Trial BJs membership--what's a good deal there?

[RosemaryS-F]

The last time I did the trial, I actually couldn't find a single good deal on things I normally bought, but that was before kids, so I'm wondering, what do you buy there that's a great bargain? I don't have tons of storage space, but I have some. TIA!

[CookiePie]

I just got the trial but, I don't think I will buy the membership once the trial is up. I do like a few things like the Olivia's salads & can't get organic greens that cheap around here. Here is my recent list

Produce
1 lb Olivia's Organic mixed baby greens $4.99
1 lb Olivia's Organics baby Spinich $4.99
5 lb bag of organic apples $7.49
5 lb bag of organic carrots $3.49
2 lb package of organic grape tomatoes $6.99

Grocery
2 lb package of yeast (I won't need that again for a while) $3.69
2 lb honey $6.99
Smuckers natural PB (2 pk) $6.99

I was considering shopping there occasionally to get what I need & just found this info for non-member shopping Scroll down to non-member shopping.

[RosemaryS-F]

Well, our local grocery store sounds like it beats those prices. Perhaps I'll forgo the membership.

[HappyMommy2]

It is worth a free trial. Are you 100% organic? If so, then they have juice pouches and milk for cheaper than our stores. I got a delicious blank angus (organic) beef roast that everyone raved about.

Also, things like razors, shampoo, tylenol, dishwasher detergent are cheaper.

You do have to know prices, for example, their Yo-baby is not a good deal.

If you don't buy everything organic, other great deals I have gotten include syrup, vanilla, barilla-plus noodles, meat, bread, and desserts.

[deditus]

How about Costco? I like the Kirkland brand stuff. We are gluten, dairy, soy, and egg free so I generally can't find stuff to eat at warehouse stores - I prefer to buy local produce and grassfed meat. But I loved the toilet paper, Ziplocs, garbage bags, plastic wrap, dish soap, laundry soap.

[RosemaryS-F]

I can get ziplocs and plastic wrap at the Dollar Store!
I have a CSA so we're good on the organic produce. I think I'll skip the box stores, actually; I am actually someone who likes shopping, but I strongly dislike the warehouse feeling (unless it's IKEA )

[Biscuits & Gravy]

Huge bottles of Heinz organic ketchup. The 2 pack is $6.99 I think, and the bottles are gigantic. A small bottle at the grocery store is at least $3, and this month there is a $2 off BJs coupon, so I'll get 2 bottles for $4.99. You can stack manufacturer coupons with the BJs coupons, too. We are Starbucks junkies, and they have a huge bag (5 lbs I think) for $19.99, plus they often put out coupons for them. Last month it was $5 off.

[LynnolaS]

I sometimes get stuff like olive oil there, but mostly what I get there is frozen fruit. Much cheaper than the grocery store, and BJ's takes all manufacturers coupons in addition to their own store coupons.

[sunflower.mama]

That's right - when you stack manuf coupons with the BJs coupons, you do get great deals. The PB deal mentioned above is for massive jars - way bigger than at the grocery store. We go through that. Plus a gallon of milk is $2.19, which is as good as any grocery store sale. I like their prices on nuts and dried fruit. Often times I will find that their prices are comparable to grocery store sales but it's more convienent to me to shop there once a month and not worry about catching a sale. Plus I like having items in stock, and am personally more apt to buy in bulk than buy 10 of something at the grocery store.

[Teensy]

Here's a totally random request for all you BJ's shoppers:

Will you keep your eye out for a photo, probably in the catalogue, of a "family" of four laying on the beach on towels. The "dad" had a hat over his face. The little girl is holding a juice and wearing sunglasses and a rainbow swimsuit.

If you see it in a form you can take home with you (ad or catalogue), will you grab a couple and PM me.

My DD was in a photo shoot for BJs (as described), but we don't have them in our state, and we'd like to see the final picture.

Thanks so much.

[KarenEMT]

Teensy, I have the photo - it was in the "BJ's Journal" that they direct mailed to me.

PM me your address and I'll be happy to mail you the book

[Teensy]

Karen - Thanks so much! I PM'd you my address.

They took the photo a few months ago and the shoot was so interesting to me - they had a detailed drawing of exactly how each person was to be positioned and exactly where the props were to go. The photographer was on a scaffold high above and it took almost two hours to get the angle and light just right (DD wasn't posed that long, the photographer would climb down to check the photo on the laptop, and they'd rearrange the towels, re-smooth the sand, etc.). It was really taken on a beach though.

Anyway, thanks so much! I am really looking forward to seeing the end result!

[blessedwithboys]

Gorilla cookies!!! LOL i haven't found them anywhere else around here and they are the freakin bomb!

[allnaturalmom]

If you do dairy, they have some great cheeses - organic cheddar from hand-milked amish cows, goat cheese, organic feta, and my favorite a big block of kerrygold doubliner - .

We get the huge heinz organic double pack of ketchup, too. Also, huge bottles of vinegar and baking soda, huge bags of nuts - pine nuts, walnuts, almonds and pecans, chocolate chips - without vanillan, vanilla extract - without corn syrup, rumford baking powder - alum free & from non-gmo corn, and organic produce and milk was already mentioned.

I am extremely disappointed w/them as they have stopped carrying organic butter. It was 2 lb for 6.99. That's the cheapest price I've found it around here. Also, they have stopped their organic olive oil. It was sold in a huge dark, glass bottle, from Italy. UGH... so frustrating... I may not renew.

gl
hth

[sunflower.mama]

Oh - almost forgot - contact lenses. Their lower price on my annual supply of acuvue oaysis lenses pays for my membership and more - and that's a savings over 1-800-contacts.

[EarthyMamaofDaisy]

Big bags of frozen organic fruit, I get the organic ketchup too and the organic olive oil. I also use the BJ's coupons to get toilet paper and paper towels. And the goat cheese crumbles are cheap too.

[EFmom]

The yeast. Not only is it a good deal, but it is way, way better than grocery store yeast. I suspect it's packaged for commercial bakeries.

I also like some of their baked goods. They have little crusty Italian rolls that are great and freeze well.

Olive oil and pine nuts. I make pesto at the end of the summer from garden basil, and freeze it for the year. BJ's pine nuts are much cheaper than any other source I've found.

[Teensy]

Karen - Thanks so much for sending me the BJ's catalogue with DD's photo in it. It was quite interesting to see the final result of the photo shoot and I am very glad to have a copy for DD's scrapbook!

Thanks again!

[KarenEMT]

You are SO welcome Tanya!

Katherine, thank you for posting, as I had no idea the contacts were a good deal there. I'm almost ready to order mine and will be sure to check it out!

[gbailey]

Either my BJ's isn't the best or I am not really navigating it as well as I should. I've never seen the organic angus roast or the frozen organic fruit. We get good buys on olive oil, organic milk and diapers. They always send us great coupons and you can use manufacturer's coupons too.