5 Reasons You Should Cancel Your Sam’s Club Membership
Written by
Cindy Lamothe
Edited by
Angela Corry
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If you’ve ever found yourself wandering the aisles of Sam’s Club, convincing yourself you definitely need a 36-pack of muffins and a gallon of pickles, you’re not alone.
But while the bulk-buying thrill is real, there comes a time when you might start wondering if that membership fee is actually worth it. Especially at a time when people are dealing with economic uncertainty.
Whether you’re trying to cut costs or just tired of storing enough toilet paper to survive the apocalypse, here are some reasons you might want to say goodbye to your Sam’s Club card.
The Membership Fee Really Adds Up
Jasmine Charbonier, owner of Your Tampa Bestie, canceled her Sam’s Club membership after realizing she was wasting $100+ annually for the privilege of spending more money.
“That membership fee really adds up — especially when you factor in the pressure to ‘get your money’s worth’ by buying more than you need.”
Brandon Hardiman, owner of Yellowhammer Home Buyers, equally noted that the annual membership charge becomes fiscally unsustainable when you consider driving distance and shopping frequency behaviors that most members don’t account for.
Distance Is Another Factor
“The distance to my nearest club was a huge factor,” said Charbonier. “When you’re driving 45 minutes each way, those “savings” get eaten up by gas costs.”
Plus, the time investment of making special trips instead of quick runs to local stores wasn’t worth it for her. She saved around $300 just by shopping at nearby grocery stores.
Hardiman also calculated that driving 45 minutes to and from her neighborhood Sam’s Club, and throwing in the $110 annual membership charge, meant that she needed to save at least $15 per trip just to cover her costs.
Bulk Buying Isn’t Always Cheaper
Here’s something most people don’t consider, said Charbonier: Bulk buying isn’t always cheaper.
“I noticed items like paper products and cleaning supplies were sometimes more expensive per unit than catching sales at regular stores.”
And she noted that those massive packages — they’re terrible for small households.
“I wasted so much food trying to use up bulk perishables before they spoiled.”
The Membership Tricks You Into Overspending
Those “special deals” and limited-time offers create artificial urgency, said Charbonier.
“I’d grab things I didn’t need just because the price seemed good.”
After tracking her spending, she realized she was overspending by $150-200 each month on impulse bulk purchases.
Storage Is Another Hidden Cost Nobody Talks About
“Those giant packages need somewhere to go,” said Charbonier.
She had to buy extra storage containers and clear precious cabinet space. Some items even ended up in her garage, where they got forgotten.
“What’s the point of ‘saving’ money on bulk items you can’t properly store or use.”
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