Pros and Cons of Retail and Wholesale Buying

You can read this in parts if you want- come back some other time if you can not finish one reading, because this is really a long article. But I know blogworms(bookworms) will enjoy it as well as the tips and tricks within. It is also written in Tagalog or Filipino language for my fellow-countrymen.  I set the Filipino translation in an Bookman OldStyle font to easily identify both languages.

Budgeting differs from one household to another. Why? Not just because of the household size and the amount of income differences but also the schedule such income becomes available matters too in planning the expenditures- there are those who have their salary on a daily (for self-employed individuals), and for the employed sector weekly, every 15^th or monthly basis.

Ang pag-bu-budget ay nagkakaiba-iba sa bawat pamilya. Bakit? Hindi lamang dahil sa bilang ng bumubuo sa sambahayan, sa halaga ng kinikita maging ang panahon o iskedyul kung kailan dumarating ang salapi na pam-budget  ay mahalaga rin sa pagplaplano ng mga gastusin - mayroong tumatanggap ng arawan (sa mga may sariling negosyo), lingguhan, kinsenas o buwanang kita naman ang mga namamasukan.

As a mom, I do the budgeting. Buying groceries is a bit challenging. I have learned this tip after trying one method after the other at a period of time (months of use) so I can determine which works well with my family’s weekly budget.

Bilang isang ina, ako ang nagbu-budget. Yung pagbili ng grocery ay medyo nakakahamon talaga sa ating kakayahang mga misis at nanay. Natutuhan ko itong ibabahagi ko sa inyo sa pag-subok ng iba’t-ibang pamamaraan sa ilag panahon para malaman ko kung alin talaga ang nababagay sa aming lingguhang tinatanggap.

At a glance, buying in bulk, largest pack or wholesale saves a lot. That is when you have ‘extra’ in your budget, because if you do not have you will end-up sacrificing other stuffs from your grocery list- you can not buy anymore this thing or that because your suppose-to-be budget all went to the biggest pack of milk (etc.) which is consumable in a month’s time. Sometimes, a little sacrifice can make things better too,the following three weeks milk (or whatever you bought in large pack or wholesale) will not be any more in your budget listing. It really depends on HOW MUCH you will sacrifice, if that would mean you will be short or transportation allowance to work or for your children’s schooling,  short of cash on hand in cases of emergencies IT MAY NOT BE WORTH IT.

Sa biglang-tingin, ang pagbili ng malakihan o maramihan ay nakaka-tipid ng malaki. Yan ay kung mayroon kang ‘sobra’ sa iyong budget, dahil kung wala mauuwi ka sa pagsasakripisyo ng iba pang kailangan mong bilihin sa listahan mo. Kahit masasabi nating malaki ang discount sa  bultohan, biglaan naman ang tapyas sa budget mo. Ang halimbawang budget mo para sa ibang kailangan napunta lamang sa isang napakalaking lata ng gatas na kukunsumohin naman ng anak mo pang-isang buwan e bibili ka din namanuli next week.

Ngunit kung minsan ang maliit na sakripisyo ay may mabuting dulot din naman – kung tatlong linggo namang WALA sa budget mo ang gatas (o kahit ano pa yang binili mo na bultohan). Nakadepende talaga ito sa kung GAANO ang kaya mong isakripisyo, kung yang pagbili mo na yun ay mangangahulugan ng kakapusan mo sa pamasahe papunta sa trabaho o ng mga anak mo sa eskuewela o sa perang hawak mo na nakahanda SANA para sa mga biglaang hindi masabing pagkakagastusan (emergency petty cash) malamang HINDI okay na bumili ka nang malakihan. Okay lang talaga iyon kung may ‘extra’ money ka pa bukod sa petty cash o dili kaya ay sa savings mo.

This is advisable for those who do groceries on a weekly basis because of a weekly income schedule. For a monthly basis, it is best of course to buy bigger packs or for weekly buyers,  if you are willing to sacrifice just for a week without some of the things you usually buy then go for it – like eating on a fastfood with the kids, buying phone  leather case, new socks or lipstick...not so urgent needs at all.

Ang payong ito ay para sa mga nag-gro-grocery lingguhan. Para sa buwanan mamili, mas makabubuti bumili ng malalaking pakete o kung kahit lingguhan ka mamili at ang isasakriisyo mo lang naman ay isang kain sa fastfood ninyo ng mga bata, pagbili ng bagong casing ng cellphone, bagong medyas o lipstick kaya…hindi naman talaga gaanong mahahalaga.

Shampoo/Conditioner :

I used to buy bottles of shampoo that I thought could last for almost a month of me and my daughters’ daily consumption, their dad uses men’s variety, he has a separate shampoo. I observed how fast it runs out, because it is open without a limit, my children or even I could have consumed more than we needed.  I noticed we all have this falling hair too – although shiny and silky smooth.

Not like when I  buy a dozen sachets, each sachet is good for two heads or even three of us (me and my two daughters) THAT  IS if you do not want to destroy your hair’s natural moisture with chemicals from over-shampooing.

I do not let my children use a sachet for each, everything that is too much might have an adverse effect like hair fall, dryness etc.  There is no denying that shampoos have chemicals too. It can be used daily but the amount must be managed.

Dati bumibili ako ng naka-botelyang shampoo na akala ko halos isang buwan tatagal sa aming mag-iina kahit arawan kami maligo, ibang shampoo naman ang gamit ng tatay nila. Inobserbahan ko, dahil sa ito ay tuloy-tuloy ang tulo walang limit, kapag natuwa ang mga bata o ako ay maaaring nakakakunsumo ng HIGIT PA SA KAILANGAN ng mga buhok namin. 

Napansin ko din na lahat kami madaling malagasan ng buhok – pero totoo makintab at madulas ito. Hindi katulad ng isang dosenang maliliit na pakete ang binili ko, ang isang sachet 30ml yata yun ay sapat na para sa isang araw na paligo naming tatlong mag-iina iyan ay dahil AYAW kong MASIRA ng KEMIKAL ng sobrang pag-sa-shampoo ang NATURAL na LANGIS ng buhok.

Hindi ko pinapayagang isang buong sachet ng shampoo sang gamitin ng bawat bata ko – syempre lahat ng sobra ay masamang dulot. Okay lang araw-araw pero kontrolado ang dami.

ToothPaste

I have tried buying the largest pack of toothpaste when I feel satisfied trying their free sampler and smaller packs, I do not know if the difference I noticed is INTENTIONAL on the side of the manufacturers – it seems that the larger packs have lower concentration of chemical contents (hindi kasing tapang nung maliliit).  The large pack of toothpaste appears JUST  like a wet flour scrubbing my teeth. But we had to consume it all before we could buy a different brand. Whew!

And since only a FEW can afford big packs it stays long on the shelf of the stores BETTER check their EXPIRY DATE.

Nasubukan ko nang bumili ng family-size na toothpaste nang masiyahan ako sa ipinamimigay na trial pack at nakabili na rin ako ng maliliit na pack, hindi ko alam kung ang kaibhan na napansin ko ay sadya sa panig ng mga gumagawa nito  - parang mas malabnaw ang timpla ng napakalaking pakete parang basang harina lang ang ipinahid ko sa ngipin ko habang nagse-sepilyo. Kinailangan pa naming ubusin yun bago kami nakapagpalit ng ibang brand. Hay!

At isa pa, dahil kakaunti lang ang nakakabili ng malakihan dahil sa presyong mabigat sa bulsa (kahit mura kung gramo ang pag-uusapan) ngunit biglaan namang bili, maaaring natatagalan ang mga ito sa stockroom ng tindahan dahil slow-moving nga ang ganitong paninda tignan din ang BEST BEFORE o EXPIRY DATE kung kailangan talagang malaki ang bilhin lalo at marami kayo sa pamilya.

Powdered Detergent Soap

It is best to buy in big packs (as long as you have ‘extra’ in your budget), because it is cheaper – as long as you have a SCOOPER to limit your use.  You might again over-indulge and find-out that the pack is empty in less than a week than your estimated  usage duration. Just make sure re-sealing the pack to maintain the scent and cleaning power. Huwag din itong painitan.

Mas makabubuting bumili ng malaking pakete KUNG my extra din lang sa budget dahil mas malaki ang diskuwento sa presyo – dapat lang sana may pansandok ka kahit yung sa gatas na scooper kung wala itong kasama pagbili mo. Baka masobrahan ka ng gamit at hindi mo mamalayan na wala nang laman bago pa ang expected mong pagkaubos nito (pang two weeks naging pang one week lang halimbawa). Tiyakin mo ding naisasara o naitutuping maigi ang pakete para manatili ang bango at bisa nito. Huwag din itong painitan.

Lotion

I grab this ‘SALE’ promo of one of the well-known direct marketing beauty brand and very happy to get the largest bottle of lotion with scent I really like.  The problem is, since I was the only one using it and I am not the religious type that applies all the time – it went a little watery and not smelling the same as before in more than two months.  Maybe due to hot weather and humidity. Once it is opened and the content grew lesser than the bottle there is a chance that air can circulate inside causing some changes.  The longer it is exposed and not consumed, the greater the chances to diminish quality.

Nung mag-SALE ang isang lotion ng isang beauty brand at tuwang-tuwa akong makabili ng isang malaking botelya ng lotion na gusto ko talaga ang amoy. Ag siste, dahil ako lang ang gumagamit (kasi hindi naman ito para tinimpla para sa skin ng mga bata) at hindi naman ako madalas magpahid tuwing pagkaligo kapag naisipan lang o kapag hindi mainit ang panahon (kasi nakakaasim iyon),ayun natunas yata sa init ng panahon at sa tagal napapa-stock. Hindi na rin siya sing bango ng dati. Dapat talaga kapag isa lag gagamit huwag malalaki ang binibili. Parang na-eexpire din. Nabuksan na kasi at nagkaroon ng puwang sa hangin nung mabawasan na. Nakakaapekto yun sa laman. Kaya mas matagal expose at hindi nauubos ganun ang resulta.

That is why wholesale/big packs of mass items in a single packaging is NOT so practical at all if the household consumes less. For bigger household who consumes MORE, it is better because the packaging is an added cost to manufacturer – larger packs saves them an expense that is why it is CHEAPER and always contains more mass than retail items.

Kaya ng mga malakihan/maramihan na pagbili isang item na sa isang malaking lagayan lang ay hindi gaanong praktikal  kung ang inyong sambahayan ay nakagagamit lamang ng bahagya.  Para sa mas madaming miyembro ng isang tahanan, okay yun dahil sa ang pabalat o pakete ay dagdag gastos sa mga pabrika nakatitipid sila sa malakihan kaya naibibigay nila ito sa merkado sa mas malaking diskuwento sa presyo at mas madami pa itong laman.

Lotion must be kept in a place far from sun’s rays in a cool place if you will still opt to buy largest pack for savings and you have extra money. Better choose the squeeze top bottles like Jergens’ than the directly-opened ones. The squeeze-top limits the exposure of the remaining lotion in on air etc. because what comes-out in the air is what you will need at the moment unlike the open-hole bottle – air comes in and out of it.

Ang lotion ay kailangang itabi sa malilim at malamig-lamig na lagayan sa hindi direktang nasisikatan ng araw kung malakihan pa rin ang bibilhin mo at kung may sobra din lang naman sa budget mo. Piliin yung de-pindot na botelya katulad ng sa Jergen’s kaysa yung butas agad, nalilimitahan nito ang pagkabilad sa hangin ung natitirapang laman sa loob –yung gagamitin mo lang ang inilalabas nung pampiga.

The canned Nivea cream(lotion) brand (from Saudi) is also quite nice – it is super-milky-creamy looks like very little water content at all – when my father works abroad he sent us cans of it, and however it became exposed as we open for use (my aunts and I), it remains the same. I recommend it the brand too for making my skin silky-smooth. I just can not find that same concentration in cans I buy here in the Philippines, or they really changed the content? I am not sure, correct me if I am wrong... I hope to find and use it again.

Inirerekomeda ko din ang Nivea cream (lotion) brand na nakalata (may foil seal na nakadikit mbuti sa ibabaw, hindi nakapatong lang) ay maganda ding gamitin. Napaka-creamy at parang wala halos halong tubig sa paggawa nito. Ang nasubukan ko ay iyong mismong galing Saudi na padala dati ng tatay ko. Kahit nabuksan na ito tuwing gagamit kami ng mga tita ko nananatili pa din ang consistency nito. Hindi siya lumalabnaw. Yun ang gamit ko simula nine years old pa lang ako. Hindi na lang ako makakita ng kasing creamy nito dito sa atin (ewan kung may nabago sa timpla nila-hindi ako sigurado, itama nyo lang kung mali ako) o dahil sa Saudi nga kasi iyon nabili nuon. Sana nga makakita uli ako ng nakalatang ganuon.

Chocolate/Coffee Drink:

The kids really love that chocolate taste that they wanted to put fifty-fifty water-choco powder mixture since the BIG pack is open for them to indulge. If we are to mix them a cup, we are just teaching dependence on us especially older children who can be trained to carefully handle thermos with boiled water. On the other hand, we can also teach them discipline (on the proper amount to mix) IF you still prefer buying large packs.

Gustong-gusto ng mga bata ang tsokolate kaya kpag nagtimpla halos si Angel Reign 50-50 water-choco powder kapag malaking pakete ang nasa garapon ko. Kung tayo naman lagi anng magtitimpla para sa kanila kalian pa sila matuto – nakdepende na lang lagi sa atin lalo na kung malaki na at kaya nang turuang maingat na maglagay ng mainit na tubig mula sa thermos.  Sa isang banda, maaari din naman natin silang maturua ng disiplina (sa pagtimpla ng tamang sukat) KUNG ang bibilhin pa rin ay malaking pack.

Aside from consuming our budget, it also consumes their health. Even it (energy choco drinks) is a health drink – SUGAR is always there, and everything that is too much will not be beneficial.

Bukod sa napapabilis ang pagkaubos nito, pati ang kalusugan nila nalalagay sa peligro.  Kahit pa sabihing energy-drink ang  pinrosesong tsokolate at may mga bitamina ito at iba pang sustansiya, may ASUKAL pa din ito na maaaring makasama KAPAG sumobra.

A friend who used to gulp every cup of coffee in the homes he visit for his field work – you know the Filipino style of entertaining visitors with snacks or drinks – became diabetic unconsciously! Mind you, he had an intake of around five to seven (5-7) cups a day, humiliated to turn-down every home’s hospitality. I became conscious of my family’s health and never allow them to have their sweet beverage (coffee or chocolate) more than BREAKFAST time and I chose to buy pre-calculated or single/retail packs, it gives them a limit on how many spoons (just the solo-pack’s content) they have to put on their cup or glass unlike when I had large pack in a canister.

May kaibigan nga akong dati lagging nagka-kape sa lahat ng bahay na dalawin niya dahil sa work niya ( ‘di ba likas sa ating mga Pinoy ang maghain kapag may bisita kahit kape lang) HINDI NIYA namalayang diabetic na pala siya.  Biruin mo, nakakainom siya g 5-7 baso ng kape sa isang araw, huwag lang mapahiya ang mga nagmamagandanng-loob.  Mula nung marinig ko iyon, na-conscious na ako sa kalusugan ng pamilya ko at hindi na ako pumapayag na magtimpla sila ng matamis na inumin ng hindi ALMUSAL lamang at yung mga saktong-isang-timpla lamang ang binibili ko – isang dosena para maiwasan ang over-timpla (retail packs). Nalilimitahan sila sa pagtitimpla.

And if you do not have tighter container –may end up with swarm of ants marching or with lumps of choco-powder rocks, it melts when diluted BUT the taste?

At isa pa, kung wala kang mahigpit na lagayan, langgam at pagbubuo-buo ang mga haharapin mong problema sa malakihang pakete. Yung buo-buo natutunaw kapag naihalo sa mainit na tubig hindi ko lang napansin kung naiba lasa.

The container matters – if you still opt to buy giant packs, choose a canister where you can put the whole foil pack inside then fold it with a clothes pin or a pack clip to seal before you re-cap the container. The taste is locked as well as the freshness. Avoid transferring the contents from the pack.

Mahalaga ang lagayan kung kailangan mo talagang bumili ng malaki. Pumili ka ng garapon na kayang maipasok nang buo yung foil pack sa loob nito para hindi na siya aalisin dito at itutupi ng pasara gamit ang panipit (sipit ng sinampay ay pwede). Napananatili nito ang lasa at maayos na kabuuan ng tsokolate. Iwasang isalin ang laman sa garapon.

Some choco drinks come in large containers of their own for free. The manufacturers consider the freshness and other factors on their choice of jars, canisters etc. – it may be a BETTER choice.

Yung ibang nabibiling malalaking pack ay may sariling garapon, ayos yun kasi sadyang iniangkop ng gumagawa ng produkto yung lagayan pabor sa produkto nila upang tumagal ito at manatili ang lasa.

Pantyliners/Sanitary Pads/Diapers

They are but okay to buy in bulk aside from getting usually two pieces FREE per half dozen pack – it can be stocked without any major concern with the quality. Jumbo diaper packs saves a lot too – it becomes cheaper when computed per piece compared to smaller packs. 

Okay lang bumili niyan ng maramihan bukod sa karaniwang may libre itong dalawang piraso sa bawat pack – naiistock ito ng walang gaanong alalahanin sa kalidad kahit tumagal sa taguan. Yung mga maramihang diaper ay higit na mura – kapag kinuwenta ito ng per piraso. 

I recommed EQ DRY brand sa baby diapers (nai-try ko na yung mamahaling leading brand pati yung imported na Mama P---) – iyan lang talaga ang da best sa napasubukan ko na sa mga girls ko nung baby pa sila.  Mga two-three wettings kung tama pa pagka-alala ko, bago siya mag-feel wet to touch kaya komportable si baby. Walang nagbubuo-buong gel na maaring lumabas sa pad kapag nalibang ka at hindi mo napansin sobrang puno na pala. Parang nakakatakot kasi iyon para sa baby girls kasi baka ma-infect sila kapag naka-penetrate iyon.  Mas mura yung largest pack nila kung may budget din lang. Kuha pa ang larawang iyan 2010, seven years old na si Riana ngayon, pero ate niya yang nasa litrato – nasa background lang yung diaper.

That is why it is always good to have savings, because as long as you can give it back (to savings again after payday) – you can spend some to buy wholesale packs of items like diaper etc., you will no longer need to give-up some of the things your family needs too while taking advantage of the discount and savings a brand offers.

Kaya nga ba mas mabuting laging may naiipon, kasi basta maibabalik mo din agad (sa savings pagka- suweldo o kahit ilang hati man) magagamit mo muna ang iba sa pagbili ng mga wholesale pack gaya ng diaper na talagang malaki ag savings mo. Hindi mo na kailangang mag-sakripisyo ng iba pang kasama sa budget mo na kailangan din naman ng pamilya mo habang sinusunggaban mo ang mga special discount offers.

One more thing friends, if you have to TRY using a particular brand or product even a rice to cook DO NOT BUY yet in bulk unless you have tried or tasted  it. No matter how big the discount is eve it is BUY ONE, TAKE ONE and it is your first time to use the product – do not take the risk that you may not be HAPPY how it turns out and you got no choice but to consume it, it is such a big waste at all…

Isa pa nga pala mga kaibigan, kung hindi nyo pa nasubukan ang isang brand ng bagay o produkto o kahit pan-saing na bigas pa iyan –hinay-hinay lang po HUWAG bumili ng marami o pakyawan AGAD-AGAD lalo at hindi pa natikman. Kahit murang-mura pa iyan. Mayroon ding ibang manghihikayat na may motibo naman pala – kagaya ng kapag nakapag-refer may libreng makukuha (hindi naman ito sasabihin sa iyo). Tiyakin muna. Mabuti kung may tingi, yun ang subukan hindi na maisasauli kung magka-problema at madami.

I just listed the pros and cons and it would be really up to you depending on your budget, schedule of income and situation to decide whether to go for retail or big packs.  But I really really wish to have given you some of the most important tips I have learned from the ‘University of Life’ we all live-in.  As we all know, NOT ALL LESSONS are learned from school but in actuality.  REAL LIFE experience is a GREAT teacher, agree friends?

Itinala ko lamang ang mga dapat mong malaman (maaaring ang iba ay alam mo na din) mananatiling nasa iyo pa rin ang huling desisyon batay sa budget, iskedyul ng suweldo, at sitwasyon mo kung alin ba ang angkop sa pamilya mo ang tingi man o pakyawan. Hinahangad ko lamang na sana ay nakapag-bigay ako sa iyo ng ilang mahahalagang paaalala at rekomedasyon na natutunan ko sa ‘Unibersidad ng Buhay’ na kinaroroonan natin ngayon. Gaya po nang alam na nating lahat, hindi lahat ng leksyion ay sa paaralan lag natutunan kundi maging MAS  sa tunay na buhay. Hindi nga ba at ang mga karanasan ang pinaka-mabuting guro.

Feel free to comment or share your tips about this topic or link your related post, if you are a blogger like me.  Let us all help each other learn and grow. Share whatever  knowledge/experience we have and help moms, wives, and all women live our daily lives easier and more practical.

Malaya po kayong mag-komento o mag-bahagi ng mga tips nyo o link sa inyong post na may kaugnayan dito sa tinalakay ko dito.  Magtulungan po tayo na matuto at umunlad. Ibahagi ang kaalaman/karanasan na mayroon tayo upang matulungan natin ang kapwa ina, maybahay at lahat ng kababaihan na mapadali at gawing praktikal ang pag-araw araw nating  buhay.

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