People ask all the time if I shop at Sams Club or Costco. The answer is…. sometimes. The first few kids we had we shopped at Sams club all the time. I always bought in bulk just like my Mom had with my large family growing up. But after I started couponing and paying attention the cost per ounce on items, I quickly found that I was paying less at the grocery stores with coupons. For 5 years we didn’t have a membership. My parents still had theirs and occasionally I would tag along to see what I was missing, especially on Saturdays to get the samples. 🙂
These are the things that I buy personally at Sams Club because I think they are cheaper.
1. Gas. At our Sams Club here the gas is a good $.10 cheaper. This would be my #1 reason to have a card again.
2. Twin Mattresses. Weird I know, but in our experience we have gotten the best deals consistently at Sams on mattresses for our kids. If you figure a mattress and box spring for 7 kids we have bought a few! I always do my research and we always find the best deal at Sams Club. We paid $119 for a nice pillow top twin in June.
3. Honey. We use A LOT of honey around here. Price per ounce Sams has the best deal. Plus, there is not always coupons for honey and when there is, they are the more expensive brands.
4. Dinner Rolls. I buy the big bags of 25 for around $2.50. We use these all year long for school lunches. They are the perfect size for sandwiches for the kids. Probably not worth the membership alone, but I always grab a bag when we are in.
5. Tilapia Fillets. Price per pound I can’t beat the price for the individually wrapped frozen tilapia fillets. We eat a lot of fish so I watch for it to go on sale, I can’t beat the everyday price at Sams.
Do you shop at the warehouse stores? What do you buy?
Stay tuned for the 5 things I will NOT buy….
Josette says
The things I buy at Sams Club are flour:
1. 25lb’s Of Flour…(I bake alot)
2. Butter..(I bake alot)
3. pre cut salad mix..(I eat alot..:)
4. Potato Chips(I can get 2 LARGE bags of chips 2 for 5.28..I have Teens)
5. Dog Food…(I have 2 Great Pyrennes)
Cher@Mom and More says
Great list – I am actually debating back and forth about getting a membership.
Rachel says
Meat! The 10lbs of hamburger is like $2.79 a lb and it has very little fat, I do not even have to drain any oil off so I get all meat and pretty much no fat! I’ve notice that if I buy it in the value pack it has more grease so I tend to only buy the 10lb rolls. I have 6 kiddos plus a hungry husband but I still am able to get 12-13 packages of meat from a 10lb roll and all of our dishes have PLENTY of meat in them! The sometimes mark stuff down too but even when its not marked down, I prefer the freshness of Sams and will not buy meat anywhere else.
lisa says
We do not have medical insurance. Everyone in town charges me 90.00 for one of my meds. Sams sells it to me for 35.00. Yes, I paid 70.00 with a coupon this year for my premium membership but the savings alone on my prescription is great. We often find great deals on marked down clothing and shoes and the markdowns on after Christmas toys is fantastic. Meanwhile we buy milk and bagged salad weekly. I am an extreme money saver , coupon user and Sams definitely has a place in my budget.
margaret says
apparently can get prescriptions without membership however.
Amber says
their bday cakes. Half sheet, etc. Cheapest all around for about $16
margaret says
we use swiffer stuff and name brand dish detergent (gets plates cleanest without prescrubbing) –both way cheaper than in store (even with coupons). Sandwich meat for the type we like is most often cheaper at Sams than even on sale and with coupons at grocery stores. Our bread is cheaper unless you get a B1G1 sale at Randalls (way out of the way for us). Spices in bulk are also certainly cheaper by a good bit. Gourmet cheeses (which are never discounted and coupon friendly) are always cheaper at Sams. Also fruit, baby carrots, and many meats (unless you hit a great sales week for what you want in the grocery store).
Beth says
I live in Milwaukee, WI and at our Sam’s Club they have Skim Milk $1.65 a gallon can’t beat it anywhere. We go through 8 gallons a week it is quite the savings. Love your site talk it up all the time.
Barbara says
I used to buy toothpaste, until I started couponing. I literally took back the toothpaste to costco, which the do except returns if half the product has not been used. Of course they do not put it back on the shelf. I do buy the big tub of plain oatmeal, its like 4$ its so cheap and my fage yogurt. It averages about 1.00$ each so I don’t have to wait for a sale.