Warehouse memberships for single people?

[Dido]

Is there anyone here who is single and has a membership to a warehouse store like Sam's Club? I'm wondering if these are worth it. I can see it being so for a family, but it's not clear to me whether as a single person I'd save much once the cost of joining is deducted. One club we have here (BJ's Warehouse) is having a special now through Sept 6--they'll let you join for $30 rather than the usual $45. I'm wondering if it could possibly be worth it.

[Snoopy2645]

I dont think these are worth it for anyone really I had one once in my life but they were offering a special I got a year free but the stuff was in bulk was more expensive than buying seperate they just want you to think its in bulk it must be cheaper & most wasnt

[getforfree]

It's not worth for ay size family. We used to have membership at Sam's few years ago. Dh split it with his fried, it was like $35 at that time, so like $18 for each. We didn't buy much there. At that time we bought a package of tp, which lasted us for a year, a computer, some clothes for DS, and some food. The prices were not less if you would buy the same things on sale. Because it was like only a mile away from our house at that time, we went there every saturday morning for a free breakfast. They were giving out samples of food to try, so we had coffee at home, and some food there. We were trying like 10 pieces of each thing. As long as you are nice and friendly to those people, they will give you as much as you want. I hope we got our $18 back for about 20 free breakfasts for 2. Won't ever pay for a membership again. It's not worh it, especcially if the store is like 10 miles away.

[Bluezy]

I'm single with my little son CJ. I also have elderly parents. An executive membership to Costco paid for itself after what I saved filling an expensive prescription for CJ's antibiotics at Costco pharmacy. I go through cases of Costco TP and paper towels every year since I share with my elderly parents, so that savings helps. Same goes for non-perishable food.

[Bookie]

Speaking for myself, I wouldn't consider it worthwhile for a single person. I've had a business membership at Sam's for the last five years because I buy for the office. In that time I've used it twice for personal purchases, and both were simply convenient.

That's not to say it would never be worthwhile, but I'd say the savings potential for one isn't that great.

[jaksilee]

I have a Sam's one. I like it because I can buy bulk canned goods, and meat. I try to go once a month and stock up on the things I use all the time (tomato sauce & paste, canned mushrooms, cherrieos, granola bars) Gound beef by me is 2.75-5.00 a pound and I can get it there for 1.89. it is just a matter of using it for what you need and to watch the prices. Have a price book for your normal stores when you go in so you can see if things are good prices.

[Broken Arrow]

I agree that it depends on the individual, but speaking for myself, I found that it wasn't worth it.

[Bookie]

For a humorous look at Warehouse shopping you might like to look at this article. I got a grin out of it.

[getforfree]

I completly agree with this article.

[Dido]

Well, that helps. I *did* go check them out and there are things that I could buy cheaper there....but I'd only just make out even on the cost of a membership over a year. Doing some of my shopping for some basics at Aldi and the Dollar store ought to eke out as much savings without the entry fee.

[greedy4chips]

I agreed with the article as well.

We have decided to not renew our membership as of Aug 5th. We decided it just wasn't saving us enough money except for 2 items parmesan cheese and italian meatballs. Parmesan cheese $17.49 for 4.5 lbs (lasts us about 10 months) compared to $2.99 for 8 oz or $27.00 for the same as the 4.5 lb container. Meatballs were around $1.60 lb.

We did buy several other items that saved us money, but if we were to shop ads better I believed it would never overcome the $40 (our Sam's fee if we renewed) was going to be tough. We just decided to politely ask a friend and my MIL if they could pick up a couple things for us when they go for a small thank you fee!

Btw, we love parmesan and use a cup of it in a couple different recipies otherwise we could never use it fast enough.

[PrincessPerky]

WE save more than the membership on milk alone..so long as I am not paying more, it is good for us.

No way would I say everyone (even families) would save though, you gotta look at the prices, compare, price book if you are organized, and while many convenience foods are cheaper in buk, it is still cheaper to not buy them at all...so you gotta make up your own mind based on waht you buy, gas to get there, and how you deal with temptation (never walk thru the middle asile..just to see!)

Also look at shopping habits/eating habits, we prefer brand loyalty, limited stores, less gas to wonder arpoud, less stress (equalling less money spent on destressing .) so for us look around every week and find the best price on milk (which on the occasions we have looked it is 2 out of 3 times BJS, the other walmart, and no one here will drink walmart brand) would be a royal PIA..and I hate royal PIAs

BTW on brand loyalty, we keep trying other verisons of many things, but storebrand harris teeter frozen veggies are horrible, while store brand foodlion is good, aldis is iffy, BJs cant do green peas...green giant is good but always has a thing in it (husk, bad kernel, stringy thinkg, whatever) I hate finding things in my food...so while we will try, we do not want ever week to be an expirament..sometimes you want to know the food you are eating tastes teh way it is supposed to!

[boefixepa]

I have a Costco card that work pays for and I use to have a sam's but I did not renew it since work provided the other one. If you are single, as I am, you have to know what you are buying. The gas at these places can be as much as .20 lower a gallon than the local gas stations. Even at .15 X 13 Gallon = 1.95 X 25 fill ups a year = $48.75 a year is gas savings. That pays for it's self right there. I price checked all the things I normally buy and breaking it down and comparing apples to apples they are less expensive than the gernics at wal-mart for most all canned goods. You can't beat their per oz price on seasonings anywhere I've looked, or their yeast price. Paper products too. Another place they win hands down is over the counter drugs. Alleve, advile, multivitamins etc. So you really have to do your homework and see. There are a few things that don't work out...sugar is cheeper at Wal-mart for example, but overall I think you can make it work for you if you want to. Yes you can certainly spend more if you don't excercise self control, but that's what we are all trying to learn. Bottom line...a price book, shopping list, and self control are a must.

[Saving in So Cal]

I agree with the article and bofixepa. The answer is - it depends on your personal circumstances. I got a membership when I was single and used it for paper, printer ink, and things like that. It didn't really pay for itself, so I let it lapse. About 6 years ago, I got a new, regular membership and we used it for paper goods, gas, prescriptions, diapers, aspirin, vitamins, and some big ticket items. I think it paid for itself, but we probably weren't ahead too much. Last year, when my husband started his business, we upgraded to an executive membership to take advantage of some of the business services. The executive membership has more than paid for itself because Costco's price on certain business services, like credit card processing, is hard to beat. We still use it for gas, etc., too.

[scrava]

we love our BJ's card. I use a lot of coupons, but, BJ's takes them too. I buy a lot of my household items there like photo paper and my shredder. Dog food, dog bed, cat litter... I love their produce (except the bananas). I buy my socks and dh's undies there. Some xmas presents. If you have time to shop a dozen different stores to get the sales prices then it might not be for you. But, it's great for us!