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Some warehouse clubs are raising fees. Sam’s Club cut its membership fee to $15 in September
This content is sponsored by Sam’s Club.
Sam’s Club
While some warehouse clubs have raised their yearly membership rates in September, Sam’s Club has a deal that’ll save you up to $60 when you sign up for a new membership this month.
Now through Sept. 27, 2024, Sam’s Club is offering standard memberships for just $15 for your first year, reduced from $50. Sam’s Club Plus memberships are an even better deal — they’re just $50 for your first year, reduced from $110. (We recommend the Sam’s Club Plus membership because it offers 2% Sam’s Cash back on your Sam’s Club purchases.)
When you consider that Sam’s Club recently made a number of upgrades to its membership tiers just last month, there’s never been a better time to join as a new member. Grab this limited-time membership deal by tapping the buttons below. Then read on to learn about all the new limited-time-only September offers you can take advantage of once you’re a member.
Earn up to $170 in Sam’s Club Cash and savings in September
There are so many new offers at Sam’s Club in September that we wanted to organize them all here for your convenience. Tap the links below to read more about each of these offers that interest you, or just scroll down and read them all. Don’t worry about having to pick and choose — you can score all the offers below you meet the eligibility requirements for.
Get a Sam’s Club membership starting at $15
We’re huge fans of Sam’s Club here at CBS Essentials. The retailer offers just about all the name-brand groceries and home essentials your family needs at great prices — it’s a smart way to keep your summer food budget in check. Buying in bulk is convenient too, especially when it comes to things you don’t want to run out of, like paper towels and toilet paper. And, of course, we love the Sam’s Club Café, which offers a quarter-pound hot dog and a 30-ounce soda for just $1.38.
There are a lot of lesser-known benefits to a Sam’s Club membership as well. Did you know you can save big on tires (and have them installed)? Did you Sam’s Club can fill prescriptions for you, with some generics free for Sam’s Club Plus members? And did you know that Sam’s Club has a ton of gift card deals, which means a Sam’s Club membership can save you money at other stores you shop at?
Sam’s Club memberships normally cost $50 per year. Now through Sept. 27, 2024, you can get a Sam’s Club membership for just $15. Sign up and you can start saving money immediately. Terms apply. See the Sam’s Club site for more details.
Why we like Sam’s Club memberships:
- The warehouse giant offers bulk pricing on many popular household and grocery items, plus members-only pricing on tech and appliances.
- There are so many trendy Sam’s Club finds for your family to discover on every shopping trip, including social media-famous snacks.
- Sam’s Club offers travel deals, a car-buying program, plus pharmacy, tire, optical and photo centers.
- Sam’s Club members get access to the chain’s gas stations, which typically offer gasoline at prices lower than competing nearby stations.
- Sam’s Club offers discounts on gift cards from many of your favorite retailers.
You can find your local Sam’s Club location (and Sam’s Club Fuel Center) using the club finder tool on the Sam’s Club website.
Join Sam’s Club Plus for $50
The warehouse retailer also has a deal for customers who want to become Sam’s Club Plus members and earn Sam’s Cash on club purchases. Sam’s Club Plus is normally $110 per year, but right now, new members can get a Sam’s Club Plus membership for $50. This deal is available through Sept. 27, 2024 for new members.
Sam’s Club Plus members get free shipping for online orders, free curbside pickup, 2% Sam’s Cash on qualifying purchases (up to $500 back per year), free select generic prescriptions and 20% off glasses. Sam’s Club Plus members can also shop some sales before other Sam’s Club members. Terms apply. See the Sam’s Club site for more details.
Get $10 in Sam’s Cash when you try curbside pickup, delivery from club or express delivery
Sam’s Club
In August, Sam’s Club upgraded its Club level membership to include free curbside pickup on orders of $50 or more. Sam’s Club Plus members got an upgrade too, in the form of free delivery from your local club on orders of $50 or more.
To entice you to give these convenient ways of shopping a try, Sam’s Club is offering $10 in Sam’s Cash when you try curbside pickup or delivery from club for the first time. Need your order delivered in hours? You can score this $10 Sam’s Cash offer when you try Express delivery for the first time (an $8 Express delivery fee applies).
This limited-time offer expires Sept. 30, 2024. See the Sam’s Club site for more details.
Get up to $30 in Sam’s Cash at the online clothing and footwear event
There is a huge online clothing and footwear sale at Sam’s Club in September, making it the perfect opportunity to refresh your family’s wardrobe for the coming fall and winter weather. And the more you buy, the more you’ll save.
Spend $50 on clothing and footwear online, and you’ll get a $10 Sam’s Cash reward. Spend $75 on clothing and footwear, and the reward increases to $20 in Sam’s Cash. Spend $100 or more at the event, you’ll get the maximum reward of $30 in Sam’s Cash.
Member’s Mark clothing is already a great value, so you won’t want to miss this offer. Click the button below to see all the eligible items on sale. But hurry, this offer is only good through Sept. 30, 2024.
Get $10 in Sam’s Cash when you try Scan & Go in club
Scan & Go is one of our favorite ways to shop at Sam’s Club in person. It’s so easy to use. Just open the Sam’s Club app, tap Scan & Go at the bottom and start scanning barcodes as you add items to your shopping cart. You pay in the app when you’re done, and show your exit code on the way out of the store. You can even order items to pick up at the Sam’s Club Café using Scan & Go.
If that’s not a good enough reason to try Scan & Go, how about this? First time users of Scan & Go will receive $10 off their basket when they scan a barcode in club now through Sept. 30, 2024. See a Sam’s Club associate for more details.
Get a $50 statement credit when you open a new Sam’s Club credit account
The free money offers just don’t stop at Sam’s Club this month — and this is a big one. Members will receive a $50 statement credit when they open up a new Sam’s Club credit account and use it to make $50 in Sam’s Club purchases within the first 30 days. The savings continue as you use the card: The Sam’s Club Mastercard gives Club members 1% Sam’s Cash rewards and Plus members an extra 3% Sam’s Cash rewards (for a total of 5% Sam’s Cash rewards) on Sam’s Club purchases.
See the Sam’s Club site for more details on this offer, including all the important financial fine print.
Sam’s Club will pay you $5 to get your flu or COVID shot
Yes, you read that right — there’s a Sam’s Club pharmacy offer that’ll save you money when protecting yourself from rising COVID-19 numbers. Members will save $5 on their basket when they get a flu shot, and/or $5 when they get a COVID shot.
You can get up to $10 in total, and there’s a limit one offer per cardholder. See your local Sam’s Club pharmacy for more details.
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Whether you’re barreling down a mountainside or taking a leisurely ride along your local trail, a great mountain bike is key. But what exactly does a great mountain bike look like, in terms of features? It depends on the kind of terrain and riding style you do.
The best mountain bike for long, cross-country rides will have very different specs than a downhill bike. Some offer full suspension for a smooth ride on bumpy trails. Some have wider tires that are better at gripping wet or sandy terrain. Some are designed for maximum pedaling efficiency and serious stopping power so you can climb steep mountainsides without wearing yourself out. No matter where you and your new bike are headed this fall, we’ve rounded up the best mountain bikes for every rider and every terrain in 2024. Don’t forget to strap on your bike helmet.
Best mountain bike for beginners: Giant Talon 29 1
Mike’s Bikes
The Giant Talon 29 1 is a solid entry-level mountain bike at a reasonable price point. With its balanced frame geometry and high-traction tires, it’s great for a comfortable, stable ride on most trails. While that means it’s not specialized for uphill climbs or cross-country speed, the balanced design is great for beginners or casual riders who aren’t planning to tackle those more challenging technical trails just yet.
With 80mm to 100mm of suspension travel, this hardtail mountain bike strikes that perfect balance of pedaling efficiency and shock absorption.
Riders can also adjust the suspension within that range by adjusting the air spring and the rebound damping. That gives you improved steering precision and a better ride feel since you can tailor it to your needs. If you’re a beginner, it may take some trial and error to fine-tune those settings, but playing around with them is a great way to learn how suspension impacts your ride.
Get this reliable entry-level mountain bike at Mike’s Bikes for $950.
Top features of the Giant Talon 29 1:
- Grippy tires offer great traction in any trail conditions.
- The balanced frame geometry makes this a comfortable bike for most riders.
- The adjustable suspension fork allows you to fine-tune this mountain bike for your needs.
Best trail bike: Santa Cruz Tallboy C R
Backcountry
A full-suspension mountain bike with 120mm and 130mm suspension travel on the rear and front, respectively, it doesn’t get cushier than the Santa Cruz Tallboy C R (at least, not at this price point). Built for cross-country or trail riding, this bike’s design allows you to glide through rocky terrain almost as if you were just cruising on a paved road. That suspension also helps cushion the impact on pops and short drops so you can build up speed while navigating the trail with confidence.
With that said, it can be a little sluggish on uphill climbs. But if you typically stick to more straightforward trails, you won’t have to deal with that issue. For those just-for-fun weekend trail rides, this is the mountain bike you want.
Get this comfortable, agile trail bike at Backcountry while it’s on sale for $3,849 (reduced from $4,799).
Top features of the Santa Cruz Tallboy C R:
- Boasting full suspension, this mountain bike is a comfy ride no matter how bumpy the terrain.
- The carbon C frame is both lightweight and stiff for better control and improved agility.
- The four-piston brakes offer excellent stopping power.
Best fat tire mountain bike: State 6061 Trail+
State Bicycle Co.
For wet or sandy trails, traction is everything, which means you need a fat tire bike like the State 6061 Trail+. With 4.5-inch wide tires that can handle running even at low PSI, this mountain bike can grip the trail no matter how loose or slippery.
Whether you want to cruise along sandy beaches or power through snowy mountain trails, the stability of this fat tire bike is the key to doing so safely and confidently. You won’t be building up much speed, but you’ll have a lot of fun plowing through trails that a standard trail bike couldn’t even touch.
Get this fat tire bike directly from State Bicycle Co. for $1,000.
Top features of the State 6061 Trail+:
- Thick 4.5-inch tires provide extra grip for wet or loose terrain like snow, sand and mud.
- With low PSI capabilities, you can lower the tire pressure to widen the surface area even further to maximize your grip on soft, slippery trails.
- The alloy frame is stiff and strong without adding any more bulk than necessary.
Best mountain bike under $500: Huffy Stone Mountain
Amazon
The Huffy Stone Mountain is a hardtail mountain bike that is lightweight and offers good traction for navigating trails. The budget-friendly bike is missing a lot of the features you’ll find on the more advanced mountain bikes listed above. However, if you’re just starting out and just want to get out on a trail to see if you like mountain biking, this is a good bike to start with.
While you can’t take it on any serious trails, it’s got the basics you need for easy local bike trails. Use it to get a feel for the sport and then upgrade to a mountain bike better suited to the kind of trails you want to tackle. Then, pass this Huffy Stone Mountain on to a friend or teen who’s curious about mountain biking.
A bestseller on Amazon, this budget mountain bike is available for as low as $200.
Top features of the Huffy Stone Mountain:
- This budget entry-level bike is great for casual rides on easy bike trails.
- A wide variety of frame and wheel sizes allows you to get the right fit for your height.
- The lightweight, high-traction design is just enough to let you get a feel for mountain biking before committing to a higher-priced mountain bike with more advanced features and customizability.
Shop more top-rated mountain bikes:
What type of mountain bike should a beginner get?
The best mountain bike for a beginner is a balanced, versatile one. Since you’re probably not tackling steep inclines and declines yet, opt for a trail bike that offers great traction, strong brakes and easy maneuverability along bumpy, muddy trails. That means grippy tires and responsive steering so you can confidently control your bike over tree roots, up hills and on descents.
If the trails you’re eager to go on are largely uphill, look for a bike that’s lightweight with a firmer pedaling platform. Those two features will improve climb efficiency so you’re not wearing yourself out on those uphill stretches.
Do I need a full-suspension mountain bike?
You don’t need a full-suspension mountain bike, but they are nice to have. Unlike hardtail mountain bikes, which only have suspension in the front, full-suspension mountain bikes have suspension in both the front and rear. That extra suspension helps absorb shock, cushioning the impact as you hop over bumps or navigate downhill jumps and drops.
That cushier feel can be nice even on milder trail rides, but they tend to be significantly more expensive and require more maintenance than a hardtail mountain bike. So it might not be worth the extra expense and care if you don’t usually do technical trails or downhill riding.
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