14 Sam's Club Items I Never Thought I'd Buy (But Now I Always Do)

We all know the usual ways to save money at Sam's Club: rotisserie chicken, canned goods, pantry essentials, and dairy products. But once you look beyond the usual suspects, you'll discover the true worth of your membership because the deals just keep coming — even from unexpected places.

The following are some of my favorite items that you might not think about when you're rushing through the aisles, checking off your shopping list. But once you try them, like me, you'll be sold on Sam's Club's quality and price.

Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.

Price: $25.18

If you're skipping Sam's Club sushi, you're missing out. Sam's Club employs its own sushi chef. The sushi is delicious and so much cheaper than you'll ever find in a restaurant (or even other grocery stores).

The party platter has 44 pieces, including California, spicy California, tempura shrimp, and California crunch rolls, as well as four pieces of ebi shrimp nigiri — enough to feed the family.

Price: $4.98 (on sale from $7.48)

You might not think of the spice rack as a place to save on groceries at Sam's Club, but because you're buying spices and seasonings in bulk, you get great savings.

For instance, you'd pay around $0.73 per ounce at the grocery store for Montreal steak seasoning, but Sam's Club's original price is just $0.26 per ounce — only a third of the price!

Price: $5.78

Ground beef under $6 a pound is tough to find in general these days, let alone the organic, grass-fed variety.

Sam's Club is famous for its quality meats, so you can rest assured this beef has high-quality nutrition and taste, all for cheaper than you can get elsewhere, where the price per pound is typically higher.

Price: $14.97

Medicine isn't cheap, but it's a lot more so when you buy it in bulk. For example, cetirizine (the generic for Zyrtec over-the-counter allergy medication) is only $0.04 each when you buy it at Sam's versus $0.21 each when you buy it at Walmart.

Sam's over-the-counter inventory includes many common over-the-counter medicines like cough syrup, ibuprofen, vitamins, and more.

Price: Varies

While Sam's scan-and-go option makes it easy to get in and out of the store quickly, don't leave before you gas up.

Sam's Club gas is anywhere from $0.05 to $0.50 cheaper than gas elsewhere. If you gas up at Sam's regularly, this can easily justify the cost of a yearly membership.

Price: Varies

Sam's Club offers most of your usual tire brands: Michelin, Firestone, Goodyear, etc. The prices alone are similar to what you'd pay elsewhere, but there are frequent discounts of $70-$100 if you buy all four tires at once.

Sam's Club Plus members also get half off tire installation ($40). The tires come with four-year hazard protection and roadside assistance, as well as free lifetime balance, rotation, and flat repair.

Price: $13.98

Sam's has some of the lowest prices on nuts you'll find anywhere — even compared to Costco and specialty online retailers. These flavorful nuts are lightly salted with sea salt and make a great, healthy snack to keep in your pantry.

Price: $3.98

We love refillable bottles the most, but when you need disposable bottled water, shop at Sam's Club to pay as little as possible.

Compared to Costco, Walmart, Kroger, and just about everywhere else, Sam's Club comes in at the lowest price per bottle. And there's not much of a quality distinction—it's just water.

Price: $9.98

If you love ketchup but loathe high fructose corn syrup, Heinz has this recipe just for you. It's made with cane sugar instead, and Sam's Club has it at under $5 for each huge 44-ounce bottle.

Sam's Club only allows you to buy two bottles at a time, whereas Costco requires you to buy three at a higher price.

Price: $7.98

Many people buy almond butter to prevent allergic reactions to peanut butter, but this creamy stuff doesn't need to replace the Skippy to earn a place in your cupboard.

With a slightly sweet yet salty flavor (with no sugar added), almond butter is great for toast, sandwiches, treats, or by the spoonful. Sam's prices are similar to those in the grocery store, but you get a lot more butter for your buck at the warehouse.

Price: $2.72

When you're making a salad for a crowd, this bagged mix is a must-have. Other bagged salads usually cost more, and you have to pick up multiple bags to get anywhere near enough. Sam's solves both these issues by offering this two-pound bag of lettuce, carrots, and cabbage for just over $2.

Price: $9.98

Don't let the label on the bag fool you — these precooked chicken strips are great in just about everything and seriously reduce the cooking time of your meals. It comes out to about $2.50 per pound; it's hard even to get raw chicken at that price, let alone perfectly seasoned, cooked, and ready-to-heat-and-eat meat. It's a great way to save money on groceries and make a variety of meals throughout the week. 

Price: $3.08

You may not have realized that Sam's Club even sells ice. If you have the space in your freezer for 16 pounds of it, it's the same price as you'd get for 10 pounds at the gas station — perfect for keeping large coolers of drinks cold during summer barbeques.

Price: $16.98

If you use Cascade dishwasher tabs, Sam's Club has one of the best deals around. These tabs work out to be just $0.18 each (or $0.28 if you opt for the premium variety); the best you're likely to get at other retailers is around $0.27 each.

Unlike most food items, you don't have to worry about buying dishwasher pods in bulk because they don't go bad.

A Sam's Club membership is a gift that keeps on giving. Not only can you save on everyday essentials, but you can also get extras you may not have thought about, like killer deals on tires, sushi platters, and gas, at a reasonable price.

Sam's Club warehouses and memberships lure us with some of the common gems, like $5 rotisserie chicken and great deals on bulk pantry staples, but rest assured that there are still treasured finds waiting to be discovered.