Warehouse Club Face-Off: The Overall Savings

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Finally the duck breast jerky for dogs came back - even better than the chicken!!! My girl will do nearly ANYTHING to get one of those!

Duck breast jerky? Great, the dog will be eating better than we do.

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

Very well said. That was what I was trying to imply but you said it so beautifully in so few words. What a gift. I wish I had it. But as you see I rant on and on to get my point across. One day maybe I'll learn.

You do just fine. I understood what you were saying.

Actually, I co-opted if from someone (thanks, Dad) . Feel free to use.

If I had 2-5 kids, it would be cost-saving, but I don't and when I go there, I do stock up on things (impulse items) that sometimes get tossed. Again, this is just my experience. Paying the $45 fee per year just doesn't make sense for me. There used to be a thing at Sam's Club where you didn't have to join, but paid 5% over/plus of your total purchase. It was/is called "Sam's Plus 5" or something like that.
I find that I do well at some of the outlet-salvage stores (BigLots, Ocean State Job Lot, Building 19) for paper goods, bird seed, toiletries, etc.

B.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

I tried to sign up for Costco one time, but they only took Amex and cash. I wasn't going to sign up for another credit card to go there, and wasn't going to carry that much cash. Are they taking any other credit cards now, or do I stay with Sam's Club?

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Amex only. You sign up for the card and then that IS your membership card. Also you get something like 2 percent cash back in the form of an annual rebate check to use at Costco. It's actually a pretty good credit-card deal.

I think they also take checks.

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

And debit cards.

We have the "executive membership" (or whatever it's called) to get the cash back. It ends up more than covering annual fee.

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

If I had 2-5 kids, it would be cost-saving, but I don't and when I go there, I do stock up on things (impulse items) that sometimes get tossed. Again, this is just my experience. Paying the $45 fee per year just doesn't make sense for me.

There is just me and DH, but an extra refrigerator/freezer in the garage. Most of what I buy is frozen, and many of the packages are resealable. In this regard it can make sense for those with not so many mouths to feed.

I resisted "pay to shop" for a long time, but now, I'm a true convert. It's rare I go to the grocery store. DH does, so I'll ask him to pick up An Onion or A Couple Potatoes, since those things are not possible at Costco ; )

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

They can also be good on "stuff." For example, we just bought Brita water filters (less than $4 each) through Costco. At the grocery store they're more like $6 each.

[PigsDad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PigsDad]

Amex only. You sign up for the card and then that IS your membership card. Also you get something like 2 percent cash back in the form of an annual rebate check to use at Costco. It's actually a pretty good credit-card deal.

I think they also take checks.

Can you use any AMEX, or just theirs? A Costco is planned to come into our area, but if I can't use my Hilton HHonors Amex, I'll probably pass.

Kurt

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

And debit cards.

We have the "executive membership" (or whatever it's called) to get the cash back. It ends up more than covering annual fee.

Which debit cards? When I applied, they wouldn't take the US Bank card.

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

There is just me and DH, but an extra refrigerator/freezer in the garage. Most of what I buy is frozen, and many of the packages are resealable. In this regard it can make sense for those with not so many mouths to feed.

I resisted "pay to shop" for a long time, but now, I'm a true convert. It's rare I go to the grocery store. DH does, so I'll ask him to pick up An Onion or A Couple Potatoes, since those things are not possible at Costco ; )

Yes, the freezer is the thing to have ! My refrigerator freezer won't do and since there's just me (and my weekend friend), things will stale date or just go bad with power outages.
For my diet meals (HealthyChoice, etc.) I wait for sales and then buy 10-14 of them.
I always wanted a freezer, but with the cost to run for one person, just doesn't add up.
Maybe I should adopt a busload of kids ?

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

Which debit cards? When I applied, they wouldn't take the US Bank card.

Can't answer that. Took our local bank card, when it got absorbed, no problem accepting that one.

I do think they only take THEIR Amex, but not sure on that.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

It looks like they take any Amex.

F.A.Q.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Also, I just remembered that most Costcos have an ATM inside the store.

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

Maybe I should adopt a busload of kids ?

Well, that's one way to go. Sometimes a friend will bring her 3 kids over and they do yard work for me, and feeding them is almost like serving a busload!

Other thought, which I do with said friend with hungry kids: we go to Costco together with my membership, and will split some food. She only goes in on what her kids will eat and she can store, but many things are easily split.

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

They can also be good on "stuff." For example, we just bought Brita water filters (less than $4 each) through Costco. At the grocery store they're more like $6 each.

Magic Bullet with coupon now under $45 with all the add-on stuff.

Sonicare toothbrush.

Batteries.