Here's Why I'll Never Get a Sam's Club Plus Membership
KEY POINTS
- While it may not amount to much, every small upgrade costs us something.
- It makes little sense to pay for an upgrade that doesn't enhance your financial situation.
- It's up to each club member to determine how much an upgrade is worth to them.
Sam's Club, a division of retail giant Walmart, offers two tiers of membership: "Club" and "Plus." Club is Sam's basic membership, offering services all club members have access to. Plus is the retailer's upgraded tier of membership, with special discounts for serious shoppers. As someone who determines whether I will purchase a Sam's Club or Costco membership based on where I live at the time, I can guarantee that I will never upgrade to a Sam's Club Plus membership. Here's why.
I'm over getting nickeled and dimed
Do you ever feel as if your paychecks travel directly from your employer into someone else's pockets? That's precisely where I've recently found myself. While updating our household budget, I couldn't help but notice how easily I've slipped into the habit of giving away money. I'd become like that elderly woman who used to sit a couple of pews ahead of us in church. She'd reach into her purse and dole out peppermints to anyone with their hand out. Only, instead of handing out peppermints, I was handing out cash.
While I thought I had a fair idea of how many upgrades and subscriptions I was paying for, I had honestly lost track. In addition to paying for six separate streaming channels, I was paying for a handful of mobile apps, satellite radio, a monthly car wash membership, and upgraded cellphone service.
It's easy to justify
In my defense, each expense seemed small when I took it on. After all, paying $5 a month for a British streaming channel feels like a steal, and I can't imagine how much more I would pay to keep my car clean if I hadn't signed up for a monthly car wash membership.
Our Picks for the Best High-Yield Savings Accounts of 2024
Capital One 360 Performance Savings
APY
4.25%
Rate info
See Capital One website for most up-to-date rates. Advertised Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is variable and accurate as of April 11, 2024. Rates are subject to change at any time before or after account opening.
Min. to earn
$0
|
APY
4.25%
Rate info
See Capital One website for most up-to-date rates. Advertised Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is variable and accurate as of April 11, 2024. Rates are subject to change at any time before or after account opening.
|
Min. to earn
$0
|
American Express® High Yield Savings
APY
4.25%
Rate info
4.25% annual percentage yield as of July 3, 2024
Min. to earn
$1
|
APY
4.25%
Rate info
4.25% annual percentage yield as of July 3, 2024
|
Min. to earn
$1
|
Citizens Access® Savings
APY
4.50%
Min. to earn
$0.01
|
APY
4.50%
|
Min. to earn
$0.01
|
In other words, I justified each purchase.
A basic Club membership costs $50 per year, while a Plus membership costs $110. At one time, I would have justified the upgrade by thinking, "Hmm. A Plus membership is only $60 more annually than a Club membership. That's only $5 per month more!"
However, updating our household budget is a beautiful way to confront reality. So what if $5 a month seems like a bargain? The question is how much we're out monthly when I add all those "tiny" expenses together.
The fix for me was to take a closer look at all those small expenses and decide which ones I could cut. The truth is, I haven't missed any service or upgrade that I canceled. Seeing how much I was spending on subscriptions and upgrades reminded me of how important it is to my personal finances to be picky about what I'm willing to commit money to.
Buying only what I'll use
The base $50 Club membership includes:
- Membership cards: A card for me as the primary account holder and a free card for my husband.
- Additional cards: You can add up to eight additional members at a rate of $45 each (each membership includes its own complimentary card).
- Scan & Go service: A Sam's Club perk I absolutely adore.
- Scan & Ship: This allows me to scan an item and have it delivered to my home.
I typically only shop for two and rarely make a warehouse run more than once a month. For that reason, I purposefully stop myself from buying more than I need while shopping. Why would I spend more for an upgraded membership I won't use?
Plus is attractive, but...
For $110 annually, a Plus membership offers all the benefits of a Club membership, in addition to:
- Additional cards: You can add up to 16 Club-level members instead of eight.
- Free shipping available on most online items: Other than floral arrangements, I rarely shop on the Sam's Club website.
- Free curbside pickup: I've never used curbside pickup at Sam's.
- Eyeglass discount: I typically find a better selection of frames elsewhere.
- Tire and Battery Center discount: We have two other discount tire and auto goods stores nearby.
- 2% back on qualifying purchases: Admittedly, this one is tempting, but I don't spend enough at Sam's Club to justify the extra expense of upgrading.
I recognize that some people drop a lot of money at Sam's Club every time they visit. If that describes you, you may find that a Plus membership pays for itself many times over throughout the year. As for me, I'm currently focused on being kind to my checking account. That includes being mindful of how I spend money -- even if it is only $5 more a month.
Alert: our top-rated cash back card now has 0% intro APR until 2025
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a lengthy 0% intro APR period, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee! Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
Our Research Expert
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
Related Articles
View All Articles