Feeding Frenzy

By Stacey

December 5, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this

I have found that for the items I purchase, warehouse clubs are not a bargain. Once I check the unit price, the items are often less at my regular grocery store. Plus, I am a coupon shopper so I save even more at the grocery store. I have a BJ’s membership that I purchased at a discount through my job’s corporate account and they send out coupons every few months. If they have a REALLY good coupon, I will purchase just that item unless they have something good on the clearance shelf.

By motherjanegoose

December 5, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this

We had been Sam’s members for over 15 years ( before they came to Atlanta as we lived in Texas) and then they screwed up our membership when I added my son a few years ago as he headed to UGA. They would not budge. They lost me as a customer and I switched to Costco… am now on the executive level.

I love all of their meat, salmon ( yum) and produce. I also buy milk, coffee,frozen veggies and dairy products there but we have an extra side by side in the garage. I travel for work and making one large trip to the store once a month(with side trips for extra milk and things that may expire quickly by my family while I am gone) is the best for me!

Even their pre-packaged meals on the counter are good…you can always pick up a rotissierie ( sp?) chicken for $4.99 and some potato salad/rolls and fix a green veggie and you have dinner. I am going to confess that if I need lunch, I may run into Costco and grab a piece of pizza and a coke for $2.50 or I think their bratwurst and coke is $1.59!!!

I also stock up on paper goods and cleaning supplies…if I had to give up the membership, I do not know what I would do!

I do love to double coupon and try to do this about every six weeks and can save $50 or more with the coupons…

By Jason

December 8, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this

I have a Costco membership and find the prices are really no different than Kroger or Publix and you have to buy in bulk. For a family of 10 that’s probably ok, but for most familes w/ 2 kids; not necessary. Tried Sam’s Club once; saw rats the size of cats traversing the pallets of food when I was in there at night. I left immediately and have never been back.

By lovelyliz

December 8, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this

Whern we have space in our freezer, we head to COSTCO. The meat prices there are consistantly better than most other supermarkets. We buy our produce and other groceries there when we plan on entertaining.

By SamsWorksForMe

December 8, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this

We buy items like toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, and frozen chicken breasts. The prices at Sam’s for those items are better than you would find at Kroger or Publix. We use a lot of each item too so it works for us. Currently, they’ve started carrying the type of Similac formula that we use and the price is great! I would also reccommend Sam’s Club for meats if you are cooking for a crowd or have plenty of freezer space.

By Nickie

December 8, 2008 9:08 PM | Link to this

I had a free BJs membership when my son worked there while he was in college. After I had to pay for it I didn’t bother because for a family of 3 it’s not worth it when you add in the extra it costs to get there (it”s not very close). Every so often they send me a free 60 day “:trial” membership. I usually use it to make one trip to stock up on paper goods, cleaning supplies, shampoo, soap and vitamins. About the time I use up what I bought they send me another.

By clyde

December 9, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this

I find that for what I buy I can do better at my local market sales.When it’s truely on sale I buy lots of an item.Most recently,100 cans of canned fruit.That should last about two years.

By Flyycat

December 9, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this

Since I have been single for most of the time, (recently got married) I have a Costco card that I “share” with a friend.. I hardly purchase their food items, b/c the sizes are so big and it is more than 1/2 people can eat. I do purchase trashbags, paper plates, saline, books, household items, and starbucks frappucino’s from Costco. Since my parents live overseas, i often go to Costco to get bulk vitamins, etc for them. Most of my food purchases are from Wal-Mart, Publix or Dekalb FM.

By K&K's Mom

December 9, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this

I have family of four (technically five w/ my mother in law who lives with) and shopping at the Sam’s has been a huge help. One month I actullay shopped only at Publix or Walmart, whichever I was near and I found that I spent a lot more that month because I had to shop more often and got less items. Now don’t get me wrong Sma’s is very tempting in picking up items that are really needed, but after a while you get over that and only get what you really need because you either get stuck with an excessive amount of something or it spoils before you can finish it and you learn form that.

When shopping at Sam’s I spend an average of $350 per month and can sometimes go at least another half of a month. I mean really you can’t beat the bulk meats, two loaves of bread at a time and the kids weekend breakfast and lunch items that go a long way.

By Kelly

December 10, 2008 12:37 AM | Link to this

Regardless of how many members you have in your family, I think that if you are going to shop the warehouses, you really need to know what you would pay at the grocery stores for the items you need.

When my household consisted of at least two people, we shopped at Sam’s Club. I knew that the items I used most were best priced at Sam’s. So what if I had to buy in bulk. I didn’t buy anything we did not use. For meat, I would simply break up the packages into smaller portions and use freezer bags to put everything in.

Living alone now, if I had the storage space, I would still shop at Sam’s. Instead, now I save money by waiting for BOGO offers, use coupons, etc.