How To Shop Sam’s Club at the Right Time To Save More
Sure, you love saving money at Sam’s Club, but timing your shopping trip might matter more than you think. While the warehouse giant is known for bulk deals, low prices and everyday essentials, not every deal is created equal when it comes to scoring the best value.
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Shopping at the wrong time can cost both time and money, and there’s not much of either of those to go around. With more shoppers looking to stretch their grocery budgets, what are some tricks to cut costs?
Fortunately, knowing the best and worst days to shop at Sam’s Club can make a real difference.
Avoid Shopping on Saturdays
Shopping on Saturdays can turn a quick money-saving trip into a stressful and potentially more expensive experience. Yes, Saturdays and Sundays are when most people are off work and running errands, but this leads to longer queues and potentially more limited stock on discounted items.
"Weekends, mainly Saturdays, are the most challenging days to shop at Sam's Club," said Ruiz Asri, CKO and editor of Honest Food Talks. "Saturdays often see the highest foot traffic, leading to overcrowded aisles, longer checkout lines and an overwhelming shopping environment. Popular items might be out of stock and shopping through the store can become tiresome for first-timers."
James Herman, founder and finance advisor at Mobile Tech Addicts, added, "The weekends, particularly Saturdays, are often the busiest days at Sam's Club. If you prefer to shop in a less crowded environment, it's best to avoid these days. Additionally, Monday mornings can also be quite busy as shoppers stock up for the week ahead."
Why Busy Days Can Cost You More
It’s not just about convenience. Shopping at peak times can actually impact your budget. Here are a few key takeaways:
You’re more likely to make impulse purchases as busy stores create pressure to move quickly, which makes it harder to compare prices, stick to your grocery list or think through bulk purchases.
Popular and discounted items sell out faster thanks to high demand. This can include fresh meat and produce, seasonal products or clearance deals.
You’ll get less access to fresh inventory overall because even though Sam’s Club restocks frequently, often overnight, early weekday shoppers get the benefit of first pick over weekend warriors.
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Choose Tuesdays and Wednesdays Whenever Possible
If Saturday is the worst, what’s the best? Generally speaking, the middle of the week is the best time to shop at Sam's Club and other major retailers. Not only does Sam's Club tend to be less busy during the week than it is on weekends, but there may be more employees around to help if you need it and aisles will be less obstructed. That’s why Tuesdays and Wednesdays are also when customers are more likely to find the best deals on fresh, high-quality food.
"When shopping at Sam's Club, look to go on Tuesdays or Wednesdays," said Samantha Landau, consumer expert at TopCashback.com. "During the week, Sam's Club receives fresh shipments of meat and produce and marks down items close to their sell-by dates. Shopping on these days can help you get cheaper last-minute markdowns while also being able to stock up on fresh items as well."
Final Take: 6 Strategies To Save Money at Sam's Club
Looking to save money and make the most of your shopping trip at Sam's Club? Here are a few tips and tricks to get you started:
Use coupons. Couponing can save you quite a bit of money when done right. If you pair coupons with existing savings or deals, you could save even more. "My best advice when shopping is to utilize their instant savings or purchase sale items and use manufacturer coupons on top of that to get double the savings," said Lisamarie Monaco, a national independent life insurance agent and co-owner of InsuranceForBurial.com.
Get a basic membership. Like Costco, Sam's Club has a couple of tiers to its membership program. Unless you need the extra perks, go with the cheapest option. The warehouse club also sometimes has discounted memberships, so keep an eye out for those.
Use the app. Sam's Club's Scan & Go app can help you save money and time. "Using the Scan & Go app enables quicker shopping and access to exclusive deals," said Yulia Saf of Miss Tourist. "Just as in traveling, a little preparedness goes a long way."
Buy in bulk. One major benefit of shopping at any warehouse club is the ability to buy in bulk and save money that way. "Buy all your paper goods, kitchen items, laundry items, etc., in bulk," said Monaco. "This includes paper towels, paper plates, aluminum foil, laundry detergent cups, toilet paper, etc. You will get huge savings." Avoid bulk purchases of perishable items unless you know you can use them before they expire.
Buy the store brand. The store brand Member's Mark tends to be cheaper than other brands -- without sacrificing quality.
Sign up for 'Instant Savings.' "Sam's Club runs periodic 'Instant Savings' events, offering member-exclusive discounts on different products," said Asri. "These aren't just minor price discounts; shoppers can save significantly on everyday items and big purchases. Always watch out for these promotions and plan your shopping around them to maximize savings."
Angela Mae Watson contributed to the reporting for this article.
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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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