It really depends. You should check what AHA member deals are in your area. There are loads of breweries and homebrew shops around san diego that give 10-15% off any purchase. I brew very frequently, so my AHA membership paid for itself within a month. You also get a free subscription to Zymurgy, which has awesome information, recipes, and articles on homebrewing.
I would start by calling your LHBS and see if they give an AHA discount. If they do, it's a no brainer.