Newbie here and just wondering if I should be paying for REI memberships or look for other groups that are free, like through Meet up or something?

My group here in WA gives you a free first meeting and after that they're $20 each or $15 if you preregister online, unless you become a member for $169 annually in which case the monthly meetings are free. They offer a ton of great member benefits beyond the networking and education like a passport unlimited card (Google this), Home Depot discounts, Sherwin Williams bi-annual rebates, classes, weekend seminars/work shops and the list goes on. Basically, the money I save through my member benefits pays for my membership and then some. I even got a nifty t-shirt. From my experience, the benefits are certainly worth the cost but that isn't to say the free groups are lacking. I recently partnered with someone I met at a free bigger pockets meetup!

I would say that depends on the size of the membership fee. $200 per year for monthly meet-ups is probably just paying the cost of using the meeting space.

@Angela Montgomery Try calling the president or group leader tell them you are thinking of going to the next meeting ask what their experience has been at meetings. Often they will invite you to the first one then you can weigh the benefits. Paul

As Paul stated, check to see if your first visit is free. My local REIA allows the first meeting to be a free visit. After that there's a per meeting charge or you can join for an annual fee. I'd also recommend checking out their website and seeing if they have a FB page to judge what type of activity and information they're putting out for a quick assessment. Good luck!

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REI Memberships - Should I Pay to Join One?

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