Is it really worth getting a Costco or Sam's Club Membership? (book, sell)

[user_id]

Originally Posted by Woof

ALL of the things I listed are cheaper than generics in my area. YMMV.

Almost all of them are not cheaper here. Take Ketchup. Its $7.14 at Costco for 3-44oz bottles. But you can get 24oz bottles at Target, Wal-mart or the grocery store for around $1.00. Costco is $.05409/oz and the generic is $.04166. So its cheaper and you don't need to be three big bottles. Now, if you compare the price of Heinz Ketchup Costco ends up being a little cheaper.

I don't see why this would vary much from area to area.

[Woof]

The size of ketchup I got most recently was one 114 oz - don't remember the price - and before that it was a big pouch from Sams which I think was one gallon, for less than $5 iirc.

Both times I funneled them into smaller containers. Ketchup was originally designed as a tomato preserve - if you keep it cold, it will stay good for months. In fact even if you don't refrigerate it, it will stay good a long time.

Ketchup and mayonnaise are almost the only things I won't compromise on by getting generics, since the generics usually taste crappier - I always get Heinz and Best Foods/Hellmans. In this case I can get both cheaper than generics.

[NCN]

We get mesquite chicken, frozen tilapia, frozen breaded tilapia, italian chicken, tomatoes, kiwi, apples, paper towels (I am really not sure they are less expensive than the grocery store) small sweet peppers, and sometimes milk and eggs at Sam's. I guess I just like the brands they have. I bought yogurt a couple of times, but we cannot eat that much yogurt before it spoils. There are a lot of brands of crackers, granola bars, nuts, etc. that are just convenient to pick up. I also buy lettuce, broccoli--both fresh and frozen and large packages of corn on the cob. I forgot the kaiser rolls and there is a package of cold cuts that have honey turkey, ham, and roast beef.

Once we were vacationing in Nashville and I googled for Sam's locations and got mesquite chicken, corn on the cob, apples, bananas, etc. and had a very economical food week on vacation. I just usually put the food in the freezor and refridgerator and don't notice the number of servings. The chicken was somewhere between $10 and $12 and I was able to get 6 servings because there were 18 breasts in the package.

[Spac3d]

Some of you are very lucky to have stores that price aggressively on food/general consumption goods.

In South Florida, Target and Wal-Mart do not have a great presence, and Publix is very expensive. CostCo pay's for itself many times over, and I shopping just for myself. I save $100 a year just on eggs and milk at CostCo. Also saved a boatload on contacts - they were cheaper than any of the online vendors, and under half price of my local eye doctor. Snacks, cereal, bread (not generics) are all a good deal at CostCo. Could I possibly get a better deal with a coupon + sale at Publix? Maybe - but CostCo is also efficient. My time is worth money too. Even if it was the same price as Publix, I would still shop at CostCo because eventually it would cut out a shopping trip to another store.

[user_id]

Originally Posted by Woof

The size of ketchup I got most recently was one 114 oz - don't remember the price - and before that it was a big pouch from Sams which I think was one gallon, for less than $5 iirc.

Both times I funneled them into smaller containers. Ketchup was originally designed as a tomato preserve - if you keep it cold, it will stay good for months. In fact even if you don't refrigerate it, it will stay good a long time.

Ketchup and mayonnaise are almost the only things I won't compromise on by getting generics, since the generics usually taste crappier - I always get Heinz and Best Foods/Hellmans. In this case I can get both cheaper than generics.

You're getting the same price or less as generics, but wasting a lot of time doing it. Not to mention having to store the crap.

Also, Ketchup is not rocket science. Yes, the different brands have different tastes, but there is no general sense where one is "crappier". If you prefer Heinz that's fine...but the generics are somewhat cheaper and you don't need to buy a gallon to get a good price.

[Woof]

I have time, I'm not that busy.

I believe in getting large amounts of extra food when the prices are low. I put them aside for a time soon to come when there will be many shortages in grocery stores, or to use if the pandemic gets so bad that I would stay indoors for a while.

I'd like to get a 3 month supply of food put aside.

[user_id]

Originally Posted by Woof

I believe in getting large amounts of extra food when the prices are low. I put them aside for a time soon to come when there will be many shortages in grocery stores...

There is going to be shortages in the grocery stores in the near future? Well, I guess you'll live an extra 3 months.

Originally Posted by Woof

I'd like to get a 3 month supply of food put aside.

Well, whatever floats your boat. Just don't forget about 40 gallons of water for each person too...

[NicoleJ]

Why so annoyed at someone else's spending habits? There are benefits to stockpiling when you have the money to do so.

[East Coast Wanderer]

I found Costco/Sam's Club to be good if there are 2 or more people living in the same household but think it's too much for just 1 person.

[user_id]

Originally Posted by NicoleJ

Why so annoyed at someone else's spending habits? There are benefits to stockpiling when you have the money to do so.

People can stockpile whatever they want, it does not bother me. Its when they start talking about some sort of impending doom, that it gets a little annoying.