For my Costco membership, I am paying $50 a year just to be able to shop there. I think they have good products and it usually ends up being slightly cheaper. But the though of paying to shop at a place really doesn't make any sense. Does everyone else have membership to wholesale clubs? Do you find it to be worth it?

I really think the value of a membership at a wholesale club is completely dependent on your personal situation. For families it can be a definite asset. The same goes for households where multiple roommates are willing to shop together and share purchases. I mean, let's face it, no one is going to eat a bulk-size jar of artichoke hearts on their own. With careful planning, wholesale clubs can be completely worth the small investment of a membership fee. But also remember that just because they sell you things in large quantities, doesn't mean everything is a good deal. My roommates and I have found some things, like milk, eggs, butter, pasta sauce, peanut butter, chicken, and snacks to be significantly less expensive at costco. Cereal, pasta, and certain types of produce, however, are not always such a great deal. So research carefully before making a commitment, but if done correctly, wholesale can definitely be worth your while.

I think that it is worth the time and effort to invest in bulk buying if your budget calls for that type of shopping. We seem to restrain ourselves to only limiting ourselves to the customary. If there is a way that using the services of Costco or Sam's Club will be effective in my attempt to save the time and effort of regular sized shopping products then yes, I'd say the membership is worth it.

Here are a couple of other things to consider.

1) It depends on how flexible you are with the brands you buy. Clubs have very limited brand offerings in each category. If you are a brand loyal consumer in many categories, you may not always be able to purchase the one you prefer.

2) Clubs tend to offer the top selling brands in each category. These are also the brands that also tend to do the most advertising/promotion, which means their prices are higher than many other alternatives in that category. Buy Bounty paper towels in bulk and you may save $ per roll vs. buying Bounty at another type of store. But if you're really interested in saving money, you'd save more by buying a cheaper brand of good quality papertowels and skipping the Bounty all together.

3) Private label club purchases are some of the best deals at a club store. For example, Costco's Kirkland brand is usually very high quality and cheaper than all of the branded alternatives.

4) You may spend more $ overall by purchasing in bulk. There are many food categories, as an example, where you tend to consume what you buy. Buy more soda and chips...eat more soda and chips. If you bought less soda cans and a smaller pack of chips (or none at all), you would have spent less money. Good deals aren't deals if your overall spending increases.

5) If you tend to buy big items like electronics, tires, etc. at a club store, you may make out with savings in the end. But if you just do regular food/toiletry shopping there, chances are you're not going to save enough to justify the membership (and the time/gas it takes to make special trips there).

I currently have a BJs membership, used to have a Costco membership. While I don't like paying for the membership I definitely realize the benefits. Besides bulk buying regular non-perishable goods I've found significant deals on electronics. To dkelly27's point I think that's where the real savings are found.

I know of someone that purchased a vacation through Costco's program and said it was well worth the money. I also know of someone (in Tennessee) that only gets their gas from Costco (it's significantly cheaper).

So, in the end I guess it all depends on what you're purchasing to see if it's worth the price.

I agree with Liz. Unless you have a family, I don't think it's worth it. You'll just end up buying more than you really need. I like to shop only for things I need for the week - that way, I won't waste anything.

I love Costco and I think that there are many benefits for couples without children as well as large families. Not everything is in bulk. The meat market has restaraunt quality meat, a great produce section, deli, dairy and food court. You can do your regular grocery shopping, without buying in bulk and find great quality items at a great price. It is totally worth it in my opinion.

I have the Costco American Express card (http://www.filife.com/reviews/american-express-trueearnings-card-from-costco), which means that either I pay $50 to shop at Costco and get a fee-free Amex, or I pay a yearly fee for an Amex (which is standard) and get a membership to Costco for free ... whichever way you like to view it. In any case, I also love the Costco Amex because I get cash back for shopping everywhere, so even if I don't ever use my Costco membership it's a win.

Any analysis of the costs inherent in joining a discount club like Costco must take into consideration the irritation factor of dealing with the crowds and wailing children you invariably encounter when you go there. If you have weekdays free and can go then, your shopping experience will be relatively pleasant, but on weekends, "abandon all hope, ye who enter here" should be emblazoned on the front door.

I go to Costco occasionally for things we use a lot of that I can buy in bulk and keep in the basement or the garage, and also when we go on camping trips and want to buy hamburger meat in bulk, and when we throw parties. It comes in handy.

I think it depends on your personal situtation and how willing you are to comparision shop. If you are buying for a family or buying something you use often, then the Costco or like club will work. But having just two in a household, I don't need a 5 gallon jug of mustard very often, nor do I need to pay to buy that jug of mustard.

At times you can find household supplies cheaper at Target or other similar place, with no membership dues.

But on the flip side, sometimes the paper towels and toliet paper are cheaper at Costco.

It all depends on how much you are going to buy and how often.

I've often wondered if it's worth it too. But we've tried to scale back our spending and we're eating out less so we're using our Costco card more.

My tip: Take the time to separate out your food into smaller sizes when you get home from shopping. This serves two purposes 1) it keeps food from going bad (I buy 10-pound bags of shredded cheese and separate it into 10 baggies that I then freeze--much better price than the grocery store); two, I've noticed that when there's a large bag of whatever it is--chips, string cheese--my family tends to eat more of it. So, buy in bulk but don't eat in bulk.

Here's what I've found is a better price at Costco:
-gas
-batteries
-cheese
-frozen chicken
-rotisserie chicken
-sour cream
-flour tortilles
-hot dogs
-bacon
-dish washing detergent
-dryer sheets

Most other food staples I can find at better prices elsewhere.

hi I shop at sams club wearhouse like cost co I`m single and I freeze the meats and big bags of chicken and I save a bunch of money over going to wal-mart or meijers up here in michigan where everybody knows its tight and we must budget I can spend 110 on food and at last me 6 weeks

I've been a member and regular shopper at Costco for about 8 years now. It's easy to recoup the membership fee and save a lot of money if you spend your money there wisely.
Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your Costco membership:
1) Always make a list before you go there and be disciplined in sticking to it. This is a good rule for shopping in general, but is particularly important at Costco. Costco has lots of tempting items at good prices such as electronics and food. If you always stick to your list, it will help you purchase what you need instead of what you want. If you are tempted to make a big purchase there such as a computer or television, research the product online first to ensure that you are getting a good quality product that best fits your needs.
2) Pay close attention to the coupons and use them for items that you already would purchase. Costco regularly issues coupons for paper towels, toilet paper, and several toiletries that my wife and I use.
3) Try to purchase most of your gas at Costco, if possible. Costco has one of the lowest, if not the lowest, price for gasoline so you can save a lot of money by purchasing your gas there.
4) When you need new tires for your car, buy them at Costco and have them installed there. Costco has great prices on tires and periodically has coupons for them as well.
5) Purchase food at Costco that doesn't spoil and that you really need. Resist the temptation to buy huge quantities of snack food that are unhealthy. If you do buy refrigerated or freezer goods, make sure that you have enough space in your refrigerator or freezer first. There prices on meat and poultry are good, so if you can use some and freeze the rest, it can be a good deal.
6) Kirkland products (Costco's generic brand) are usually as good as name brands. My wife and I actually prefer the taste of Kirkland bottled water over Arrowhead. The only Kirkland products that I have been less than satisfied with are the clothes.

That's all the tips I have for now; I hope that helps some of you.

Yes, if your annual savings is more than the annual $50 fee -- which I'm guessing it is.

I shop at Sam's Club and find Huge savings!! I am a family of 5 so saving every possible penny matters!!! We buy toliet paper, shampoo, bars of soap, laundry detergent, milk and cereal and of course WATER..... if you but any or ALL of those items buying in bulk you will save!!! The savings alone will pay for the membership and then some! The more you shop the more you save!! Buying stuff in grocery stores is not always best....certain places have "Turkey" cheap for thanksgiving! But they jack the prices up on everything else you need (potato's, veggies, cran berry sauce and gravy) Its your money do research and see whats best for you! I believe all whole sale clubs will give you a refund if your not happy, you have nothing to lose :)

I am a Costco die hard. I find that they have great products, great prices and get very high marks in consumer relations. I get my K-cups from Costco and have yet to find a place that can come close to the price of 80 cups for 33 bucks, While the selection in the store is limited I can buy a choose from a larger variety on line paying about 3 cents a cup more.

I buy my jeans there, many articles of clothing and most of my cleaning supplies. I dont buy in bulk on perishables because I have had to throw out too much food that went bad before it could be used. For people who are single they should find a friend and split the bulk purchases.

I recently dropped my Costco membership. With only 2 people in my household, buying bulk didn't make a lot of sense. I have found that my local grocery stores have all gotten very aggressive with discounts, and can find just as good of deals through them than at Costco with a $50 membership fee.

I'm in a two-person household also, but I head to Costco about twice a month. It's great for everything from paper towels and fruit juice to dog treats and tires. When fresh fruit is in season, and at the lowest cost, I buy several containers and freeze them. Then in the winter months I pull out the raspberries, blueberries or whatever I stocked up on and make smoothies, muffins, etc.

I read once that Costco gets most of its revenue from membership fees and that allows them to mark up their inventory only 17% above wholesale. I can't verify if that's true, but that's what an article said.

The way to really stretch your membership dollars is to convince your company to pay your annual dues as a fringe benefit. I work for a small employer and they've offered a membership and part of employment for over 10 years. Great perk.

MoneyNing just published a post on this topic. His title was "Trash Frugal Living by Buying in Bulk"

I tend to agree with him. I often end up getting a deal on things I don't need or use when I buy in bulk.

in case you're interested in his post: http://moneyning.com/frugality/trash-frugal-living-by-buying-in-bulk/