September 19, 2016
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Warehouse clubs like Sam's Club make it easy to save money on everyday essentials and grocery items. You already know that you can find amazing buys and get more for less with a warehouse club membership, but how do you know you're getting the right deal for you? Before you shell out a $50 annual membership, try one of the following tricks to shop, explore, and to find out if the store is right for you.
Sam's Club has special membership promotions and coupon discounts available so don't forget to have these handy before you head in to shop!
How to Shop at Sam's Club Without a Membership
- Shop For Non-Member Items
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You don't need a membership to Sam's Club to buy certain items like health-related services or alcohol. If you want to purchase other items without signing up for a membership, you can shop SamsClub.com, but expect to pay a ten percent surcharge. Alternatively, you could wait for an Open House shopping event when it opens up to non-members. These promotional events were designed to help recruit more members.
- Try Sam's Club One-Day Pass
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If it's your first time at Sam's Club, you may want to print out a One-Day Pass to shop the store without signing up for a membership. You should expect to pay a 10% extra on each item without the membership card. Shoppers in California, South Carolina, and Elmsford (New York) don't have to pay that extra fee. You can find free passes online or in-store. There are other times you can score free passes, sometimes companies or organizations will offer free passes as part of a promotion.
- Join A Family Plan
If you already have a family member (or a close friend who's willing to share) who is a member of Sam's Club, why not take advantage of it? You can use a family membership card to reap membership benefits offline and online, this may be the best option for you if you don't shop Sam's Club very often. Sam's Club offers two membership options including Savings Membership and Plus Membership. Both membership options allow paying members to give a complimentary membership card to a family member, close friend, or even co-worker. Costco offers their Gold Star and Business members something similar.
- Consider Signing Up For A Paid Membership
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The best way to save money at any wholesale club is to buy a yearly membership. Sam's Club memberships start at $45 a year for the Savings Membership and $100 a year for Plus Membership. The former comes with all the standard perks including warehouse pricing, extra savings for popular brands, and free club pickup with online orders. The latter includes cash rewards and access to earlier shopping hours. The benefits pay for themselves. If you decide to purchase the more expensive membership, know that you will receive 2% back on all purchases and you can easily get reimbursed if you spend about $500 a month on average.
- Check Out Groupon For Special Offers
If you're ready to sign up for a Sam's Club membership, you may want to check out Groupon first, as the site has many great deals for first-time members. A current offer: pay $45 for a one year membership, get a free upgrade, and receive a $20 gift card. This offer is available for a limited time through Groupon, it ends September 6th 2016.
SEE ALSO: Groupon Coupon Codes and Offers
A membership to Sams's Club will save you a lot of money in the long run. You will get access to many other benefits including travel services, identity protection service, auto buying program, and more. That said, you don't always have to have a membership to shop Sam's Club, but you should expect to pay a little extra. Whatever your shopping needs are, there are many ways you can save extra money in the process. All it takes is a little effort and patience. Saving money shouldn't be hard.
