there is little connection to the place where the product originated.

This week I would like to explore some opportunities and ways we can make these things work for us and ways we can store all these extra goodies.

Next Week: Join me and my Guest,  Russ Michaud from Homespun Environmental … Lets talk Water.
Surviving Dystopia Get The Book HERE!
Blog:www.survivingdystopia.com

Listen to this broadcast or download “Co-ops and buying clubs” in player below!

Get the 24/7 app for your smart phone HERE! 
Put the 24/7 player on your web site HERE! 
Listen to archived shows of all our hosts . Go to schedules tabs at top of page!