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[[{“value”:”Image source: The Motley Fool/Unsplash
I prefer a balanced approach when I make a budget, cutting back where I can but with room to spend a little more on the things I enjoy most. This philosophy is something my family applies to everything we purchase, including our household essentials.Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. When we like a brand-name product better, we go with that. When the store brand is better, we’re happy to stick with the cheaper option.I keep my Sam’s Club membership in large part because Member’s Mark items often provide the best of both worlds. Not only do we save money, but we also simply like the products as much as — or even more than — the brand names we’re replacing. Here are a few examples.1. Member’s Mark aluminum foilWe became dedicated Member’s Mark aluminum foil fans during our Summer of Smoke and Ribs. We especially love the Member’s Mark Heavy Duty Foodservice Foil, which is extra wide and easily enrobed our ribs without tearing or leaking.The rolls are long enough (500 feet!) that we didn’t need to buy a new roll every weekend. And, happily, the price is just right. We save $0.03 a square foot over buying the brand name at Sam’s Club, and almost $0.10 per square foot over the grocery store:ItemSourcePrice per Sq. Ft.Member’s Mark Heavy Duty Foil 18″Sam’s Club$0.040Reynolds Wrap Heavy Duty 18″ Aluminum FoilSam’s Club$0.067Reynolds Wrap Heavy Duty 18″ Aluminum FoilPrice Chopper$0.135Data sources: Sam’s Club, Price ChopperPro tip: To credit card issuers, Sam’s Club is a warehouse club, not a grocery store. Make sure you’re using a cash back rewards card with the right bonus categories to maximize your Sam’s Club purchases.2. Member’s Mark facial tissuesWe were a very dedicated Kleenex house for many years before we joined Sam’s Club and started exploring the Member’s Mark alternatives. Now, I can confidently say we unanimously prefer the Member’s Mark tissues over any other brand we’ve tried.Our tip-top pick is the Member’s Mark Ultra Premium 3-ply because they just feel the best on your face/nose. For everyday use, though, the Member’s Mark 2-ply tissues are excellent (we have boxes in most rooms of the house).How much you might save will depend on what kind of tissues you typically buy. We buy a combo of the 3-ply, which is more expensive than some Kleenex options, and the 2-ply, which is cheaper than all but the lowest-tier Kleenex at Sam’s Club:ItemPriceTissues Per BoxPrice per TissueMember’s Mark Ultra Soft 3-Ply Facial Tissues$13.9880$0.015Kleenex Lotion 3-Ply Facial Tissues$17.48120$0.012Kleenex Anti-Viral 3-Ply Facial Tissues$16.7455$0.025Member’s Mark 2-Ply Facial Tissues$14.98160$0.011Kleenex Trusted Care 2-ply Facial Tissues$17.94200$0.009Data source: Sam’s ClubIt’s worth noting here that these are all Sam’s Club prices. If you normally buy tissues at the grocery or big box store, you’re likely going to save a ton. My local grocer charges more for the 2-ply Kleenex than I pay for my 3-ply Member’s Mark tissues!3. Member’s Mark parchment paperWe do a lot of cooking and baking in our house, so having parchment paper on hand is a must. I’ve been using Member’s Mark parchment paper exclusively for many years now, and it’s gotten me through many holiday cookie seasons.The quality of the paper is top-notch. I rarely have issues with it, it cuts well off the roll, and the rolls are wide enough to cover a half sheet pan without issue. Plus, the length of each roll means I can get at least a couple of years from one package (I’m a fan of anything that means I shop less).I’m also saving a ton. Even if I were to buy a name brand at Sam’s Club, I’d still pay less than half for my Member’s Mark. And it’s roughly a third of what I’d pay at the grocery store:ItemSourcePrice per Sq. Ft.Member’s Mark Unbleached Parchment PaperSam’s Club$0.035Member’s Mark Parchment PaperSam’s Club$0.038Reynolds Kitchens Pop-Up Parchment Paper SheetsSam’s Club$0.085Reynolds Parchment PaperPrice Chopper$0.102Data sources: Sam’s Club, Price ChopperIt’s time to give Member’s Mark a tryI held off on trying Member’s Mark for a while because I’ve been burned by store brands before. But I can tell you from years of actual experience that many Member’s Mark products are absolutely the good-quality brand-name replacements you’ve been after.Plus, with Sam’s Club’s excellent return policy, if you’re not happy with something, you can always just take it back!Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. 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.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.”}]] [[{“value”:”

Image source: The Motley Fool/Unsplash

I prefer a balanced approach when I make a budget, cutting back where I can but with room to spend a little more on the things I enjoy most. This philosophy is something my family applies to everything we purchase, including our household essentials.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

When we like a brand-name product better, we go with that. When the store brand is better, we’re happy to stick with the cheaper option.

I keep my Sam’s Club membership in large part because Member’s Mark items often provide the best of both worlds. Not only do we save money, but we also simply like the products as much as — or even more than — the brand names we’re replacing. Here are a few examples.

1. Member’s Mark aluminum foil

We became dedicated Member’s Mark aluminum foil fans during our Summer of Smoke and Ribs. We especially love the Member’s Mark Heavy Duty Foodservice Foil, which is extra wide and easily enrobed our ribs without tearing or leaking.

The rolls are long enough (500 feet!) that we didn’t need to buy a new roll every weekend. And, happily, the price is just right. We save $0.03 a square foot over buying the brand name at Sam’s Club, and almost $0.10 per square foot over the grocery store:

ItemSourcePrice per Sq. Ft.Member’s Mark Heavy Duty Foil 18″Sam’s Club$0.040Reynolds Wrap Heavy Duty 18″ Aluminum FoilSam’s Club$0.067Reynolds Wrap Heavy Duty 18″ Aluminum FoilPrice Chopper$0.135
Data sources: Sam’s Club, Price Chopper

Pro tip: To credit card issuers, Sam’s Club is a warehouse club, not a grocery store. Make sure you’re using a cash back rewards card with the right bonus categories to maximize your Sam’s Club purchases.

2. Member’s Mark facial tissues

We were a very dedicated Kleenex house for many years before we joined Sam’s Club and started exploring the Member’s Mark alternatives. Now, I can confidently say we unanimously prefer the Member’s Mark tissues over any other brand we’ve tried.

Our tip-top pick is the Member’s Mark Ultra Premium 3-ply because they just feel the best on your face/nose. For everyday use, though, the Member’s Mark 2-ply tissues are excellent (we have boxes in most rooms of the house).

How much you might save will depend on what kind of tissues you typically buy. We buy a combo of the 3-ply, which is more expensive than some Kleenex options, and the 2-ply, which is cheaper than all but the lowest-tier Kleenex at Sam’s Club:

ItemPriceTissues Per BoxPrice per TissueMember’s Mark Ultra Soft 3-Ply Facial Tissues$13.9880$0.015Kleenex Lotion 3-Ply Facial Tissues$17.48120$0.012Kleenex Anti-Viral 3-Ply Facial Tissues$16.7455$0.025Member’s Mark 2-Ply Facial Tissues$14.98160$0.011Kleenex Trusted Care 2-ply Facial Tissues$17.94200$0.009
Data source: Sam’s Club

It’s worth noting here that these are all Sam’s Club prices. If you normally buy tissues at the grocery or big box store, you’re likely going to save a ton. My local grocer charges more for the 2-ply Kleenex than I pay for my 3-ply Member’s Mark tissues!

3. Member’s Mark parchment paper

We do a lot of cooking and baking in our house, so having parchment paper on hand is a must. I’ve been using Member’s Mark parchment paper exclusively for many years now, and it’s gotten me through many holiday cookie seasons.

The quality of the paper is top-notch. I rarely have issues with it, it cuts well off the roll, and the rolls are wide enough to cover a half sheet pan without issue. Plus, the length of each roll means I can get at least a couple of years from one package (I’m a fan of anything that means I shop less).

I’m also saving a ton. Even if I were to buy a name brand at Sam’s Club, I’d still pay less than half for my Member’s Mark. And it’s roughly a third of what I’d pay at the grocery store:

ItemSourcePrice per Sq. Ft.Member’s Mark Unbleached Parchment PaperSam’s Club$0.035Member’s Mark Parchment PaperSam’s Club$0.038Reynolds Kitchens Pop-Up Parchment Paper SheetsSam’s Club$0.085Reynolds Parchment PaperPrice Chopper$0.102
Data sources: Sam’s Club, Price Chopper

It’s time to give Member’s Mark a try

I held off on trying Member’s Mark for a while because I’ve been burned by store brands before. But I can tell you from years of actual experience that many Member’s Mark products are absolutely the good-quality brand-name replacements you’ve been after.

Plus, with Sam’s Club’s excellent return policy, if you’re not happy with something, you can always just take it back!

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

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.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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