5 Sam’s Club Items Frugal People Always Buy
Written by
Andrew Lisa
Edited by
Carly Brashears
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Thrifty consumers know that one of the best ways to save money on just about anything is to buy in quantity so they can spend less per unit. Three giant, household name sellers let frugal American shoppers do just that — but those in the know turn to Sam’s Club over Costco and BJ’s for a few items that they can almost always count on to be cheaper there.
Here’s a look at the Sam’s Club items that the other big warehouse clubs just can’t seem to compete with on price.
Toilet Paper
In the r/samsclub subreddit, a Redditor asked which things were better to buy at Sam’s Club than at Costco. A longtime Sam’s Club employee responded that his company keeps a close eye on its top competitor’s pricing with some specific items to make sure they always have the better deal.
The first item the employee named was paper products like toilet paper.
Sure enough, the paper products section mostly lands in the favor of Sam’s Club shoppers. For example, a 36-roll pack of Scott 1,100-sheet, 1-ply toilet paper is $25.98 at Sam’s. At Costco, you’ll pay $29.99 for the exact same thing.
Bottled Water
The Sam’s Club insider also said his company refuses to be undersold on bottled water, and here, too, the Reddit comments panned out in real life. A case of 40 16.9-ounce bottles of Member’s Mark — a Sam’s Club brand — sells for $3.98, or just $0.10 per bottle. At Costco, even if you buy a full pallet of 48 cases of 40 16.9-ounce bottles of its Kirkland Signature water, you’ll pay $439.99, or $0.23 per bottle.
Sugar
Sugar is another item that frugal shoppers know costs less at Sam’s Club than at the other wholesale membership warehouse clubs. A 10-pound bag of Member’s Mark granulated sugar costs $7.28. At BJ’s, a 10-pound bag of its Wellsley Farms brand sugar sells for $8.99. At Costco, the same 10 pounds of sugar packaged through its Kirkland Signature brand sells for $10.99.
Cooking Oil
Thrifty shoppers also turn to Sam’s Club for cooking oil, which the undercover Redditor says is almost always cheaper there than at the other two warehouse clubs. Once again, the online advocate’s words ring true — the price is right at Sam’s Club for most cooking oils.
For example, two three-quart bottles of Member’s Mark canola oil cost $11.98 at Sam’s Club. At Costco, two three-quart bottles from Kirkland Signature cost $14.99. At BJ’s, a single five-quart bottle costs $12.99.
Dog Food
It’s not just humans whose needs can be met for less at Sam’s Club. Frugal shoppers also flock to the pet aisle to get more dog food for less. A 35-pound bag of Member’s Mark pasture-raised lamb and brown rice dog food sells for $42.98 at Sam’s Club. At Costco, an equally gourmet 35-pound bag of Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain salmon and sweet potato dog food sells for $52.99.
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