How much do you think you really save by shopping at BJ's/Cosco

DH and I were having a discussion about this yesterday since we can't seem to leave BJ's without dropping over $100.

I figured out that before we joined, we were spending about $75 a week on avg at S&S. now I spend between $40-$50 (max) a week at S&S - mainly b/c I buy all chicken and meat at BJ's.

so that extra $25 we don't spend at S&S equals $1300 a year, which is definitely what we spend at BJ's a year (at least).

we buy a lot more than just meat at BJ's... just wondering where the saving really is... and I know that most things we buy are cheaper at BJ's

Re: How much do you think you really save by shopping at BJ's/Cosco

I have a very specific list of items I buy at BJs & I rarely deviate.
I know olive oil, coffee, grated cheese, laundry soap, some bathroom stuff, garbage bags and a few other things are always cheaper at BJs because I use them often & need big sizes anyway. Occasionally there will be one or two "want" items a year, like a kayak that are great prices & make the membership worth it. Also when we have big parties/holidays which we do almost monthly I buy large packs of meat and other things I know we'll use.
The reality is pasta, sauce, canned veggies, bottled water, toilet paper are all cheaper when they have good sales at the food store or even CVS for some things. So I don't buy those items at BJs.

Re: How much do you think you really save by shopping at BJ's/Cosco

we belong to sam's club, which is like a BJs or costco...
i'm not sure how much we really save shopping there. it think its all about buying the things you really use there, because stuff comes in such big packs! a 10 pack of jarred spaghetti sauce is only really a good deal if you actually use it.
but i find for meats and stuff, its good because we break it up into meal sized portions and freeze it, so it lasts awhile and we get a lot of meals out of one pack.
the main reason we shop there though is for dog food- its cheaper there, and our dog eats a lot so we need a lot of it!

Re: How much do you think you really save by shopping at BJ's/Cosco

Re: How much do you think you really save by shopping at BJ's/Cosco

$0, cause I always end up buying other things that aren't a necessity.

Re: How much do you think you really save by shopping at BJ's/Cosco

im a great sale and coupon shopper, so I get things at the supermarkets for a FRACTION of bJs/costco. and all top brands and great items. everything from soaps, shampoos, kids snacks, toiletries, etc etc. I can go on and on.

it's pretty sad that they make this "illusion" of a good deal because it's too heavy for you to carry, one thinks they are getting such a whopping deal

there's very few of us that are on to them. you have to KNOW your prices to really see. sometimes I think im reading wrong because some prices are outrageous and people are stacking their carts. while I just got 3 of the same exact item for that price.

there are some things that I do like to get there. but nothing is a MUST there for me.

the whole warehouse look and the bulk sizes is a marketing genius, but pretty sad at the same time.

no offense to anyone. but this is how I see it.

and to me it's less effort to buy these things at the stores, than go into this warehouse madhouse. I just dont care for shopping there at all.

Message edited 3/9/2008 12:47:58 PM.

Re: How much do you think you really save by shopping at BJ's/Cosco

we get:
laundry detergent/fabric softner
dish detergent
plastic bags
garbage bags
canned pineapple
ice tea
fiber ones

its must cheaper at bjs. you need to know your prices when u go

Re: How much do you think you really save by shopping at BJ's/Cosco

we spend $600 everytime we go there. Not sure we are saving anything b/c we buy stuff we usually do not need.

Re: How much do you think you really save by shopping at BJ's/Cosco

We too only have a handful of things we buy there. We don't pay for the membership because MIL gives us the extra card (FIL and DH have the same name).

We probably wouldn't pay for membership at this point because you can find things for the same price or cheaper on sale in the grocery store. We just do it for the convenience of certain items and also not having to constantly buy things like cleaning products and paper goods.

I would think it would be more of a savings if someone has children.

Re: How much do you think you really save by shopping at BJ's/Cosco

BJ's works for us b/c I don't have the time, nor the patience, nor the desire to comparison shop at 53 other stores for the items I need weekly, if not daily. I woud rather have root canal than go to 4 different places to save 30 cents on eggs, but that's just me.

I always buy milk, Eggland's eggs, yogurt, bananas, pineapple, greeting cards, deli cheese, rotisserie chicken, my son's Entenmann's blueberry muffins, Mott's for Tots 36 juice boxes (has *anyone* seen these for less than 4/$10?, b/c they're at BJs for $8.69), among many other things. BJ's takes coupons and I use them often.

I never buy paper goods, soaps, pastas/sauces...unless BJ's has it on sale.

I have no idea what I save shopping at BJ's, but I definitely save $ on the items I *always* buy. If I have to spend an extra $1 on a few items to avoid a trip to S&S, then I'll live with that.

ETA: I shop at the BJ's in Levittown and it's always pleasant and never a "madhouse". Now, the Costco in Westbury on a Saturday...

Message edited 3/9/2008 12:59:37 PM.

Re: How much do you think you really save by shopping at BJ's/Cosco

Posted by AnotherBFP

we spend $600 everytime we go there. Not sure we are saving anything b/c we buy stuff we usually do not need.

Re: How much do you think you really save by shopping at BJ's/Cosco

I wonder this too. I dont go as much aas I used too because I spen a fortune there and then I have to go to 2 stores cause I stlll need to go to the supermarket afterwards.

Re: How much do you think you really save by shopping at BJ's/Cosco

we don't go as often as we used to either, b/c like so many of you, we'd drop $400 on stuff we didn't really need. but i do believe there are good deals there still. we buy

chicken (LOVE the portion packaged perdue skinless breasts - you get about 25 breasts for $18 or so)

garbage bags
razor refills
laundry detergent
canned tomatos

we also love edamame and they sell a huge package for $5. they also have good deals if you need 'party foods' -- like a big crudite and shrimp ring for $10/each, etc.

Re: How much do you think you really save by shopping at BJ's/Cosco

i think you only save at those types of places if it's things that you ALWAYS use. At Costco we buy:

-meat/chicken---freeze it and we have it for weeks
-contact lens solution
-olive oil
-chicken broth
-san pelligrino water
-milk
-butter

other things like laundry detergent, cereal bars, etc. sometimes you can do better at the grocery store when you catch a sale.

Re: How much do you think you really save by shopping at BJ's/Cosco

We let our membership lapse because we were spending SO much money on things we really didn't need. I like to budget how much we spend weekly on food and COSCO totally throws us off. If I really need something I'll take a trip over with my mom and pick up what I need with her card.