This weekend is the grand opening of the Costco in Concordville, at Brinton Lake. As a general rule, I do not shop at warehouse club type of stores, but there is some value. Use these tips and strategies to make sure you getting good value.

Memberships: This is one of the biggest turnoffs, in my opinion, of a warehouse club-the fact that you have to pay them to shop there. I’m a customer! Why do I have to pay you to shop? Not only that, the customer service you get at a warehouse club is minimal, they don’t even offer bags, and the display and the atmosphere (and often, the heat) leaves much to be desired. I wonder what they are doing with the membership money, besides counting it. So that would be my first tip–see how you can save on a membership. Where are you going to recoup your $30 or $50 investment to shop there? Some employers offer group rates, so do some civic groups like sports teams, churches and schools. See if you can get a discount that way. Some clubs like BJs offer free passes for a day or up to 60 days. Use those! Always at least get one free day out of it so that you can shop, compare prices and determine if your savings will really be worth it. Consider splitting the membership with a relative or your BFF. Make it a date to go there quarterly, since only one of you can get a card and has to be there.

Coupons: I think the only one that takes manufacturers’ coupons is BJs, but I could be mistaken. All of them offer store coupons quite often. See if you can use both (at a BJs) and see if they will take a competitor’s coupon.

Know what you are spending: I put this in another section, but it warrants the attention. Know what you are paying for things at the grocery store, and bring a calculator and note pad. Make sure you are getting value and/or a good price! Know how much of an item your family will consume before it goes bad, particularly for perishables.

Product packaging and assortments: The big joke about warehouse clubs is the fact that you have to buy things in such large quantities, like a 55 gallon drum of ketchup. Take a calculator with you and see what you are paying per ounce or per lb for your items. It may not be cheaper than the smaller items at grocery stores. But you see such a big package that the big price tag doesn’t deter you–let it deter you! Make sure you are getting value. Also, many big packages like granola bars and yogurts come in assortments. Make sure your family eats ALL of the flavors included. My family will easily eat a 32-cup package of yogurts in about 2 weeks, but if I throw out the 8 plain ones because no one likes them, I’ve just increased the price by 25%.  It’s not a value if you throw out 10-30% of the pack due to undesirable flavors.

Don’t just shop for groceries: My friend J posted on our Facebook wall the other day that she finds value in these clubs with the eyeglasses. Her vision program on her insurance is quite limited and she frequently has to spend significant money on eyeglasses for her family. But at Costco, they are so much cheaper than at other places, she more than recoups the money she has to spend on the membership. These clubs not only sell eye-wear, but tires and cases of alcohol in some states.  Don’t just try to save money on the basics, if you are considering a membership, look at ALL the product areas it covers.

Factor in convenience: Large families and babies go through a ton of product in a small amount of time. When my boys were babies, I used the freebie days at BJs to stock up on baby food and formula, and I found significant savings on both money and time that way. For those with large families or if you don’t like to shop, going to a place like this once a month and getting what you need may be worth it for you.

Saving money is not easy! It requires work. But before making a paid commitment on where to grocery shop, you want to make sure you are getting the best value. Take care and let us know what deals you find.