Even though shopping at Sam’s Club is a proven way to save money, not every purchase is necessarily a smart one. Within the warehouse aisles, it can be easy to get distracted by enticing bulk buys or single items that seem like a good deal. However, those choices don’t always hold up once you get home.
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Avoid these Sam’s Club shopping mistakes that cost you.
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Overbuying Fresh Foods in Bulk
Money-saving expert Andrea Woroch said although prices are best per unit when you buy in bulk, shopping this way can also lead to wasteful spending. For example, she explained that if you buy perishable food and it goes bad before you can consume it, you’ve effectively wasted your money.
“For smaller families, couples and individuals, limit how much fresh food you buy in bulk, and purchase smaller containers of fruits and veggies to avoid anything going to waste,” she recommended. “This can be true for oversized bags of chips and crackers, as some can get stale quickly, too.”
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Shopping Without a Plan
Woroch acknowledged walking into a warehouse club can be overwhelming due to the large amount of consumer goods and groceries at discount prices, which can lead to overspending if you’re shopping without a plan.
She recommended making a list of what you need and sticking to it. Additionally, she said if you see something that looks like a good deal that’s not on your list, walk away to give yourself time to think about it.
“This gives you a cooling-off period to let that initial deal temptation wear off so you can make a rational buying decision,” she said. “Unless there’s only a couple of those items left, you can easily come back the next day to pick it up.”
Paying With the Wrong Credit Card
Buying in bulk at Sam’s Club isn’t the only way to save. Another option is to use a rewards credit card to make your purchases. Woroch recommended figuring out which credit card will give you more cash back or rewards for your purchases at Sam’s Club.
She explained that a Sam’s Club-branded credit card will offer the highest rewards, but those who shop at other retailers will miss out on rewards on other purchases by using this card.
“Depending on where you shop the most, you may be better off with a flat-rate cash back card that offers a bit of a higher percentage back on all purchases,” she explained. “You can compare these types of rewards programs at sites like CardRates.com.”
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 3 Sam’s Club Shopping Mistakes That Cost You
