Savings At Sam's Club

Frequently I am asked if it is beneficial to join Sam's Club (or other wholesale clubs). Almost sixteen years ago, my good friend and neighbor, Peg, had membership. Since we spent a great deal of time with each other, she would let me tag along with her to Sam's once a month or so. I would select what I needed and give her cash for my items. At that time, there was no need for my family to spend extra for membership. Eventually she moved away and we realized we could save enough on photo development, tires, milk, yeast, peanut butter crackers and other items to more than cover the yearly membership. We joined and have since benefited from the inexpensive gasoline at the pumps that were eventually added to this location.

When contemplating joining a warehouse club, consider the following:

1. How convenient is the location to your home, work and/or other retailers you frequent?
2. What items do you anticipate purchasing at the location? (Most warehouse clubs will let you browse if you are considering membership.) How do the prices for these items compare to those of other retailers?
3. Is fuel available and how do the prices per gallon compare to other stations in your area?
4. What is the cost for membership and how long will it take to re-coop the initial cost. (If you shop each week and save $1, it would take 40 weeks to break even.)
5. Do you qualify for a discounted membership. (Some employers offer membership for $35, others may cover the cost of a card for an employee responsible for purchasing office or other items needed for the business.)

If you determine it's not cost-effective to join, ask friends if they would allow you to shop with them occasionally or ask for a single-day membership, which will add a 5% surcharge to your total.

As you shop, don't forget to compare prices! Is that huge tub of peanut butter a real deal? It may be cheaper than smaller jars purchased at full price, however it will me much more expensive than jars bought during a sale, using coupons. (FYI. Sam's and Costco do NOT accept manufacture's coupons...BJs does.)

Prices are certainly not the same as they were when we joined more than a decade ago, yet I have noticed trends in what is a "good deal". We have enjoyed great savings on:

• acetaminophen
• apple sauce (transfer #10 can into smaller containers, freeze & defrost as needed)
• batteries (purchase large packages, NOT labeled for individual sale)
• birthday cakes (still more expensive than home-baked though)
• clearance items (clothing & other...price will end in $.81 or $.91)
• gasoline
• hamburger patties (frozen)
• milk (not organic, which is more expensive)
• peanut butter crackers
• pepperoni
• photo development
• pretzels
• romaine lettuce
• rotisserie chicken
• take-out pizza
• tires
• yeast (2# for a few dollars)