Why I Manage My Home with Sam’s Club

Back in fifth grade, my school went on a state capital trip. Although history was the main focus, our math teacher wanted us to use math to determine our out-of-pocket cost for meals and souvenirs. This was, we could change our minds without making a cashier void the transaction. This wasn’t my only in the wild math experience. A family friend explained why it was important to understand an items unit price, quantity and weight/volume. This would help her decide whether a value package was a good deal.

She used to do this off the top of her head. Now, I can use my phone and calculator to do some of the heavily lifting. Plus the pandemic pushed many stores to list their inventory on their official website and app. I use both experiences and tools to decide what I need to buy in bulk for my family. There’s one more factor that must be considered. Does my family like this enough to finish it before it expires. When the answer is no, I’ll buy it in smaller quantities from another store. Since cost of living is irregular, I prefer to take care of my family’s needs with Sam’s Club.

Beverages

I don’t believe in getting drinks from the convenient store or gas station, because they’re extremely marked up. If I can, I’d rather by them by the case. Outside of sales, you’ll save more money buying from Sam’s than your local grocery store. That’s why I get water, sports drinks, energy drinks, and juice boxes by the case. It can be Tetris storing these items at home, but I’m less likely bust my budget.

Snacks

Whether it’s healthy or junkie, bulk snacks come out cheaper than the value size sold at grocery stores. Sure you’ve got more boxes to breakdown but it’s worth it. They are good for lunch boxes and weekend to-go bags, which minimizes fast food/convenient food stops. Even party size chip bags are cheaper here.

Meat

Quality, quantity, and price are great at Bulk Stores. I’ll admir, their fish selection is limited, but that might very by region/location. I frequently get chicken, pork, and ground beef. Sometimes, I’ll splurge on steak. Since we don’t eat it often, I slice, cube, and cut the meat for freezing.

Household Supplies

From kitchen to bathroom, you’ll find what you need to keep your home clean and fresh.  I’ll admit this section will feel like your getting ripped off. That’s why it’s important to keep the quantity in mind and the items unit price at competitor stores. If you willing to pay the upfront price for a well stocked home, it’ll pay for it’s self for 2-3 months. Either way, these items aren’t low at grocery stores either.

Final Thoughts

In my opinion, store’s like Sam’s Club are great, but lack the variety to be a one-stop shop. Some items are only sold for a limited amount of time. If it isn’t rolling stock, you might get used to buying something in bulk that’ll disappear. That being said, I prefer to do the bulk of my shopping here and fill in the gaps with other grocery stores. I know that I can take care of a majority of my family’s needs here.