While reading a recent copy of the Food Network Magazine, I found an article about this online restaurant wholesaler. Now, some things come in quantities much too large for me, but almost everything on this site is significantly cheaper than you can find at any store (even places like Costco).
Penny Pinching Tip #5: For non-perishable and consumable items, shopping online can lead to amazing deals.
My recent purchases include:
Plastic deli containers: If you're like me and cook a lot, you go through food storage containers pretty quickly; they start to smell, crack or get stained and then they go in the garbage. I bought 50 deli containers and lids for about $12 total, which is about how much I spend on 1/5 that amount.
Foil pans: I cook a lot of Shabbat meals, so I go through foil pans pretty quickly too. If you buy them in bulk here, they are only about 20 cents a piece!
Other items that are super cheap if you buy them here: plastic cutlery, foil, mixing bowls and other kitchen implements, parchment paper, etc.
Even with shipping, it's well worth it to buy these types of items online (if you have room to store them), as you can get incredible deals, sales and so on. Buying online can also be good for specialty items like spices, gluten free flour, etc.
Label: tip
