Today we are going to explore all those membership offers you need to decide about. Are they a good value for your family?
Is a Consumer Reports membership worth the money?
Depends.
Americans buy billions of dollars worth of merchandise every year. From clothing, toys, and electronics to the most unnecessary items on their lists. If you are a person who likes shopping or buy things online, a membership like this can give you an extensive list of options while comparing quality and prices all from one place.
If you are buying electronics, appliances, or big ticket items, it is a good idea to buy a Consumer Reports membership and find out whether the item you are buying is worth the money. They have ratings for over 8,000 items to help consumers like you and I make a better decision when buying something for our home. The membership by itself can save you money the first time you buy a big ticket item. You can get your membership fee back in the first year if, for example, you buy the best-rated lawnmower which should last longer, have fewer problems, and minimize maintenance expenses.
Amazon Prime membership?
The Amazon Prime membership is not worth it if you don’t buy many things at Amazon.
But if you are like the average American, then with the Amazon Prime membership you will save money on shipping and it can pay for itself. Plus you get Amazon Prime video and free returns on many items you buy. The video by itself can make worth having the membership to Amazon if you use that and reduce your cable bill.
Is a Costco, Sam’s Club, or BJ’s membership worth it?
How about those wholesale clubs? For many families, it is worth it. You can get four different membership options depending on what kind of membership you need, and the fee is more than worth it for many families. They can buy many items in bulk to save money, or they can store them when they find them on sale for future use.
One issue is they have so many items on sale and in bulk. This makes the impulse to buy them hard to resist, and that is one of the major drawbacks of having a wholesale membership like this. Items that are on sale and the price is too good to pass is one of the reasons this membership is not worth the money. A family might end up with too much stuff in their home and things they do not really need, like a box of muffins or a case of soap. If you are not saving a lot, or if you are taking too long to use these items, remember there is interest on charge card debt or your money could be used to invest and earn more money, instead of buying enough product to last two years.
Impulse buying is a big thing when entering stores like these, and like it or not, we all love to get a good deal. Knowing what you need and what you will use is a must. Also, avoiding bulk items that are unhealthy, no matter how good the deal is, will save you money and improve your health. If you cannot resist these temptations, then these memberships are a bad deal for you.
