Secrets to shopping at Sam's, Costco's etc...

[frugal_z]

Know your prices.... often they are not cheaper than in a regular store especially if you shop loss leaders...

This is true. We used to shop at Sam's Club for just about everything. Our typical bill would be $300-$400 and wouldn't last a month. After registering with FV, I learned to shop wisely for discounts and sales. I know have a better idea of what to buy and from where, and especially when to buy.

When we do go to Sam's, it is on an empty stomach. We will eat lunch at Sam's (~ $1.50/person) and then pick up the items on our list. My parents love to eat all the free samples offered.

[kittykatstrong]

I go with my dad. Or he will pick me up something I need and I will pay him back. I know that I should buy the membership but I just dont use it that much, maybe twice a year.

[EarthGirl517]

I would never grocery shop on an empty stomach. I tend to buy more when I'm hungry because everything sounds good to me then.

[cheles2kids]

Another tip I'd like to add, for those big cans of pizza sauce or cheese sauce?
Those can be frozen in ice cube trays and then just defrost however many you might need for each meal. When we are planning on pizza for dinner, I will lay out around 16 cubes for two large pizzas, that morning in the fridge along with my two frozen dough balls.
By dinner time everything is all defrosted and ready to go.
By my estimations, I should be able stretch one can of either the cheese sauce or pizza sauce for around 3 months this way.

Also, FYI, you can buy their frozen pizza dough, either the balls or already stretched pizza dough in their "Snack/deli department" up at the front of the store.
I think we paid around $18.00 for 20 dough balls, you just defrost and stretch it out on your pan and then add your pizza toppings.

It's not as cheap as making it yourself, but it's ALOT cheaper than ordering pizza every other week.

I was really surprised to find that Sam's Club has a MUCH better price on their bulk items:
sugar
rice
flour than what I had been paying at SAL, so depending on which items your shopping for, I think you can actually get better deals on certain things at Sam's.

But like someone metioned above, you have to know your prices and whether or not it's a better deal than your normal grocery stores.

[cheles2kids]

When we do go to Sam's, it is on an empty stomach. We will eat lunch at Sam's (~ $1.50/person) and then pick up the items on our list.

I agree, who can beat $1.50 for lunch, 2 slices of pizza and a HUGE drink?
We do this too. Eat & then shop!

[maryea]

I enjoyed reading this. I agree the no cart one is silly although if I KNOW I only want to buy one thing...like mocha frappe mix (yummy!), I don't necessarily use a cart.

The best tip is to not to eat before you go and I might add plan your time when the demonstrators are out. Here that is close to noon. Saturdays are best...you can get lunch there with the samples! LOL

The snack bar is reasonably priced and they are good hot dogs although I do get sick of ANY hot dog now and then. But where else can you get a hotdog and a coke for $1.50?

[mira]

I think the biggest thing is to decide if you really need something. It took DH and I a long time to just shop what was on the list. We kept running across "good deals" that wound up in our cart for lots of extra money.

We also got the Executive Membership at Costco which worked out for us. Because we use it for pharmacy, eyeglasses, etc we get 2% back. This equaled a $95 check at the end of the year which meant that our membership only cost $5. Since these were things that we needed anyway (4 members of the family wear glasses, etc) it was definitely worth it.

[BlessedMomof2]

Thanks for sharing, I'll remeber those tips the next time I'm at Sam's Club.

[madhen]

I do disagree with the recommendation to buy the housebrand, unless price is your ONLY consideration. It is typically much lower in quality than the other brands. I won't even buy clothing at Sam's Club, because it is so thin and poorly made it falls apart after about two washings. Not to mention it usually feels scratchy and doesn't hang right.

[ebonykawai]

Wow, what stupid "tips". Don't use a cart??? How about "take a list" and "keep a price book."

[tmffv]

This was pretty interesting. Just last month I was wondering how much I was "really" saving on certain things I bought at Costco. It's a work in progress, but I'm starting to figure what things I get from there, and what things I don't. If it comes to a point where very few things are worth getting there, i might stop getting the membership all together.

On the other hand, I have found their Kirkland brand items are usually a good deal & quality! I buy their dog food which uses good ingredients, especially for the price! And their dog beds can't be beat!

[Mom23boys]

Thanks for posting the link. I learned something new today!