If I don’t stick like super glue to my Sam’s list, the friendly cashier will ask for all of my money plus a membership upgrade. Anybody with me on this?
Here’s what our monthly list looks like:
- Taylor’s organic spinach; 3.99 (not pictured because I picked locally this month) Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppyseed dressing
- Eight O’Clock Columbian Coffee Beans (a must every month)
- Sam’s brand flax tortilla chips (with our homemade pico de gallo)
- Eve’s fruit juice boxes (not pictured, but .24 each)
- Bananas (if we’re out)
- Natural almonds (which I use to make my own trail mix: almonds, cranberries, Ghirardelli bittersweet chips)
- Ghirardelli bittersweet chips (usually an every other month purchase) I make chewy whole wheat freezer cookies)
- 2 # Cheese Block (Colby Jack is $4.98; 1.25 per 8 ounce block!)
- #10 can Crushed tomatoes for crock pot marinara (I make this monthly)
- Ground turkey for Italian Meatballs and turkey cheeseburgers
The list is not too lengthy nor fancy. I can run in and out with my two oldest children within 15 minutes. I dove tail shopping with our monthly mission meal since we’re on that side of town.
I must confess it’s really hard to “stick” to the list when children ask for convenience items, but I bribe them with a slushy and we’re in and out in no time. The sample items are a temptation for many people. I walk right by them dragging my children away with their mouths half full;)
I’ve debated on keeping this membership since I buy so little and we’re buying more and more local meats and fruits and vegetables whenever possible. I’ve also taken up with Aldi comparison shopping and discovered many staple items like eggs, shredded cheese, tomato sauce and paste and pintos, etc. are just as cheap or cheaper.
It pays to do your math to see whether you really are saving money buying in bulk. Many coupon users say they come out cheaper using coupons buying in smaller quantities. I do agree if you have the time and gas to coupon, but our time is money too.
What are your repetitious items are you buying at Sams or other wholesale clubs? Do you feel as if you are getting a good deal buying in bulk?
I do like shopping at Sam’s Club. I stick to a list of items that I know are a great deal because I do coupon and get most groceries/toiletries/household items shopping at Bi-Lo, CVS, & Dollar General. At Sam’s Club I buy: chocolate chips, pure vanilla extract, cheese, reduced meat, kitchen trash bags, honey, some produce, applesauce, tuna fish, chunk chicken breast, meatballs, pizza, & distilled white vinegar. I know there are a few other things but these are the ones off the top of my head
Most of these items last a LONG time so we really don’t go that often. In my opinion the membership is worth it to us as long I don’t go overboard shopping there, we are a family of 5 (and I love feeding extended family & friends), who doesn’t love all the free samples there?, the gas price there is one of the lowest, and finally the hot dog/drink combo there is AMAZNG! (cheap and delicious) I also shop a lot at Aldi now because their milk, fruit, and vegetable prices are fabulous! 
I buy almonds and whatever seasonl fruit is a good value (and Stacey’s Pita Chips when serving for a party). This month I bought walnuts, which I haven’t found for a good price anywhere. Must be a shortage. I used to buy much more but I have found it better to shop elsewhere.
We buy the natural almonds too, and walnuts are out of my price range right now, ouch!
I’ve recently been taking advantage of the “Click & Pull” feature at Sam’s Club. I go on their website a day or two before I plan to go to the store, submit my order, and select my pick-up date/time. They pull what I want and have it set aside so that when I go in I can stop by the Customer Service desk, pay, pick up my order and be out the door without ever having to walk through the store! It’s *wonderful* and completely eliminates the tempting items: books! fun foods! etc. One of my kids has a peanut allergy, so even navigating samples can be tricky. Sometimes I’ll wait a minute or two while someone fetches my items that require refrigeration/freezing, but since they meet you right at the door, it’s not at all inconvenient! (OH! And they never ask me if I want to upgrade my membership!)
Oh I forget about that option, you’re right, great for getting in and out even quicker!
That’s worth considering for me.
When we lived near an Aldi, it wasn’t worth it for me to have a Sam’s membership. (Though I might re-think that for tires and batteries now.)
However, now that we’re living in the Southwest, we make at least one monthly trip to Sam’s.
Staples:
* yeast
* bread flour
* olive oil
* dishwasher detergent
* Cheer
* ziplock freezer bags
* trash bags
* DH’s breakfast bars
* DH’s angus burgers
* V8 juice
* frozen shrimp
* frozen tilapia
* pesto
* junk food for the teens
And dry goods — printer ink, batteries, car batteries, windshield wipers, tires, office supplies, pharmacy items, toilet paper, paper towels, …
Because we’re an hour away from the closest Sam’s, I keep a running list.
I like your site and read all the time, but have never commented before. Thanks for your blog! It’s helped me be a better freezer cook.
Sam’s Club…
For me, Sam’s is a good deal as long as I only go once every 2-4 months. I don’t coupon (time is money, to me) so paper products of each kind come from Sam’s. I also buy flour in 25lb bags (bread and AP)- a must if you bake a lot and give bread away, yeast in 2lb packs, and then a mix of other things. I keep a list for Sam’s Club three sheets below my regular monthly grocery list. When we are out of something I prefer to buy in bulk at Sam’s, on the list it goes. I try to find a good deal on a smaller version at the grocery store until we can make it to Sam’s. I’ve been married a year and a half, and at first I bought more at Sam’s. This didn’t save money, so now I buy there only quarterly, and keep a running list of items instead of going in blind (such a bad, bad idea).
Some things:
canned tomato products- buy them in bulk and make your own sauces
cheese- I stopped buying shredded of any variety and now buy it all in block. I cut in 1 pd portions, vaccuum seal, and freeze Sam’s mozzarella and sliced american cheeses. This saves me bundles for all the pizza we make and prevents the american from going bad before we use it.
grill pans- foil type
olive oil – a must from here, I use so much
eight o’clock coffee (although it’s just as cheap at the grocery store as long as you can find the big bags)
flour- 25# bag
yeast
elbow macaroni
egg noodles
cleaning products
hygiene products- we’ve swtiched to brands that are affordable at Sam’s
some artisan cheeses
veggie straws- my indulgence
pre-cut broccoli- this bag is sort of scary but it’s so convenient
the huge, cheap baking potatoes are a great deal, but we could never use that many
sugar- all types, if we’re out
onions- when we’re out
bananas- when we’re out
I also buy any church donation items at Sam’s, such as large sacks of sugar, flour, and the like.
Great list; I agree it’s great to stock up to save gas, time and money. Thanks, Jess.
Is there a minimum for the click and pull?
I don’t think so, but let us know if you check. Will ya?