Money Management

Is this the world’s best toilet paper? Check out these Member’s Mark products that are worth the trip to Sam’s Club. 

As my fellow personal finance fanatics can attest, getting a good bargain feels good. But we’ve all been bitten by the bargain that wasn’t — you know, those items that are so bad, even the low price doesn’t stem the tide of regret.

Store brands, in particular, are often guilty of being on the wrong side of the quality-price scale. That is, unless you’re shopping at Sam’s Club. The Member’s Mark house brand is not only full of great values, but many of the items are of name-brand quality (or better).

Here’s a look at some of the best products unique to Sam’s Club that offer value and quality.

1. Member’s Mark Ultra Premium Soft & Strong 2-Ply Toilet Paper

Toilet paper is one of those things that many of us don’t realize we have strong opinions about — but we all do (and that’s before you get started on the over-under debate!). The Member’s Mark toilet paper must be made of clouds and parental approval, because it has over 78,000 five-star reviews. Think about that: 78,000 people took time out of their day to say this is good toilet paper. And, of course, you can’t beat that price.

Cost: $22.98 ($0.002 per sheet)

Rating: 4.9 / 5.0

2. Member’s Mark Antihistamines

Persistent allergies are the worst, and not just for your face — though that can really suck. They can also be really bad for your budget when you need a daily antihistamine. Member’s Mark has two different types: Aller-itin loratadine tablets and Aller-Zyr cetirizine tablets (based on the active ingredients from Claritin and Zyrtec, respectively). Users give both products 4.9 stars, and the cost per pill is a fraction of what the name brands charge.

Cost: $12.23–$15.98 ($0.03–$0.04 per pill)

Rating: 4.9 / 5.0

3. Member’s Mark Super Premium 2-Ply Paper Towels

While I’ve started relying more on washable towels than paper ones, some jobs simply require a good paper towel. The Member’s Mark select-and-tear option performs well while costing less than $0.01 per towel. (And in case you’re wondering, the name-brand Bounty towels cost more than twice as much — and they only have 4.6 stars.)

Cost: $19.98 ($0.008 per sheet)

Rating: 4.9 / 5.0

4. Member’s Mark Natural Shelled Walnuts

Walnuts are a delicious snack and an excellent addition to baked goods, but they have one major drawback: They’re expensive! Member’s Mark walnuts are a reasonable price, and I think they taste pretty good, too. I’m not alone, either; they have a couple thousand reviews giving them a total rating of 4.8 stars. In fact, you can find a variety of whole nuts under the Member’s Mark brand, all of which seem to be fairly well reviewed.

Cost: $7.98 ($0.17 per ounce)

Rating: 4.8 / 5.0

5. Member’s Mark Coffee Single-Serve Cups

Coffee pods are undeniably convenient, but those little 12-count boxes from the grocery store can be ridiculously expensive. Member’s Mark makes five different types of single-serve coffee pods, all of which have at least 4.7 stars (the French Roast edges out the rest with 4.8 stars). They also have a completely reasonable cost of just $0.28 per cup.

Cost: $27.98 ($0.28 per cup)

Rating: 4.7 / 5.0

6. Member’s Mark Premium Chunk Chicken Breast

Chicken is one of the most versatile ingredients around, and a quality canned version means you always have it on hand. Use it for salads, soups, and even quesadillas for quick and easy meals. While I haven’t tried this one myself, Member’s Mark chunk chicken breast has more than 8,500 five-star reviews and an overall 4.7-star rating.

Cost: $12.84 ($2.14 per can)

Rating: 4.7 / 5.0

7. Member’s Mark Batteries

For every new rechargeable device you can purchase, there are still two more electronics that seem to require an endless stream of batteries. (Why do TV remotes eat batteries so fast?!) Member’s Mark sells big packs of both AA and AAA batteries for less than $0.50 a battery. And they seem to work well; a few thousand reviewers have given both battery types a total rating of 4.7 stars each.

Cost: $21.48 ($0.50 per battery)

Rating: 4.9 / 5.0

Tip of the bargain iceberg

Provided the quantities don’t overwhelm your pantry, there are a ton of deals to be had at Sam’s Club, especially on Member’s Mark items. But there are other perks to a Sam’s Club membership worth mentioning. For instance, if you have a Plus membership, you also get free shipping and free store pickup, and Scan & Go, which lets you cut the checkout line (it’s truly revolutionary).

Then there’s also the fact that you don’t have to worry about which credit card you’re using (I’m looking at you, Costco). While Sam’s Club, like Costco, won’t code as groceries on your credit card bill, you can still get some good credit card rewards with the right card. Since you’re already getting a bargain on prices, that extra bit of savings from your rewards is icing on the proverbial cake.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Brittney Myers has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Banking online is convenient. But read to see why not having access to a physical bank could be a hassle. 

These days, many Americans are opting to do their banking online. And it’s easy to see why.

If your bank has a user-friendly app, you can do things like pay bills or move money from checking to your savings account with ease. And doing all of those things digitally can be a huge time saver.

But despite the convenience of online banking, many consumers still prefer physical banks. In fact, according to a recent survey by UserTesting, 83% of respondents said they prefer traditional banks over online banks. The main reason? They want the option to speak to a bank teller in person rather than have to access customer service over the phone or via chat.

But not having access to face-to-face customer service isn’t the only drawback of only banking online. There are some other things you might miss out on, too.

Notary services

There may come a point when you need to get a document notarized. If you’re starting a small business, for example, you may need certain legal or incorporation documents notarized to get that venture off the ground.

When you bank at a brick-and-mortar establishment, you generally get access to a notary — and often, for free. If you only bank online, you might need to hunt down a notary when you need one and then pay them a fee for their service.

Safe deposit boxes

You may have certain documents you want to keep in a secure location, like the deed to your house or a copy of your will. The upside of having an account at a physical bank is that you’ll generally have the option to open a safe deposit box there.

Granted, you’ll usually be charged a fee for that service, but it’s an option nonetheless. If you only bank online, you might struggle to find a secure place to house important documents. (Do note that in many cases, you need an account at a given bank to be able to open a safe deposit box there, though that may not always be the case.)

Easy access to ATMs

Online banks generally give customers access to a network of ATMs. After all, you need some way to be able to withdraw cash when you need it.

But if you only bank online, you may find that it’s difficult to find an ATM that’s convenient to where you live or work. And if you’re forced to withdraw money from an ATM outside of your bank’s network, you can expect to pay a fee for the privilege of taking out your money.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with banking online. Quite the contrary — if you’re a busy person with a packed schedule, you might strongly benefit from the convenience of being able to manage your money with an app rather than have to go to the bank all the time. But you may want to consider opening a bank account at a brick-and-mortar establishment in addition to banking online. That way, you get the best of both worlds.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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