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Before signing up for a Sam’s Club membership, it’s important to confirm whether the savings clearly outweigh the costs. Otherwise, it is a waste of money.
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You can compare the annual membership fee to that total savings to determine whether the membership is worth it. Monthly figures are included only to show how savings can add up over time.
Sam’s Club Membership Cost
Sam’s Club offers two membership options:
- Club membership: $50 per year
- Plus Membership: $110 per year
Occasionally, Sam’s runs a limited time savings offer on Club memberships. For example, earlier in February, Club membership was $25, and Plus membership was $70. The cost of membership should serve as your baseline. Any savings you receive over the year should be at least equal to that amount.
Minimum spend for club membership
Because the membership fee is $50 per year, you only need to save $50 over 12 months to make it worthwhile. Sam’s Club’s typical savings compared to traditional grocery stores are about 10% to 25%, which means spending about $200 to $500 a year to pay for the membership itself.
- Using a 10% savings rate, You’ll need to spend $500 per year, or about $42 per month, to save $50 and maintain the balance on the subscription.
- If your savings are close to 15%, You’ll need to spend $334 per year or about $28 per month.
- If your savings are close to 25%, You’ll need to spend $200 per year or about $17 per month.
Minimum spend for Plus membership
Plus membership is $110 and includes 2% cashback.
- Using a 10% savings rate, You’ll need to spend $1,100 per year, or about $92 per month, to break even.
- If your savings are close to 15%, You’ll need to spend $734 per year or about $61 per month.
- If your savings are close to 25%, You’ll need to spend $440 per year or about $37 per month.
With 2% Sam’s Cash Rewards, you can reach your minimum spend more quickly. For every $100 you spend, you’ll earn $2.
bottom line
Basic club membership costs about $500 per year, while Plus membership requires $1,100 per year, unless benefits such as cash back and free shipping reduce the amount of spending needed to offset the membership fee.
When using a Sam’s Club membership, the best strategy is to shop around items that are already part of your budget, like:
- toilet paper and paper towels
- laundry and cleaning supplies
- Pantry Items
- pet food
- bottled drinks
By doing this, you will save on items you need and avoid spending on those you don’t need.