How Much You Really Need To Spend For A Harbor Freight Membership To Pay Off

If it seems like every retailer has a paid membership club they want you to join, well, you're not far off the mark. Amazon Prime, Walmart Plus, and Target Circle are all membership programs offered by some of the most popular retailers. The fees range from pricey – Costco's Executive Membership is $130 per year — to minimal, like REI Co-op's $30 lifetime membership. The perks of these clubs vary, but often include additional discounts, free shipping, exclusive pricing, and more.

It's up to you to decide which retail programs are worth joining based on your own needs and each company's benefits. One of the most affordable membership clubs is one you may not have thought of: Harbor Freight's Inside Track Club. A one-year membership costs new and renewing members $29.99. As such, it shouldn't take long to pay for itself. Even just a few shopping trips a year should be enough to make up for the cost of the membership.

Harbor Freight already has some deals that can be considered a no-brainer, but it also offers a membership program for $29.99 annually. Benefits include early access to sales, exclusive deals in-store and online, and automatic savings.

Most shoppers would likely benefit from the program even if they only shop at Harbor Freight a few times a year. Members get discounts on small items that can quickly stack up, like $9 off a wrench set and $4 off a rake. If you're a more frequent shopper, or you know you'll be working on a home improvement project, you could potentially pay for that membership in one or two shopping trips.

Before you sign up, you'll want to ask yourself a few questions. How often do you shop at the store, and how much do you typically spend? If you join, will you feel obligated to spend more simply to make the membership worth it? Is it easy to cancel, and how will the company use the data it collects? 

Once you're sure you want to sign up, you can do so in-store or online. If you have buyer's remorse, Harbor Freight allows you to cancel your membership within 90 days of sign-up for a full refund.