Hi all. Wasn't entirely sure the best forum to post this. I tried to search to see if anyone had posted a similar question, but didn't find it.

Anyway, I'm trying to decide if a Sam's Club membership would be worth it. I just looked at the site and it looks like some pretty decent prices on some things. Do they take coupons? What kind of meat prices do they have?( That's one thing I didn't see prices on)

Anything else you can tell me? Thanks so much.

They do not take coupons and they do not take Visa.

Their meat prices are better than grocery store prices, but not better than really good sales. However, it is usually trimmed well and lean and the steaks are thick. It is not pre-packaged, they have a meat dept. with a butcher.

My FIL has a business membership and we have a branch membership off of his. We have a few staples we get there. Their produce is awesome. I usually get boneless skinless chicken breast, basmati rice, red seedless grapes, sugar snap peas, Propel water, individual chips, Goldfish, Cheez-Its and fruit snacks for the girls lunches. Then I always end up buying a bunch of other stuff, too.

I like it. I want to give Costco a try just to see the difference, but I like Sams, too.

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

I don't know if you have a BJ's in your area but for me they have better deals. We have belonged to both Sam's and BJ's. I like BJ's much better. They send out books of coupons every month and you can use a man. coupon with their coupons. You can also use a coupon for EACH item. Like say you buy 3 jars of spaghetti sauce hooked together, you can use 3 seperate coupons. Plus you could use a BJ's coupon if there was one. The only time you can't is if they cannot be sold seperately. Like potato chips that come 3 bags in a box. You could only use 1 coupon on that. I hope that makes sense. I've gotten things for next to free there many times. I don't know if they are in your area but it would be worth checking out. Although, this is only my experience with BJ's. Good luck!

Sometimes the gas prices are the best to be found, sometimes about the same as other gas stations. Tire prices used to be good, however, the last 3 times we've needed tires we have bought elsewhere. I buy generic Benedryl, Zyrtec and vitamins at awesome prices. Those 3 items alone are worth the membership to us.

Thanks for your replies. Gives me food for thought. We don't have a BJ's or Costco near us, so if we go club, it'll have to be Sam's.

I love Sams. Their meat is really good.
Best prices on dairy.
My kids love Stacys Pita Chips. I get a small bag at the grocery for $3, at Sams I can get a huge bag for about $5. And a huge container of hummus to dip them in

Produce is really good there too, although I usually check Aldi first to see what they have. I always get Romaine at Sams, best price and it is always really good.

Also clothes mark downs. I got my son a fleece jacket for around $10.

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Insanity laughs under pressure we're cracking

I no longer have a membership at Sam's and hadn't been in a long time. I recently went to one with my daughter's card and picked up some flank steaks. They were dreadful. I was so surprised and disappointed because when we had a membership, I remember liking the meat from there. Not only did these flank steaks have great globs of fat on them, they had wrapped them with some sort of heat sealing thingy and it had cooked the meat in places. I lost about 10 percent of my meat by the time I cleaned off the fat and cut away the cooked portions.

I love Sam's club. We buy most of my dd's food there (food allergies) in big containers and repackage it in snack sized bags for school. I tend to get lunch foods, some cleaning supplies, vinegar, bottled water, and hot dogs there.

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I've never lied to you. I've always told you some version the of truth.

I don't have a membership and don't live close to Sam's, BJs or Costco. I have shopped at Sam's and BJs in the past and although I had fun, I feel that I over-spent. There is way too much temptation for things you can't find other places, big packages of this or that, and other things you pass along the way. I am generally a conscientious shopper, but I can't get out of those stores for less than $100. Definately not for me.

That is true and it definately takes discipline. I've overbought before and lost stuff. Over the years I've gotten way better. I know what is a good deal for us, what we will use, I know grocery store prices and I have to talk myself out of things sometimes. But, it is a challenge sometimes! And, a really good deal most of the time for the things I buy.

Lisa

__________________
"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"