How Far $50 Goes at Dollar General Compared to Sam's Club
Sam's Club has great deals on everyday items, but how well do its prices stack up compared to Dollar General? If, say, you had $50 to spend at each place, how far would that money go?
MoneyLion compared similar products at both stores to find out where you get the most bang for your buck. Note that Sam's Club tends to carry items in much larger quantities, so comparisons are often based on the per-unit cost.
Read on for our top picks and a final note comparing the two stores side by side.
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SkinnyPop Original Popcorn
Dollar General price: $3.50 (4.4 ounces) or $11.06 (14 ounces)
Sam's Club price: $6.48 (14 ounces)
Both stores sell SkinnyPop original popcorn, but it costs $0.79 per ounce at Dollar General compared to $0.46 per ounce at Sam's Club. That's more money upfront, but also some significant savings if you plan to eat the larger quantity -- or share it with others.
Pencil Box
Dollar General price: $1.00
Sam's Club price: $2.48
Pencil boxes are handy, but did you know you can save by getting one at Dollar General? There, they cost a buck each. That's nearly $1.50 less than what you'd get at Sam's Club.
Whole Milk
Dollar General price: $3.10 (half-gallon) or $6.20 (1 gallon)
Sam's Club price: $3.22 (1 gallon)
A gallon of Vitamin D whole milk costs just $0.12 more at Sam's Club than half a gallon at Dollar General. Put another way, you'd need to spend $6.20 to get the same amount of milk at the dollar store.
Plastic Food Storage Containers With Lids
Dollar General price: $12.50 (for 25)
Sam's Club price: $7.98 (for 25)
You can find food storage containers at Sam's Club and Dollar General, but when all you need is something functional, you've got options.
At Sam's Club, a 25-piece set of Hefty storage containers (with lids) costs $0.32 each. They're BPA-free and can hold up to 38 ounces.
Dollar General also sells deep food storage containers, but in sets of two. They cost $0.18 more apiece. They do come with lids and, at 43.3 fluid ounces, can hold a bit more. They're also BPA-free.
Glad Tall Garbage Bags
Dollar General price: $5.00 (22 bags) or $27.60 (120 bags)
Sam's Club price: $20.68 (120 bags)
Once again, Sam's Club comes out ahead in terms of quantity. You can get 120 tall trash bags for $0.17 apiece. They're made to fit 13-gallon trash cans and have a lavender scent.
If you're trying to budget, Dollar General might be better in the short term. The store carries something similar for $0.23 per bag.
Dollar General vs. Sam's Club: Which Is More Affordable?
To purchase an equal quantity of the same (or similar) items at Dollar General, you'd need to spend approximately $58.36. In comparison, your final tally (excluding taxes) at Sam's Club would be $40.84.
The bottom line? You'll generally spend less upfront by shopping at the dollar store. But you'll ultimately get more in terms of quantity at Sam's Club.
Editor’s note: Prices and availability are subject to change.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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