Most people these days have some kind of membership to a wholesale store like Costco or Sam’s Club. The premise behind these warehouse stores is you have to have a membership or pay them for the pillage of shopping there and exchange. They allow you to go in there and they promise you these great deals and provide you a discount on bulk purchases.
The only drawback is that the membership pricing can range from $50-$300 a year. I often wonder if the membership is really worth it.
If you plan on using the wholesale stores frequently then I can see the benefit, but if you are planning to shop there a couple of times a year whatever benefits you think you’re getting are lost In the frequency of your visits.
Not all the wholesale stores are created equal, you can find better deals on one wholesale store than another, it depends on what you want and are looking for.
Here are some tips to help you save when shopping in a wholesale membership store.
Quality Wholesale Stores
Just a quick disclaimer my family we do have a Costco membership I enjoy Costco mainly because of some specific desserts that they have.
But here are some of the factors you should consider when deciding which wholesale store is best for you and your family. You should consider the location of the store, the fees, the type of rewards and any extra services should play a huge role in deciding which wholesale store you decide to visit.
Here are some criteria you can use in deciding which membership is right for you.
Wholesale Membership Fee
Do you have to be a member to shop at these wholesale stores? The biggest drawback from these wholesale memberships is that you will have to maintain your membership every year.
If you don’t purchase enough of the goods to offset your membership you do run the risk of spending more money and not saving.
For example when comparing Costco to say Sam’s Club, Costco is more expensive. But depending on your location or the type of services you need this may be OK. Costco charges on average $60 a year while Sam’s Club charges $45 a year
Coupons And Discounts
Every warehouse does offer some form of coupons or discounts or reward programs to their members. This usually comes in the form of cash back or discounts on products that you normally would purchase anyway.
I personally have found very little difference between the wholesale stores as far as coupons or rewards, the difference being the membership fee and the services offered within the wholesale store.
Location, Location, Location
I don’t know about you, but I really hate driving really far for groceries. Even though I have a Costco membership, if Sam clubs was closer I probably would have a Sam’s Club membership.
Check the location of all the warehouse wholesale stores, I don’t know about you but I hate driving really far to buy my groceries.
Type of Services They Offer
If services are important to you and you like to go to one place and get a lot of things done then I can see the benefit of Costco.
Costco does have a lot of services that you can use like photo pharmacy, tires, liquor, travel planning and you could even fill up your gas and get something to eat.
What Is Worth Buying At The Wholesale Stores
- Electronics and appliances
- In-house brands
- Luxury items
- Alcohol
- Paper goods
- Dry goods
- Diapers
- Tickets and gifts
- Frozen food
- Rotisserie chicken
- Flowers
- Can pet food
- Some dairy
In Conclusion
Buying groceries and food in bulk is a great way to save money if you have storage in your home to keep it. If you are able to afford to pay the membership fee to save on wholesale buying then this is definitely a great way to save money.
Is easy to fall into the trap of buying things that you don’t need. I often see people filling up the grocery baskets with unnecessary things.
Do you really need to buy 24 muffins when it’s just you and your wife? One time I purchased 24 muffins and I found myself eating several muffins a day. In the end I ended up throwing about half of the muffins so I did not save any money.
Avoid the temptation of buying things you really don’t need. It’s best to have a list of what you’re looking for when you go to these wholesale stores. For example, Costco has perfected the art of driving
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