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When Costco raised the cost of its membership fees in September, it wasn’t particularly surprising. The warehouse club titan was overdue for an increase seeing as how it hadn’t made any changes to its fee structure since mid-2017.

As a result of that September fee hike, a Costco membership now costs considerably more than a membership at Sam’s Club. At Costco, you’ll pay $65 a year for a basic Gold Star membership and $130 for an Executive membership that gives you 2% cash back on purchases.

At Sam’s Club, a basic membership costs $50 per year, while a Plus membership that pays cash back costs $110. Plus, Sam’s Club offers a few benefits for Plus members that Executive members at Costco don’t get, like free curbside pickup and early shopping hours.

But since Sam’s Club hasn’t raised fees recently, you may be wondering whether you should brace for an increase in 2025. The answer? While a fee hike is technically possible next year, it’s also not likely to happen.

Don’t stress about paying more for Sam’s Club just yet

The current membership fee structure at Sam’s Club was put in place in August of 2022, when the cost of a basic membership rose from $45 to $50 and the cost of a Plus membership rose from $100 to $110. But prior to the summer of 2022, Sam’s Club hadn’t raised the cost of a membership for nine years.

Based on this, it’s very unlikely that we’ll see an increase in membership costs in 2025. That would most likely result in backlash on the part of Sam’s Club members. Also, it would bring the cost of a Sam’s Club membership even closer to the cost of joining Costco, thereby causing Sam’s Club to lose that distinction (and, in turn, potentially lose members).

Are you making the most of your Sam’s Club membership?

Chances are, Sam’s Club won’t raise its membership fees in 2025. But even if those fees stay the same, it’s important to make sure you’re getting great value out of your membership.

To that end, ask yourself how often you’re buying groceries in bulk and how often you’re actually using up what you buy. If you find that you keep throwing bulk perishables away, then it may be time to cancel your membership at Sam’s Club and do your food shopping at a regular supermarket.

Hunting for sales at a traditional supermarket and using the right credit card could help you make up for the savings on groceries you may be enjoying at Sam’s Club — only without having to commit to bulk hauls every time you buy food. Click here for a list of the best credit cards for groceries.

Similarly, if you’re a Sam’s Club member, you’ll want to ask yourself how often you’re taking advantage of the store’s other benefits, which include low-cost gas, free hearing tests, and home improvement services.

There’s a good chance that in time, a Sam’s Club membership will get more expensive. You probably don’t have to worry about that happening in the coming year. But it’s also a good idea to assess your membership and make sure it’s actually worth paying for, no matter what it costs you.

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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.