Image source: Upsplash/The Motley Fool

The point of joining a warehouse club is to save money on everyday essentials, like groceries and cleaning supplies. But since warehouse club memberships aren’t free, most people would probably be inclined to only pay for one at a time.

If you have access to Costco and Sam’s Club, you might assume that you should pick one over the other. And if cost is your primary factor, Sam’s Club wins in that regard.

Both Costco and Sam’s Club offer a basic membership and a higher-cost membership that gives you cash back on your purchases. At Costco, a basic Gold Star membership costs $65 a year, while an Executive membership costs $130. At Sam’s Club, a basic membership is $50 a year, while a Plus membership costs $110.

But there are also some differences between Costco and Sam’s Club, like the inventory they carry and the other benefits they offer. So in some cases, it could pay to join both at the same time. Here are a few scenarios where having more than one warehouse club membership makes sense.

1. When one is more convenient but the other stocks an essential item you need

Convenience should be a big factor in deciding which warehouse club store to frequent. It pays to buy groceries at Costco or Sam’s Club for the bulk discounts. And it also pays to fill up your car at Costco or Sam’s Club for the cheap gas (and Costco’s happens to be TOP TIER™-certified, as a bonus).

But since groceries and gas are expenses you cover every week, you need easy access to those purchases. So let’s say the closest Sam’s Club is seven minutes away, but Costco is a 25-minute drive. Clearly, Sam’s club wins on convenience.

But it may be that only Costco stocks the infant formula you use in bulk, or the pet food your dog enjoys. In that case, it could pay to maintain both memberships so you get easy access to gas and groceries, but also get access to savings on a few specific products you buy all the time.

Remember, you can join Costco at the basic level for only $65. Even if you only buy the same two products there, if that saves you $10 a month, then in the course of a year, you’re paying $120 less for those items. When you subtract the $65 membership fee, you’re still ahead by $55.

And you can also eke out savings at Costco by using the right credit card when you shop there. Click here for a list of the best credit cards for Costco purchases.

2. When one store is located near your office and the other is closer to where you live

Some people prefer to run errands on weekends, when they don’t have to juggle with work-related deadlines. Other people like to get their errands done on the way home from work.

If you fall into both camps, then it could pay to join both Costco and Sam’s Club if one store is close to your office and the other is a quick drive from your home. This gives you the option to shop at your convenience without feeling as if you have to go out of your way when it doesn’t work for you.

3. When one is your go-to option but the other has one-time deals you want to capitalize on

It may be that Sam’s Club is your most convenient shopping option due to its location and hours. But you may find that Costco has better one-off deals you want to enjoy.

In that situation, joining both warehouse clubs could make sense. Even if you only make a single purchase at the one you shop at rarely, it may be that you’re able to save $100 or more on a specific laptop, TV, or other item for your home. As long as you’re saving more than the cost of your membership, joining makes sense.

And also, you never know what deals one warehouse club store might offer in the future that the other doesn’t. So if you can afford to pay for both Costco and Sam’s Club at the same time, you’ll be giving yourself more options. However, in that case, you probably want to stick with a basic membership for the store that isn’t your go-to.

It takes $3,250 in annual Costco spending and $3,000 in annual Sam’s Club spending to recoup the cost of an upgraded membership. If you’re only joining for one-off purchases, you may not hit these thresholds.

It doesn’t always pay to spend money on warehouse club access to two different chains. But under the right circumstances, it’s not a bad idea to have a Costco and Sam’s Club membership at the same time.

Top credit card to use at Costco (and everywhere else!)

We love versatile credit cards that offer huge rewards everywhere, including Costco! This card is a standout among America’s favorite credit cards because it offers perhaps the easiest $200 cash bonus you could ever earn and an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, even when you shop at Costco.

Add on the competitive 0% interest period and it’s no wonder we awarded this card Best No Annual Fee Credit Card.

Click here to read our full review for free and apply before the $200 welcome bonus offer ends!

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.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Maurie Backman 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.