Hi Mindy, I really think the club memberships are a money saver. With the enormous rise in gas prices at this time, I've been using my Sam's membership to purchase gas there and it's definitely a savings rather then going to a regular gas station. Great haul
My friends feel that way and they live right near Costco so it's very easy for them to fill up there. Her husband's car runs on premium gas and they said they really save big money on that and as you said they save more than the cost of the membership on gas alone that's before they set foot in the club to buy anything.
I live 30 minutes from Sam's and 45 minutes from Costco but I'm in tulsa at least 3 times a week and near one of them so in gas purchases alone I pay for my memberships to both of them in a years time. I don't buy a lot in bulk but organic milk last longer and my grocery store has stopped carrying it but Sam's has it and I do the online shopping so I don't make the impulse buys that helps a lot.
I don't do membership clubs. I refuse to pay upfront in order to shop, and I know I would always overbuy to get the best deal. Even when we had two kids at home but now, especially as empty nesters. As you say, the crucial tip to remember is always compare unit prices. I can get cheaper at Aldi.
I factored in the cost of membership over the first few items I would be interested in buying and for us it wasn’t worth it. Mindy I agree about factoring in other things as well. We are fortunate enough to have access to organic fruit and vegetables as we live in a farming community, and we hunt and fish so meat isn’t a big purchase for us
If you are thinking of joining Costco or Sam's Club or anywhere else Club please check Groupon or Google the club name and membership discount. You can often get a discount or free products when signing up as a new member. Unfortunately these discounted memberships don't apply to those renewing but if you're thinking of doing it you might as well get a benefit as a new member. Sam's Club recently had a promotion in conjunction with the Super Bowl and my friend joined up for only $8. Sam's often has a pay the full $45 membership fee get a $45 gift card back so essentially a free membership. Please don't pay full price if you are a new member. These are not applicable for us renewing but is a great deal if you are a new member to one of the clubs.
I'm right there with you. I think the club memberships can easily get out of hand and bust budgets. If you plan and know your prices you'll be in good shape. My house drinks bottled water, and the savings on bottled water alone throughout the year pays for the membership. So I know anything else I can save on just adds to that. I typically go once every 2 weeks but spend 40 to 80 at a time of specific things.
There Is one item in particular that I buy every single week from Sam's. My husband is a truck driver and he LIVES on Zipfizz. It's a caffeinated vitamin drink that you add to water and it keeps him awake and safe on the road. Do I love that he's consuming 6 of them (yes 6) a day? No... would I rather he have 6 Zipfizz than 6 Dr Peppers? Absolutely. Zipfizz alone pays for my yearly Sam's subscription... the stuff is not cheap but several times a year it goes on sale and saves me even more. It often surprises me when I go online and look for certain things how much cheaper they are at Sam's. I can get a 2lb bag of green beans that are already washed and trimmed for $2.74/lb. Many times I can't even find fresh green beans in my grocery store and when I do (except for the rare sale) they are more expensive and I have to trim them myself. It really is all about finding the things that are worth it for you. I also do curbside to avoid impulse buying.
I love my Sam's membership. I also only buy certain items there that definitely save me money. I buy those same garbage bags that you had there. They are around $15 and last me almost a year. Also, the dishwasher tabs last a really long time. The membership is also so helpful when planning an open house, party or wedding.
Thank you for pointing out that fact "my idea of necessary items" is not necessarily your necessary items. Too many times I hear people speak that THEIR way of saving cash is the best but it often does not fit into my life style. You have had some really good ideas that I like and others are good ideas but I can not use them at the present time. Thanks again for making good sense.
It definitely depends on what you buy. Those giant packs of TP for $20, totally worth it. Their house brand fabric softener for $8 is totally worth it when compared to Walmart brand fabric softener. But can goods you can typically get cheeper at Aldi. I just bought name brand canned black beans from Sam’s for just over $5, it was a pack of 6 cans. Worked out to bring around 90 some off cents a can. But I could go to Aldi and get their black beans for around 58 cents. As someone who works at Sam’s club I can tell you right now I wouldn’t have a membership. Now the bigger the family and the more mouths you gotta feed it may be worth it to you. But you can typically find things cheaper else where. Actually I’ll take it back, I would keep my membership for the TP. Oh, their wind fresh powder laundry detergent, totally worth the $17. You get over 200 loads. Without going to check I think it’s 250 Also, the food sample people, we don’t give a crap if you take a sample or buy. I’m just throwing it out there because I work in the demos department and I can’t tell you how often some takes a sample because they “wanna help me out” or the guy the product “ to help me out”. Which is sweet, but not necessary. It won’t affect my pay. Though some days commission would be nice
Very interesting! There are a few other amenities I didn’t have time to hit on like automotive services and gift cards that are discounted. But I might not keep my membership for much longer. Just depends.
Gas savings and allergy meds are completely worth my Costco membership fee. There have definitely been times where freezer burn got a few things, or finding out you shouldn't be eating figs (potential allergy trigger) after buying a Costco size box of nature's bakery fig bars!
Thats why we got our Costco membership. Diapers and formula savings alone paid for our first year there. 13 years later, still happy. The card pays me ridiculously good rewards too
When my kids where still in school. My Mom and i would go to sams every other month. Just to get snacks, household cleaning supplies, kids lunch supplies and spices we used the most. Saved us time and money from going to walmart or grocery store every week.
Mindy, I recently subscribed to your channel. I followed you for awhile during your WW series, I loved your personality and delivery of your message but wasn’t interested in the contents. I recently found your channel again. I love channels that give good advice to people who really need the help and don’t have the time to do the research. As a single mom raising 2 sons , both now have their masters degree and it was strictly by being frugal. Thank you for providing this information to others. Being frugal has allowed me to provide my sons with education and set me up to retire at 62 so I can visit them for a week anytime we desire. I just retired in January. Being an empty nester I do not have memberships.
We have memberships to both Sam's & Costco (even though it's just two of us now). We do pick up food items at both places (more often, Sam's), as things like milk, fresh veggies, hamburger, etc. are usually cheaper for us there in the long run. We also take advantage of fueling up the car, and having our prescriptions filled. We have the plus membership at Sam's, and the savings from our meds alone has more than paid for it. Since I've started watching your channel, I've really found my interest in cooking at home (again). It was so easy for us to order out, and it was just killing our budget. I've learned a lot from you, and have started branching out, doing my own thing. That being said, yesterday I tried your two ingredient tomato soup, and it was AMAZING! I substituted half and half for the cream (since that's what I had), and added some extra italian seasoning. Paired with cheesy toasted focaccia bread & salad made it an awesome dinner. I'll definitely be making that again! Thank you for inviting us into your kitchen. You keep posting, and I'll keep watching! :-D
I'm single. I get my paper products, foil, parchment paper, spices, sugars, etc at Sam's. I tend to focus on things that doesn't expire. I do compare prices, while shopping. I typically shop at Aldi, Walmart, WinCo, Price Mart and Dollar Tree. I'm also going to purchase a deep freezer soon. I try to be a good steward of my finances. I don't frivolously spend or eat out much. Have a blessed and great day!
I go to Sam's to stock up my freezer. I cannot get ground meat below $4.20 near me as I live in rural town. I save so much money buying meat there. At Walmart 93/10 was over $6.20 a pound. I also buy certain household items there too. I don't really impulsive buy. I save even more money know that I do pickup orders. I like that I can see my total as I am shopping.
Wow Mindy, good call on the impulse buying. I shopped at Sam’s for years before l met my husband and never had much of an issue with that, but he can be a bit of an impulse buyer! We didn’t have a Sam’s close by where we lived before so l’ve never been to one with him; maybe it’s best if we avoid it altogether!! 😬 Great video!
Definitely a money saver if you are shopping with meal planning and lists. When I first got a membership to Costco, I probably wasted quite a bit before I learned how to effectively shop there!
I'm a single female that splits the costco membership with my single mom. We save just by buying my allergy medicine there once a year, gas at the pump, and other types of OTC's and items. Not so much always food products.
I think you’re exactly right. You have to know your family, what/how much they eat/use/consume, and what the price is in the regular grocery store. For our family there are definitely things I always prefer to get at Costco: toilet paper, paper towels, garbage bags/baggies/tinfoil/plastic wrap, dishwasher tabs, laundry soap, tortilla chips, mixed nuts, lunch snacks/bar, certain seasonings and sauces, cream, frozen meatballs and burgers, chicken nuggets. And then other things only when on sale: PB, parm cheese, granola, cream cheese/cheese, coffee, frozen veg/fruit I usually always get an impulse purchase, a new snack or something; but what’s life without a new snack ;)
I hadn’t been in Costco in months but I received my yearly rebate check, $226 this year, so my sisters and I went yesterday. Before leaving the house, I made my list and next to the product I wrote the price of the same item at Sam’s Club. Costco was not running a sale and the products seemed high. Some items were as much as $4-5 more than at Sam’s. I only spent $33 on food and $17 on Vodka (I’m making vanilla extract), so I received the bal in cash and that will pay for my run to Sam’s. I do like the quality of Costco products, I always earn back more than my membership fee, and their staff go out of their way to help so after additional thinking, I’m going to continue my membership another year and then recheck again next year.
Loved this video ty for sharing definitely gives us something to think about. I have learned even with just two of us (kids are grown) that purchasing our non food items is good for us at clubs as it last us a long time and although we may spend a bit on one visit we don’t have to buy this stuff for months which helps on the monthly food budget.
I have a Costco membership for quite some time now. I used to be that “spur of the moment” shopper but I am definitely more aware about what I buy now. I don’t go near as often as I use to and it’s also beneficial to my parents because I will pick up things they need or take them to shop if needed. I agree it’s not for everyone but it has been worth it to us so far.
I have Costco membership it’s around one hour away. Usually visit every few months, I don’t go to save money. We go to buy things that our normal supermarket does not have. Normally buy roast chickens, toilet paper, sauces etc, mayonnaise, and lots of other pantry goods. I am lucky I guess I am no longer feeding a family everyday. I love the Monterey Jack cheese and Costco is the only place in Australia that can purchase at. We have been Costco members since it first come to Queensland a few years ago. Congratulations on 100000 subscribers.
I've never had a Sam's or Costco membership because we're a small family of four. But my daughter's fiance belongs to Sam's and he gifted us with a giant pkg of their store-brand paper towels during the early panic buying of the 2020 pandemic (he's LEO, so got priority). Those paper towels are by far the best quality/quanity for the price that I've ever known. I liked them so much I asked them to get me another pkg for Xmas, lol. They gave me to (so a total of 30 rolls) and it literally lasted me almost a year, which was so wonderful!
Hi Mindy! I absolutely think bulk stores are an excellent way to buy things you need/want. As with any store, you must know your prices and what are “good deals.” And I 100% agree that you must buy what is right for your family whether other people agree or not! Thanks for sharing! 🌺 Jen
Definitely a big money saver for my family of 3 adults, a cat and an Italian Mastiff. What we save on cat food alone pays for our Executive Costco membership, so our rebate at the end of the year is pure profit for us. A trick for buying the huge bags of frozen fruit and veg...break them down into the size portions you use into zip bags then load the zip bags back into the original bag (it has the BB date on it too for inventory purposes). I wash and reuse those zip bags too for the same purpose.
Yes, knowing your buy price per ounce or lb is always key to saving money on groceries. We do Costco once a month and use about 1/2 of our budget there. And then weekly run ins to the regular store for their loss leaders, fresh produce, and dairy, eggs. I also monthly meal plan so it makes it so easier to bulk shop monthly. We are a family of 7 so food gets eaten fast.
I love Sam's!! We go at least monthly. We always get our sliced cheese, sugar, fish sticks, waffle fries, pancake on a stick, vitamins (when on sale), miralax (generic), fig bars, pastry crisps, peanuts, popcorn, chicken nuggets, pancake mix, dial bar soap, dawn dish soap (when on sale), dishwasher soap, and trash bags there.
I have a Costco membership and only go 4-5 times per year. I am pretty good at sticking to my list, which consists of either items I cannot find elsewhere, or items that are a better price than elsewhere. Of course, there is always wiggle room for a few new finds or unexpected sales!
I think it depends on the wants/needs of your family. We use our Sam's membership monthly as part of our budget, but we also focus on purchasing the items we use/need when they are on sale. In addition, we frequently get gas there because it is the cheapest where we live. I also focus on making sure that what we are getting are items that we will use.
I’m fairly good at finding sales, lowest cost items, cheaper but healthier meals etc. But with massively rising costs in Canada here, I really have to say that when you price things out per package (like chips/pop) , it really helps to consider looking at it this way (as opposed to just the best price) for school snacks. So while I don’t need it for chips per say, applying serving size cost for other school snacks will be incredibly helpful going forward.
We share a membership with my in-laws, and only go quarterly. I absolutely know we come out on top financially, based on what we’d be buying anyway, and the prices we get buying in bulk.
We buy everything at Sam's instead of HEB. Looking at my YNAB budget I can confidently say that it is cheaper and it is worth it. Our impulse are a lot less since you have to buy in bulk. I see around $120 per month on savings.
Our membership absolutely pays for itself. A warehouse membership is definitely worth it for all the other benefits besides bulk food purchases. We only have Costco where I live and the closest Sam's Club is 650 miles away, so I don't know what they offer. Costco discounts prices on gas, gift cards, rental cars, electronics, vacations, checks (mine from 10 years & 2 houses ago finally ran out), prescriptions, optical (glasses & contacts) and tires (these are just the ones I have used). They also offer other items - Major appliances, insurance, new car or RV purchasing discounts & parts/service discounts from dealerships, auto & boat batteries, alcohol, hearing aids, furniture, bottled water (for water coolers), mortgages and a ton of services for small business. Plus - Costco gives a rebate (does Sam's?) at 1-2%, depending on membership levels, and 5% if you have their Visa card.
Keep an eye out on Groupon. For the last 3 years Ive gotten a sams membership for &20 and comes with a free rotisserie cooked chicken and 6 pack of gourmet cupcakes. The cost of those almost covers cost of membership. 😊 Makes it a great deal.
Great tips Mindy! I have the basic Costco membership, which is $60 annually. I split that cost with my aunt as Costco allows 2 cards per membership, so it's only $30 per year. I've seen articles hinting that membership fees may increase soon so I'm anxious about that but we will wait and see 😊
I’m a single person so I can’t get through a barrel of peanut butter in a timely manner but I find the Costco chicken, the cleaning supplies, paper products, baking supplies and the fruit cups to be savers for me. The gas also is an incentive. The flowers are also a good buy, in my area. I share a family membership and if I had to buy one myself, I am not sure I would. I would certainly use it more often for gas and chicken to get my money’s worth. It takes loads of discipline to go in for a rotisserie chicken and bag of salad and come out with only that but I do it every few weeks, successfully!
Thanks for another great video. I like to buy organic flour, vinegar, sugar, rice, epsom salts...and I share a membership with my Dad and he buys a LOT of OTC medications and saves a ton. I love that Costco takes great care of their employees. I am grateful that I am able to put that into the equation. Splitting a membership is a great way to go. Did you know- You can give anyone a Costco gift card even when they don’t have a membership. You could give a non member a $10 Costco gift card and a non member could spend $200 and as long as they use the gift card at the checkout they can purchase as much as they want. Costco hack: I have a friend that used to give me $100 and i would buy her 10 costco gift cards and she didn’t have to buy a membership :0)
I'm glad you discussed that bulk buying might not be the best deal! When I am making my grocery shopping list and I have to go to Sam's I compare the unit price to my normal grocery store to make sure I am getting a good deal. There have been a lot of things that I thought for sure would be a better deal in bulk but I checked and my normal store was cheaper!
Hey Mindy! Congrats on 100k!! So well deserved! I’ve been subscribed since you’ve been at about 20k! I personally have a Sam’s Club membership and do like it for staples like dishwasher pods and paper products! I heard when I was there last that they were running a special on their memberships - just $8 for the whole first year! Thought I’d share! ❤️
We are a family of 4 and have a Costco and BJs membership. I think it's worth the money to have a membership. We typically don't buy much produce there but other grocery items like cheese, Gogurts, crackers, Capri Sun or juice boxes, meat and chips or other snacks. We also buy most of our paper products, cleaning supplies, OTC medicine, hygiene products and dog food. I have found good deals on jackets, Halloween costumes, furniture and travel services as well. Gas is also much cheaper too. So in my opinion, it's definitely worth it to have it.
I love Sam's for glasses, tires and such. On food and household you have to know your prices. But with fuel prices rising the free shipping is a plus and I don't have to lug it so far
Great job listing outstanding points. I use their mostly free shipping, but many things I do not order as Sam's require 2 minimum. This has really curtailed my online purchases. But it is still a viable option. And on defense of your items which are not necessary, most of us buy some. These large packs are usually more economical ( not always ) and may reduce trips to the store, a helpful budget effect. I was in management with a Kroger chain and watching trends and prices has been almost a hobby! Lol. You are doing a great job. When I lived in a town that had Sam's, the gas pump savings was substantial too. I usually have enough cash back to pay it when it is time to renew the membership. God bless all here.
The RX prices are definitely worth the membership at Sam's for me. I try to use the pickup service, as that keeps me out of the store, so I get only what I need, without all of the temptations in the store.
I just saw this after getting back from Costco (no membership, but used a gift card). I was price comparing the whole time I was in there lol. Just last month I got a Sam's membership because they had a $10 membership offer. Then right after I got my card, they had another deal going that saved you $10 if you check out with their scan and go app. Basically got my membership free! I think this is a good way to save money if you shop wisely, for sure.
I have been giving my Sam's Club a lot of business because I am planning a graduation party. Priced checking is very important and Sam's club has been a better price. I am with you on stick to your list and put blinders on from the seasonal section. That is why I do curbside pickup or scan N go. You can see what you spending as you shop.
I have a Sam's club membership. I don't go very often because I don't have one in my town. The closest one to me is about 50 min. away. I feel like it's worth it to me. The savings on pecans I purchase around Christmas and the granola bars I buy for my son is worth the fee. And I do get gas when I'm there. Plus, there are a few other things I do purchase only from Sam's. And my daughter lives in a different town and sometimes she gets an order on my membership. You don't have to justify to us what you choose to spend your money on. Like you said, it's your family and you decide what's necessary. 🙂
I have a Costco membership, and I find it to be very worth it. Typically, I buy rotisserie chicken, bread and dairy products, coffee, baking items, paper towels and toilet paper, laundry soap and health care items. I tend to buy and stock up when things go on instant rebate. It can save a ton of money doing it that way, as well as giving us a good emergency preparedness supply of groceries and household goods. When my husband was laid off for 6 months, that was a life saver!
I used to shop a Costco twice a week when my sons were in school. One son was on two swim teams throughout the year and was a guard during the summer. My youngest son, swam once a week and had karate three times a week. We had two refrigerators.
My husband and I joined Sam's last October. The rise in food cost finalized our decision. Yes, one must know food prices before shopping at Sam's! I just picked up a box of the crackers also. LOL
We have both Sam’s and Costco memberships this year. I like that I can look up prices and availability online for Sam’s Club. There are a few things that we always buy there and it makes the membership worthwhile for us. Paper products, garbage bags, dishwasher tabs… we’ve been happy with their brand of powdered laundry detergent as well. I like the smell of Tide, but it makes me itchy so I can’t use it. When I was working crazy hours, it was beneficial to buy things like canned vegetables, pasta and sauce, canned chicken, and similar items to keep on hand for quick meals. I’m still guilty of spending too much on impulse items like new products, clothes, books, and shoes. You hit the nail on the head, keep in mind that bulk buying doesn’t always save you money of you won’t use it before the Best Buy date passes. However, we’ve purchased things like canned goods that we didn’t care for and then donated them to the local food pantry rather than let them go bad or take up space.
We go to Sams occasionally now, used to go more regularly but found it costing me money because my husband likes to add things to the cart and it can add up quick. When we do go we do get gas which is always cheaper than any local stations. Our Sams Club is about 45 minutes away so we generally make a day of it and get other errands done too. I do sometimes order online and have delivered items, such as toilet paper etc. in order to keep my husband out of the store. LOL.
There was a time I had both Sam's and Costco memberships. Today I only have Sam's. I'd love a vlog on "What's better Sam's or Costco" ( As I'm in the west side of the states and we don't have BJ's) I'm thinking for certain items the warehouse shopping is better. I guess it comes down to what you are buying. It's unfortunate we don't have Aldi's either. Thanks for sharing...
When I can, I love to shop at Bj's. Its the oen closest to me. I feel the more I stay out of the stores the less chance I will impulse buy! So. stocking up on the things I can makes sense to me. I used to love getting the kids snacks when they were young, big savings there....
I like getting certain items at Sam's. We actually buy meat in bulk, usually looking for the marked down items that need to be used immediately or frozen. We then take it home and vacuum seal and freeze into serving sizes for two (it's just me and my husband). I find great deals, and don't have to worry about buying meat in my weekly grocery shopping.
Love the video! I am an impulse shopper for sure! However in the days I have my life together the bulk stores are the best way to go. I have found that sams club meats are almost half of the price of a regular grocery store per pound in my area.
I do not have memberships for Costco or Sam's club yet. I was thinking and want to take a look around. I'll probably use the membership on things we use mostly like toilet paper, paper towels, water, soaps...like you said. Also depends on sale. I have seen people pay $1,000-$2,000 on hauls which is crazy but they have bigger families. With 3-4 people in the household is not bad but can get expensive at times especially at my walmart 1 gallon of milk is $3.26 now and gas for regular is $4.25. So looking back at the membership I'll probably also use Mt card for gas but depends. These are helpful tips.
I only buy staples for pick up at Sam's. 25# flour. 25# Sugar. 2 - 1 gal. Canola Oil. Coffee prices better for my brand . Coffeemate. Large spices. Toilet Paper. Lysol. Not even gas. I make my own powdered laundry detergent with ingredients coming from Walmart and Dollar Tree. Liquid detergent is with HUGE savings with coupon.
We have to watch the next weight too because for my kids, 1/2 oz vs 1oz pretzel bags make a difference. I found what might look like a decent deal isn't because the bag only has 5 little pretzels in it!
I definitely agree. If I could not afford a membership, I could still survive but I love bulk buying vs more frequently buying IF the price is right. I definitely don't buy just to buy bulk, but I appreciate only needing to get TP twice yearly, and snacks for school at the beginning of the semester (usually). And definitely the fuel is worth it!
I love shopping at both Sam’s and Costco! I mainly do them once a month and then do my majority at Aldi ,Walmart and Wegmans. I really do think some of the items my family eats often can be cheaper at membership stores. Along with toilet paper, paper towels and some cleaning supplies. I do not find everything to be cheaper because i do find i like a lot of store brands but some things are so nice to have large quantities and not have to pick up every month etc.
Great video Mindy! It might surprise you but as a single person household I definitely save money belonging to Sam's Club. I do not buy a lot of items there but the items I do buy definitely justify the cost of the membership. Like every other place you shop you have to watch the prices and I have noticed that some items that I buy at Sam's Club have gone up recently. I'm on the fence on a couple items if I will be buying them at Walmart with my regular grocery delivery or buy them at Sam's Club. I will just continue to watch the online price is at Sam's Club and go from there. I don't often go in the club because I'm disabled and my next door neighbor and dear friend will go for me about once a month or every six weeks so I'm not spending a lot each trip because she goes a little more frequently. That same neighbor belongs to Costco and she is also a single person household. There are some items that I have her pick up for me from Costco because either I prefer them over what Sam's Club offers or they are items that Sam's Club doesn't carry and vice versa with Sam's and Costco. You are right that it is very easy to impulse shop and unfortunately when you impulse shop at a warehouse club you're usually spending at least $20 or more if you decide you need something larger like you mentioned a Christmas tree or patio furniture. I do think Sam's Club'd generic over-the-counter medications are some of the best prices you can find. The trick is some of them are in really large quantities so as you mentioned if you're not going to use them all it doesn't really save you money and actually can cost you more. But I do have friends who use some items from the over-the-counter medicine section or vitamins and supplement sections and they really do save half off of the name brand and they are able to use the items up before they expire so it makes it a good buy. I have friends who have a car that requires premium gasoline. They have indicated that they save more than enough on the gas that they spend on her husband's car to justify the Costco membership that they have. Anything above that that they save is just gravy. I have heard that Costco has great gas prices. Neither Sam's Club or Costco are close enough for me to use them for purchasing gas unless I happen to be there for another reason or going past one of the clubs. I do like that Sam's Club allows you to shop different clubs and check inventory online to make sure that they have what you need before you go there. Last year I was running into an issue with a particular product from the over-the-counter medication section that some clubs would be out of so I would have to go to a club I don't typically shop at but is not that far away to get it. Unfortunately Costco's prices online are not true to what you pay if you go into the club so it's hard to sometimes see if you're getting a good deal if you have access to both Costco and Sam's club. I believe this is because if you shop online at Costco and have it delivered it comes by Instacart which if anybody knows Instacart they mark up prices at most of the stores they shop at for you. There are other fees involved with Instacart so if that's the only way you can get items from Costco you really have to double check on it to ensure you are really saving money. My friend wanted to join Sam's again but struggles a bit with cost justifying it but loves to get a couple of items there so I will often order them for her online as they usually have free shipping on them. But around the Super Bowl Sam's Club was having a great deal where you could join for only $8 if you were a new member. I made another comment on this post that stated please make sure you check online at Groupon or Google discounted membership for either Sam's Club or Costco or BJ's or whatever your local Warehouse Club is because they usually are always having some type of special particularly Sam's Club. Sam's will often have a join for $45 get a free $45 gift card by email at a later date or you may be able to join for say $20 and then you get maybe a $10 or $20 gift card plus a free pizza or something from the bakery. They sometimes have multiple different options for deals and you can figure out which one works best for you. Thanks again for the great video Mindy. I always really enjoy your channel!
Costco hauls can be expensive, but I agree with you that if you focus on the things that you know you will use in a timely manner, it will save money in the long term. I also always try to shop their sales, focus on the store brand items where possible, and the biggest low cost perks for me are the gas, clothes, and books! (Also, got a great deal on a King size mattress and it’s prob the most comfortable mattress I’ve owned) Keep up the great work, Mindy
I find that it does save me time and money.. it also makes me HAVE to meal plan/prep in order to prevent food waste. As well as tell myself not to buy out for when we have so much at home already. Everytime we go out to eat it's a minimum of $30 just for fast food family of 5 and even more if we dine at restaurants. I scored a great deal the other day on 2/22/22, BJs (a local wholesale club) was offering it's members 22cents off per gallon of gas... I filled up at $2.97/gallon. Since having baby #4 in August, I've been doing one monthly large haul at both sams and bjs ( I price shop each item between the two stores). BJs has coupons sometimes making prices of items alot better than Sam's. I store extras in my small deep freezer, meal plan as much as possible, and eat leftovers to use things up in a timely manner. I also get cash back by using my wholesale club Credit card practically for everything and almost always have $40-60 rewards to use towards my grocery.
Hi Mindy I think big box is good for some stuff and I like how you do have chips and soda, I buy that too for my hubby`s lunch still cheaper then eating out. Great video
There are very few things worth buying in bulk since I live alone, but the gas alone makes the costco membership worth it. I also like a lot of the premade foods when I need something to eat off of for a couple days. The convenience of those items is really great, and a lot of other stores don’t really have a substitute. Like the chicken taco kits from Costco.
I absolutely love my sams membership. I worked there while in college and am a savvy shopper so I feel like I know the ins and outs of what is a good deal and what works well for my family. The convenience of getting so much of my list knocked off at one place and filling up the gas tank at a good price can’t be matched.
I don't usually have that much money to buy the bigger packages even if it is cheaper per ounce. I only have 50.00 at the most for 2 weeks worth of groceries now. So, going to sams or costco isn't in my budget. Next week due to bills we won't have grocery money at all, but we are o.k. we have food in the house, things are just really tight right now. I'm going back and watching some of your older video's to see what I have left in my pantry to put together so we won't just get bored with what I'm making. I know that there is a local food pantry, however, we have food at home and there are so many people that don't have anything I would feel guilty just going to ask for extra's when we are adults and there are families with small children in my neighborhood that don't have food.
Bless you..hope all gets better..we have nine children,it's always tight for us.But,we have plenty of what we need..today we are making homemade pizza and salad for lunch..my kids want the same for dinner..then tonight for our movie night.We will have popcorn with caramel drizzle.. everything is from pantry and freezer.
Another way to save is to share your membership. Sam’s allows two people on the account. My husband and I don’t both need a card, so we add a family friend and split the membership fee.
In general, if you can control the impulse purchases (similar to the reason some people cannot use a credit card), a Sams membership can be cost effective. There are only certain items I purchase, but I also compare prices quarterly to make sure I'm still saving the most. I also use the sAMS CC Mastercard for gas purchases to get 5% cash back. Every penny helps. But, make note how LiTTLE you get back if you choose that card to purchase at Sams for groceries... I buy garlic, coffee filters, paper towels, (toilet paper is usually cheaper at Kroger here when you shop sales), and a FEW food items. Ground beef 90/10 or 85/15 is usually pretty reasonably priced. I check my savings annually. Definitely agree on the fruit and veggies (fresh) at sams. Usually much cheaper at the local grocer.
The membership is worth it for gas alone! We are executive members and have the Costco Visa. So we get money back from both cards and that pays for our next membership. Tires also have really good deals too. The big savings we get are pure maple syrup, vitamins, granola bars, lettuce, household cleaning items, trash bags, toilet paper, paper toweling, canned vegetables, bed sheets, bath towels, ziplock bags, and electronics. You cant really look at the total. You have to compare the unit price or ounces price.
Generic OTC meds alone pay for my Sam's membership. Price comparisons are super important! I compared between Sam's, Meijer, and Aldi and only buy specific items at Sam's. P.s. love your nail polish color! :)
I commented the same thing about the OTC items at Sam's Club. There are only a couple that I buy there but that covers the cost of my membership in savings right there.
@@jenniferryan1201 this only works if you use huge amounts of those items, we have thrown away so much ibubrofen/etc when we bought those large 2 packs of them. Not worth it for our family.
Hi Mindy, for my very small family of my husband and myself I choose not to pay for the membership. I do think you could save money. Our local stores have sales on items all the time. Also I live in a very small home and would not have any place to store extra foods. I enjoyed all the things you did pointed out when going and considering using a Sam's or Cosco Store.
I love Costco also. Where we used to live we had “Costco, Sam’s & BJ’s” ALL within about 7 miles. And membership to all 3. Now this is when they first started coming out. I think our Costco’s was FREE. Sam’s was like $20 and BJ’s was $15 or FREE (Specials to get business between them back then in the late 90s very early ‘00s.) Moving out of a big city we now HAVE to travel 23+ miles for Sam’s. That’s the only place we have close to us. But I DO LOVE COSTCO MORE THOUGH. 😊 ✌🏻
For my family of seven Costco is definitely worth it. I have the executive membership that gives you cash back and it pays for the membership every year. Sometimes I get up to $20 back beyond the membership price. And we go through the big size packages of food. I do have the Walmart app on my phone to compare prices if I know it's something that fluctuates enough to matter.
We are a family of 7 as well, one with food allergies so yes, we have both memberships but do majority of meat purchases at one along with snacks things and the other warehouse for well, mainly the other things. Fill in with aldi or a bakers on the other weeks we don’t go to the big box store.
For us here in SoCal, the price for eggs are cheaper at Costco than at Walmart. With gas prices on the raise (along with everything else), it really helps to do your research and keep some kind of price guide to know when/where the best deals are.
I have to travel almost 2 hours to get to Costco (I live rural remote). I buy 4 kids snacks and rotate so they don’t get burned out on 1 type of snacks. Our food is expensive up north where I live, so some of the fresh fruit and veggie items are a good price but I generally buy bread, frozen, and shelf stable goods at Costco.
I have a membership to BJ's and I enjoy going there once in awhile. But as a single person it's probably not a smart shopping option for me . Congratulations on 100k subscribers!!!
A membership is totally worth it. But for impulse buyers like myself, curbside pickups are a huge money saver!
Even at a normal grocery story I save money on impulse buying by using curbside pickup 🙈
Hi Mindy, I really think the club memberships are a money saver. With the enormous rise in gas prices at this time, I've been using my Sam's membership to purchase gas there and it's definitely a savings rather then going to a regular gas station. Great haul
The gas prices alone at Costco are worth the price of the membership! Typically 20 to 30 cents cheaper.
Yes. I go early in the morning and there are never lines
My friends feel that way and they live right near Costco so it's very easy for them to fill up there. Her husband's car runs on premium gas and they said they really save big money on that and as you said they save more than the cost of the membership on gas alone that's before they set foot in the club to buy anything.
I live 30 minutes from Sam's and 45 minutes from Costco but I'm in tulsa at least 3 times a week and near one of them so in gas purchases alone I pay for my memberships to both of them in a years time. I don't buy a lot in bulk but organic milk last longer and my grocery store has stopped carrying it but Sam's has it and I do the online shopping so I don't make the impulse buys that helps a lot.
I agree!! We exclusively fill up at Costco and save soooo much money!
Congratulations on 100k subscribers! Love your content .
Thanks, Sue!
I don't do membership clubs. I refuse to pay upfront in order to shop, and I know I would always overbuy to get the best deal. Even when we had two kids at home but now, especially as empty nesters. As you say, the crucial tip to remember is always compare unit prices. I can get cheaper at Aldi.
I factored in the cost of membership over the first few items I would be interested in buying and for us it wasn’t worth it. Mindy I agree about factoring in other things as well. We are fortunate enough to have access to organic fruit and vegetables as we live in a farming community, and we hunt and fish so meat isn’t a big purchase for us
If you are thinking of joining Costco or Sam's Club or anywhere else Club please check Groupon or Google the club name and membership discount. You can often get a discount or free products when signing up as a new member. Unfortunately these discounted memberships don't apply to those renewing but if you're thinking of doing it you might as well get a benefit as a new member. Sam's Club recently had a promotion in conjunction with the Super Bowl and my friend joined up for only $8. Sam's often has a pay the full $45 membership fee get a $45 gift card back so essentially a free membership. Please don't pay full price if you are a new member. These are not applicable for us renewing but is a great deal if you are a new member to one of the clubs.
My son got a super cheap Sam's membership with Groupon
Thank you for that info! Very helpful!
I'm right there with you. I think the club memberships can easily get out of hand and bust budgets. If you plan and know your prices you'll be in good shape. My house drinks bottled water, and the savings on bottled water alone throughout the year pays for the membership. So I know anything else I can save on just adds to that. I typically go once every 2 weeks but spend 40 to 80 at a time of specific things.
There Is one item in particular that I buy every single week from Sam's. My husband is a truck driver and he LIVES on Zipfizz. It's a caffeinated vitamin drink that you add to water and it keeps him awake and safe on the road. Do I love that he's consuming 6 of them (yes 6) a day? No... would I rather he have 6 Zipfizz than 6 Dr Peppers? Absolutely. Zipfizz alone pays for my yearly Sam's subscription... the stuff is not cheap but several times a year it goes on sale and saves me even more. It often surprises me when I go online and look for certain things how much cheaper they are at Sam's. I can get a 2lb bag of green beans that are already washed and trimmed for $2.74/lb. Many times I can't even find fresh green beans in my grocery store and when I do (except for the rare sale) they are more expensive and I have to trim them myself. It really is all about finding the things that are worth it for you.
I also do curbside to avoid impulse buying.
I love my Sam's membership. I also only buy certain items there that definitely save me money. I buy those same garbage bags that you had there. They are around $15 and last me almost a year. Also, the dishwasher tabs last a really long time. The membership is also so helpful when planning an open house, party or wedding.
Thank you for pointing out that fact "my idea of necessary items" is not necessarily your necessary items. Too many times I hear people speak that THEIR way of saving cash is the best but it often does not fit into my life style. You have had some really good ideas that I like and others are good ideas but I can not use them at the present time. Thanks again for making good sense.
It definitely depends on what you buy. Those giant packs of TP for $20, totally worth it. Their house brand fabric softener for $8 is totally worth it when compared to Walmart brand fabric softener. But can goods you can typically get cheeper at Aldi. I just bought name brand canned black beans from Sam’s for just over $5, it was a pack of 6 cans. Worked out to bring around 90 some off cents a can. But I could go to Aldi and get their black beans for around 58 cents. As someone who works at Sam’s club I can tell you right now I wouldn’t have a membership. Now the bigger the family and the more mouths you gotta feed it may be worth it to you. But you can typically find things cheaper else where. Actually I’ll take it back, I would keep my membership for the TP. Oh, their wind fresh powder laundry detergent, totally worth the $17. You get over 200 loads. Without going to check I think it’s 250
Also, the food sample people, we don’t give a crap if you take a sample or buy. I’m just throwing it out there because I work in the demos department and I can’t tell you how often some takes a sample because they “wanna help me out” or the guy the product “ to help me out”. Which is sweet, but not necessary. It won’t affect my pay. Though some days commission would be nice
Very interesting! There are a few other amenities I didn’t have time to hit on like automotive services and gift cards that are discounted. But I might not keep my membership for much longer. Just depends.
Get a bidet and TP costs drop more.
Gas savings and allergy meds are completely worth my Costco membership fee. There have definitely been times where freezer burn got a few things, or finding out you shouldn't be eating figs (potential allergy trigger) after buying a Costco size box of nature's bakery fig bars!
Yay! 100K! Congratulations, Mindy. You really deserve it!
Yes!! I always shocked friends and family with my diaper deals 👍
Thats why we got our Costco membership. Diapers and formula savings alone paid for our first year there. 13 years later, still happy. The card pays me ridiculously good rewards too
Congrats on 100,000
When my kids where still in school. My Mom and i would go to sams every other month. Just to get snacks, household cleaning supplies, kids lunch supplies and spices we used the most. Saved us time and money from going to walmart or grocery store every week.
Mindy, I recently subscribed to your channel. I followed you for awhile during your WW series, I loved your personality and delivery of your message but wasn’t interested in the contents. I recently found your channel again. I love channels that give good advice to people who really need the help and don’t have the time to do the research. As a single mom raising 2 sons , both now have their masters degree and it was strictly by being frugal. Thank you for providing this information to others. Being frugal has allowed me to provide my sons with education and set me up to retire at 62 so I can visit them for a week anytime we desire. I just retired in January. Being an empty nester I do not have memberships.
We have memberships to both Sam's & Costco (even though it's just two of us now). We do pick up food items at both places (more often, Sam's), as things like milk, fresh veggies, hamburger, etc. are usually cheaper for us there in the long run. We also take advantage of fueling up the car, and having our prescriptions filled. We have the plus membership at Sam's, and the savings from our meds alone has more than paid for it. Since I've started watching your channel, I've really found my interest in cooking at home (again). It was so easy for us to order out, and it was just killing our budget. I've learned a lot from you, and have started branching out, doing my own thing. That being said, yesterday I tried your two ingredient tomato soup, and it was AMAZING! I substituted half and half for the cream (since that's what I had), and added some extra italian seasoning. Paired with cheesy toasted focaccia bread & salad made it an awesome dinner. I'll definitely be making that again! Thank you for inviting us into your kitchen. You keep posting, and I'll keep watching! :-D
I'm single. I get my paper products, foil, parchment paper, spices, sugars, etc at Sam's. I tend to focus on things that doesn't expire. I do compare prices, while shopping. I typically shop at Aldi, Walmart, WinCo, Price Mart and Dollar Tree.
I'm also going to purchase a deep freezer soon. I try to be a good steward of my finances. I don't frivolously spend or eat out much.
Have a blessed and great day!
I go to Sam's to stock up my freezer. I cannot get ground meat below $4.20 near me as I live in rural town. I save so much money buying meat there. At Walmart 93/10 was over $6.20 a pound. I also buy certain household items there too. I don't really impulsive buy. I save even more money know that I do pickup orders. I like that I can see my total as I am shopping.
Wow Mindy, good call on the impulse buying. I shopped at Sam’s for years before l met my husband and never had much of an issue with that, but he can be a bit of an impulse buyer! We didn’t have a Sam’s close by where we lived before so l’ve never been to one with him; maybe it’s best if we avoid it altogether!! 😬 Great video!
Definitely a money saver if you are shopping with meal planning and lists. When I first got a membership to Costco, I probably wasted quite a bit before I learned how to effectively shop there!
I'm a single female that splits the costco membership with my single mom. We save just by buying my allergy medicine there once a year, gas at the pump, and other types of OTC's and items. Not so much always food products.
I think you’re exactly right. You have to know your family, what/how much they eat/use/consume, and what the price is in the regular grocery store. For our family there are definitely things I always prefer to get at Costco: toilet paper, paper towels, garbage bags/baggies/tinfoil/plastic wrap, dishwasher tabs, laundry soap, tortilla chips, mixed nuts, lunch snacks/bar, certain seasonings and sauces, cream, frozen meatballs and burgers, chicken nuggets.
And then other things only when on sale: PB, parm cheese, granola, cream cheese/cheese, coffee, frozen veg/fruit
I usually always get an impulse purchase, a new snack or something; but what’s life without a new snack ;)
I hadn’t been in Costco in months but I received my yearly rebate check, $226 this year, so my sisters and I went yesterday. Before leaving the house, I made my list and next to the product I wrote the price of the same item at Sam’s Club. Costco was not running a sale and the products seemed high. Some items were as much as $4-5 more than at Sam’s. I only spent $33 on food and $17 on Vodka (I’m making vanilla extract), so I received the bal in cash and that will pay for my run to Sam’s. I do like the quality of Costco products, I always earn back more than my membership fee, and their staff go out of their way to help so after additional thinking, I’m going to continue my membership another year and then recheck again next year.
Loved this video ty for sharing definitely gives us something to think about. I have learned even with just two of us (kids are grown) that purchasing our non food items is good for us at clubs as it last us a long time and although we may spend a bit on one visit we don’t have to buy this stuff for months which helps on the monthly food budget.
I have a Costco membership for quite some time now. I used to be that “spur of the moment” shopper but I am definitely more aware about what I buy now. I don’t go near as often as I use to and it’s also beneficial to my parents because I will pick up things they need or take them to shop if needed. I agree it’s not for everyone but it has been worth it to us so far.
Thank you for the tips! Congratulations on hitting 100,000!!🎊🎊
I have Costco membership it’s around one hour away. Usually visit every few months, I don’t go to save money. We go to buy things that our normal supermarket does not have. Normally buy roast chickens, toilet paper, sauces etc, mayonnaise, and lots of other pantry goods. I am lucky I guess I am no longer feeding a family everyday. I love the Monterey Jack cheese and Costco is the only place in Australia that can purchase at. We have been Costco members since it first come to Queensland a few years ago. Congratulations on 100000 subscribers.
I've never had a Sam's or Costco membership because we're a small family of four. But my daughter's fiance belongs to Sam's and he gifted us with a giant pkg of their store-brand paper towels during the early panic buying of the 2020 pandemic (he's LEO, so got priority). Those paper towels are by far the best quality/quanity for the price that I've ever known. I liked them so much I asked them to get me another pkg for Xmas, lol. They gave me to (so a total of 30 rolls) and it literally lasted me almost a year, which was so wonderful!
Hi Mindy! I absolutely think bulk stores are an excellent way to buy things you need/want. As with any store, you must know your prices and what are “good deals.” And I 100% agree that you must buy what is right for your family whether other people agree or not! Thanks for sharing! 🌺 Jen
Congratulations on 100k subscribers! I have been watching almost a year now. Boy how time flies.
Definitely a big money saver for my family of 3 adults, a cat and an Italian Mastiff. What we save on cat food alone pays for our Executive Costco membership, so our rebate at the end of the year is pure profit for us. A trick for buying the huge bags of frozen fruit and veg...break them down into the size portions you use into zip bags then load the zip bags back into the original bag (it has the BB date on it too for inventory purposes). I wash and reuse those zip bags too for the same purpose.
Yes, knowing your buy price per ounce or lb is always key to saving money on groceries.
We do Costco once a month and use about 1/2 of our budget there. And then weekly run ins to the regular store for their loss leaders, fresh produce, and dairy, eggs.
I also monthly meal plan so it makes it so easier to bulk shop monthly. We are a family of 7 so food gets eaten fast.
I love Sam's!! We go at least monthly. We always get our sliced cheese, sugar, fish sticks, waffle fries, pancake on a stick, vitamins (when on sale), miralax (generic), fig bars, pastry crisps, peanuts, popcorn, chicken nuggets, pancake mix, dial bar soap, dawn dish soap (when on sale), dishwasher soap, and trash bags there.
I have a Costco membership and only go 4-5 times per year. I am pretty good at sticking to my list, which consists of either items I cannot find elsewhere, or items that are a better price than elsewhere. Of course, there is always wiggle room for a few new finds or unexpected sales!
I think it depends on the wants/needs of your family. We use our Sam's membership monthly as part of our budget, but we also focus on purchasing the items we use/need when they are on sale. In addition, we frequently get gas there because it is the cheapest where we live. I also focus on making sure that what we are getting are items that we will use.
I’m fairly good at finding sales, lowest cost items, cheaper but healthier meals etc. But with massively rising costs in Canada here, I really have to say that when you price things out per package (like chips/pop) , it really helps to consider looking at it this way (as opposed to just the best price) for school snacks. So while I don’t need it for chips per say, applying serving size cost for other school snacks will be incredibly helpful going forward.
We share a membership with my in-laws, and only go quarterly. I absolutely know we come out on top financially, based on what we’d be buying anyway, and the prices we get buying in bulk.
100k subscribers... yay! Congratulations Mindy! I love watching your videos!
Thanks!
🍾🍾CONGRATULATIONS!!!🍾🍾 been following for so long! 100K! WooHoo!! So well deserved!
We buy everything at Sam's instead of HEB. Looking at my YNAB budget I can confidently say that it is cheaper and it is worth it. Our impulse are a lot less since you have to buy in bulk. I see around $120 per month on savings.
Our membership absolutely pays for itself. A warehouse membership is definitely worth it for all the other benefits besides bulk food purchases. We only have Costco where I live and the closest Sam's Club is 650 miles away, so I don't know what they offer. Costco discounts prices on gas, gift cards, rental cars, electronics, vacations, checks (mine from 10 years & 2 houses ago finally ran out), prescriptions, optical (glasses & contacts) and tires (these are just the ones I have used). They also offer other items - Major appliances, insurance, new car or RV purchasing discounts & parts/service discounts from dealerships, auto & boat batteries, alcohol, hearing aids, furniture, bottled water (for water coolers), mortgages and a ton of services for small business. Plus - Costco gives a rebate (does Sam's?) at 1-2%, depending on membership levels, and 5% if you have their Visa card.
Keep an eye out on Groupon. For the last 3 years Ive gotten a sams membership for &20 and comes with a free rotisserie cooked chicken and 6 pack of gourmet cupcakes. The cost of those almost covers cost of membership. 😊 Makes it a great deal.
They currently have a deal directly though them for $45 gift card back on a $45 membership level.
Great tips Mindy!
I have the basic Costco membership, which is $60 annually. I split that cost with my aunt as Costco allows 2 cards per membership, so it's only $30 per year.
I've seen articles hinting that membership fees may increase soon so I'm anxious about that but we will wait and see 😊
I’m a single person so I can’t get through a barrel of peanut butter in a timely manner but I find the Costco chicken, the cleaning supplies, paper products, baking supplies and the fruit cups to be savers for me. The gas also is an incentive. The flowers are also a good buy, in my area. I share a family membership and if I had to buy one myself, I am not sure I would. I would certainly use it more often for gas and chicken to get my money’s worth. It takes loads of discipline to go in for a rotisserie chicken and bag of salad and come out with only that but I do it every few weeks, successfully!
Thanks for another great video.
I like to buy organic flour, vinegar, sugar, rice, epsom salts...and I share a membership with my Dad and he buys a LOT of OTC medications and saves a ton.
I love that Costco takes great care of their employees. I am grateful that I am able to put that into the equation.
Splitting a membership is a great way to go.
Did you know-
You can give anyone a Costco gift card even when they don’t have a membership.
You could give a non member a $10 Costco gift card and a non member could spend $200 and as long as they use the gift card at the checkout they can purchase as much as they want.
Costco hack: I have a friend that used to give me $100 and i would buy her 10 costco gift cards and she didn’t have to buy a membership :0)
I'm glad you discussed that bulk buying might not be the best deal! When I am making my grocery shopping list and I have to go to Sam's I compare the unit price to my normal grocery store to make sure I am getting a good deal. There have been a lot of things that I thought for sure would be a better deal in bulk but I checked and my normal store was cheaper!
Also, CONGRATULATIONS on the 100,000 subscribers! So happy to see that!
WAHOO!!! CONGRATS ON 100,000 SUBS, MINDY!! Definitely well desrved!!
Thanks, Lisa!
Hey Mindy! Congrats on 100k!! So well deserved! I’ve been subscribed since you’ve been at about 20k! I personally have a Sam’s Club membership and do like it for staples like dishwasher pods and paper products! I heard when I was there last that they were running a special on their memberships - just $8 for the whole first year! Thought I’d share! ❤️
We are a family of 4 and have a Costco and BJs membership. I think it's worth the money to have a membership. We typically don't buy much produce there but other grocery items like cheese, Gogurts, crackers, Capri Sun or juice boxes, meat and chips or other snacks. We also buy most of our paper products, cleaning supplies, OTC medicine, hygiene products and dog food. I have found good deals on jackets, Halloween costumes, furniture and travel services as well. Gas is also much cheaper too. So in my opinion, it's definitely worth it to have it.
I love Sam's for glasses, tires and such. On food and household you have to know your prices. But with fuel prices rising the free shipping is a plus and I don't have to lug it so far
Costco tires are great and for same tires 300 bucks total cheaper than my dealership, even during a sale
Great job listing outstanding points. I use their mostly free shipping, but many things I do not order as Sam's require 2 minimum. This has really curtailed my online purchases. But it is still a viable option. And on defense of your items which are not necessary, most of us buy some. These large packs are usually more economical ( not always ) and may reduce trips to the store, a helpful budget effect. I was in management with a Kroger chain and watching trends and prices has been almost a hobby! Lol. You are doing a great job. When I lived in a town that had Sam's, the gas pump savings was substantial too. I usually have enough cash back to pay it when it is time to renew the membership.
God bless all here.
The RX prices are definitely worth the membership at Sam's for me. I try to use the pickup service, as that keeps me out of the store, so I get only what I need, without all of the temptations in the store.
I just saw this after getting back from Costco (no membership, but used a gift card). I was price comparing the whole time I was in there lol. Just last month I got a Sam's membership because they had a $10 membership offer. Then right after I got my card, they had another deal going that saved you $10 if you check out with their scan and go app. Basically got my membership free! I think this is a good way to save money if you shop wisely, for sure.
great video, Mindy! I don't buy a lot at the big stores, because it is just me, but some things are definitely worth it. Also, I love your nail color!
I have never shopped in a warehouse. I don't have the storage, but it is a good idea if you have space. And if you will use the stuff!
I have been giving my Sam's Club a lot of business because I am planning a graduation party. Priced checking is very important and Sam's club has been a better price. I am with you on stick to your list and put blinders on from the seasonal section. That is why I do curbside pickup or scan N go. You can see what you spending as you shop.
Sam's Club bakery is great for cakes! Did one for a friend's birthday party!
I like splitting my membership with my mom, we usually go together anyways. With the membership being half the price, it makes it affordable
I love Tide powder. No plastic, not paying for water, recyclable cardboard box and works great.
CONGRATULATIONS on 100k!!!!
I have a Sam's club membership. I don't go very often because I don't have one in my town. The closest one to me is about 50 min. away. I feel like it's worth it to me. The savings on pecans I purchase around Christmas and the granola bars I buy for my son is worth the fee. And I do get gas when I'm there. Plus, there are a few other things I do purchase only from Sam's. And my daughter lives in a different town and sometimes she gets an order on my membership. You don't have to justify to us what you choose to spend your money on. Like you said, it's your family and you decide what's necessary. 🙂
I have a Costco membership, and I find it to be very worth it. Typically, I buy rotisserie chicken, bread and dairy products, coffee, baking items, paper towels and toilet paper, laundry soap and health care items. I tend to buy and stock up when things go on instant rebate. It can save a ton of money doing it that way, as well as giving us a good emergency preparedness supply of groceries and household goods. When my husband was laid off for 6 months, that was a life saver!
I used to shop a Costco twice a week when my sons were in school. One son was on two swim teams throughout the year and was a guard during the summer. My youngest son, swam once a week and had karate three times a week. We had two refrigerators.
My husband and I joined Sam's last October. The rise in food cost finalized our decision. Yes, one must know food prices before shopping at Sam's! I just picked up a box of the crackers also. LOL
We have both Sam’s and Costco memberships this year. I like that I can look up prices and availability online for Sam’s Club. There are a few things that we always buy there and it makes the membership worthwhile for us. Paper products, garbage bags, dishwasher tabs… we’ve been happy with their brand of powdered laundry detergent as well. I like the smell of Tide, but it makes me itchy so I can’t use it. When I was working crazy hours, it was beneficial to buy things like canned vegetables, pasta and sauce, canned chicken, and similar items to keep on hand for quick meals. I’m still guilty of spending too much on impulse items like new products, clothes, books, and shoes. You hit the nail on the head, keep in mind that bulk buying doesn’t always save you money of you won’t use it before the Best Buy date passes. However, we’ve purchased things like canned goods that we didn’t care for and then donated them to the local food pantry rather than let them go bad or take up space.
Mindy! Congratulations on hitting 100k!!!
Thank you!
Congratulations on 100k! Xoxo
We go to Sams occasionally now, used to go more regularly but found it costing me money because my husband likes to add things to the cart and it can add up quick. When we do go we do get gas which is always cheaper than any local stations. Our Sams Club is about 45 minutes away so we generally make a day of it and get other errands done too. I do sometimes order online and have delivered items, such as toilet paper etc. in order to keep my husband out of the store. LOL.
There was a time I had both Sam's and Costco memberships. Today I only have Sam's. I'd love a vlog on "What's better Sam's or Costco" ( As I'm in the west side of the states and we don't have BJ's) I'm thinking for certain items the warehouse shopping is better. I guess it comes down to what you are buying. It's unfortunate we don't have Aldi's either. Thanks for sharing...
When I can, I love to shop at Bj's. Its the oen closest to me. I feel the more I stay out of the stores the less chance I will impulse buy! So. stocking up on the things I can makes sense to me. I used to love getting the kids snacks when they were young, big savings there....
I like getting certain items at Sam's. We actually buy meat in bulk, usually looking for the marked down items that need to be used immediately or frozen. We then take it home and vacuum seal and freeze into serving sizes for two (it's just me and my husband). I find great deals, and don't have to worry about buying meat in my weekly grocery shopping.
Love the video! I am an impulse shopper for sure! However in the days I have my life together the bulk stores are the best way to go. I have found that sams club meats are almost half of the price of a regular grocery store per pound in my area.
Congratulations on 100,000 🎉🎉
I do not have memberships for Costco or Sam's club yet. I was thinking and want to take a look around. I'll probably use the membership on things we use mostly like toilet paper, paper towels, water, soaps...like you said. Also depends on sale. I have seen people pay $1,000-$2,000 on hauls which is crazy but they have bigger families. With 3-4 people in the household is not bad but can get expensive at times especially at my walmart 1 gallon of milk is $3.26 now and gas for regular is $4.25. So looking back at the membership I'll probably also use Mt card for gas but depends. These are helpful tips.
I only buy staples for pick up at Sam's. 25# flour. 25# Sugar. 2 - 1 gal. Canola Oil. Coffee prices better for my brand . Coffeemate. Large spices. Toilet Paper. Lysol. Not even gas. I make my own powdered laundry detergent with ingredients coming from Walmart and Dollar Tree. Liquid detergent is with HUGE savings with coupon.
We have to watch the next weight too because for my kids, 1/2 oz vs 1oz pretzel bags make a difference. I found what might look like a decent deal isn't because the bag only has 5 little pretzels in it!
I definitely agree. If I could not afford a membership, I could still survive but I love bulk buying vs more frequently buying IF the price is right. I definitely don't buy just to buy bulk, but I appreciate only needing to get TP twice yearly, and snacks for school at the beginning of the semester (usually). And definitely the fuel is worth it!
I love shopping at both Sam’s and Costco! I mainly do them once a month and then do my majority at Aldi ,Walmart and Wegmans. I really do think some of the items my family eats often can be cheaper at membership stores. Along with toilet paper, paper towels and some cleaning supplies. I do not find everything to be cheaper because i do find i like a lot of store brands but some things are so nice to have large quantities and not have to pick up every month etc.
Great video Mindy! It might surprise you but as a single person household I definitely save money belonging to Sam's Club. I do not buy a lot of items there but the items I do buy definitely justify the cost of the membership. Like every other place you shop you have to watch the prices and I have noticed that some items that I buy at Sam's Club have gone up recently. I'm on the fence on a couple items if I will be buying them at Walmart with my regular grocery delivery or buy them at Sam's Club. I will just continue to watch the online price is at Sam's Club and go from there. I don't often go in the club because I'm disabled and my next door neighbor and dear friend will go for me about once a month or every six weeks so I'm not spending a lot each trip because she goes a little more frequently. That same neighbor belongs to Costco and she is also a single person household. There are some items that I have her pick up for me from Costco because either I prefer them over what Sam's Club offers or they are items that Sam's Club doesn't carry and vice versa with Sam's and Costco. You are right that it is very easy to impulse shop and unfortunately when you impulse shop at a warehouse club you're usually spending at least $20 or more if you decide you need something larger like you mentioned a Christmas tree or patio furniture. I do think Sam's Club'd generic over-the-counter medications are some of the best prices you can find. The trick is some of them are in really large quantities so as you mentioned if you're not going to use them all it doesn't really save you money and actually can cost you more. But I do have friends who use some items from the over-the-counter medicine section or vitamins and supplement sections and they really do save half off of the name brand and they are able to use the items up before they expire so it makes it a good buy. I have friends who have a car that requires premium gasoline. They have indicated that they save more than enough on the gas that they spend on her husband's car to justify the Costco membership that they have. Anything above that that they save is just gravy. I have heard that Costco has great gas prices. Neither Sam's Club or Costco are close enough for me to use them for purchasing gas unless I happen to be there for another reason or going past one of the clubs. I do like that Sam's Club allows you to shop different clubs and check inventory online to make sure that they have what you need before you go there. Last year I was running into an issue with a particular product from the over-the-counter medication section that some clubs would be out of so I would have to go to a club I don't typically shop at but is not that far away to get it. Unfortunately Costco's prices online are not true to what you pay if you go into the club so it's hard to sometimes see if you're getting a good deal if you have access to both Costco and Sam's club. I believe this is because if you shop online at Costco and have it delivered it comes by Instacart which if anybody knows Instacart they mark up prices at most of the stores they shop at for you. There are other fees involved with Instacart so if that's the only way you can get items from Costco you really have to double check on it to ensure you are really saving money. My friend wanted to join Sam's again but struggles a bit with cost justifying it but loves to get a couple of items there so I will often order them for her online as they usually have free shipping on them. But around the Super Bowl Sam's Club was having a great deal where you could join for only $8 if you were a new member. I made another comment on this post that stated please make sure you check online at Groupon or Google discounted membership for either Sam's Club or Costco or BJ's or whatever your local Warehouse Club is because they usually are always having some type of special particularly Sam's Club. Sam's will often have a join for $45 get a free $45 gift card by email at a later date or you may be able to join for say $20 and then you get maybe a $10 or $20 gift card plus a free pizza or something from the bakery. They sometimes have multiple different options for deals and you can figure out which one works best for you. Thanks again for the great video Mindy. I always really enjoy your channel!
Costco hauls can be expensive, but I agree with you that if you focus on the things that you know you will use in a timely manner, it will save money in the long term. I also always try to shop their sales, focus on the store brand items where possible, and the biggest low cost perks for me are the gas, clothes, and books! (Also, got a great deal on a King size mattress and it’s prob the most comfortable mattress I’ve owned)
Keep up the great work, Mindy
I find that it does save me time and money.. it also makes me HAVE to meal plan/prep in order to prevent food waste. As well as tell myself not to buy out for when we have so much at home already. Everytime we go out to eat it's a minimum of $30 just for fast food family of 5 and even more if we dine at restaurants. I scored a great deal the other day on 2/22/22, BJs (a local wholesale club) was offering it's members 22cents off per gallon of gas... I filled up at $2.97/gallon. Since having baby #4 in August, I've been doing one monthly large haul at both sams and bjs ( I price shop each item between the two stores). BJs has coupons sometimes making prices of items alot better than Sam's. I store extras in my small deep freezer, meal plan as much as possible, and eat leftovers to use things up in a timely manner. I also get cash back by using my wholesale club Credit card practically for everything and almost always have $40-60 rewards to use towards my grocery.
Hi Mindy I think big box is good for some stuff and I like how you do have chips and soda, I buy that too for my hubby`s lunch still cheaper then eating out. Great video
There are very few things worth buying in bulk since I live alone, but the gas alone makes the costco membership worth it. I also like a lot of the premade foods when I need something to eat off of for a couple days. The convenience of those items is really great, and a lot of other stores don’t really have a substitute. Like the chicken taco kits from Costco.
I absolutely love my sams membership. I worked there while in college and am a savvy shopper so I feel like I know the ins and outs of what is a good deal and what works well for my family. The convenience of getting so much of my list knocked off at one place and filling up the gas tank at a good price can’t be matched.
I don't usually have that much money to buy the bigger packages even if it is cheaper per ounce. I only have 50.00 at the most for 2 weeks worth of groceries now. So, going to sams or costco isn't in my budget. Next week due to bills we won't have grocery money at all, but we are o.k. we have food in the house, things are just really tight right now. I'm going back and watching some of your older video's to see what I have left in my pantry to put together so we won't just get bored with what I'm making. I know that there is a local food pantry, however, we have food at home and there are so many people that don't have anything I would feel guilty just going to ask for extra's when we are adults and there are families with small children in my neighborhood that don't have food.
Bless you..hope all gets better..we have nine children,it's always tight for us.But,we have plenty of what we need..today we are making homemade pizza and salad for lunch..my kids want the same for dinner..then tonight for our movie night.We will have popcorn with caramel drizzle.. everything is from pantry and freezer.
Another way to save is to share your membership. Sam’s allows two people on the account. My husband and I don’t both need a card, so we add a family friend and split the membership fee.
In general, if you can control the impulse purchases (similar to the reason some people cannot use a credit card), a Sams membership can be cost effective. There are only certain items I purchase, but I also compare prices quarterly to make sure I'm still saving the most. I also use the sAMS CC Mastercard for gas purchases to get 5% cash back. Every penny helps. But, make note how LiTTLE you get back if you choose that card to purchase at Sams for groceries... I buy garlic, coffee filters, paper towels, (toilet paper is usually cheaper at Kroger here when you shop sales), and a FEW food items. Ground beef 90/10 or 85/15 is usually pretty reasonably priced. I check my savings annually. Definitely agree on the fruit and veggies (fresh) at sams. Usually much cheaper at the local grocer.
Yes, powdered Tide works the best for me! That funky smell on my towels and other clothing has disappeared.
The membership is worth it for gas alone! We are executive members and have the Costco Visa. So we get money back from both cards and that pays for our next membership. Tires also have really good deals too. The big savings we get are pure maple syrup, vitamins, granola bars, lettuce, household cleaning items, trash bags, toilet paper, paper toweling, canned vegetables, bed sheets, bath towels, ziplock bags, and electronics. You cant really look at the total. You have to compare the unit price or ounces price.
Generic OTC meds alone pay for my Sam's membership. Price comparisons are super important! I compared between Sam's, Meijer, and Aldi and only buy specific items at Sam's. P.s. love your nail polish color! :)
I commented the same thing about the OTC items at Sam's Club. There are only a couple that I buy there but that covers the cost of my membership in savings right there.
Yes! I make up my membership fee in one trip when I buy allergy meds and ibuprofen.
@@jenniferryan1201 this only works if you use huge amounts of those items, we have thrown away so much ibubrofen/etc when we bought those large 2 packs of them. Not worth it for our family.
Hi Mindy, for my very small family of my husband and myself I choose not to pay for the membership. I do think you could save money. Our local stores have sales on items all the time. Also I live in a very small home and would not have any place to store extra foods. I enjoyed all the things you did pointed out when going and considering using a Sam's or Cosco Store.
Congrats on hitting 100k!! 👏👏👏You've earned that Silver Play button! Great job. 😉
I love Costco, and I’m retired and live alone, I don’t have to shop for things as often.
I love Costco also. Where we used to live we had “Costco, Sam’s & BJ’s” ALL within about 7 miles. And membership to all 3. Now this is when they first started coming out. I think our Costco’s was FREE. Sam’s was like $20 and BJ’s was $15 or FREE (Specials to get business between them back then in the late 90s very early ‘00s.) Moving out of a big city we now HAVE to travel 23+ miles for Sam’s. That’s the only place we have close to us. But I DO LOVE COSTCO MORE THOUGH. 😊 ✌🏻
I'm going to Sam's club today myself. First time in several years. I got my membership through a discount program from my work.
For my family of seven Costco is definitely worth it. I have the executive membership that gives you cash back and it pays for the membership every year. Sometimes I get up to $20 back beyond the membership price. And we go through the big size packages of food. I do have the Walmart app on my phone to compare prices if I know it's something that fluctuates enough to matter.
We are a family of 7 as well, one with food allergies so yes, we have both memberships but do majority of meat purchases at one along with snacks things and the other warehouse for well, mainly the other things. Fill in with aldi or a bakers on the other weeks we don’t go to the big box store.
For us here in SoCal, the price for eggs are cheaper at Costco than at Walmart. With gas prices on the raise (along with everything else), it really helps to do your research and keep some kind of price guide to know when/where the best deals are.
I have to travel almost 2 hours to get to Costco (I live rural remote). I buy 4 kids snacks and rotate so they don’t get burned out on 1 type of snacks. Our food is expensive up north where I live, so some of the fresh fruit and veggie items are a good price but I generally buy bread, frozen, and shelf stable goods at Costco.
I have a membership to BJ's and I enjoy going there once in awhile. But as a single person it's probably not a smart shopping option for me . Congratulations on 100k subscribers!!!