As a wholesale club, Sam’s Club sells bulk items at low and competitive prices. The catch is: you need a yearly membership to shop there. The yearly membership at Sam’s Club allows the warehouse club to keep their overhead low and keep their prices low for customers to enjoy.
If you’re thinking about whether or not getting a Sam’s Club membership will save you some money in the long haul, look no further! Read on to know more about Sam’s Club membership and how it may or may not work for you.
Is Sam’s Club Worth It for a Single Person?
Getting a Sam’s Club membership is an investment for a single person and can be worth it depending on your needs. Generally speaking, a Sam’s Club membership is not worth it for the average person who shops sporadically but is worth it for a frequent shopper.
To make the most out of shopping at Sam’s Club, you have to carefully evaluate your buying habits, as well as what Sam’s Club has to offer for you.
What Are Your Buying Habits?
The most important aspect of shopping at Sam’s Club is that they sell their products in bulk. Knowing this, you should evaluate your needs when shopping and your habits when buying groceries.
Non-perishable items are easy saves when it comes to bulk buying. Having more of an item you will eventually use on standby can’t do any harm. But what about things that go bad and rot?
If you’re thinking about buying your food at Sam’s Club, it would probably be a good idea to prepare meals. Buying fresh food in large quantities is often a bad choice for a single person, as food can rot even within a week. Sam’s Club does not have the best selection of fresh foods, but the average meal prepper can save more in the long run.
Generic brand items are also getting a bit harder to find. You may find more of their official brand, Member’s Mark, on the shelves as they have been releasing more products from this line in their stores.
The rule of thumb is to always buy within your means. When it comes to perishables, think carefully about whether you can finish them or they’ll go bad, resulting in a waste of money.
Sam’s Club Free Trial
Sam’s Club used to offer a One Day Pass to allow new customers to get a feel for what they’re signing up for when shopping there. However, that has been discontinued.
On the bright side, Sam’s Club has an even better alternative for new shoppers interested in seeing if shopping at Sam’s Club is suitable for their lifestyle.
They now offer a 90-day free trial for potential customers who have not had a membership at Sam’s Club within the last 6 months. Having a 3-month long trial gives new customers the chance to test if shopping at Sam’s Club is good for them in the long term.
So, if you’re trying out bulk buying, maybe consider getting the 90-day trial before committing to the membership.
Sam’s Club Online Catalog
You can also browse their online catalog on their website. Buying from the Sam’s Club website does not need to have a membership, although you may want one. This is because there is an extra 10% surcharge on purchases for a non-member.
However, if you just want to buy a box of sliced cheese once a year, that shouldn’t burn a hole in your bank account. It’s only worth getting a membership if the amount you’re spending on the surcharge exceeds the annual membership fee.
Saving Money on Memberships
For a single person, a Sam’s Club membership may still not be worth it. There are some ways to save when shopping at Sam’s Club. The easiest method would be to pay someone you know who has a Sam’s Club membership for a portion of their purchases so that it can be split among you. That way, you can get half the product for half the price.
If you’re a college student, you can also apply for a collegiate membership. While the collegiate membership is the same price as a regular Sam’s Club membership, there are added benefits to enjoy.
You can get a gift card (usually worth $10 or $15) each year during renewal. You can also split the membership with 1 person, effectively cutting your yearly membership cost in half.
Do You Really Need a Membership?
If you’re interested in some of the extra facilities available at Sam’s Club, don’t run to sign up for that membership so quickly. Some Sam’s Club facilities are still open to the public, so you can just walk into your nearest Sam’s Club with a day pass to get some of the things you need.
Firstly, you do not need to sign up for a membership to actually walk into a Sam’s Club. This is because there are still services provided by Sam’s Club that must be accessible to the public.
You can still browse the shelves and do your own market research before making a decision about whether or not to get a membership. It’s good to do some sleuthing about prices in your own time since they may fluctuate over time, and the prices of some goods may depend on your state.
Sam’s Club is known for its diverse selection of in-house alcohol. If you were thinking about getting a membership just for the booze, fret not! Alcohol sales are also open to the public, so you can enter to snag a bottle without having to pay $45 a year to buy it.
Other services available to the public by Sam’s Club are the use of the pharmacy, their food court, and their online shopping services. You can try these out before to see if the benefits of a membership at Sam’s Club suit you.
Conclusion…
A Sam’s Club membership is not for everyone and is only worth it depending on your needs. For a single person, your buying habits will greatly influence how much you’ll actually benefit from shopping at Sam’s Club.
Carefully consider your options before getting a membership at Sam’s Club if you want to avoid accidentally overspending on the quest to save money.
Want to know more about Sam’s Club and other memberships? Check out these articles:
- Can I Get Gas at Sam’s Club Without My Card in 2022? (Price, Hours, Payment Methods, Gas Quality)
- Does Sam’s Club Deliver? (And Everything Worth Knowing…)
- Is DashPass Worth It? (Cost, Benefits, + More!)
- Does Sam’s Club Have Squishmallows? (Everything To Know!)
If you have any more questions, let us know in the comments down below!