Bulk buying Scots throw money down the pan by stocking up on loo roll

23rd January 2018

The majority of consumers are regular bulk buyers.

A fifth of people don't use the items they buy

Three quarters of unused bulk buys end up in the bin, costing consumers £724.36 each year.

Consumers across Scotland are embracing bulk buying as a money-saving strategy with the majority (81 per cent) regularly looking for opportunities to stock-up. However, despite stashing away essentials such as toilet roll, washing powder and toothpaste, 13 per cent don't use the items they buy in volume.

New research from [url=http://TopCashback.co.ukTopCashback.co.uk[/url] the UK's most generous cashback site, shows the main reason for bulk buying is to save money (81 per cent). Yet, consumers are spending £43.88 a week buying items in large volumes and typically see £13.93 of that go to waste, totalling £724.36 each year.

A fear of being caught short, especially in the bathroom, sees Scots stocking up on toilet paper (92 per cent), washing powder (62 per cent), toothpaste (39 per cent), shampoo and conditioner (37 per cent) and the classic food staple, pasta (32 per cent).

However, the research also finds more than a quarter (26 per cent) of consumers are shopping blind as they buy items in bulk without checking what is needed or running low at home. A third (33 per cent) admit to buying items they only think they'll need because they are on offer and six per cent buy items they don't need at all. As a result, 13 per cent of people don’t use the items they buy.

Products bought in bulk most commonly go unused because the items have been forgotten about (63 per cent) or they have passed their expiration date (63 per cent). Around one in 10 (13 per cent) consumers have also had to ditch items because they had no storage space, while six per cent simply had no use for the product. Consequently, three-quarters (75 per cent) of unused items end up in the bin.

The overbuying also leads to 11 per cent of Scots regretting bulk buying and seven per cent feeling they are financially worse off by doing so.

Natasha Rachel Smith, Consumer Affairs Editor for TopCashback.co.uk said: "Bulk-buying is always listed as one of the best ways to save money, and often it can be. However, consumers are finding themselves in a false economy with a huge amount of goods going in the bin and cash down the drain. Bulk-buying is great for items such as toilet roll and none perishables - if you have the space - but it’s best to check what things you actually need before going online or heading to the supermarket.

"Although it may take a bit more time, writing a shopping list and sticking to it will help keep spending under control, as will looking for discount codes and vouchers. When it comes to online shopping, cashback sites also help people save a lot of money as you get a percentage of what you spend back."

Top 10 bulk buys in Scotland

1. Toilet paper (92%)

2. Washing powder (62%)

3. Toothpaste (39%)

4. Shampoo and conditioner (37%)

5. Pasta (32%)

6. Baked beans (28%)

6. Freezer foods (28%)

8. Soap (27%)

8. Rice (27%)

10. Bin bags (27%