From my kitchen: How bulk spices ruined my budget meal plan
In my experience, making your own spice blends is a great way to save on budget meals. I bought a huge bag of cumin to cut costs, but it lost its aroma in just a couple of months. My chili ended up tasting flat, and I had to throw it out. Your mileage may vary, but take this with a grain of salt: buy smaller amounts or store spices properly to keep them fresh. It's a lesson I learned the hard way.
Bulk spices betray us all.
Get a few small mason jars and keep them in a dark cupboard, it makes a huge difference. I had the same thing happen with chili powder and it ruined a whole batch of soup. Now I just buy the tiny containers even though it hurts to pay more per ounce. Feels stupid but it's cheaper than wasting food later.
Heard that oxygen and light are what kills spice flavor over time. Using mason jars in a dark spot really does keep them fresh longer. Sucks to pay more upfront, but better than ruining a whole pot of soup lol.