The post Do Warehouse Clubs Really Save You Money? appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.
Warehouse clubs have been around for decades, offering members a way to save money on everything from bulk toilet paper and ground beef to big-screen TVs and tires (in the same shopping trip). But even with their cult followings, it can be hard to justify paying a membership fee just to be able to shop there.
Whether youâve walked the long aisles of your local warehouse club before or are brand new to the idea, here are just a few ways that one of these memberships can save you money on many of the things you buy.
Iâll be honest: one of my favorite perks of being a Costco member is the samples. Thereâs just something about hot (free) food at the end of an aisle to really make your Saturday shopping experience better.
Of course, food samples alone arenât worth the cost of my annual membership. To make that expense worthwhile, I have to take a look at how much money Iâm saving each time I shop at a warehouse store, and how often those savings really come into play.
Iâll be signing on again when my membership comes up for renewal next month, because I have discovered that I definitely save serious cash with club prices. But warehouse clubs admittedly arenât for everyone. To make that annual fee worthwhile, youâll really have to do the math and look at your familyâs needs, to see if this style of shopping makes sense.
Hereâs a look at some of the things to keep in mind when debating a club membership, and some of the ways warehouse stores really can save you money.
Today, warehouse clubs are ten times better than the way I remember them from my childhood. They offer so many more products and perks, at pretty reasonable membership rates.
With a little strategy, you can save some serious cash at your local warehouse store.
For years, I avoided buying a warehouse club membership because our family bought mostly organic food. Imagine my surprise, then, when I learned that Costco has quietly become the largest organic retailer in the country, surpassing even Whole Foods.
You can buy everything from organic fruits and vegetables to milk, eggs, juices, meats, and more. Whether you prefer conventional food or non-GMO and organic, you can still find what you need at a warehouse store ⦠and often for a much more competitive price.
Did you know that warehouse stores donât just offer bulk prices? Most chains also publish weekly circulars with sales, promotions, and rebates.
Try to double up on the savings by taking advantage of promotional pricing. If you have manufacturersâ coupons, many warehouse stores will accept those, too.
Forget fighting at your local Walmart for deals on Black Friday. Clubs like Samâs and Costco offer additional promotions on already-low prices, and often have huge discounts that are available in the days leading up to Black Friday — so you donât even have to stand in line at 4 a.m.
Certain warehouse store locations will offer gas pumps for members. You can easily save a few dollars every time you fill up, just by buying there instead of a typical corner store. (I usually save $0.10 or more per gallon).
It was only last year that I discovered the value of warehouse store vacation pricing. You can buy everything from local theme park tickets to Disney passes, cruises, and family vacation packages to destinations around the world, all at a discounted rate.
You can take a look at the discounts available in your local store, or call your preferred warehouse chainâs vacation booking line to price out your own trip. Sometimes, you may still be able to find a better deal elsewhere, but itâs yet another way to potentially save on travel and experiences.
By signing up for a warehouse club credit card, you can further compound your savings.
Some cards offer extra rewards for all purchases made at the warehouse store. Others may reward you for all of your everyday spending. And some may even come with promotional membership fee credits.
Warehouse clubs are notorious for having excellent customer service, great return policies, and satisfaction guarantees.
At Samâs Club, you can return items opened or unopened within 30 days for a full refund ⦠no questions asked. Hate that new yogurt but bought a 60-pack? Yep, you can return it.
At Costco, electronics are the only returns with a specified timeframe â everything else is open to the staffâs discretion. Oh, and if youâre unhappy with your membership at any time? Theyâll refund that, too.
Of course, warehouse stores arenât for everyone, and the fee isnât always worth the cost.
Even though todayâs clubs offer a huge variety of products and even organic offerings, youâll probably still need to visit your local grocery store as well. If youâre used to knocking out all of your householdâs shopping in one trip, this may be an added pain.
Yes, you can save money per-unit by buying in bulk. But if you donât need 300 of something — or cannot eat your way through a warehouse store-sized box before the food goes bad — youâre still wasting money in the end.
Donât fall into the trap of buying more than you need. That dog food might be on an amazing sale, but itâs still not a good purchase for you if you donât have any pets.
Itâs easy to go to Costco or BJâs and buy a yearâs worth of supplies. However, itâs important to still keep your budget in mind, and make sure that you can afford to stock up all at once.
Saving a few dollars a month over the course of the year is greatâ¦but not if you wreck your budget in the process or have to carry a credit card balance to do so.
Many warehouse clubs will offer day passes or even have promotional weekly passes for potential members. If youâre considering buying a membership, this can be a great way to look around and gauge your interest.
–By Stephanie Colestock
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