Is Sam's worth the membership?

[tonilea]

I buy the big bags of shredded cheese, repackage and freeze it. The very best I can ever get shredded cheese is 1.25 (and I haven't gotten that in a while) for 8oz. I can buy the 5 lb bags for about $10. So, it is about $2 per pound.

 

[rnorwo1]

We are a family of 4.(2 teenage boys) I go every week. 5-6 gallons of milk, bread, oj, pasta, sauce, meats, paper products and shower gel. I spend between $80 -100 each week. Can't imagine NOT shopping at Sam's. I get my moneys worth renewing within the first month.

Oh my gosh, PLEASE don't tell me that's what teenage boys eat every week! I have THREE boys! I have recently started doubling certain recipes that they like, I can't imagine when they're all teenagers. Better start saving now...

For us it isn't, I bought a membership last year because I had a promo to get $10 GC with purchase of a membership. I shopped there about 4 times or so during that year. However, I found a deal on like fatwallet where I could renew for FREE and get a premium membership so I did that. I've been once so far under the new membership.

I think it depends on how much you buy and what you buy.

I've had a Sam's membership for awhile and I don't think it is right fro everyone.

Stuff I buy there on a regular basis:
gas for car, contact lenses or glasses, berries when in season, used to buy bottled water there when I drank it

If you are interested consider taking a friend with you and share the membership fee. I am the second person on my mom's account which saves a ton of money up front. Also find a friend who already has a membership and go shop with them once to see if it is worth it to you.

I didn't know there were specials, or ways to get on other people's membership... .I'm going to check out some of those options, thanks! I did just have the $40 membership and felt at one point it wasn't even worth that, but it sounds like from all the previous posts it is definitely worth just reconsidering. I really haven't studied prices in the last few years, since we had kids and going to the store became about how fast you could get in and out!

Thanks for all the tips, I can't wait to see how our Sam's compares.... and I may have to get a few WDW cards when I'm there (I just read the other thread going about those!!)

 

[Mixie]

We've had a membership for years. Diapers were a big savings back when we needed them.

PP's have mentioned some things we save on already. Some other items we save on:

Vitamins
Toothpaste
Feminine needs
Coffee

But probably one of the big reasons we go:

Peanut butter. I can get a 5lb can of Peter Pan for less than $10. And let me tell you, DD and DH eat the stuff like it's going out of style.

 

[LilyWDW]

We find that the membership easily pays for itself... and we are only 2 people.

Now, I refuse to shop at our walmart if at all possible. The meats and produce never taste good and they have a horrid selection. I mostly shop at my local grocery store (Ingles) with a bit done at specialty shops (the Asian Market and Earth Fare). So on some things, Sam's Club is a great savings for us.

We usually buy:
Toilet Paper
Paper Towels
Dog Treats
Pig's Ears for the dog
Meats
Cleaning supplies

I have also gotten great deals on:
Frozen Meals (got 2 packs of PF Changs for the price of 1)
Chicken Broth
Canned Vegetables
A new printer

and much more.

 

[Mary•Poppins]

We really save a lot of money at Sam's Club. I tend to shop there just as much as my regular grocery store ... however, I have three growing boys and sometimes, I don't think I can keep enough food in the house!

I have also found that their produce is SO much better than our local grocery store ... and a lot cheaper (sometimes 1/2 the price).

As my boys get bigger, I'm not sure if I would see it as much of a deal.

 

[lurkernj]

I'm like the person with the teenage boys, I have two also and buy 4-5 gallons of milk per week. In A&P it is $4.09/gal, in Sams it's 2.29. That alone makes it worth it.

I also like their rotisserie chickens, gigantic muffins, bread, pineapples and some of their other fruits(gotta know your prices though), half/half, whipped cream, eggs, fiberone bars, protein bars, water, dog food. That's my list of staples, plus we always get some variety of snacks, or if we're attending an event or having one, they have great desserts/appetizers. It's mainly about knowing your prices, some things are great and some are a ripoff.

 

[rnorwo1]

I'm like the person with the teenage boys, I have two also and buy 4-5 gallons of milk per week. In A&P it is $4.09/gal, in Sams it's 2.29. That alone makes it worth it.

I also like their rotisserie chickens, gigantic muffins, bread, pineapples and some of their other fruits(gotta know your prices though), half/half, whipped cream, eggs, fiberone bars, protein bars, water, dog food. That's my list of staples, plus we always get some variety of snacks, or if we're attending an event or having one, they have great desserts/appetizers. It's mainly about knowing your prices, some things are great and some are a ripoff.

I wonder if their milk is the same as Walmart's, which is hormone free? I know there's no conclusive evidence on it, but I try to err on the safe side and get hormone free products/meats when possible.

 

[ancestry]

I too let my membership expire several years ago. We have both Sam's Club and BJ's in our area but I have a 45 minute to an hour drive to get to either of them whereas Wal-Mart, Hannaford, and Shaws are within 15 minutes of my house.

The problem I found with the membership stores is that I usually have a budget for groceries each week (usually around $200 to feed six people). I can't go to a membership store with $200 each week and leave with food for well balanced meals for 7 days. I might be able to buy a 10 pound bag of broccoli florets but then there isn't any money left to buy a bag of chicken, etc. Anytime I walked into a membership store I would spend $400-$500 and would still need to go to a regular grocery store to buy items on top of that.

What I am trying to say is that the bottom line is while we may have saved a few dollars here or there on specific items I was spending WAY more money than I normally would for our grocery budget. Plus considering the drive we have to BJs or Sam's Club, the cost of gas alone makes it not worth it anymore.

 

[WelovMickey!]

I think it worth it. I got a new membership last month. I know the prices at Walmart so comparing the prices at Sams was easy when I shopped my first time.
These items were really a good buy: milk, sugar, cheese, sliced cheese, eggs half-half, bacon, lunch meat, apples, whole chickens, hamburger meat, hot dogs, frozen fish, green peppers, fresh mixed lettuce and a few more I can't think of now.

I don't do the coupon thing but you can't get most of those items with coupons. I have a family of five and those items above have lasted a whole month plus a little extra.

I also want to add that we shop once a month with the exception of getting a few these thru out the month. So that is probably another reason why it works for us.

 

[princessnoelly]

WE have both a Sam's and Costco- this was the first year we did it. We joined Sams so I could buy a rain barrel and for our dog food (Our Costco doesn't sell Iams anymore). However, I find the sams prices to be higher than Costco and some of their items to be of lesser quality.

I agree with many of the PP that with coupons it's always less at the grocery store. We buy our Milk at Costco because it's less than $2 a gallon and half n half.

I also HATE how I'm chased by Sam's Employees and outside vendors. One day I was hit up by the Membership people to increase our membership type, Discover card people, Dish TV, Cell phone company and a window/siding company all within 10 minutes and 1/4 of the store. That really turned me off to Sams- leave me alone and let me buy my dog food people!