• About Me
  • Disclosure
  • Shop

Making Cents Matter

  • Home
  • Resource Library
  • Budget
    • Budgeting Tips
    • Our Monthly Budget
    • Meal Planning
    • Free Printables
  • Debt Free
    • Debt Free Tips
    • Our Debt Free Journey
    • Free Printables
  • Saving
    • Ways We Save
    • DIY
    • Free Printables
  • Recipes
    • Recipes
      • Breakfast
      • Lunch
      • Dinners
      • Instant Pot
      • Slow Cooker
      • Soups
    • Meal Planning
    • Preserving Food
  • Garden
    • Gardening Tips
    • Preserving Food
  • Shop

December 1, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Why I Bought A Sam’s Club Membership

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience.
Click here to read my disclosure policy.

Budget· Budget Tips· Frugal Living· Saving· Ways We Save

1shares
  • 1
why i bought a sam's club membership

As we started into our journey of debt freedom, I was couponing to help cut our grocery & household costs.  I was quite skeptical about getting a Sam’s Club membership at first.  While it is the only warehouse store we have available in our area, I wasn’t sure pahing $45 a year for access to bulk items would help keep our grocery costs down.  Especially when I hear people complain that they can never get out of Sams Club without spending over $100 each trip.  Here’s some reasons why I finally bought a Sam’s Club Memnership.

why i bought a sam's club membership

why i bought a sam's club membership

It had quite a while since I was in a Sam’s Club.  The last time we had a membership, it was given as a gift while we were in graduate school.  But the closest store was over an hour drive away and in another state, so Hubs and I didn’t think the cost in fuel to get there was worth keeping up with the membership, especially for as little as we had used it at the time.

Back in October, there was a coupon in the paper for a free 30 day membership to Sam’s Club.  After the 30 days were up, I could either pay for $45 for a year’s membership, or not.  So with my free membership coupon, and Lady Bug in tow, we went to Sam’s Club to scout out some of their prices.  After doing some research for prices in our area, I paid for the membership in November.  Here’s what I found that makes the $45 membership fee worth it for our family.

 

Some Items Are Priced Lower than My Price Points

The whole point of stocking up is buying items at a price that’s lower than retail.  Over the last 2 years that I’ve been couponing, I’ve learned what prices I’m comfortable paying for certain items.  For instance, boneless, skinless chicken breasts I would buy when they went on sale for $1.99/lb.  Retail price for them in my area is $4.49. Their $1.99 sale was lower than many other sales they promoted.

But recently, I noticed Giant would pack their chicken breasts at 5 per package during that sale, rather than 6. I don’t know why it bothered me. I was paying per pound anyways, but I really wanted to get the most chicken out of the two packs I would buy.  When Lady Bug and I did our research at Sam’s Club, their price on boneless, skinless chicken is $1.88 per pound.  Less than what I was buying it for at Giant!

Perdue whole roaster chickens were $0.99 per pound, when the closest I could get to that elsewhere was for the store brand fryer chickens.  Their prices on chicken, coupled with my irritation with Giant, aided in my decision for a membership.

 

I can buy items in bulk without worrying about the next sale

To be honest, there were many months this summer we ate more meals based around chicken and pork than I think anyone in this house cares to think about.  Ground beef prices rose so much in the last year, that my price points on 80/20 beef went from $1.88/lb in 2013 to $3.49/lb by the summer of 2014.  That’s because prices were rising so fast that I rationed what we had left in the freezer.  Then I got to the point that I gave up tracking prices.

When we were checking out Sam’s Club prices, I saw their 90/10 ground beef was $3.78 per pound.  As I type this, 90/10 is on sale for $5.49 at Giant, where I had been buying our meat before.  On.  Sale!!  I’ll give you a minute to absorb that.  Back yet?  That’s a difference of $1.71/lb.  Since our initial scouting in October, I’ve bought 2 packs at Sam’s Club each month.  Or roughly 7 pounds of ground beef a month.  If I were to buy that much ground beef in a month at Giant, I’d spend nearly $12 more each month, and break even for my $45 membership fee after 4 months just buying ground beef for my family.  That means I’ll break even next month!

But for me. juice boxes were the same way.  The boys pack a lunch for school every day, and Lady Bug packs one in her lunch pail when we do our grocery day.  That’s 11 boxes a week!  I’d either have to buy it by the case at a sale.  And I simply don’t have enough room for that.  Canned peaches and pears are also a go to as they’re cheaper per can buying from Sam’s Club than at any other store in the area.  When Weis has their 10/$10 sale or $0.88 sale on them, that’s the time to buy them elsewhere.  Cottage cheese is an item we’ve bought occasionally, but only when we know it’ll be gone through in a reasonable time {usually when we haven’t had it for a while}.

 

The prices on staples in our house are lower at Sam’s Club

There was a while I’d buy a box of butter each week at Giant for $3.79.  I cringed one night when I had to stop at Walmart for butter after piano lessons.  Yeah, I had neglected to notice that I had no more in the freezer.  The price tag said $4.28.  Ouch!  Over the course of a month, that’s over $15 in butter if I buy it at Giant alone.  At Sam’s Club, their 4 pound pack of butter is $9.98, or $2.50 per pound.  If I keep buying 4 pounds of butter a month, this savings {$67!!} will have paid for the membership over the course of a year as well.

Silk, bananas, romaine lettuce, spinach, carrots and celery also take precedence here.  If there is not a coupon for Silk available, it’s cheaper for me to buy the three pack at Sam’s Club.  We go through that amount in the course of two weeks anyways, so it’s not going to waste.  Carrots and celery are staples in our broth, soups and even skillet meals, while the leafy greens and fresh bananas are a nice way to add in some fresh produce at a great price.

 

Every month they have instant savings

This was a surprise to me.  I’m not sure why because I’ve heard my in-laws discussing it before, but it still took me by surprise.  One of their instant savings was $1 off a pack of bananas.  Their 3 pound packs of bananas run $1.49, so I got 3 pounds of bananas for $0.49!  Another instant savings I was really excited about was their $3 off a rotisserie chicken, which is priced at $4.98.  I haven’t seen rotisserie chickens priced that low, ever. I’ve also taken advantage of instant savings on yogurts, and fruit snacks as well.

 

Other perks

Sam’s is almost a necessity when it’s Monkey’s turn to bring in class snack.  Since the items are by bulk, I can make sure that there will be enough for his entire class without having to buy multiples at other stores.

Their gas prices are the cheapest in the area if I’m filling up the tank and I don’t have any gas points through Weis.  This doesn’t mean that I specifically drive there to fill up because it is a little out of the way for that.

 

Is the cost of a Sam’s Club membership worth it?

In the end, only you can determine if the membership is worth it to you.  After Lady Bug and I spent some time researching, I felt that their membership was worth it for our family.  Some items they sell I don’t feel are much of a savings for our family because we can get them cheaper by using coupons.  Things like cleaning items, cereal/oatmeal, and personal care items for instance.  Other items I don’t need to be buying in bulk.  Yes, I’m talking to you gigantic aisle of chocolatey sweet treats.

Bottom line, know the prices in your area and what your price points are. If your family isn’t going to go through the food you buy there in a reasonable time frame, it’s not saving you any money.

Related Posts

  • Frugal Fall Fun!Frugal Fall Fun!
  • March 2016 BudgetMarch 2016 Budget
  • June 2017 Debt UpdateJune 2017 Debt Update
  • February 2017 Budget & Debt UpdateFebruary 2017 Budget & Debt Update
  • Fall 2017 UpdateFall 2017 Update
  • Slow Cooker Chicken and RiceSlow Cooker Chicken and Rice
1shares
  • 1
Previous Post: « December 2015 Budget
Next Post: Monthly Meal Plan: December 2015 »

Reader Interactions

Want access to our resource library? Sign up for our free email list!

* indicates required

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Post Categories





makingcentsmatter

makingcentsmatter
Payday is today! Actually, payday was Friday the 1 Payday is today! Actually, payday was Friday the 12th because we completely forgot today is a bank holiday in the US. The feeling of being paid and not needing it is a nice one.⁠
.⁠
Here's what our paycheck needs to get us through for bills until March 14th. For a full look at our budget over the next month, head over to my budget with me on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rb8uyi1-rNc⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#monthlyincome #monthlybudget #monthlybudget #zerobasedbudget #payday #budgetwithme #budgeting #budgettips #budgetcalendar #frugalliving #savingmoney #paycheck #makingcentsmatter #debtfreejourney #debtfreeprogress
This weekend was focused on a pantry shop and meal This weekend was focused on a pantry shop and meal plan creation! This meal plan to get us to our February payday. We also picked fast meals, because it's a busy two weeks between doctor's appointments,. Academic Decathalon, dance, and drama. I'm unsure we'll be able to shop on payday, hence the extras.⁠
.⁠
Total spent: $112.39 for items to get us through this and lunches.⁠
.⁠
Keep in mind, just over $112 for 12 meals isn't sustainable for our family, just in times when we need to stretch the last bits of our monthly income. I really wish $112 was enough to feed two teenaged boys in our household.⁠
.⁠
The point being... do what works for you, and your situation based on your location. Don't try to fit yourself into someone else's situation!⁠
.⁠
#mealplan #mealplanning #frugalliving #frugalmom #makingcentsmatter #savingmoney #monthlyincome #budgeting #budgetmom #groceryshop
January's real numbers:⁠ .⁠ House: $511.13⁠ January's real numbers:⁠
.⁠
House: $511.13⁠
Citi: $720⁠
D NelNet: $100⁠
K NelNet: $100⁠
K Chase: $150⁠
Explorer: $343⁠
.⁠
Extra Payment to Citi: $500⁠
.⁠
Noteworthy... our car payment had a late fee assessed because the mail was SLOWED down over Christmas. Three headaches later, and we potentially have online banking finally set up with them. It is still a headache. And we are never taking another car loan out with this bank!⁠
.⁠
How was January?⁠
.⁠
#makingcentsmatter #debt #debtfreejouney #debtfreeprogress #debtfreecommunity #realbudget #savingmoney #savings #frugalliving #frugalblogging #budgeting #monthlyincome #zerobasedbudget #financialgoals #personalfinance #personalfinancetips #financialfreedom
Sometimes in order to see progress, you need to ta Sometimes in order to see progress, you need to take a step back.
.
I'll be honest, I didn't think that we got this far in 2020. With everything going on - and more importantly, everything NOT going on - we didn't keep up with this every month. We just threw what we could at our goal. I'm simply amazed at how far we came.
.
Things are still hectic, and I'm simply mentally exhausted between remote learning, extended remote learning, offset quarantining children... it goes on and on.
.
But I also cannot wait to see what strides we will make in 2021.
.
#makingcentsmatter #debtfreejouney #debtfreeprogress #savingmoney #savings #frugalliving #frugalblogging #budgeting #monthlyincome #zerobasedbudget #financialgoals #personalfinance
This is what school looks like when it's a hybrid This is what school looks like when it's a hybrid model, and your house does not have unlimited space. I was standing in our kitchen when I took this picture, the kids behind me making lunch.
.
Our district is carefully monitoring our local infection rates, and we are currently in a hybrid form. That means they divided the district into two groups; half are in school on Monday and Tuesday, the other half on Thursday and Friday. They are offering an all remote option, but Verizon for some reason supplies our house with speeds so slow that it would shock a tortoise. Remote was a no-go.
.
This set-up has taken some trial and error to get to where we currently are. Because no matter how prepared you are and how much you've planned, once you're in the weeds, actually doing it, there is no telling how your best-laid plans will work.
.
Our home is a 1800sqft one-story, open living area, 4 bedroom, 1 bathroom, ranch-style house in a very rural area. It has no home offices. No guest bedrooms. Yes, that is a desk in the corner of our dining room. 🤣
.
Each kid gets their own color bin for their school work. This includes school-issued Chromebooks and other standard items they need to get work done - headphones, pencils, and so on. When we are done for the day, we clean up everything, place them neatly in these bins, and place them in cubbies (on my current left) at night while the Chromebooks charge.
.
I do NOT bother to clean up at lunchtime. It would take us more time to clean up and reset everything than it takes us to eat lunch. So we only pack it all up for the day and call it done.
.
During the day, I sit between my younger two and field any questions they may have, troubleshoot technical issues we all have, and be the overall bouncer when things get off-topic. My high schooler will occasionally emerge from his bedroom, which opens to the kitchen. So he is close by when he has questions.
.
Please remember that with all things in life, you need to work with what's available to you. And there is no shame in that. Don't ever feel like you're not doing good enough because it's not picture perfect. Work with what you have available to you, and you'll do amazing things.
School is in session, the garden is slowing, and I School is in session, the garden is slowing, and I’ve finally realized I haven’t shared our payoff numbers for July or August. Yeah……
.
Please keep in mind, we are paid monthly on the 15th, but we don’t go by a “monthly” budget. So I have to go back and look at these numbers based off their due dates in the calendar. Because our pay falls in the middle of the month, I can’t tell you what portion of our income went to debt. It’s going to vary paycheck to paycheck anyways because our priorities vary with each check. Nothing is ever the same month to month, and pay to pay.
.
That said, inJuly we paid off $2,694.43.
In August we paid off $1,673.40.
.
The difference here is that our priorities shifted between the two months.
.
During August, we were doing more prep for whatever school would look like this year, and we had some savings goals make their way to the top of the list as well.
.
Of those goals, in August we made progress!
EF Reimbursement: $146 / $1,200
Checking Buffer Reimbursement: $227 / $500
Vet Sinking Fund: $40 / $200
.
Remember this is a journey, not a race. There is no point wearing yourself ragged and still making no progress. Make progress where you can, and celebrate it. Even if it’s $5.
.
It’s progress, and that’s what matters!
While I wait for the canner to finish the last rou While I wait for the canner to finish the last round... I rearranged our recipe binder. It's only taken me 8 or so years. 🤣😶😭
.
I miss the days when zucchini was my problem. Now it's tomatoes. I can only find so many ways to use up spaghetti sauce! So the next 50lbs or so will be chili base and unseasoned sauce.
.
On top of this school is starting with a hybrid in building & online system. And I'm seriously slacking on some things I need to do. I'm not good at juggling multiple things and the balls are falling. But I keep reminding myself... be patient. This too shall pass. This is only a phase. So I pick and choose what's the most important, focus on that and go from there.
.
So if you feel overwhelmed with your current phase, remember, this too shall pass. It's okay to rearrange priorities. It's okay to take a breather.
.
This too shall pass.
If you didn't start finding interesting ways to ge If you didn't start finding interesting ways to get rid of the squash, can you say you even planted any?
.
Good news, I'm almost caught up! Bad news, the garden has more.
Super busy here... but I wanted to share that wins Super busy here... but I wanted to share that wins can come in super small packages. I thought I'd spend $380 to clean the band instruments in this house. I ended up spending $234. So the remaining $146 can go to reimbursing what I pulled from our EF.
.
No matter the win, celebrate it!
.
What are some wins you have had lately?
Load More... Follow on Instagram


Copyright

I love it when you share our content! Please keep in mind that all content, images and text on this site are property of Making Cents Matter. Feel free to use no more than two photos on your own site, provided that a link back to my original post is included. Do not crop, edit, or remove any watermarks from any of my images without obtaining written permission from me first. Thank you!

Privacy Policy & Disclosures

MakingCentsMatter is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and other affiliated sites.

You can read more about our privacy policy and disclosures here.

Copyright © 2021 · Captivating Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in