I Canceled My Costco Membership for Sam’s Club — Here’s How Much I’m Saving

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I had a Sam’s Club membership for years, but when Costco opened up within driving distance, I let it go and signed up with Costco instead. Once my yearlong Costco membership was up, I chose not to renew it.

I went back to Sam’s Club, renewed my membership and quickly started noticing how much money I was saving. I save more by shopping at Sam’s for several reasons. Here are the three that make the biggest difference.

I Stick To My Shopping List

When I shop at Sam’s, I have a list of items I buy on repeat. I normally go in, get the items and get out. Rarely do I browse the aisles of Sam’s to see what else it has that I might want to buy.

When I had a membership at Costco, I frequently browsed the aisles — mostly because I was unfamiliar with the club’s offerings but also because it seemed to be set up in a way that encouraged it. I ended up making impulse buys and spending more money than I do at Sam’s.

Because most items are sold in bulk, those impulse buys added up quickly. On every Costco trip, I estimate I spent at least $50 beyond what was on my list.

The Items I Frequently Buy Are Cheaper

Items I find to be of good value at Sam’s Club include Member’s Mark paper towels, laundry detergent, snack food, chicken strips, personal care products and over-the-counter remedies.

At Sam’s Club, I can purchase a package of 15 rolls of Member’s Mark paper towels with 150 select-and-tear sheets each for $20.93. To compare, a package of Costco’s Kirkland Signature premium towels with 12 rolls and 160 create-a-size sheets costs $23.99. By shopping at Sam’s, I save $3.06 and get 330 more sheets per package.

Another product I buy at Sam’s Club is 128 fluid ounces of Tide with Ultra Downy for $19.48. The identical product at Costco is $23.49.

A 30-count variety pack of SunChips is another item I frequently buy at Sam’s Club, which is priced at $18.48. At Costco, the same item is $21.99.

I save $10.58 every time I shop at Sam’s Club on just those three items. Add that to the $50 in impulse buys I no longer make, and that’s a savings of over $60. 

I’m Saving Money and Time

Costco was never a quick in-and-out trip for me, as it didn’t have an option comparable to Sam’s Club’s Scan & Go, which is a fan favorite. 

One Reddit user said that Scan & Go has changed the game for Sam’s because shoppers can get in and out without hassling with long lines. Another Redditor said the app-based technology is literally the reason they joined Sam’s over Costco (though Costco has since started testing the technology at its stores). 

Editor’s note: Pricing and availability may vary depending on location.

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