Shopping At Warehouse Clubs For The Beginner

You know the old cliche, "you have to spend money to make money?"  Extreme couponers often balk at this notion, as even paying $1.00 out of pocket feels sacrilegious.  However, when it comes to getting the best prices on certain goods, this saying can have truth.

Warehouse clubs (such as Costco and Sam's Club) offer discounts on goods to members who pay a yearly fee.  The majority of items that you will find at these stores are sold in bulk.  You may feel shellshocked when you see the price of the package, but keep in mind that you may still be paying less for all of the items included than you would at a traditional store.

This is where you want to pay attention to the "unit price."  This is usually listed at the bottom of the advertised price tag.  For example, a package of 15 individual yogurt cups is listed at the price of $13. At a traditional grocery store, these yogurt cups sell for a price of $1.25 each.  The unit price per cup at the warehouse store breaks down to about $0.86 per cup, which is a significant savings.

Having said that, it's important to remember that not all offers at a warehouse club are a better deal than a traditional store.  Do your homework and comparison shop.  Also, stick to your shopping list. Warehouse clubs, just like any other store, will try to tempt you with impulse purchases.  Sure those wool socks seem like a great score, but do you really need them?

If buying in bulk seems daunting or you do not have enough room in your pantry or freezer for all of your items, you may want to find a friend to split your membership with.  You can go to the store together, pick out the items you both need, and then split them up afterwards.  This is a great way to get the savings of a warehouse club without the hassle of squishing all of your goods into your refrigerator.

Shopping in bulk can be a great way to stock up on the goods you use frequently and save money in the process.  You can get a great deal on groceries, and having them in your freezer will prevent you from making additional trips to the store (or eating out!).  By being a conscious warehouse shopper, and sticking to your plan, you can definitely get some great savings.