Sam’s Club: What I Recommend Buying

Today, I want to share my thoughts on Sam’s Club and what I recommend buying. We used to shop at Sam’s Club all the time before we moved to Southern Utah years ago. I felt we needed to get “reacquainted,” so Mark and I headed to Sam’s Club near our home. We went down every aisle, looking at shelves, and I took many pictures.

I observed that you may be able to get some of the items I’ve highlighted today cheaper at case lot sales if you have access to them, but for the most part, I felt the pricing was reasonable.

In Utah and Nevada, we are blessed with case lot sales several times a year. My point is this: Food prices are escalating—we all know that. We must stock up on food, and it must be food we will eat, not just the stuff on sale. I took many pictures today, so you won’t just read about what I recommend; you’ll see what I recommend buying.

Mark and I moved back to Northern Utah, where there are Sam’s Club locations everywhere, making shopping even more convenient.

Southern Utah had a Costco, which we loved, and we still have our membership. Here’s the deal: I can get some things at Costco but only through Sam’s Club via our daughter when she shops there.

We Signed Up Today

Well, the membership fee for one person is $50.00 plus taxes, and you can assign one extra person. So Mark and I will both have a card. Check out your local Sam’s Club, I saw a discount price online.

After reading the small print, I’ll be switching to the “Plus” membership because I’ll get a rebate check once a year based on the items we have purchased. The cheaper membership also includes free shipping for “some” items, but you may have to pay a fee for other items.

With the “Plus” membership, more items are shipped for free. Please research which membership works best for you.

A few years ago, I learned from a loyal follower, Harry, a great friend, that they ship for free over a certain amount with your paid membership. I knew we were planning on moving, so I waited to join until we moved.

Sam’s Club Membership

Years ago we had a Sam’s Club membership. But things have changed and improved. This is why I decided to write about the advantages of getting a membership.

Mark and I have the Costco layout memorized and know the products they sell. Of course, every grocery store or big box store likes to confuse me when they move all the shelving, and the tortillas are on the left side of the store, and then they move them to the right side.

You have to laugh picturing this gray-haired lady wandering the store, right? Mark loves to ask the staff where stuff is, and I like to walk and find the items I want. I guess that’s the “independent me” coming through.

One of the reasons I joined a few years ago is that I’m very concerned with our food chain, and I’m sure you are, too! You know Matt always states, “Buy them cheap and stack them deep.” In other words, buy what you can at the cheapest price and stock up big time—again, as long as the items you’re buying will actually be used by your family!

In case you missed this post, 13 Things You Should Buy At Costco

Sam’s Club: What I Recommend Buying

I recommend reading the small print or asking their staff necessary questions before you decide to join Sam’s Club or another big box store. It may or may not make sense for you, but for me, it’s about buying in bulk.

What I Recommend to Stock From Sam’s Club

You may be able to get these items cheaper somewhere else—that’s awesome. But this is what I recommend buying now. I feel strongly that our food chain is in deep trouble. I sure hope I’m wrong. Either way, we must have food and other items stored for our families just in case we need to use them in an emergency.

Today, I’m addressing items I feel may become in short supply. Stay tuned, this is just the beginning of what I recommend stocking up on. We can do this, my friends, one package at a time.

Laundry Soap

Every family uses certain things consistently, no matter what. Laundry soap is one of those things. We need to keep our bedding, clothing, towels, underwear, and other items fresh and clean not only for sanitary reasons but also to help protect them and make them last longer.

Getting dirt and grime out of clothes is the key. Usually, the larger the container, the lower the cost per ounce. Yes, you’ll pay a higher price overall, but the per-load costs will be reduced.

You may wonder if I still make my own laundry detergent. Yes, I do. But sometimes, I stock up a few boxes here and there of store-bought brands.

Dish Soap

Unless you’ve decided to use disposable paper products at some point, we all have dishes that need to be washed. Growing up, many of us didn’t have the convenience of a dishwasher in the kitchen. I still remember having to wash and dry dishes by hand, and that’s okay.

I’m showing liquid dishwashing soap in the picture below because we must wash dishes daily, whether or not we have a dishwasher.

Paper Towels

Just a few months ago, paper towels were in short supply, but now they seem to be pretty easy to find. To save money on paper products, Mark and I have been using cloth diapers as a substitute for paper towels. It may seem crazy, but it’s worked for us.

There are times when we just want to use something that can be thrown away, whether it’s to clean up greasy messes, something that will stain, or a small cleanup task. We all need paper towels in the kitchen, garage, and maybe the bathroom, too.

Paper Plates

Trust me, we need these. We can’t waste our precious water washing dishes if an emergency prompts us to minimize our water usage. Just this week, a large city in Utah had a contaminated water issue. Everyone had to boil their water or skip the water and use paper plates.

Having extra paper plates around for neighborhood get-togethers, camping, or a BBQ on the patio is also handy. You’ll have to decide on the size plates that work for you.

They also come in colors and pretty designs, but plain and cheap is my motto, as long as they hold up and don’t dump the food on the floor. The Chinet brand is too “floppy” for me, but this is all the store had in stock. I would look for some coated plates.

Paper Cups

I like these cups because they can serve a warm or cold drink. They also have lids available. Just like the dialogue for paper plates above, having paper cups can prove very handy in many situations. Again, they come in all sizes and colors, so you decide how much you want to spend. If you like plastic, that is also an available choice.

Plastic Silverware

If you are going to move to paper or plastic plates and cups for various reasons, you should also consider having plastic silverware in the pantry. If clean water isn’t available, or you just want the convenience of disposable utensils from time to time, plastic makes sense.

Nothing says you can’t wash them if necessary, but knowing you have a supply to use in a pinch is a comforting feeling.

Toilet Paper

Just so you know, in recent months, I have gone to Costco twice, and they were out of toilet paper and paper towels. My body needs many liquids during the day, so you know what that means. I have always had a few cases of toilet paper on storage shelves in my garage. I can’t deal with the thought of not having it around.

Years ago, I wrote a post about having “family cloth” around just in case, but there are certain times I really don’t want to see this week’s toilet activity on a cloth going into the clothes washer.

Be safe and sanitary, and have plenty of toilet paper at your disposal!

Bleach

In case you missed my post on Bleach, Bleach: Everything You Need to Know. Please only store what you can use within 9 -12 months. Clorox Bleach recommends replacing any bottle over 12 months of age.

Six months is the best time frame for storage. You decide if you want bleach with a “scent” as part of the chemical makeup. If you plan to use any of your bleach to treat the water storage tanks you have, stay clear of scented varieties.

Baggies

To save money on leftover food items, I’ve been stocking up on reusable plastic and glass food storage containers. Yes, they have to be washed, but I have to do multiple dishes in my washer each week anyway.

But there are times when you want the convenience of storing various food items in the fridge or freezer for later consumption. I really like the Ziplock brand since they come in so many different sizes, and the “lock” feature seems to last and be pretty foolproof.

Aluminum Foil

With all my cooking, I’d be in trouble if I ran out of aluminum foil. It not only saves time with the cleanup chores that come with oily/greasy foods but can also help protect your cookware.

I use it to cover my casseroles when the recipe calls for it.

Water

All my readers are probably tired of my always harping about water storage. It is just such a critical part of any emergency storage plan. I have many posts in the archive dealing with water storage, how to make the most of your space, container capacity, treatment, etc.

I really don’t suggest families rely on small bottled water containers like the ones shown below, but it is one of the many choices we need to make. Based on your particular situation, it may be the only option, but be sure to have enough to support your family’s needs for at least a few days.

Final Word

I hope you enjoyed my post today about Sam’s Club. We need to work on stocking up, and hopefully, we will find those items we need or want. Please keep prepping, we must. Teach your kids and grandkids to cook from scratch; this skill is critical. May God bless this world, Linda

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