It's nearly time to buy those bulk foods.

This week I signed up for the two bulk food websites I've been considering, and will wait to see if I get access to any coupons.  If you're interested in what I've decided, read on...


Honeyville Grain... cheap shipping, more-expensive goods

After I signed up with their coupon club, they sent an email saying they would let me know when the next sale was, which happens every 4-6 weeks.  Rumor has it that this is 10% off, in rare cases possibly 15%.

I asked them again whether their lentils will sprout (hey, some people treat them, not all will sprout), since they ignored my email a month or so ago.  I need me some lentil sprouts!

Rainy Day Foods... cheap goods, more-expensive shipping

I made an online account, and asked them again what their bulk shipping rate would be, since they also ignored my previous email.

Their website says to make the order and submit it, and THEN they will tell you what the bulk shipping rate is (and they would not make the order until you approve it), because prices fluctuate too much for them to give you quotes earlier than your order.

Who will I pick?

My mom did some price-checking up in her area, and I had a few people looking around, and nobody could find anything local that was better than the prices I had found.

So, I am definitely going with Costco (the one near my brother) for basmati rice, and then Costco (near me) for flour too as needed.

I'll visit the LDS Home Storage Center in Sacramento for black beans on my next trip through that city, and possibly for some dry milk too (I use it in yogurt).

Home Depot will be my stop for food-safe buckets (I have enough for 2014's dry goods, but not enough yet for the long-term storage).  No Superpails from Rainy Day foods!  I may put a few of the filled mylar bags in a couple of the large plastic tubs we used for moving, to save on some costs here, though it would just be a one-time cost of $5 per 5-gallon bucket.

Amazon.com will provide the mylar bags and oxygen absorbers for the long-term storage.

Rainy Day Foods will get my business for the popcorn, which is financially worth it even with the more expensive shipping... Honeyville doesn't sell it in bulk.

I am leaning toward Honeyville for the rest, but I will wait until I get their next coupon/sale, then make a mock Rainy Day order to see what the total price would be, and make my decision then.  It's close enough to the beginning of 2014 that I feel comfortable making the purchase whenever the next sale hits.

I'm getting pretty excited to see the plan in action!