There is no way to buy just one of something, you end up buying enough ketchup to last you a few years. While it may be a good price, I often found that I would forget about all the ketchup I had stored in the garage and then would buy a small bottle at the grocery store.
This is pretty much the rule with all non-perishables too. Everything lasts a really long time. As a busy working mom, I will often shop their clothes because of convenience. Is it worth having a membership? How do you shop there and not lose your entire paycheck? How do I fit Costco trips into my budget? Thus, today I've compiled a massive list of what to buy from Costco that will actually help you save money!
Here are the best resources all in one place! This post breaks down how to budget for Costco, what to buy and what to avoid, how to use their coupons, tricks for getting tons of cash back on your membership, and much, much, more. Hope you enjoy it! Watch below to see the behind-the-scenes tour of Costco I gave on Studio 5, talking about what to buy and what to avoid, as well as how to use the coupons, find the best deals, and find secret discounts on their price-tags:.
Now there are a few things you need to know before you hit the streets… I mean aisles at Costco. As for having meals planned out in advance, my answer is…I do when I can! Let me tell you…making a meal plan at LEAST one week in advance will save your family hundreds over time. Dinner was often a last-minute thought in my house.
Since really trying to think through a few meals in advance based on what's on sale, I have saved my family tons! And have made my life a lot easier. I have a big list of dinner ideas that I keep near my fridge for last-minute ideas. Most of them can be made with the staples I keep on-hand and the produce deals I get that week from deal-shopping.
For my shopping at Costco , I typically stick to the bulk items that are usually involved with cooking and try to take advantage of their coupons whenever possible.
If you don't get the coupons mailed to your house, the membership desk usually has extras. Ask to be put on the mailing list next time you are there! So below, I have listed the things I pretty much regularly buy from Costco. Just for the record…No, I don't always buy these items every time I go. I usually always try to keep these items on hand. Frozen foods and lunch items are basically the best from Costco! Here are some of my favorites to keep on-hand:.
If you do buy bulk, make it last. If you opt for the huge container of strawberries and they start to go bad, don't toss them! Get creative! As you can see, most things on my list aren't necessarily for specific meals. Rather, they are staples that we try to keep on-hand at all times if I shop in bulk once a month. By keeping up with the coupons and stocking up on the items that are on sale that month at Costco, we tend to always have the things we need on-hand so we don't have to pay full price for them in a time of need.
I buy most of my other produce, meat, and pantry items at good ol' Walmart! Next up! Let's chat non-consumables! The non-food side of the store holds the best deals. But really, the best margins in price are on the non-food side of the store! Furniture and housewares tend to have the highest markups — anywhere, all the time. First up, a little tip! Learn your prices and don't impulse buy furniture and appliances. Those are NOT always the best deals at Costco. Only buy items that you will actually use.
It's not worth it to stock up on something that will sit in your cupboards for the next year or two and never be used. However, on the flip side, don't be afraid to store things. Some people might not want a Costco-sized pallet of toilet paper because, well, that's a lot of toilet paper to hold onto!
But guess what? It's cheaper. Hide it under a bed, in a Rubbermaid bin in your garage, under your stairs. Don't be afraid to hold onto things that you will use. The savings are worth it many times! Costco is great for finding deals on quality items that you may use around your house, especially if you're a mom with young kids… or a dog!
Heads up! You might not need toothbrushes. If it's just you and your spouse, it would probably take you a few years to go through a Costco-sized container of toothbrushes.
Don't get too excited about the convenience of Costco. Now, keep in mind, it depends on why you are buying. Costco may be more expensive than Walmart that's where I am comparing my prices because those are the two places I shop , but their quality might not even compare in some people's minds. The quality of the things I buy isn't different enough for me NOT to save money.
Does that make sense? This is another post of mine that went viral, it's all about how to get the most out of your Costco membership. I thought I'd put a few key points below to help you have it all in one place. Here it is in a nutshell! Super fun video program that makes money easy to understand. All you need is a screen and you're set! You've got nothing to lose! It has to do with the manufacturers willing to work with Costco and not have too many people abuse the system by getting multiple deals if there was a limit in the first place for 1 or 2 of that particular deal.
Agreed, the cashiers at ours keep them at the register too. One an always go online to see the coupons at Costco. No need to print them out as they are not needed to get the discount anymore. I agree with most of what you said. We do buy our cereal there though. I actually like to buy our ketchup at the Dollar Tree. Great ideas! I learned quite a bit. Costco can be overwhelming and it is hard to know what is a good deal or not. I have my staples that I go there for all the time, but my list just grew.
Thank you! Great info! I feel like you mentioned before that you buy those applesauce pouches for your kids for special times. I want to get some for camping next week, but want to buy the best brand. Did you mention which brand of those is better? If you did please let me know! Yes, I actually buy those pouches from Costco too!
My kids love them! I think those are both great deals. Sadly, no Cosco nearby. Wondering the price versus the smaller ones at a local grocery store.
They are a pain to find room for in the freezer, but the veggies are quality and great to have on-hand. We divide the bigger bags into smaller, food saver bags, takes up less room and lasts even longer, same with cheeses. My husband is a manager at Costco and I have to agree with your list. The only things I would add are toys, whole pizzas and car rentals. Also their whole pizzas from the food court at the best value in town.
No where else can we get a multiple topping 18 inch pizza for 9. We switched to the Kirkland brand and will never go back, plus they last forever because they are the liter size bottles.
Wow this was incredibly helpful!! What happened to the free samples you posted on FB? I am already a Costco members on FB you posted free samples 2 boxes maximum where are they pls.
AMEX is no longer used at any Costco. If you're busy these days, it might be worth getting some help. By Jami Farkas. By Cameron Huddleston.
By Gabrielle Olya. By Rob Poindexter. By Terence Loose. Sign up for our daily newsletter for the latest financial news and trending topics.
For our full Privacy Policy, click here. All three chains sell everything from groceries and household items to drugstore staples, clothes, and a whole lot more. Prices are kept down in part by offering limited selection, bulk sizes, less in-store help, and a no-frills shopping experience. It's a formula that -- in theory -- leads to saving money. In reality, it's more complicated than that. In theory, a smart warehouse club shopper should be able to quickly recover their membership fee and begin saving money.
The problem is that lower prices are not the only component in a money-saving equation. Paying less per item but throwing away half of what you bought, for example, does not count as saving money.
That, Blair added, is due to "membership fees, wastage from overbuying produce and such , the necessity to buy in quantity canned goods that sit on shelves and have to be discarded etc. Benjamin Glaser, an editor for DealNews , a shopping comparison website, agrees with the idea that warehouse clubs can be a trap. He noted that low-priced items are actually one of the bigger reasons members end up spending more than they would have had they not joined.
Clayman agreed that consumers can overbuy when it comes to perishable items. He also said that part of how warehouse clubs are set up can also lead to poor choices by club members.
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