You’d think because I write about smart shopping, I wouldn’t have a price club “problem.” Yet as a new member, it took several visits to get my bulk shopping under control. Enough olive oil to bathe in? A lifetime supply of cheese puffs? C’mon, how can you stop yourself? But you should, in fact, stop yourself. Buying in bulk can be a cost-effective way to stock up on essentials, but there are pitfalls. High levels of debt, for instance, can hurt your wallet and your credit scores. Here are some rules of thumb when shopping at wholesale clubs like CostcoRead: What you need to know about the new Costco credit card 1. Consider your spending habits Wholesale price clubs aren’t for everyone. Before joining, compare the membership fee with how often you might shop there, how much you might save and your personal circumstances. Shoppers who are able to plan menus in advance or who are buying for a large family can get a lot out of a price club membership, whereas single people who eat out a lot probably won’t.

2. Pay attention to price To avoid overspending or buying things that spoil before you get through the box, make sure you are a, only buying what you need, b, buying things you will genuinely use and c, buying something that’s a great deal. Also, while most items purchased in bulk are well-priced, be mindful of unit prices so you can make informed decisions when shopping at your price club rather than other retailers. 3. Remember the ‘house’ brand Don’t turn your nose up at the “house” brand. In some cases, the products really measure up. 4. Shop during off-peak hours To dodge crowds and lines at the register, try to avoid going on weekends (unless you show up right when they open the doors) and in the afternoon and evening hours before a holiday weekend or a storm. Solar plane begins journey across the Atlantic(1:04) In a historic first attempt to fly around the world in a solar-powered plane, Solar Impulse 2 began its journey across the Atlantic after it took off from New York.

The flight to Spain is expected to take pilot Bertrand Piccard four days non-stop. Deciding what to buy — & what to skip • Cleaning Products Liquid detergents and soaps tend to become less effective over time, so buy them in smaller containers at the grocery or big box store instead of in bulk. Powdered cleaning products typically have an unlimited shelf life, however, so if you like powder, go for it. Before investing in 400 soft gels of fish oil, take a moment to calculate how long it will take you to get through them all before the expiration date on the bottle. • Baby products New parents: try to avoid going overboard at the price club. Forty dollars for 180 diapers seems like a great deal until your baby grows out of them halfway through the lot. Wipes will eventually dry out, so you may also want to refrain from buying a box of 1,100 when potty training is right around the corner. With baby formula, remember that your baby will start eating solid foods soon enough, so all that formula could end up expiring before your baby drinks it all.

• Beauty products If more than one person in the family uses a particular item or you go through the item quickly, like body lotion, shower gel or hair conditioner, a bulk purchase can be a smart purchase. kenmore progressive upright vacuum cleaner with inteli-cleanHowever, if the night cream that only you use is available in a 32 o.z. vat … maybe not. samsung navibot s bagless vacuum cleaner reviewFace creams are really at their best when used within a three to six month period, and that’s a lot of cream to slather on in such a short period. vax u87-ma-p bagless upright pet vacuum cleanerFor sun products, SPF is most effective if used in a year so.

If the whole family is using that oversized pump bottle all summer, great. Maybe wait to get it at the drugstore. • Fresh produce The beauty product rule also applies to fresh produce. If the whole family loves red seedless grapes, by all means, get the 7-pound bag. But if they’re just for you? It’s a good idea to skip it. • Perishable snacks They might be cheaper in bulk, but unless you’re having a party tonight or tomorrow, these pretzels, chips or cheese puffs can go stale before you get through the bag. Unless you have a large family or a kid who puts ketchup on everything, that humungous squeeze bottle of ketchup could possibly last at least a year. Best to go for the smaller bottle at the grocery store so what you’re spreading on your burger is fresh. • Cereal, bread, soda, canned goods, eggs & milk These items are generally similar to those at your local grocery store, so compare prices, factoring in any coupons, and think hard about how quickly you might go through the item.

• Sundry food items Brown rice has a shelf life of about six months. Are you going to get through that gazillion-pound bag in time? Spices last six to 12 months, so consider that before you throw a 32 o.z. jar of cumin in your cart. Same goes for olive oil, whose shelf life is about six months. • Office supplies This category is hit or miss. While the prices on basic office supplies are usually better at your price club, you can find deep seasonal discounts at office supply and big box stores. Also, do you need 36 pens? This Baby Was Born With the Face and Body of an Old Man How to start a cleaning business Who a cleaning business is suited to How much it costs to start a cleaning business? Cleaning business insurance requirements and rules Test your business idea (opens in a new tab) Register a company (opens in a new tab) Apply for a business loan (opens in a new tab) A cleaning business is a popular choice for sole traders. In theory all you need is a sponge, a bottle of Flash and some good old elbow grease.

The reality is often far more complicated. Cleaning businesses cover everything from one cleaner with a couple of domestic properties to maintain each week, to a large commercial business with thousands of staff on the books. There are domestic cleaners, office cleaners, hospital and school cleaners and then let’s not forget the other niches in this industry such as carpet, window and vehicle cleaners. The cleaning industry, sadly,  has been affected as much as any other sector by the recession; according to a report published by industry analysts Plimsoll in May 2010, 382 companies in the industry had lost more than a third of their value in the space of a year. However an abundance of opportunities remain. According to the Cleaning and Support Services Association (CSSA), the cleaning and support services industry is worth around £10bn, and employs approximately 820,000 people. The industry is traditionally dominated by small organisations, with around a third of all UK cleaning staff working within companies with no more than nine employees.

Action point: Need a loan to start a business of your own? See how we can help here and here Who is a cleaning business suited to? It’s an industry for perfectionists. Cleaning is all about making places look presentable and tidy, so if you’re not motivated enough to make things spotless it is likely to filter through to your staff and company ethics. You’ll also need to instil confidence in your clients, so good customer relations skills are essential. It doesn’t matter if the majority of the work is done when clients aren’t at home or out of the office – the point is they have to trust you implicitly if they’re going to hand over the keys to their property, so first impressions count. Running a cleaning business of any real size will require impeccable administrative skills. If you want to make any real profit you will need to be juggling hundreds or even thousands of clients, so meticulous appointment records must be kept. If you’re a little nervous about your own business skills then a franchise might be well-suited to you.

The cleaning industry is a popular one for franchisors and there are a lot of opportunities out there to buy a readymade and branded model in this area (you can browse if there are any cleaning franchise opportunities that suit you here in our franchise directory). However, if your business really takes off you may find a franchise too restrictive for your liking. You’ll have to weigh up all the pros and cons before deciding to go it alone completely or opt for a franchise. Buying a franchise with Time For You, one of the biggest domestic cleaning franchises in the UK, typically costs around £12,000. Sarah Jackson, an entrepreneur now running successful care and networking companies in Milton Keynes, was a key franchisee between 2005 and 2011. She told us: “I’d definitely recommend [the franchising] system because the back-up is there if you need it .The formula is exact, and if you follow it the business flies.” Click on page two below to find out how much it costs to start a cleaning business…