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Dave Ramsey Says Shoppers Should Always Buy These Costco and Sam's Club Items

9 bulk buys that could help keep everyday expenses in check.

By Amanda Machado , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated Sept. 4, 2026

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For households trying to save money on groceries, a warehouse club membership is most useful when it helps lower the cost of things already on the shopping list. That becomes especially important for retirees and pre-retirees watching recurring expenses, since everyday necessities such as toiletries, paper products, and pantry staples tend to show up month after month.

Personal-finance personality Dave Ramsey has offered a straightforward approach to Costco and Sam's Club shopping by telling people to focus on products that get used regularly, keep well, and are often sold in quantities large enough to produce meaningful per-unit savings.

Dave's list provides a useful starting point for deciding what belongs in the oversized shopping cart.

Paper goods

Toilet paper and paper towels rank among the more practical warehouse-club purchases because they are household staples with relatively long shelf lives. Buying a large package also means fewer trips to the store.

Current Costco listings, for example, show multi-roll packages of Kirkland Signature bath tissue and paper towels, though prices fluctuate.

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Toiletries

Shampoo, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, and similar toiletries fit Ramsey's bulk-buying philosophy particularly well. These products generally get used consistently and don't require much storage beyond a closet or cabinet.

The key is sticking with products the household already uses rather than buying a large package simply because the per-unit price looks appealing.

Dental-care supplies

Dental floss and replacement heads for electric toothbrushes are another example of supplies that make more sense in multiples than some other personal-care purchases. They have relatively long useful lives and are routinely replaced.

Warehouse packages are also priced more favorably per-unit cost compared with most pharmacies or supermarkets.

Batteries

Batteries are another nonperishable household essential that Ramsey includes among his warehouse-club picks. For households that regularly use them in remotes, clocks, flashlights, or other devices, buying a larger package may reduce the cost of replacing them one set at a time.

Checking expiration dates and storage space are still worthwhile before stocking up, even with batteries, for leakage or less power.

Canned goods

Canned foods fit the same basic formula for Ramsey, because they are shelf-stable, regularly used, and often available in multipacks.

Rather than treating the warehouse club as a place to build an enormous pantry, Ramsey believes that shoppers should focus on canned vegetables, soups, or other products already appearing regularly on the grocery list. That keeps bulk buying purposeful.

Rice

Rice is one of the more straightforward pantry staples to consider buying in larger quantities. Properly stored, uncooked rice generally keeps for a considerable period, making it less risky than purchasing a large amount of a highly perishable food.

The savings, however, should still be measured against your local grocery-store sales before assuming the warehouse price is lowest.

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Dried beans

Dried beans offer another shelf-stable option that works with Ramsey's basic rule. They take up relatively little space compared with their prepared volume and may serve as an inexpensive ingredient for soups, stews and other meals.

Larger packages make the most sense for households that already cook with beans regularly rather than for occasional use.

Cereal

Cereal is another item Ramsey has identified as a reasonable bulk purchase, especially for households that go through it quickly.

The calculation is less straightforward than you might think, though. A warehouse package is only a bargain if the cereal gets eaten before its quality declines and the per-ounce price beats a supermarket sale or coupon.

Gum

Gum might seem like an unusual addition to a list of financially sensible warehouse purchases, but it follows the same logic. Someone who regularly buys it may get better value from a larger package than from repeatedly purchasing smaller packs at convenience stores or other retailers.

For occasional gum buyers, however, the bulk option may just leave you with unused and stale gum that you don't get through.

The bigger lesson is not to buy in bulk just to save

The most important part of Ramsey's advice may actually be the warning attached to the list. A warehouse club is not automatically cheaper simply because it sells larger packages. Grocery stores and pharmacies frequently run promotions, and manufacturer coupons or store discounts may narrow or erase the warehouse-club advantage.

That matters even more for a smaller household. Buying a huge package of something that sits unused is not a savings strategy. The better approach is to compare the unit price, consider how quickly the household uses the product, and purchase only an amount that fits comfortably within the budget and storage space.

Bottom line

Ramsey's warehouse-club recommendations to unlock the true value of your membership are less about filling a cart and more about being selective. Paper products, toiletries, dental supplies, batteries, and shelf-stable foods share one useful trait, because they tend to be consumed gradually rather than immediately. That makes them better candidates for bulk purchasing than many fresh or impulse items.

Membership costs also deserve consideration. Costco currently lists its Gold Star membership at $65 annually, while Sam's Club lists its standard Club membership at $60 outside promotional offers. The practical test is whether the savings on purchases you would make anyway justify that expense.

These are sensible starting points based on Ramsey's guidance, not guarantees, and they should be treated as general money guidance rather than personalized financial advice.

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