Sam’s Club Drops Its Membership Fee to $15 — and Now Even Costco Fans Are Tempted

If you've been thinking of joining a membership-only warehouse club, now is the time to act—and grab a seriously discounted Sam's Club membership. Sam's Club's main competitor, Costco, is raising membership prices, and in response, Sam's Club is offering a limited-time offer for new members.

The regularly priced annual membership is $50, but if you join before Sept. 27, you'll get a price of just $15. 

Joining now and implementing the best Sam's Club hacks can make that $15 instantly worth it in savings. Check out the top 10 discount buys that Sam's Club members say make it worth joining. 

Price: $39.98

These Member's Mark Decorative Handwoven Storage Baskets come in a pack of four in either black or grey depending on what you need for your home.

You can get similar woven storage baskets at Target, but they'll cost you $15 for one, making a four-pack cost $60.

Price: $15.98

No party is complete without cupcakes, and you can get enough to feed the whole crowd at Sam's Club with a 30-count Member's Mark package of chocolate and vanilla cupcakes

At just over fifty cents per cupcake, you'll save a bundle compared to the 12 mini cupcakes for $4.79 at Target. You'll end up with 36 mini cupcakes for the same price as 30 regular-sized at Sam's Club.

Price: $17.98

Meatballs are a great appetizer for a party or an easy meal with some spaghetti, and they cost around 19 cents per ounce at Sam's Club.

Target also has Italian-style meatballs under its Good and Gather label for $5.99 or 23 cents per ounce, so you may want to let those meatballs roll on by.

Price: $19.98

Member's Mark Cotton Gauze 2-Pack Pillows come in a variety of colors with each one measuring 22 inches by 22 inches.

Target carries similar-sized pillows, but a two-pack will cost you more than $70 for the pair.

Price: $10.48

Enjoy delicious caramels encased in milk chocolate and sprinkled with sea salt in a 36-ounce container from your local Sam's Club.

Walmart, which also owns Sam's Club, has the same exact caramels for sale at Walmart.com, but they'll run you $30.30.

Price: $4.98

Start your morning off right with a blueberry muffin from Sam's Club that features plenty of blueberries and is sure to keep you going all day.

Blueberry muffins are also on the shelves at Walmart and for a dollar less too, but the $3.98 muffins come in a pack of four and not six muffins. That makes them more expensive per muffin than the Sam's Club version.

Price: $23.98

Salmon is a healthy fish option that you can cook with different toppings or toss on your grill in the summer. It's also easy to grab when you have a two-pound bag from Sam's Club.

You can also get Alaskan Sockeye Salmon at Target for $12.99 for one pound, making it $2 cheaper at Sam's Club than at Target.

Price: $13.98

Always be prepared for the pool or the beach with a Sam's Club two-pack of Member's Mark towels for kids in a variety of prints. You're bound to find something they like.

Compare that to a Licensed Character Beach Towel, which you can also get at Sam's Club for $11.98 — but that's only for one towel.

Price: $11.98

It's time to party, and you'll know your guests have plenty to drink when you buy 264 clear plastic 9-ounce cups at Sam's Club for 4.5 cents per cup.

Walmart also has the 9-ounce cups but in a pack of 100, which costs you 4.7 cents per cup or $4.68 for the pack.

It may be a better idea to get the bigger pack and make sure your friends and family are well-hydrated at your next party.

Price: $10.98

There's nothing quite like an apple pie, and you can get a big 72-ounce version at Sam's Club.

You could try an apple pie at Walmart, but the Freshness Guaranteed Apple Pie comes in a 24-ounce version for $5.87.

You would have to spend $17.61 to get the same amount of pie at Walmart as you would at Sam's Club for almost $7 less.

If you love bulk deals, the $15 membership price promotion combined with Sam's Club versions of products will help you save money on everyday essentials.

Don't forget to make a list before you start shopping to help you stick to your budget and save money on groceries and other items when you shop.