Warehouse vs Coupons

[crosses]

Which do you think is a better deal - shopping at warhouse clubs or at your local grocery store with coupons? I have one friend who swears by Cosco warehouse club and another who swears by using coupons at the local store. Which do you think is a better deal?

[lieweheksie]

I think it all depends on circumstances- when i was working full time - 60 hour weeks- we used to go to a warehouse-I found that by buying in bulk we allways had food in the house
( less eating out) and we didn't spend every weekend shopping- we would go once every 2 months- stock up and jsut buy perishables in between
Now that I'm not working I find I save more by shopping the sales- but now I have the time
i think the best is probably a combination- If the warehouse has a good deal then stock up and also look out for sales at the grocery store

[PennyPincher]

I shop regularly at both. The grocery stores can be incredible for savings when things are on sale and then you have coupons too. Regularly shopping at the same grocery can save time in knowing where things are. I can also say that many of the prices at the wholesale clubs are competitive. There is certainly the danger of overspending - but like anything else, you should know what you really need, and what is a good price. I could spend $3.99 on a 16 oz jar of jalapenos at the grocery store, or spend $2.78 on 3 pounds at Sam's Club - for a spicy household like mine, it's a no-brainer. I find the best bargains at BJ's wholesale club, which accepts manufacturer coupons, and also has a monthly journal with coupons. Coupons can also be viewed and printed from their website. In many ways, it's the best of both worlds.

[singinjeannie]

I find that when I shop at Warehouse stores, my kids just eat more (it's so hard to regulate their eating, and when the pantry is full, there is this illusion of "we have SOOOO much!"

If I could find a way to keep my teenage boys out of the pantry, Warehouse would be good. Until then, I shop weekly specials and coupons.
-Jean

[terry1156]

I stopped buying at the warehouse cause I spent so much more than I intended. Plus the bulk items never got fully used. Now if we had our kids still around, it would be a different story, but with just the two of us, the local grocery store makes more sense.

[Tree0164]

I just shop at the grocery store.

[pschale]

I use a combination of both but I usually know the prices of what I normally buy so I compare and then decide if it is a good price or not.