Coupon Queen: Choosing the best warehouse membership

My husband and I are thinking about getting a warehouse membership, but I don't know if it's worth it. We've never paid to shop at a grocery store before. Do you think it's worth it? If so, which one is the best? Dawn R., Elyria Over the years, my husband and I have held membership accounts off and on at Sam's Club, Costco and BJ's. We usually sign up when there is a deal on Groupon, which brings the cost to a much lower price than you can find in the store. In fact, sometimes it's free after you factor in coupons and free items that often are given away at membership sign-up. While it's not a necessity for our family to have a membership, it does bring us good savings over the course of a year. In fact, we found the amount we save on nonperishable bulk items pays for our membership multiple times over, especially since we stick almost exclusively to the store brands. Add in the gas savings, which I regularly find for at least 10 cents cheaper than area stations, and it's a double whammy. The catch to these warehouse stores is most items are sold in bulk. If you are a single household, you may not see the yearly savings as much as a larger family would. Keep in mind not every bulk item at a warehouse club will be the best price. You'll want to go in knowing your price points. While some people prefer a specific warehouse, I find there are things that I love at each one. So how do you choose? I suggest that you look at two main factors: the best price at sign-up and the closeness of the warehouse to your home or daily commute. If the warehouse isn't nearby, you won't shop there as often or choose that store as your go-to gas station. All in all, no matter which one you choose, you can't go wrong. Am I the only one complaining about no store ads? I am sure it is my age, but we should be able to look at and hold the ad. Yes, they are saving money if they don't have ads delivered, but some of us still want to actually hold the ad without having to go to the store to pick up an ad. I have to depend on others to shop for me. It is extremely difficult. N.H. I have noticed the same thing over the past few years, and it can be frustrating. With the rise of electronics, I saw an increase in this in the past five years, but last spring it skyrocketed with the arrival of COVID-19. It definitely is a money saver not to print, and it creates much less waste. On top of not printing, I've found that stores are also creating smaller ads because of fluctuating quantities. The best thing to do is to get a hold of the corporate offices and share your concerns. I can't guarantee that there will be a change, but sharing your experience with a digital-only ad can help them make decisions in the future. This week's deal Here's a deal to find this week at Rite Aid. Doritos, Lays chips, Blue Diamond or Wonderful nuts, and Planters (select varieties) — Buy one, get one free Rachel Krych is passionate about helping others spend less and save more. In addition to her weekly column, she has a blog, Couponing With Rachel, which earns her compensation from Google for ads it places there, and from entertainment marketers whose promotional codes she touts. She doesn't write about entertainment in her column. Email her at couponingwithrachel@hotmail.com.