5 Surprising Sam’s Club Buys That Beat Dollar Tree Prices
Shopping can be painful in the current economy and you are probably looking for every method available to save extra cash.
Groceries, household products and everyday goods still need to be purchased, but rather than hitting up a Dollar Tree and hoping for the best, you might consider heading to Sam’s Club to get certain items for less.
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Elisabella Ricca, personal finance and consumer analyst at TopCashback found these five Sam’s Club products are actually cheaper than even dollar store deals:
Check Out: The Best Sam's Club Buys for the Money Right Now
1. Doritos
Ricca found that you can get a better deal on snack-size Doritos chips at Sam's Club than at Dollar Tree. “Sam's Club sells a 64-pack of 1.75-ounce bags for $41.48, bringing the cost down to about $0.65 per bag,” Ricca discovered. At Dollar Tree, Ricca noted the same size bag costs $1.25.
“That's a savings of roughly 48% per bag,” Ricca explained. “If you purchased 64 individual bags at Dollar Tree, you'd spend about $80. For families packing lunches, hosting parties or regularly buying single-serve snacks, purchasing in bulk can deliver meaningful savings.”
2. Toothpaste
Ricca noted toothpaste is a household essential shoppers purchase repeatedly throughout the year.
“Sam's Club offers a five-pack of 8-ounce tubes of Cavity Protection Colgate toothpaste for $8.98, while Dollar Tree sells a 2.5-ounce tube [of the same Colgate toothpaste] for $1.25,” Ricca said. “When comparing unit prices, the Sam's Club option costs about $0.22 per ounce versus $0.50 per ounce at Dollar Tree, making it roughly 56% cheaper per ounce.”
3. Macaroni and Cheese
Kraft macaroni and cheese is a convenient pantry staple that can be significantly less expensive when purchased in bulk, according to Ricca.
“Sam's Club is currently offering an 18-count package of Kraft macaroni and cheese for $14.96, which works out to about $0.83 per box," Ricca pointed out. "Dollar Tree sells individual [macaroni and cheese] boxes from Kraft for $1.50 each, meaning 18 boxes would cost $27."
Ricca highlighted that shoppers who regularly keep macaroni and cheese on hand can cut their per-box cost nearly in half by purchasing the 18-count package from Sam’s Club.
4. Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets are another example of a household staple to buy in bulk, according to Ricca. Sam's Club offers a 400-count package of Bounce dryer sheets for $11.48 -- about $0.03 per sheet. Dollar Tree sells a 15-count package of the same dryer sheets for $1.50 -- 10 cents per sheet.
“That means shoppers can save roughly 70% per sheet by purchasing the larger package from Sam's Club," Ricca said.
5. Tylenol
Ricca said over-the-counter medications can be surprisingly expensive when purchased in small quantities. A 325-count bottle of Tylenol caplets at Sam's Club costs $20.98 -- about $0.06 per caplet. Dollar Tree sells a 24-count package of the same Tylenol medication for $4.75 -- nearly $0.20 per caplet.
“For households that regularly use Tylenol, the larger package at Sam's Club offers considerably more value for the money," Ricca said.
The Bottom Line
“Dollar stores like Dollar Tree may look cheaper at first glance, but Sam's Club often wins on value when you compare the cost per item," Ricca said. "For frequently used household essentials, buying in bulk can lead to significant savings."
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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