Costco: not called "Big Box Store" for nothing! by Bennilover (CC BY-ND)
The holiday season can do a number on credit card bills and bank account balances. But devotees of Costco, Sam's Club, and BJ's Wholesale Club can find savings at the warehouse stores on seasonal decor, food, and gifts for all, among other holiday necessities. Ready to go shopping? Check out Cheapism's Best Thanksgiving Buys at Costco.
Don't already have memberships at these clubs? You can sign up at Costco, BJ's, or Sam's Club today.
Costco, Sam's Club, and BJ's sell ready-made rotisserie chickens, about 3 pounds each, for just $5 (Costco started its own chicken farm). At that price, shoppers picking one up for a holiday meal may want to buy another to use later in chicken salad and other cheap and easy recipes good for serving either a house full of family and friends — or a smaller group hunkered down for togetherness against winter weather and a pandemic lockdown.
No holiday meal is complete without an array of dessert options. Pies, cakes, and the like are all available from warehouse clubs in large sizes perfect for parties. Six half-sheet cakes at Sam's Club — without decoration — cost $34 and feed up to 48 people. You may see nowhere near that number of people this year, which is why it's also good to know that a variety of seasonal pies start at about $6.
Related: Best Store-Bought Desserts From Costco, Trader Joe's, and Aldi
Sam's Club, Costco, and BJ's make it easy to stock up on wine, beer, and liquor for holiday gatherings. A little-known Costco secret: Some $12 to $16 bottles of wine are actually $50 bottles that have been rebranded, and Costco's beer selection holds similar gems. How else would the makers get rid of extra stock?
Related: 15 Best House Wines From Costco, Aldi, and Trader Joe's
Every holiday celebration needs beverage options other than alcohol. The logic used to be that while buying bottled water seems like a waste (hello, tap water), it cuts down on dishes after a party, and guests can grab one for the road. This year it may just seem like a good idea to have water on hand just in case. At Sam's Club, a 32-count package of Aquafina half-liter bottles costs less than a smaller 24-pack of the same bottled water at Kmart and several regional grocery stores (about $4 versus $5). The cheapest option is a 45-pack of store-brand Member's Mark bottled water for just over $3.50.
Warehouse clubs offer good deals on gift cards, which typically come in packs that can be divided among stockings. BJ's sells three $15 gift cards for Domino's for $43, or $2 off, and $50 Spa Week Spa and Wellness gift cards for $35, or 30% off, for example. Other cards are good for movies, steakhouse meals, and Disney purchases.
Shop for the gamer in your life at warehouse clubs and you won't regret it. Costco offers a 12-month Xbox Live Gold Membership for $55 (less than $5 a month) – notable because it would typically cost $120 per year. Sam's Club has a similar deal, while you can also buy whole gaming systems, games, and accessories from both warehouse stores.
Splitting up bulk buys such as popcorn packs can be an economical way to fill stockings. Divvy up the four pack of Costco's Build A Bear gift cards valued at $25 each, but cost just $80 for the pack. Some small items are sold individually, including touchscreen compatible gloves that start at $15.
While most holiday parties will be put on hold this year, if you're still attending small gatherings with family, you're likely still planning to bring the host a gift and those can add up. A three-tier pack of sweet treats goes for $25 at BJ's, but split it comes to about $6 per box of candy and makes a thoughtful hostess gift, or good last-minute gifts for mail carriers, babysitters, hairdressers, teachers, and anyone else on the list for a small gift at the holidays.
Related: Special Gifts for Hosts and Hostesses That Will Get You Invited Back
The warehouse clubs sell pre-made gift baskets starting at about $25, with themes ranging from Coca-Cola to "Star Wars," to popcorn and wine, to a movie night in gift basket, but consumers may be able to save even more by divvying up bulk purchases to create homemade gift baskets.
Don't forget outdoor decorations — the neighbors won't. For a sense of the warehouse club savings available on holiday lights, consider that these holiday cone trees with LED lights can be found for $60 from Costco compared with a similar display that goes for $120 on Amazon.
Send holiday cheer through warehouse clubs on the cheap. Costco allows you to make personalized photo cards and buy them in sets of 50 for $14 or roughly 27 cents per photo. For the same type of holiday greeting card Shutterfly charges around 99 cents and up per card for the same quantity.
Related: Heartfelt and Hilarious Personalized Gifts for Everyone on Your List
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