As a general rule, I do not care for those membership warehouse type shopping places. Gee, you mean if I pay you $50, you’ll let me shop there? How thoughtful. Also, you get suckered into buying large quantities and if you don’t use them before they spoil, you throw out any savings. Not to mention the variety packs–if 25% of the packaged items are a flavor you don’t like, again, there goes your savings.

But there are exceptions to every rule. Ounce for ounce, pound for pound, yes, the prices are overall usually better than supermarkets. So you can make it into a good deal, without worrying about trying to recoup your $50. To my knowledge, BJ’s is the only one of these chains that will accept mfr coupons.

If your employer offers you a membership either free or greatly reduced, I’d take it. Also, they often offer free 30 or 60 day trial memberships. I found an offer for BJ’s inside of a Good Housekeeping. It was for a free 60 day membership and I had to redeem it by Monday. I went down and redeemed it today. FWIW, I prefer going down to the New Castle location, easier for me to get to than Newark.

I got a few items and told myself I wouldn’t spend more than $100. I spent $109, not bad. Got two cans of Enfamil–overall formula is much cheaper there. Some other things I got were just things I often can’t find super deals on–applesauce, trash bags, nutri grain bars. A case of Guiness Stout was $24 but I had to pay the bottle deposit (doh! Delaware!) and I got two bottles of wine. Overall I thought their beer & wine selection was terrible. But it was cheaper (than PA)and no sales tax. I do better at Hockessin Liquors on Route 41.

I wrote down their prices for baby food and a few other things, to see if I can do better at Acme or Superfresh. I also wanted to price the size 7 Pampers, because I’m soon going to need those and they are extremely hard to find in regular stores.

Until Monday, BJ’s is running a special–$45 for two memberships, 15 months long. You’ll get $10 back towards your first purchase and an $800 coupon booklet.

Today is the first of the month, so make sure you hit all the printable websites and get the new coupons.

Acme has a deal on the ingredients for s’mores, tomorrow is last day. The display is right near their seasonal merchandise, across from Courtesy Desk (at the Avondale store). If you get the crackers, the Hershey bars and the marshmallows, it will cost you $6.50. But they have instant savings at the register, when you scan your card, it will take off $3. Laying right there on the display is a tearpad of coupons for $1 off when you buy all 3 items. So after all that, you’re down to $2.50.

And guess what–there was an insert coupon a few weeks ago for $1 off when you buy two packages of Hershey bars. I used that one as well and it went through without a beep. So I paid $4 for two boxes of graham crackers, two packs of Hershey bars and two bags of marshmallows. Great deal and perfect to take along to a holiday gathering you go to. There were still plenty of tearpad coupons when I was there this afternoon, same coupon is also in the May 17 Smartsource insert.