EBT card holders can save by shopping at membership clubs Leave a comment
Electronic Benefits Transfer (“EBT”) cardholders can make their EBT benefits stretch farther by shopping at Membership Clubs rather than their local grocery stores. Membership clubs carry fewer higher-quality items in higher volumes which allows them to generate savings. In addition, membership clubs make the majority of their profits from the low annual fee rather than from profits from the sale of goods. A recent survey by AARP showed that EBT cardholders would save over 15% if they purchased groceries at a membership club rather than at a grocery store. Over one year, membership club shoppers would be able to purchase 120% more groceries than by shopping at the local grocery store. Based upon average EBT benefits of $189 per person per month, this would result in $340.20 in savings per year per person.
| Food | Sam’s Club Unit Price | BJ’s Unit Price | Costco Unit Price |
| Baked beans (per pound) | $1.36 | $1.34 | $1.28 |
| Bananas (per pound) | $0.49 | $0.50 | $0.50 |
| Beef round top roast (per pound) | $4.98 | $5.39 | $5.99 |
| Caesar salad kit (per bag) | $3.80 | $3.69 | $5.99 |
| Chicken noodle soup (per pound) | $1.62 | $1.62 | $1.46 |
| Chocolate chip cookies (pounds) | $0.42 | $0.42 | $0.42 |
| Eggs (24 pack) | $1.67 | $2.80 | $2.50 |
| Ground beef (per pound) | $4.18 | $3.99 | $3.99 |
| Jelly (per pound) | $1.33 | $1.52 | $1.52 |
| Ketchup (per pound) | $1.34 | $1.55 | $1.58 |
| Margarine (2/30oz tubs) | $1.54 | $2.27 | $1.95 |
| Marinara sauce (per pound) | $1.07 | $1.31 | $3.97 |
| Mayo (per pound) | $4.99 | $4.75 | $4.75 |
| Milk (per gallon) | $0.83 | $0.91 | $0.92 |
| Mixed berries (3lbs) | $2.40 | $5.33 | $4.23 |
| Orange juice (per quart) | $1.78 | $1.90 | $2.23 |
| Pasta (per pound) | $1.42 | $1.44 | $1.25 |
| Peanut butter (per pound) | $1.72 | $1.92 | $1.83 |
| Pretzels (per pound) | $4.04 | $5.09 | $5.14 |
| Red bell peppers (each) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.00 |
| Rice (per pound) | $0.70 | $0.56 | $0.05 |
| Rotisserie chicken (per pound) | $1.66 | $2.80 | $1.66 |
| Shredded cheese (2/16oz bags) | $2.94 | $5.00 | $2.66 |
| Sparkling flavored seltzer (per quart) | $1.67 | $1.96 | $1.69 |
| Total | $68.94 | $81.33 | $81.60 |
| Tuna (per pound) | $5.20 | $3.20 | $5.14 |
| Vanilla ice cream (per pound) | $1.40 | $3.00 | $3.78 |
| Water (48 pack) | $0.45 | $0.59 | $0.19 |
| White bread sliced (2 24oz loaves) | $2.05 | $3.50 | $1.95 |
| Wild salmon filets (per pound) | $10.98 | $11.99 | $11.99 |
Source: BJ’s, Costco, Sam’s Club