Are warehouse stores frugal or not?

[ajrsmom]

I've found that I can get better prices on chicken, some frozen items that we eat as "treats" and kitty litter at Sam's Club. Other than food, we really don't buy that much there. (we did buy razor blades, recently).

Would you say that they are frugal or not?

[blondie29697]

Hi:
I've shopped the warehouse stores a few times, but I find that I get a better deal at the local grocery stores that double mgf. coupons up to $.60 each. My receipts show that I have bought $52 in groceries for $.52 once the coupons were deducted. I've done that over and over again. In April, I save $400 on groceries while purchasing $500. In May I saved $500 while purchasing $600 in groceries. I

[danstigerangel]

If you know your prices...I mean know them BJ's Costco are ok. You have to know your prices.

[seleach]

I agree you really have to know your prices.
You usually have to buy in volume so do the math to find out what you are paying per jar or can. You can save on some items, others you come out even. If you have to drive any distance, you need to include what it's going to cost you for gas round trip.

We used to belong to Sam's Club which is 70 miles round trip. We didn't go there often enough to make it worth keeping our membership.

[barbszy]

Besides knowing the prices, you have to be good about avoiding impulse shopping in warehouses. Otherwise you'll wipe out what you've saved.

I belong to Sam's (we tried Costco but Sam's has more of the stuff we use, and it's closer). Their price of milk and eggs fluctuates wildly, so I have to watch that. Half-and-half is ALWAYS cheaper, and so are generic over-the-counter medicines and vitamins. I make back the cost of my membership just buying Advil, iron supplements and allergy medicine for my kids. I also get spices, soup base (this is SO much better than bouillon cubes or canned broth, and quite inexpensive--easy to store too!) and large sacks of bread flour and rice.

Most other things, I have found that I do better at the supermarket, with sales and coupons.

[RobertaD]

I've been to Sams Club a couple of times over the years as a guest and what I found was if you didn't shop sales and use coupons their prices were not bad. But since I watch for sales and stock up while using coupons their everyday prices were high for me. The one exception that I found was dog food in 50lb bags was cheaper than I could get 40lb at the grocery.

I was able to get 5) 24 ct Advil this week for $1 total with sales & coupons at Kroger.

Roberta

[Crafty Amanda]

I was a Sam's Club member, but we only went when my husband was able to go, and unfortunately he's an impulse shopper and doesn't make good use of the membership. The closest store is 45 minutes away, so with those two things combined it's not worth it for me.

There's a good article on this very subject on FC called Is Warehouse Shopping Wearing Out Your Wallet? that addresses a lot of the points being mentioned here. It has some really good tips on determining whether warehouse shopping is for you or not. Check it out.

[Pag36]

i HAVE MEMBERSHIP (ooops) to all 3 tho' got to update my BJ's card. There are certain things our family likes in each that the others don't have. BJ's lets you use coupons Sam's has the Capuccino (sp) that I like and use a lot of during fall/winter Costco has my Bison as does BJ's where as Sams does not. So use all three at one time or another and share the bulk ones with Gina and Stacie so we all get a break