…and if you’re a Plus Member, you can get them shipped directly to your door for FREE!
First and foremost, I am NOT a Sam’s Club affiliate; bloggers have to have a much larger audience for that! Therefore, I am NOT making any money if you click on any of the following links.
I will unabashedly admit that I love Sam’s Club, and I’ve been a member for several years now. I’ve been working on Week Three of my “$50.00 a Week Budget Challenge,” which inspired me to share some of my favorite deals with you.
While the base membership is only $50.00/year, I spring for the Plus membership ($110.00/year) to take advantage of free shipping. Curbside pickup is also free for Plus members. [FYI: unfortunately, you cannot use your EBT card for either of these benefits; EBT cards are only accepted in-club.]
If you’re interested in joining for the first time, don’t go directly to the Sam’s Club website or app to join. Always check Groupon first before taking the plunge! For example, as of 02/10/2024, they’re offering base memberships for just $20.00 and Plus memberships for only $70.00!
Also, did you know that on top of the company’s every day low prices, about once a month Sam’s offers their version of a sale: Instant Savings? These deals are available both in-store and online.
I thought I’d take time to see how Sam’s prices stack up against those of its big sister, Walmart. I chose Walmart because it generally has the lowest prices of all the non-warehouse retailers. So let’s take a look to see how much lower Sam’s can go on some of my frequent purchases:
Pantry Items
1. Oliveri Avocado Oil 1L ($9.94)
What’s not to love about avocado oil? It’s a healthy fat, has a neutral flavor, and it boasts a high smoke point—520 degrees, if you’re curious. The only downside is generally price, but Sam’s Club has you covered there. At $9.94 a liter, you’re only paying 29¢ per fluid ounce. At Walmart, you’re going to pay $15.18 (44.9¢/fluid ounce) for the same amount!
Money saved: $5.24
2. PAM Original Cooking Spray, 12 ounces, 2-pack ($7.48)
Who doesn’t use non-stick cooking spray? Okay, if you don’t, good for you, I suppose. But for the rest of us? It’s an essential ingredient in our pantries. I go through so much of this stuff, and that can get pricey. Besides using it on bakeware, I’m always spraying it in my measuring cups if I’m measuring out peanut butter, molasses, or corn syrup. I use it to keep my cast iron pan seasoned. I even spray it on wax paper before using it to pat Rice Krispies treats into the pan.
PAM is $7.48 at Sam’s, which works out to 31¢/ounce. At Walmart, an 8-ounce bottle is $3.97, so you’re paying 49.6¢/ounce. To be fair, you can get the Great Value cooking spray for about the same price. However, there are certain times when I’m brand loyal, and this is one of them. Any cooking spray I’ve ever used that wasn’t PAM had a taste [insert Mr. Yuk’s face here]. No thanks!
Money saved: $4.42
3. Hershey’s Cocoa Powder, 23 ounces ($9.48)
Have you seen the price on a bag of chocolate lately? I have, and it’s not a price I’m [usually] going to pay. However, I have a powerful sweet tooth, especially when it comes to chocolate. Therefore, I make a ton of homemade chocolate desserts. That also means I go through a lot of cocoa powder, so this huge, cheap container of cocoa powder gets me pretty excited. Oh, be quiet! You know I don’t get out much.
At $9.48, you are paying 41¢/ounce. For an 16-ounce can of Hershey’s brand at Walmart, it’s $8.94 or 55.9¢/ounce. Once again, if you have no brand loyalty, you can purchase 8 ounces of Great Value cocoa powder for $2.48, which is only 31¢/ounce—even cheaper than The Big Boy at Sam’s. As for me, I had a very bad experience with Aldi brand cocoa powder one year, so I’ve since shied away from any of the store brands of cocoa powder. While Hershey’s is far from top of the line, it’s at least consistent.
Money saved: $3.38
4. Fairlife Nutrition Plan 30g Protein Shake, 11.5 fl oz, 12-pack ($21.38)
These drinks are so damn popular that I was surprised to find them in stock. But I know from past experience that you’re not going to find another retailer who will ship them to you for $1.78 per drink. Thirty grams of protein for under $2.00 is an absolute steal, but the fact that we’re talking about delicious chocolate milk makes it an even sweeter deal. Grab yours before they’re g o n e!
I could not find these in stock through any other retailer except Costco & BJ’s. Like Sam’s, both are members-only warehouse clubs. For Costco members, you can get an 18-pack shipped to you for $36.99, which works out to $2.06 per drink. That’s still a great deal, but I’d prefer to keep that extra $3.70 in my wallet.
Money saved: $3.70
I will admit that BJ’s price is comparable to Sam’s at $21.79 for a 12-pack, which is a mere 14¢ difference per pack. However, free shipping is not available. Furthermore, while Sam’s Club boasts nearly 600 clubs across the nation, BJ’s only has around 252 clubs in just 20 states.
5. Hampton Farms Unsalted In-Shell Peanuts, 5 lbs ($6.48)
Okay, GenXers, raise your hand if you’ve become a birder. I know I’m not the only one who is charmed by and smitten with our feathered friends. There’s a lot of us out here. I’ve loved birds for probably 15 years now but only started feeding them in 2016. Prior to my brain injury, we had quite the set-up: black oil sunflower seeds, peanuts (in-shell and unshelled), thistle, suet cakes, an oriole feeder, a hummingbird feeder, and a heated bird bath.
I’ve pared back a lot since then due to my task initiation issues and general loss of enthusiasm for life. For a long time, I quit feeding them altogether. I’ve tried to get back into the habit, but it’s just not the same. My poor birds do not get the love they deserve, and it breaks my heart. These days I simply toss out some unsalted sunflower seeds along with these unsalted peanuts from Sam’s. I go through two bags of peanuts each month, and at $1.40/lb, I have yet to find them elsewhere for a better price.
For comparison, a 5-lb bag of Kaytee brand in-shell peanuts at Walmart is $12.71! That’s a whopping $2.54/lb! There’s no way in hell I’d pay that much.
And, yes, I’m going to try to get better at taking care of my birds.
Money saved: $5.73
Household Goods
6. OxiClean Concentrated Max Efficiency Versatile Stain Remover Powder, 8.08 lbs ($17.52)
OxiClean is my secret weapon for stains and odors! This stuff is seriously magic! If I have a load of laundry containing stained clothes, I let it soak for an hour in the washer before I run it through the wash cycle. Boom! The stains disappear and my colors don’t fade. There are also tons of other uses for it around the house.
At $17.52 for just over 8 pounds of this stuff, it works out to $2.17/lb. At Walmart, you get 5 pounds for $11.78. That is $2.36/lb. The nice thing about OxiClean is that it’s often included in their Instant Savings promotions. In fact, right now it is $4.70 off, and so I just bought two boxes.
Money saved: $1.55
7. Finish Quantum Powerball Dishwasher Detergent Tablets, 100 count ($19.88)
I was so excited when Sam’s started carrying these. Most dishwasher detergents are chock full of artificial fragrance. I once bought Cascade at Sam’s to save money and the lemon-scented steam coming out of the dishwasher gave Sam [my daughter, not the warehouse club] an asthma attack. I wound up giving the whole container to a neighbor.
While there is a slight fragrance in these Finish tablets, it is the only dishwasher detergent that doesn’t leave a taste on my dishes, and they don’t irritate Sam’s lungs.
At Sam’s a case of these is $15.88, which works out to 16¢ per tablet. The same product at Walmart is $15.44 for 50, which is nearly double the price at 31¢ per tablet!
Money saved: $15.12
Medications and Supplements
Across the board, prices on over-the-counter medications and supplements are terrific at Sam’s Club. Here are a few of our favorites:
8. Aleve Liquid Gels, 120 count ($15.98)
Okay, not everyone is going to need a large amount of pain relievers. However, if you live with chronic pain, chances are that you use a good deal of NSAIDS. Perhaps you even have them stashed around the house, in your purse, and in your car because pain is not always predictable.
My daughter, Sam, has a few autoimmune diseases with The Big One being axial spondyloarthritis. Say that three times fast. Besides being challenging to pronounce, it’s even more challenging to live with. The pain from this disease can be severe and debilitating. For this reason, Sam always has plenty of Aleve on hand. She likes the liquid gels in particular because they seem to work better for her.
At $15.98 for 120 capsules, you’re paying 13¢ each. At Walmart, 80 tablets are $15.27, which works out to 19¢ each.
And if Aleve isn’t your pain reliever of choice, Sam’s has you covered. You’ll also find great deals on acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and Excedrin.
Money saved: $6.82
9. Aller-Zyr 24-Hour Indoor and Outdoor Allergy Relief Tablets, 400 count ($14.97)
If you suffer from allergies, the price on Sam’s version of Zyrtec cannot be beat.
At $14.97 for 400 pills, Sam’s is practically giving this stuff away at 4¢ per pill. At Walmart, the Equate brand cetirizine is a whopping $26.98 for 180 pills; that’s 15¢ per pill.
Money saved: $45.03
10. Member’s Mark Vitamin D3, 125 mcg (5000 IU) Softgels, 400 count ($9.98)
According to Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, in the United States, 20% of all adults take a dietary supplement containing vitamin D. I am one of them. If you also take vitamin D, you can save a few bucks by buying it at Sam’s Club.
400 soft gels at Sam’s is $9.98,* which is 2¢ per pill. At Walmart, 400 of the Spring Valley Vitamin D3 Softgels (125 mcg, 5,000 IU) will run you $12.48 or 3.1¢/pill.
*They also have a lower dose available (50 mcg, 2,000 IU) . A 400-count is $6.98.
Money saved: $2.50
Member’s Mark Products
In addition to name brand products, Sam’s Club has its own private label brand, Member’s Mark. Member’s Mark includes over 1200 high-quality products at an affordable price. I have been happy with everything I’ve purchased under this label. Here are a few of my favorites from the Member’s Mark line:
11. Member’s Mark Super Premium 2-Ply Select & Tear Paper Towels, 150 sheets/roll, 15 rolls ($19.98)
While I’m mindful of the effects of consumer waste, sometimes you just need a paper towel—like when you’re cleaning the toilet or wiping up chicken juice. That’s why I opt for these half sheets because that’s all I use 90% of the time.
I was faithful to Bounty for several years, but check this out: out of nearly 90,000 reviews, these babies have received an overall 4.9 stars out of 5! Some reviewers even stated that these paper towels are comparable to Bounty. And at a whopping $0.019/half sheet for Bounty paper towels, I am saving $22.77 by passing over Bounty for these Select & Tear paper towels!
At $19.98 these paper towels are $0.009/half sheet, while Walmart’s Great Value Ultra Strong Paper Towels, Split Sheets, 12 Double Rolls is $17.14 or $0.013/half sheet.
Money saved: $9.27
12. Member’s Mark Ultra Premium Soft & Strong 2-Ply Toilet Paper, 235 sheets/roll, 45 rolls ($22.98)
I’ve been using this toilet paper for several years now because it’s such a great deal. I definitely like it better than Costco’s Kirkland brand, which surprises me since everything from the Kirkland line is usually top notch.
At $22.98, you’re paying $0.002/sheet. The comparable product at Walmart is the Great Value Ultra Strong Toilet Paper (242 sheets/roll, 18 rolls), which is $17.98 or $0.004/sheet.
Money saved: $19.32
13. Member’s Mark Nitrile Exam Gloves, 200 count ($9.48)
We use nitrile gloves in our house all. the. time. They have so many uses beyond first aid. They are great for cleaning the litter box, cleaning the bathroom, dealing with raw bacon or chicken, and handling hot peppers. They are especially a godsend to Sam who has sensory issues as well as a sensitivity to dust.
These gloves come in small, medium, and large.
At Sam’s, you’ll pay $9.48 for 200 gloves, or 5¢/glove. At Walmart, a 100-count box of Great Value Nitrile Disposable Gloves (one size only) is $14.97 or 15¢/glove.
Money saved: $20.52
Grand Total Savings: $142.60
That grand total would cover your $110.00 yearly Plus membership fee and then some! And with that Plus membership, these items will ship to your home for the prices I have listed. Go ahead and download the Sam’s Club app and see how much you could save on your favorite products!
