Sam's Club is a membership-based retail warehouse club that operates in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. It was founded in 1983 and is a subsidiary of Walmart, one of the largest retail chains in the world.
The main focus of Sam's Club is to provide its members with access to bulk-sized products at discounted prices. Products range from groceries, electronics, home goods, furniture, and apparel to office supplies, health and beauty products, and more. Members can either shop at a physical location or online, with the option of home delivery or in-club pickup.
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The benefits of a Sam's Club membership include:
Sam's Club sometimes offers discounts on gift cards, but the availability and amount of discount may vary depending on the retailer and the time of year. It's best to check the Sam's Club website or in-store for current offers. I personally have seen Disney Gift Cards be included with the discount at Sam's Club, and this is the time to stock up for that next Disney vacation or annual pass renewal. Disney Gift Cards are many times discounted by approximately 4% at Sam’s Club. Prices are hidden from non-members, so you need to wait until you join and sign into your online account.
In addition to its retail offerings, Sam's Club also provides various services to its members such as a small business center, travel, and credit services. The company also has a charitable arm, the Sam's Club Giving Program, that supports various local and national causes.
Overall, Sam's Club provides a one-stop shopping experience for its members, with a focus on providing high-quality products at competitive prices. With its vast selection of products, services, and convenient shopping options, it continues to be a popular choice for those looking to save money on their purchases.
In summary, a Sam's Club membership provides access to a wide range of products at discounted prices, as well as various convenient shopping options, services, and charitable initiatives.
The amount of money you can save at Sam's Club will vary based on the items you purchase and current promotions. Sam's Club offers member-exclusive prices and bulk discounts, so buying in bulk can result in significant savings. Many shoppers find that they save enough on their first shopping trip to cover the cost of their membership for the entire year! One year my family shopped around for backyard swing sets and found one that we loved on the Sam's Club website. We were not members at the time, but by purchasing the membership first, we were able to save hundreds of dollars on that swingset, which more than covered the small cost of the membership. Don't delay, and secure your exclusive Sam's Club Membership discount offer for you today.
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Saving money on groceries requires a combination of planning, comparison shopping, and smart spending choices. Here are some tips that can help you reduce your grocery bill:
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2. Plan meals and snacks: Plan meals and snacks for the week, taking advantage of ingredients you already have in your pantry and avoiding waste.
3. Use coupons and promo codes: Search for coupons and promo codes before you go shopping. Consider using a shopping app to help you find deals. An app like Rakuten can also save you money on sites like Instacart, Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, BJs, and Target. Consider placing an online grocery order, with a curbside pick-up to not only save time but take advantage of the online savings that an app like Rakuten can save you.
4. Buy generic or store-brand products: These products are often less expensive than name-brand items and are often of similar quality.
5. Buy in bulk: Buying in bulk can be a cost-effective way to purchase items like non-perishable foods, household items, and personal care products. Several of the wholesale warehouses, where you can easily buy in bulk, give you cash back in the Rakuten app. 6. Take advantage of sales: Pay attention to sales and stock up on items you regularly use when they are on sale. 7. Avoid pre-packaged and processed foods: These foods tend to be more expensive and less healthy than whole, unprocessed foods.
8. Shop at discount grocery stores or online grocery delivery services: These stores or services often have lower prices and allow you to compare prices and purchase groceries from the comfort of your home.
9. Grow your own fruits and vegetables: Growing your own produce can save you money and provide fresh, healthy food. Begin with a sampler kit, which offers a variety of fruit and vegetable seeds to get you started on your home garden.
10. Cook at home: Cooking at home is less expensive and healthier than eating out.
11. Avoid food waste: Store food properly and use leftovers creatively to reduce waste. Investing in a good set of airtight storage containers will help your food stay better, longer.
12. Use a budget-friendly grocery app: There are several apps that can help you keep track of your grocery spending, find deals, and create shopping lists.
13. Make your own snacks and meals: Making your own snacks and meals is less expensive and often healthier than purchasing pre-made items. 14. Take advantage of store loyalty programs: Sign up for store loyalty programs to receive discounts and promotions on items you regularly purchase. 15. Drink tap water: Drinking tap water is much less expensive than buying bottled water and is just as healthy. Get yourself a good, BPA-free, leak-proof reusable water bottle, remember to fill it up, and bring it with you, each time you leave your house.
By following these tips, you can save money on groceries and still enjoy a variety of healthy, delicious foods.
Hello there! Today, let's talk about one of the most magical gift cards out there - Disney gift cards!
All About Disney Gift Cards Disney gift cards are a fantastic way to give the gift of magic to someone special. Whether you're shopping for a Disney fan or just looking for a unique gift idea, a Disney gift card is always a great choice. Let's explore some of the reasons why. First of all, Disney gift cards are incredibly versatile. They can be used at many different Disney locations, including Disney theme parks, Disney stores, Disney resorts, and even Disney Cruise Line. So whether your gift recipient is planning a trip to Walt Disney World or just wants to buy some Disney merchandise online, a Disney gift card will always come in handy. Another great thing about Disney gift cards is that they never expire. That means that your gift recipient can use the card whenever they want, without worrying about any expiration dates or fees. This makes it a great gift for someone who may not be able to use it right away but wants to save it for a special occasion. Disney gift cards also come in a variety of designs, making them a fun and collectible item for Disney fans of all ages. From classic Disney characters to Star Wars and Marvel themes, there's a design for everyone. And if you're feeling creative, you can even create your own custom Disney gift card design online. Disney gift cards can also be reloaded, making them a great option for budget-conscious shoppers. You can add funds to the card as needed, so your gift recipient can keep using it even after the initial balance is spent. Disney gift cards are a fun and practical gift for any Disney fan. They're versatile, never expire, and come in a variety of designs. So next time you're looking for a gift for a Disney lover, consider giving them the gift of magic with a Disney gift card!
Discount Disney Gift Cards
Discount Disney gift cards are a common way to save money on your Disney vacation, but they're also tricky, more so than you might expect. In this blog, we'll go over everything you need to know about discount Disney gift cards, such as what constitutes a good discount, when to use Disney gift cards, and when using them costs you money.
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What is a Disney Gift Card?
No, this isn’t a joke, and this is a valid question that must be addressed before getting started. There are two different things that could be referred to as a "Disney Gift Card." 1. A genuine Disney gift card This is what most people talk about, and what the rest of this blog post will discuss. It's the standard Disney gift card, which can be used at most Disney locations in the United States and can be purchased anywhere from the Disney Store to Target. 2. A Disney Rewards Redemption Card from Chase This is where points earned by using a Disney Rewards Chase Visa are transferred. In other words, they are the primary way to redeem points in the Disney Rewards program. It, like a Disney gift card, can be used at most Disney locations in the United States. You don't buy and sell or give these away like a gift card; they're simply there to hold the points you've earned with a Disney credit card.
Where Can I Spend My Disney Gift Card?
Disney gift cards can be used almost anywhere and for almost anything at Disney. To cover the cost of Disney vacations, including hotels, annual passes, and tickets. Visits to Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Springs, Disneyland Resort, Aulani, Disney Cruise Line, Hilton Head Island, Vero Beach, and Adventures by Disney are among them. You can also use them at Disney Stores and DisneyStore.com Is It Better to Buy Disney Gift Cards or Use Cash? For every dollar spent, Disney gift cards are worse (or more limiting) than cash because they can only be used at Disney locations or on Disney merchandise. However, if you've already committed to spending a significant amount of money at a Disney location, they'll be as good as cash for you. On the flip side, there are ways to get discounted Disney gift cards, which is where the true value lies. If you're going to Disney anyway and can purchase Disney gift cards at a discount, there are some good ways to save, which are outlined further below. How Much Can I Save with Disney Gift Card Discounts? Before we get into the specifics of how to obtain these discounts, let's look at your realistic potential savings. Using discount Disney gift cards, you can expect to save between 5% and 10% on your trip. If your trip is estimated to cost you $10,000 and you secure a 10% discount on your Disney Gift Cards, you will now only be spending $9,000 on the same trip. If these savings seems worth it to you (hopefully it does), read on.
Saving 5%
The easiest way to save on a Disney Gift Card is to use your Redcard at Target and save an instant 5%. You can do this in person or online and have the Gift Card emailed to you or sent through the postal mail. Using our example from above, on a $10,000 trip if you purchase Disney Gift Cards using your Target Red Card, you will now only spend $9500. It is really that simple! These Disney Gift Cards can be purchased straight from the website, app or in-person at Target stores.
*** Potential extra 1% savings. If you download the Rakuten app (free to download) and click through Target to shop, there is sometimes a 1% cashback offer on your Target purchase. No catch and the sale is going through Target directly, so there really isn’t a downside to getting the Rakuten app and clicking through to Target before you purchase your gift cards. I will say from personal experience, most of the time Rakuten flags this as a gift card purchase, and won't give me credit for it, but I still try each time.
Other 5% Savings
A less popular option to save 5% on your Disney Gift Cards is to use rotating cash back awards on your credit card categories. Many credit card companies will offer the option to rotate 5% cash back opportunities amongst select categories of spending. If you have selected 5% cash back at gas stations, you can purchase your Disney Gift Cards at local gas station stores and capitalize on the additional savings. Make sure you read the fine print, as many of these cashback offers have a cap per month or reward period. Saving 10% Join Sam’s Club online or in person. There is a membership fee, but currently, there is a 50% off offer. Disney Gift Cards are discounted by approximately 4% at Sam’s Club. Prices are hidden from non-members, so you need to wait until you join and sign into your online account. Once you have your Sam’s Club membership secured download the Cash App (if you aren’t already using it). Apply for the free debit card. Once you receive your Cash App debit card in the mail, load funds onto the Debit card. Use your Cash App debit card to pay for your Disney Gift Card through Sam’s Club when the 5% boost is activated. You can purchase roughly $400 in gift cards every 24 hours to receive the maximum boosted amount of $20 off. A Cash App boost works like a coupon, and it comes off automatically. This method is a bit more complicated but will save you up to 10% off your Disney Gift Cards. You are now looking at paying only $9,000 for that $10,000 Disney trip that you have planned. *** BJs is another option that is not as readily used in the Disney community, but still an option to investigate. Similar to the Sam’s Club offer you may be able to save up to 4% + stack that with your 5% cashback from your credit card company.
Other Ways to Save
You will see Gift Card resale sights or seller sites such as eBay with Disney Gift Cards available for sale. There is a risk to using these sites. You may never receive the card, or the card may have been reported stolen and the balance will zero out by the time you receive it. Will the transaction be legitimate at times, yes, but you need to weigh if you are willing to take the risk. The Downside of Discount Disney Gift Cards The argument against pursuing discounted Disney gift cards is clear – your dollars become “Disney Dollars” and you must use all that money on Disney. Your discounted Disney gift cards are only redeemable at Disney. Disney does not always have the best available hotel rates, and they rarely have the best available ticket prices. If you can get a more substantial discount booking through a source other than Disney, then you can get buying gift cards, buying the discount gift cards makes no sense. Bottom line, make sure that you plan to use every penny on Disney that you invest in Disney Gift Cards. Things to Remember A 5% discount is extremely easy to get on Disney Gift Cards. If you want to try to push that discount to 8-10% it’s going to take more work, and likely a wholesale club membership. Crunch your numbers and see what is going to be best for your needs. Make sure not to purchase more Disney Gift Cards than you plan to use during your trip. If you do end up with leftover balances on your cards, you can attempt to sell them on sites such as eBay and pass the discount along to another fellow Mouse Lover.
Once you have purchased your Disney gift cards, you might want to hold them in a place that accentuates the Mouse Magic! I absolutely love the LoungeFly Disney line, and this is one of my favorite Disney wallets. Not only can it store your gift cards, but also credit cards, cash, ID, and more!
Love Disney and love to save money? Head over to my article, "8 Smart Walt Disney World Money-Saving Tips for You," to learn more ways to save.
Making a budget
If you aren’t sure if you can afford that new car that you’ve had your eye on or that trip that you are itching to plan, you need to create a budget to clearly outline money coming in and money going out. Making a budget is an important step in managing your finances. To create a budget, determine your monthly income, list your monthly expenses, categorize expenses, track your spending, create a budget allocating funds for fixed expenses, variable expenses, and savings, stick to the budget, and review and adjust regularly. By following these steps, you can gain control of your finances, avoid overspending, and reach your financial goals.
Step 1: Figure your net monthly income
What does net income even mean? Simply stated this is your take home pay. You need to take your hourly wages or salary for a given pay period and subtract taxes and other fees taken out of your check such as insurance and retirement places. Once those deductions have been taken you are left with your net income, and this will be the starting number to create your budget around.
Step 2: Write down your areas of spending
If you are a digital person, using a spreadsheet on the computer is a smart idea when planning out a budget. There are always new line items to add, delete or change. Certain irregular expenses are also easy to forget, but important to add into the budget once recalled. For those who like to have a hard paper copy, a budget planner is a must have! Look for an updated planner, which allows you to start at anytime throughout the year, such as the feature-filled planner below.
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Here are a few examples of line items you may need to include on your expense sheet
This list will be different for everyone, so it is important for you to take the time to customize this to what your actual expenses are. You will notice the last suggested budget category above is cash. This is a line item that everyone should have. Those quick trips to the ATM or cash back at the register can really add up. Even cash purchases need to be budgeted for. Use a budget binder cash envelope system for simple tracking and organization of your dollars.
Step 3: Estimate how much you spend each month per line item
Now that you know what you are spending your money on, it is time to estimate how much you are spending on each expense every month. Most of the time this will be an average number except if it is a set bill that doesn’t often change such as mortgage or rent payment. A helpful hint is to look back at past months expensive to make an educated estimated guess. For example, if you spent $425, $576, and $409 in three consecutive months for groceries, add those three numbers together and divide by three to get your new budgeted number for groceries. In this case your monthly allowance would be $470.
Step 4: Are you living within your means?
Add up your estimated expenses and compare this today to your new monthly income figured out in step one. You should be spending less money than you are bringing in. If you are spending over your net monthly income than you are overspending and need to trim your budget. If you are spending way under your monthly budget this is a good time to establish or add to personal savings or retirement account.
Step 5: Trimming your budget
If you are like the majority of people on the planet you are projected to spend more than you are bringing in for income. If this is the case, then you need to go down the line items of your budget and write (W) want, (S) savings or (N) need. This is the perfect time to implement the 50/30/20 rule. The 50/30/20 rule is a tool used to help divide your net income into three categories of spending.
Needs
50% Rent or mortgage Insurance Car payment Utilities Groceries Wants 30% Streaming services Shopping Travel and Vacations Entertainment Charitable donations Savings or Debt 20% Emergency “rainy day” fund Stock investments Retirement IRAs Child’s college fund Credit card payments
Look at each (W) want item one by one and see if there are any items that can be eliminated entirely. Examples of this may be if you have three streaming services, but only use one on a regular basis. Cancel the other two that aren’t used often and remove them from your budget entirely.
Once you have gone through the (W) wants and removed or lessened the amount allocated towards them, recalculate, and see if you are within your income guidelines now. If you have managed to stay within budget, fantastic! If you are still projected to spend over, it is time to look at your (N) needs and see if you can spend less than you are currently spending. While this may seem difficult to do many times there is some wiggle room in a lot of areas of required expenses. Let’s take mortgages for example. Many people refinance their mortgage to secure a lower monthly payment. You can shop around and compare rates for homeowners, medical, dental, auto, and vision insurance. Try shopping at a different grocery store that offers the same products you shop for at a lower cost. (S) savings is a category that many people sacrifice completely. It is hard to cut back on things that you want just to save for a day long down the road. Savings is an important category to budget for and should not be pushed aside and neglected. Rework your budget if you did not originally have a place for savings. You are never too young to start putting money aside for your future.
Step 6: Check your budget quarterly
Life happens fast. Things change. Chances are high that prices will change, you’ll add new expenses, change jobs, etc. Make sure that you grab your calculator, and are checking your budget a few times per year and making adjustments where needed. It is important that you stay on top of this, or you could end up getting into financial debt before you realize that you are. |
Bless Myself BlogJen AmbroseCertified Life Coach, Mother of Five, Wife, Christian, Homeowner & Friend Archives
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