Hi all! I've been looking for the answer to this for a while now, hopefully the more experienced couponers will know. Sorry if I have miss posted this and it should be on another thread.

What is more cost effective, clipping and using coupons or purchasing from Sam's, Costco or Bj's. Or is it a combination of both? I prefer to buy in bulk, like br tissue, paper towels, bath, laundry dish soaps, food, canned foods - everything. But I'm wondering if I am better off sticking with coupons and in-store deals from places like Kroger's better than buying from Sams?

Obviously I can't buy everything from Sam's or Costco - they don't sell some things I need and buying veggies in bulk isn't always effective. I'm hoping this new garden we are planting will offset some of that :)

All your insight and wisdom is eagerly awaited!

Oh - and to add to that we have a Walmart supercenter by us. I went ot Krogers last night and with the card and coupons went from 150$ to 100.16:smart:, but as I look at the bags I really think i get more bags for the buck at Walmart, not to mention I really do like their GV products.

<<confused>> :eyepoppin

it is both. it depends on what coupons you get. some things are cheaper at club - some not. important to know the prices per unit at your grocery store.

I usually save 40-80% @<hidden> the grocery store...

At BJs you can use one of their own coupons and a manufacturer's coupon on the same item which saves you even more money. I rarely buy anything at BJs without 2 coupons.

Coupons by far.I never pay for personal items such as soaps and shampoos.Very rarely do i pay for anything that i would use in the bathroom. I got 47 packs of TP for free. About 100 bottles of varies types of shampp/cond all kinds of deodrants for free tampons pads, toothpaste u name it i got it even hair dye.LOL For instance this week i paid $1.43 for 7 tombstone pizzas, .34 for bertolli spag sauce, .45 for 2-liter of Dr.pepper, i got 30 colgate toothbrushes and 30 colgate toothpastes for free paid .25 a box for granola bars the list goes on and on.This forum along with others are great at telling us where the free deals are.I dedicate hours a week to couponing but if you could see my pantries you would know why.Sams/coscto who needs a case of green beans anyways.I mean if your not into chasing deals then Q's arent for you and yes Walmart woould probably be your best bet.Goodluck in what ever you decide.

I really buckled down and clipped coupons and joined the grocery game- i did learn a lot about how cheap you can get things for if you use coupons. Our Publix grocery stores are great stores to shop in, and they are big into BOGO's. I just cant handle shopping at Walmart on a regular basis-ours is always jammed and awful, so i make the best of coupons and shop at Publix most of the time. I guess Shopping at a warehouse store is worth it if you really make the most of what you buy. Some things do make sense to buy there-If you use it. I belong through family members- you can make it cheaper on yourself if you share the cost. you dont really have to spend hours clipping, i rarely spend more than 30 minutes clipping and a few minutes browsing the website i use to tell me what the best items to buy this week are..after couponing it will kill you to pay regular price ever again!

Coupons are a much more effective way to save money. There are rarely items cheaper than you can get with coupons at a wholesale club. The exclusions seem to be spices, and some specialty foods.

In one of my couponing classes, I present the dilemna this way:
At Sam's, a 3 pack of Colgate is 7.99.
At Target, the same toothpaste is $3.30 regular price.
But, Target will run it on sale for $2. Team that with a $1/1 store coupon and a $.75/1 manufacturer's coupon, and you will purchase it for $.25 a tube.

In all essence, you will save at wholesale clubs if you would have purchased the item at regular price elsewhere. But, when you combine a coupon and sale prices, you will do much better at the retail store.

Sam's and Costco do not accept coupons, BJ's does.

i rarely find great deals at wholesale places. people think because they're getting a huge size, it must be a better deal, but oftentimes it's *more* expensive than even the regular price at the grocery store. plus, does anyone really need a 5-gallon jug of twizzlers?

and the wholesale places *never* have loss leaders like the grocery stores do -- by loss leaders, i mean the huge promos on the front page of their circular that draw you in, like coke 12-packs 4 for $10 or ground beef at 99 cents a pound or whatever.

if you plan strategy with your Qs and stock up like CRAZY on the loss leaders (as long as it's something you actually use) you'll always do better at the grocery stores (i'm counting target/walgreens/CVS as well, since they often have great deals and/or rebate programs that make things like toiletries end up costing nothing when you factor in the Qs and the rebates).

but it's a fair amount of work. you can't impulse buy. and you probably will drive to more stores to get the best deals. these are things to factor in, along with how much you value your time.

how can you not need 5 gallons of twizzlers?

Big LOL.

I admit it -- I personally need Twizzlers to survive!

Mostly grocery stores are better deals if you use coupons. I almost always buy bottled water at Sam's Club or Costco, even with coupons and sales the prices are better at the clubs. You just need to check the per unit pricing and see what is a better deal!