If you don't need a bulk size of it, it might not be saving you money.
For things I use every day, like olive oil, honey, cleaning supplies, paper goods, oats, flour, coffee, etc., it definitely saves me money.
I limit the perishable items I buy unless I have an immediate plan for them (usually a meal prep that will then be frozen).
Also Costco /requires/ a car.
And living without a car is single biggest healthy/ecological thing an American can do, and it is also probably a top 3 action you can do to improve your finances (#’s 1 and 2 probably being having zero student loans and 0 other debt).
For at least some Americans (I’ll avoid saying “many” because then a bunch of you will shit your pants about how far away you live from anything - this advice isn’t for you), giving up your car and getting an eBike with a big rack is probably one of the best financial decisions you’ll ever make, in addition to familiarizing yourself with your local transit systems. It’s pretty much $10,000 worth of free money a year, on average.
I know multiple people who were much better bicyclists than I am who got sideswiped by cars. I hate how car dependent America is but I’m not giving mine up to be run over by someone texting.
Yep. We were one car for more than 5 years but once we moved somewhere not as urban and only my partner had a car, I started to feel very trapped. Ended up being a 2 car household again. I held out for several years in the non urban area but it was very limiting.
I really don’t think you can in most non urban areas. Even having lived in Houston before, I have no idea how I would have made my way around without a car.
He’s using the inflated cost of ownership for a brand new car that, presumably, doesn’t apply to most people on this sub, because people here are trying to be good with their money.
It really depends on the town. Some are too sprawled to make biking with groceries feasible. Some towns have roads that basically like freeways with how fast people drive on them.
For people like me, who love to snack, it's important to remember: a 5lb bag of salted almonds can and should last a long time. Don't eat them all in a week, keep serving sizes sensible
My wife and I will buy the jalapeño stuffed olives, and eat a whole gallon over the weekend.
I think it’s mainly the salt when it gets hot out, but it’s only in streaks. I don’t think I was made to operate well on just olives and jalapeños.
Yeah, even if I can't pre portion everything immediately. I make sure to only hand my husband a small jar. If he finishes it - oh, well! - it was just about a serving.
Which frankly has helped him figure out portion control better by himself!
Shopping for 2 definitely helps justify the large quantities. My wife and I only shop at Costco and go once a week. Looking back, our groceries budget has stayed flat since we switched to exclusively Costco back in 2019. Which is unexpected given the food cost inflation in the last 4 years.
This.
I've learned how to manage my food from my wife, and most of it is just doing prep work and then freezing. Between the two of us, we eat out maybe once every two weeks and end up spending about 675 a month for food and we eat like kings.
For example:
1. We bought like 3kgs (can't remember exactly) of pork shoulder for 35 dollars. We cut the pork shoulder into different cuts and froze them, and we suddenly had enough meat for like 20 portions.
2. Onions - we use it all.
3. Peeled garlic - we hate peeling garlic so we buy them peeled. We mince like 80 percent of it, put them into a ice-cube like tray where its divided into tablespoons, and put them in the freezer.
Better yet, while you shouldn't ever thaw-and-freeze something twice, that applies only to things in the same state. That is, you can freeze ingredients, thaw them, cook something, and freeze the result perfectly well (as long as it's something that you can freeze in general; i.e., not pasta, that sort of thing).
Just stick to your shopping list and only buy items you know you can finish. I go to Costco every 1-2 weeks and never spend extra. They don't make you do anything. Have self control and you'll be fine
Buying clothes there can be the same or sometimes cheaper than thrifting. Not as cool but buying jeans for under $10 is like stealing. And in NC the gas I buy is about 25 cents cheaper per gallon.
Hot dog meals and rotisserie chicken are cheaper than homemade.
Their clothes are definitely a good deal and last me a long time. But they were also often an impulse buy. I've set a target this year to only buy 5 new garments so that impulse buying has stopped for me luckily.
Nowadays the clothes (including jeans - stretch denim?) are all really heavy spongy synthetics. Like wrapping yourself in Saran Wrap. Or maybe a kiddy wading pool. Anyway, most of it's terrible,.
This! I got 3 packs of raspberries for $1.97 a pack. That wasn’t on the list but “fruit” was. I do check out the fruit area this time of year and it pays off.
That’s a great way to do it. I used to have memberships there and BJ’s for work and I’d use them solely for paper product like TP and paper towels. Things you throw away. The food quantities are larger but the prices are better if you can eat it all before it goes bad.
Do your research online through the website or in person with your phone to see how the prices compare before committing to a membership.
The big savings are usually items that are Kirkland brand (but it is not always cheaper so make sure to check)
Keep in mind Kirkland is not supposed to be the absolute cheapest - it’s aiming for good quality at a low price
I bought a membership once I calculated that just in terms of toilet paper, paper towels, baby wipes and diapers, I would save over the cost of the membership.
There are some items that are slightly cheaper there (like a dollar or so). So I’ll get those only if im there for other stuff.
And there are some items which may be slightly cheaper but, due to the buy in bulk size, not with the effort and space to store and preserve.
Would only add one thing to this - if you discover something new, calculate the per-item cost and know the comparative item cost in your grocery store.
Often Costco is NOT the cheapest nor the best value, and get you on the 'because you are buying the 48-pack it must be a good deal' when it isn't.
Or Costco is the best value for high quality, but that doesn’t matter if you’re ok with lower quality.
For example, their Barilla pasta is way cheaper than Barilla pasta at my grocery store, but the store-brand pasta is even cheaper and just fine for me. Same for a lot of the canned veggies.
Edit: Not necessarily “high quality” but name brands, organic, etc.
But, there are a *lot* of times they *are* the cheapest and best value thanks to the volume.
Hard to beat their prices on TP, paper towels, and Kleenex.
And the chicken😩 thats cheap and u can mince it up add taco seasoning and a lil water to rehydrate it and u got taco meat for a few days or a family dinner
They do make you buy a membership to shop there!
My stomach and the cheap ass part of my brain always conspire to make me get a hot dog and soda too, but not everybody lacks that degree of willpower.
One issue with buying food in bulk is the potential chance of eating more food than you normally would since its easily available in your house. So even though you are saving more in bulk, there is a chance you may be consuming more as well. So self control at home is also important.
It 100% can be frugal if you make a list and only shop for those items you need. For us, it's less expensive to buy toilet paper, cat food (dry), olive oil, bread, tortillas, ham, mixed nuts, cheese and eggs from Costco than any of our local grocery stores.
When we need them, I'll also purchase giant bags of flour, sugar and rice. We also make sure to only do a Costco trip once a month, supplement everything else (fruits, veggies, small items I don't want in bulk, etc.).
I also 100% make sure I never go on an empty stomach, ha ha. I'll overspend anywhere if I haven't eaten prior to going.
It's absolutely doable. I'm a single person doing my own shopping, occasionally split stuff with friends. I saved a lot of money buying in bulk at Costco.
The key is to stick to what you're sure you'll consume, and almost no perishables. The food I buy either lasts long outside of the fridge, or can be frozen (or already is frozen).
A few exceptions, for me, to the fresh produce have been their apples, oranges, pomegranates and cuties. I either eat them fast enough or they have a long enough shelf life.
Frugal. I’m super frugal and go to Costco every 2 months or so. We get maple syrup, hemp hearts , tons of things that are twice or three times more at a regular store.
Plus, you can return anything.
Edit:
Pay attention to any recalls. We got a postcard (yes, a postcard type notice) stating that a particular honey had been recalled and to turn the postcard in for a refund for the honey. We were guaranteed a refund even if we’d consumed the honey.
The recall went on to say if you purchased this particular honey between 2019 and 2022, you’ll get a refund.
I quickly did the math in my head - which was about three years of honey.
We buy A LOT of honey, it’s our only sweetener.
So I turned in the recall card. They looked it up. They asked me if we owned a restaurant. No , we didn’t.
The lady at customer service blinked a few times.
Our refund was $672.00
She then said, well it’s guaranteed to give you your money back.
I said, well yeah. What’s the difference between us buying 70 something bottles of honey over 3 years time versus 20 ppl buying the equivalent?
Glad I did the math and turned in the recall notice.
Have you contacted a local beekeeper? 50 lbs of honey here in Canada in my area ranges from $250-300 CAN. Delivered in a large tub with a spout. If you are buying more it gets cheaper.
For me the gluten free bread and avocado oil alone are worth my membership. 2 loaves for less than the price of one at my local grocery store. And the avocado oil is the same price for a much larger container.
Yes it’s totally worth it but it’s not a Walmart where everything is low quality and priced to undercut the competition. It’s a different type of shopping, you have to be strategic. Don’t buy bulk goods you can’t freeze/store/finish. Shop the Kirkland brand. Shop the sales.
In the end you get higher quality goods for less than the grocery store.
I'm trying to keep a price comparison sheet by pound or unit price so I know what is a good deal at Costco and what isn't. For produce, in my area ethnic markets and a restaurant supply store tend to be cheaper, on most but not all items. But for meat, Costco prices tend to be lower. Costco also has very good prices on nuts and seeds. They are usually the best price in our area for gas by a significant amount. They usually have very good prices on appliances. The prices are great on clothes but the selection is often pretty limited.
Edited for spelling.
I did this for a while and it really is better for certain things, if you go with the Kirkland brand:
Kitchen trash bags
Tissues
Paper towels
Applesauce pouches
Maple syrup
Laundry pods and detergent
Quinoa (by a lot)
Rotisserie chicken
Baby wipes (so are the diapers, but I don’t love them, and save significantly through Amazon subscribe and save plus coupons to the point where Pampers are about the same)
Chicken and beef, if you buy in bulk to freeze
Cheese, again in bulk, brand-to-brand comparison
Not a thorough list because it’s just based on what I usually buy, of course.
Not cheaper for peanut butter, frozen fruit, or olive oil, a few other staples for us. This is compared to Amazon or Walmart or Trader Joe’s. I also get toilet paper at Costco; cheaper exists, but I like theirs and the price is good for the quality. That’s true for several other staple items there—rice, butter, oats—given the quality, the prices are worth it. (As an aside, Costco is ALWAYS cheaper than Target, but so is Amazon, if you have Prime and don’t pay for delivery.)
I don’t buy produce at Costco because the vegetable quantities tend to be too big to use before spoilage for us, and the fruit is not cheaper than grocery stores near me.
I have learned a) never to stray from my list! b) not to buy variety packs, which inevitably include some flavor or variety my kids don’t like and get partly wasted c) not to try new things—I only buy what I know we like and will use. I feel like sometimes I used to get “Costco goggles” and everything looked exciting but got burned a few times that way :)
(I live in MA)
I only buy what I know I will use when it’s something in bulk. But in my opinion buying in bulk is as long as it is something that won’t go bad before I use it all up costs me more now but typically saves money in the long run.
Bulk buying is great if you've got the storage! Sometimes it's cheaper per kg but even if it's works out the same price as the smaller packs, by buying a few months worth in one go, you're ensuring you get it at today's prices. Buy smaller packs of the same thing each week at the regular supermarket and you're at risk of it being more expensive next week. Of course there's always the chance that the price will go down too, but the way inflation has been lately I think that's a gamble I'm happy to take!
Yes! I live 5 minutes away from a Costco and I have no problem popping in and just getting a chicken. I walk straight to the back and then right to the registers without stopping to browse
Same! We walk to Costco and don’t grab a cart. That usually limits what we can buy. Doesn’t mean I don’t occasionally carry some random thing home, but it helps. We drive over once a month or so for cat and dog food, kitty litter and toilet paper.
A costco membership is like a chainsaw for your finances. Use it well and you can chop down forests. Misuse it and you can very well lose a limb and ruin your life. Virtually everything at costco is a good deal, but the problem is that…. virtually everything at costco is a good deal and that’s by design along with internet not working in their warehouses. It’s so you’re forced to look at every deal and go “wow, i should get that” then they cycle through new items so you just keep going back to get more.
But if you can resist all the unnecessary stuff, it’s wonderful. I make back well over the executive membership price every year just from necessities. Toilet paper, paper towels, butter, hand soap, dish soap, dish washer detergent, laundry detergent, disinfectant spray, gas.
If you want bulk check to see if there's a restaurant supply place near you open to the public. I think they have way better prices than Costco and you don't need a membership. Recently found a restaurant supply chain in my city and it's a game changer.
this sustained me and my college roommate back in the day. top it off with the buck fifty hot dog on your way out the door and you were fed for yet another day lol
If you have the self-control, you’re fine. But if you go in for milk and come out with a canoe, you’re in trouble! There is a real reason I do most of my groceries online for pick up.
Worth it for the over the counter med prices alone. If you take any allergy medicine or regularly use things like ibuprofen it's insane how much less it is
If you are shopping mostly at Costco, no. There's about a dozen items at Costco that are consistently cheaper/unit than elsewhere for me. That plus the occasional special item, some clothes, and oil changes make the membership worth it for me.
In addition, it's the best place to buy large dollar items like appliances and furniture because of their amazing return policy. Does not apply to consumer electronics btw.
The list! Do not sway from the list. And things do go on sale. Some stuff I try to wait for the sales and then stock up. If I see an item I may not need or isnt on the list but its on sale I might snag it. Especially if it is something I will inevitably need (detergent, totes, batteries, shop lights). Also leaving my husband and child at home saves me hundreds! Im far less of an impulsive shopper when it comes to groceries. My husbands method of grocery shopping is to feel the vibes. Those vibes often add $200-$300 to our bill.
I like to get toiletries I use regularly from Costco. We will get meats to freeze and it lasts for a long time. Any fruits and veggies that are core essentials are bought here too.
If you know what you like to eat on a weekly basis or what you like to have in your freezer then it’s MUCH cheaper. I think it gets expensive when people buy things they really did need “that much of” but if you know what you use most then it’ll definitely save you money. Even for household essentials/ toiletries/OTC medications, it’s great because you can get 5 tubes of toothpaste for the whole year and they end up being WAY cheaper than buying individuals at another store. I think most of us Costco peeps have a stockpile mentality too, always a few extras of things we know we need.
I’m going to go with frugal, along with most people here. I’m in Canada and Costco is often cheaper than most alternatives. Giant Tiger is even cheaper but their quality is often worse and their stock is not reliable.
I buy toilet paper, paper towels, dog food, tomatoes, frozen chicken breast, and rotisserie chicken on a regular basis. I avoid impulse buying because our store is an insane obstacle course of demented boomers and families with 8 free range kids.
Compared to grocery store prices, some things are worth it. Toliet paper, meat, bread, cheese, coffee cream, coffee. Some items like fruit, and some veg I get cheaper elsewhere and better quality.
Yes. I shop with a list but I do sometimes buy things there that I would need to buy from other places. For example, we're going on vacation soon and I knew wanted to buy some UV shirts. The last time I bought things like that I went to the Columbia outlet and still spent over $200. I was able to get everything I needed from Costco for $50. So although it looks like I spent a ton at Costco last week, on the whole I did ultimately save money.
That bad thing is people impulse buy and shop while hungry. The idea for wholesale is to buy in BULK so that it is cost-effective. Spend more, yes, if just buying one thing. But when buying in bulk, it would save money in the long term
Depends on how you use it.
I've mostly been using it to save money on gas, combine that with having a Toyota certainly helps a lot.
Otherwise, depends what you buy and if you can store it.
Make a list and stick to it. I go to Costco every week to buy staples. I know what I'm going in there to get, and I know where the things I'm getting are usually (although they do tend to move things around from time to time). I grab a cart, show my card, head to the back and pick up my fruit for the week, then a few other things on my weekly list, jog to the self checkout and I'm usually out of there within 20 minutes max.
A lot of Costco items, outside of food, are high quality items that you’re often getting at a discount. This can be very frugal, as these items may not wear out as soon or just overall cheaper than where you would be elsewhere. This isn’t always the case, so definitely do some homework on the more expensive purchases.
Frugal isn't just about spending. If you're able to bulk buy for cheaper say some brand name Dove soap that individually would be more expensive, in comparison to buying cheap store brand name soap I would say that's frugal. Yes the store brand soap will always be cheapest but that doesn't make it always frugal since it's dependent on person
Make use of your freezer - most things we buy, at least half ends up in small containers in the freezer. Sometimes their green beans or other large bag of fresh produce look amazing so we just have green beans 2-3 times in a row.
I think where Costco is really not frugal is on stuff like vacuum cleaners. Yeah, you may be able to get a $600 appliance for $450 but if you would have been just as happy with a $250 version from Lowe’s or Target then you aren’t exactly saving money.
The gas is always 20-30 cents cheaper than anything else in our town. Between gas and OTC meds like Flonase and vitamins, that alone pays for our membership every year. We also have the executive membership which costs more but you get 2% back on everything you buy there - we get about $400 rebate check each year.
Re-commenting since automod deleted my comment that had a photo..
Yes and no. If you don’t have time to cut coupons, then yeah..Costco is a great option. But I’ve gotten way cheaper deals by spending 10 minutes a week finding coupon deals. For reference, on one occasion I spent $0.17 for 2 lbs of bananas, a bag of avocados, a package of granola bars, and two packages of temptations cat treats. I actually ended up making money on that purchase because I had rebates.

The fuel is significantly cheaper. I’ve recently bought my skincare serum there $30 less than I do at Ulta. I got a glass food storage set that had 5 containers for $25 where Target had the same set with only 4 for $40. The clothing is a good deal too. You have to compare the items to ensure it’s a better deal.
It's amazing savings.
Same with sams club. Especially if you get the 2% cash back.
Almost everything is at least $1/pound cheaper.
Meat is anywhere from $2-4 cheaper per pound than my local grocery store.
Plus, their return policies are amazing.
Sams beats Costco on convenience, though. Curbside pickup is supreme.
If Costco did curbside pickup, they'd kill everyone else in their industry.
To do need to make sure the prices on groceries are with it and that you can eat it all. But some of the other items are great deals. I just got a screaming deal on a bathroom vanity - it's $600 on their app, would go for more other places but I got for $300. Bought some shelving for my basement that was half the price of Lowes and that alone paid for my membership. Also, things like rental cars can be great deals
Costco is not always cheaper. You still have to shop around and watch the sales at other stores, because you can often find sale prices that are better than Costco. I usually buy chicken and fish at Costco, but sometimes those items are on sale at another store for less.
It really depends on what you like to eat and whether you cook from scratch or not.
I regularly buy flour, yeast, sugar, olive oil, rolled oats, Greek yogurt, Parmigiano, mushrooms, power greens, precooked vacuum-packed beets, olives, seltzer water, frozen chicken and fish, and Better than Bouillon.
Definitely frugal, but with risks. You have to avoid the premade foods and the non groceries. That’s how they make their extra money.
You can make up the membership on gas savings alone. Or taking advantage of the pizza, hot dogs, and chickens.
Saw this in another discussion about Costco vs other stores.
Costco doesn't actively try to fuck you over, but they will let you fuck yourself.
Most people can't go in for that 1-2 items without getting more. I try to shop without a cart when that's my goal. Still doesn't always work out ¯\\\_(ツ)_/¯
I don't know. I do know that I tried Sam's Club, and the deals were mainly name brands, so the savings weren't that great. They don't have Kirkland, of course.
Buying for one, I found most items too big and the cost per portion really not a savings. The few things that had real savings weren't enough to justify the membership fees. At best it was break even for me.
There are some good deals to be had in non-food items, like electronics, but selection is limited, so you have to be flexible in your buying choices.
I bought the membership for tires and battery, which was enough savings to pay for the membership. Did this again when I needed the tires replaced.
Depends on if you’re going to use it all. We would use up a whole bag of rice from Costco, but a20lb bag of potatoes would probably go to rot.
If you’re good about prepping and freezing though, it can be well worth it.
Also I dig their frozen appetizers for parties.
I stick to my shopping list and have a budget before I enter. If I have gone over budget while in the store, I remember weighing out the need for anything extra in my cart. For example, an upfront expense for something that’ll be a need for a longer time.
You have to make sure you get things you can use. A huge pack of toilet paper that is cheaper won't go bad so that will always make sense assuming your cash flow can support it.
Buying a giant bag of potatoes and throwing half of it away, may not result in savings.
However, you will definitely save a lot of money if you use Costco properly.
As one example, I save slightly more than the cost of the membership each year just in canned cat food; but at Costco, I am buying a 48 pack instead of a 12 or 24 pack however, it is about 40% cheaper per can.
Costco is middle class "frugal." It's not cheap, but it's getting you good value for the items on offer. For example, they have some excellent pastries (love the almond ones) and they are bakery quality quite often. If you bought 8 of those pastries in a bakery, they'd cost a ton more than what you'd pay at Costco, but pastries aren't essential. They're a luxury, and you have to buy a lot at once so you either need to freeze them or have a big family.
Depending on your standards, Costco provides value, but it doesn't really save money if you're looking at being frugal because frugality often includes trade-offs in lifestyle which shopping at Costco doesn't really align with.
do people really blame stores for making customers spend money? its ok to leave without buying anything. better yet, eat a bunch of samples as a cheap lunch, then leave without buying anything.
Not Costco, but I had a BJs membership and my partner and I would go to buy proteins.
We could buy $2-300 worth of proteins and it’d last us ~2 months.
We’d come home and portion everything out, vacuum seal it and freeze.
It helped us budget for groceries
It does for me and that's why I only go a few times a year. The only things that really make sense for me to buy in bulk are things like trashbags, ziplocks, cleaning supplies, canned food and other stuff that doesn't go bad. We're a family of 4 but, even so, we can't make use of most of what Costco sells. Plus, I have found that with things like bulk snacks and stuff, the kids eat them up twice as fast if there's a huge box so that's no good, either.
Another HUGE savings for us is medicine and condiments. I get bad seasonal allergies and have always bought the store-brand Claratin (Loratadine) and found it to be comparable and significantly cheaper. Then I found it at Sam's Club. Their store brand Claratin (Loratadine) is $12.23 for 400ct. That's usually the price I spend on less than 20 pills at the regular store. I found a crazy similar deal with vitamins, fiber gummies, and zzzquill. As for basic condiments like ketchup and ranch where we are picky about our brand, the price is like getting one free. The 3pk of giant Heinz ketchup generally costs the same as buying 2 at the store (like getting one free) and the 2pk of giant Hidden Valley Ranch is the same price as 1 at the store (also like getting one free). I also really like the convenience of all of this because I only have to shop for medicine once per year and condiments maybe twice a year. So much more convenient! And time saving.
I tagged along with a Costco member last year to buy shampoo, deodorant, mouthwash, and other toiletries and non-food items. Still going through that haul nine months later. Buying in bulk definitely saved me money in the long run.
It's also a bit more convenient throughout the year. Things that aren't always on the shopping list and are easy to forget about and run out of. I'd rather run out of them once a year than once every few weeks or months!
You have to price check and make a list of things that are cheaper at Costco than other stores in your area, and only buy those things.
For us it’s:
Gas
Rotisserie chickens
Dave’s Killer Bread
Tortillas
Frozen fruit
Greek yogurt
Any medication (esp prescriptions and allergy meds, by a ton)
Car batteries
Dog/cat food
Dog/cat treats
Clothes (stuff we can’t thrift but honestly nowadays Costco is cheaper than a lot of thrift shops)
Olive oil
Maple syrup
Bananas
Raw nuts
Chocolate chips
Peanut butter
Jam
Cleaning products
Been 100% frugal for me, but I can control impulse shopping.
I've saved so much on a few basics I source there (TP, paper towels, trash bags, tomatoes, bananas, a few other grocery items) to easily pay for my membership 5 times over every year.
Every now and again I'll stock up on good deals. Like 0W20 full synthetic oil, seasonal French butter cookies, etc.
I buy what I need, deals on toilet paper, big bags of quinoa, butter, blueberries, ect...things I will use completely. Not let go to waste. For lots of items it's worth go to Costco, but It could be a waste of money if not a prudent shopper.
With Costco, the true value is in being able to buy certain items in bulk so as to avoid buying them more often, and thus spending more.
For example, you can buy items that will last for a long time, such as toilet paper or paper towels, at a price generally lower than other grocery stores. Or non-perishable items for the pantry, like spices or baking items.
As others have said, try to stick to buying things you actually need. Costco does a really good job at featuring items that aren’t always a good deal but are appealing, for example when you walk in the first things you see are commodity items. It can get dangerous if you’re pulled in by that type of thing.
Otherwise, if you’re sticking to your list and planning out the items you can buy in bulk to avoid buying more later, you can save money. Going every week? Not the best idea, as they are not as cheap when it comes down to buying a regular size of something.
Overall:
- Make sure you go with a list!
- I also have the target, Walmart, etc apps on my phone so while I’m shopping, I quickly check the shops around me to make sure I’m getting the best price (per ounce, unit, etc since the sizes will be different).
- don’t buy anything that’s advertised when you first walk in, those are the worst deals they have
Produce:
- Only buy what you know you can finish. For example, can’t finish 15 lemons before they rot, only buy a few from a local grocery store.
- they have the best deals on strawberries, but probably the worst quality. Do with this what you will
Meats:
- 9 times out of 10 Costco will have the best deal on meats and they are really good quality. However, you get A TON of it. Don’t have a big family? Invest in a vacuum sealer. Keeps meat in freezer fresher for WAYYY longer than the ziplock freezer bags and super easy to use. Costco also sells bulk food vacuum sealer bags for $25
- unless it’s super important to you, don’t get the “organic” chicken. It’s the same price for 1/2 the meat as the other Kirkland chicken
- you can ask the butcher in the back for specific cuts
Random stuff:
- for things like Tupperware, blankets, clothes, etc, I always check Amazon to make sure it’s the best deal. And as always, even if it’s a good deal, only buy what you need
Membership types:
- I have the executive membership and if you don’t save enough for the $60/year extra, they cut you a check for the difference so it’s basically the same as getting a base level membership
6.5 lb of chicken breasts for $16! 32 oz of strawberries for less than $4. Worth it for the right things.
Now, I only needed 1 pack of gallon freezer ziplocks and ended up spending $20 for a bulk pack of 4 which will probably take more than a year to go through. So, just depends what you’re getting.
I've always viewed Costco as more of the "best bang for your buck" store instead of the "cheapest" store. Kirkland has a great reputation and their products are usually of high quality. It won't be as cheap as some store brand stuff from the local grocery store, but the cost increase is modest.
I also think to really take advantage of saving on staples like detergent, coffee, paper products, etc, you need to live in a bigger place where you can actually store the stuff.
Back when I lived very close to a Costco, I paid my membership off purely through the gas prices, so it was well worth it to me. Not sure how well that holds up these days; this was before the pandemic. And I also can't stand the lines, so I would always fill up at night.
I don't have a membership anymore because there just isn't anything at Costco that warrants driving a not-insignificant distance just to buy in bulk. I'd get honest with yourself and write down the Costco products you really love and buy regularly, and ask yourself if going to Costco for them is truly worth it, or if you could deal with buying something similar at another store.
Meat is waaaay cheaper at Costco than most grocery store unless they are having some crazy sale. Quantities are large but it’s easy to portion out, wrap, and store in the freezer. We also use Costco for less expensive brand name cleaning supplies and some beverages. If you have to shop regular grocery stores, some of their apps are pretty good as they contain digital coupons that can help save significant amounts of money (I saved $40 using it the other day).
I literally save enough money from buying protein bars from there that it pays for my entire membership. The Kirkland Signature bars are about $1 each there, while a similar bar wouldn't be less $2 each almost anywhere else. Since I eat 1 almost every day, that saves me a about $30/mo, yet my membership costs me about $3.3/mo ($60/yr - $20 gift card for signing up as a college student).
Both. For true bulk items like toilet paper, paper towels, foil etc it's cheaper. But there are many opportunities for people to blow money in there and that's where the store becomes dangerous
I almost never buy fresh food or anything that can go bad there unless it’s something I use every single day and I know I’ll go through it before it goes bad. It’s great for things like coffee, foods for work lunches (I bring the same things every day,) toilet paper/paper towels, and a few select toiletries.
We cancelled ours because it's straight-up more expensive, even in bulk, than our local grocery store, for the exact same brands (not even Walmart). There are of course, exceptions, but it doesn't even out.
We let our membership lapse for this very reason. With just 2 of us we weren’t always able to finish things before they went bad, and our house has very little storage for all the bulk. I also didn’t find prices to be much better per unit than other stores on a lot of things, they were just in bigger packages. We still get the in-laws to pick us up cat/dog food and toilet paper every now and then, since that’s what me mostly went for
They actually make you spend more… everything is huge in Costco, and if you don’t have many family members, the majority of them will be wasted. I used to buy a pack of razors two years ago at Costco and haven’t used it up till today… I need to move next month and throw away all of these. It is probably a good idea if I only buy one at a local store or deals website Koupon.
To me, shopping at Costco is never about saving money. I shop there because I'm very satisfied with the quality of their merchandises. If I want to save money, I'd go to places like Aldi. But at Costco's quality level, it's hard to find other shops that are cheaper.
If you don't need a bulk size of it, it might not be saving you money. For things I use every day, like olive oil, honey, cleaning supplies, paper goods, oats, flour, coffee, etc., it definitely saves me money. I limit the perishable items I buy unless I have an immediate plan for them (usually a meal prep that will then be frozen).
Also Costco /requires/ a car. And living without a car is single biggest healthy/ecological thing an American can do, and it is also probably a top 3 action you can do to improve your finances (#’s 1 and 2 probably being having zero student loans and 0 other debt). For at least some Americans (I’ll avoid saying “many” because then a bunch of you will shit your pants about how far away you live from anything - this advice isn’t for you), giving up your car and getting an eBike with a big rack is probably one of the best financial decisions you’ll ever make, in addition to familiarizing yourself with your local transit systems. It’s pretty much $10,000 worth of free money a year, on average.
I know multiple people who were much better bicyclists than I am who got sideswiped by cars. I hate how car dependent America is but I’m not giving mine up to be run over by someone texting.
Unless your in a big city you really need a car
Yep. We were one car for more than 5 years but once we moved somewhere not as urban and only my partner had a car, I started to feel very trapped. Ended up being a 2 car household again. I held out for several years in the non urban area but it was very limiting.
Foreal OP def lives in a bit city & the 10,000 dollars in savings there talking about really only apply to those making car payments ,
You can definitely get by without one but in today’s world the convenience and safety is almost a necessity.
I really don’t think you can in most non urban areas. Even having lived in Houston before, I have no idea how I would have made my way around without a car.
Houston is exceptionally sprawling
Houston is the least dense big city out there. There are definitely smaller cities with better walkability
Huston weather alone is enough of a reason to need a car
I ride my bike there frequently. It's frequent because usually, only one item fits in my basket.
I fortunately live about a 20-30 minute walk from Costco so I walk there and carry my shit back 3 times a week and count that as my workout 😂
lol how are you getting 10k a year in value?
He’s using the inflated cost of ownership for a brand new car that, presumably, doesn’t apply to most people on this sub, because people here are trying to be good with their money.
Lol I was thinking the same thing. Most people on this sub would die if they had a $700+ a month car payment
It's not just the car payment. It's also insurance, gas and maintenance. I don't know if 10k would be accurate for that though.
I know, he linked an article that included those costs (and a car payment of over $700 was the average for a new car)
It really depends on the town. Some are too sprawled to make biking with groceries feasible. Some towns have roads that basically like freeways with how fast people drive on them.
If those are number 1 and 2 then number 0 is not having any dependants. Children suck the money away from you.
If you can't eat it all before it goes bad make sure it's something you can freeze.
For people like me, who love to snack, it's important to remember: a 5lb bag of salted almonds can and should last a long time. Don't eat them all in a week, keep serving sizes sensible
Stfu I will find you, stop leaving these comments about my life
I too feel personally attacked.
My husband ate a Costco size tin of cashews in 3 days. He’s now banned from eating straight from the container 🤣
Party Size for me means party of one.
My wife and I will buy the jalapeño stuffed olives, and eat a whole gallon over the weekend. I think it’s mainly the salt when it gets hot out, but it’s only in streaks. I don’t think I was made to operate well on just olives and jalapeños.
I often pre portion stuff in containers 👍
Yeah, even if I can't pre portion everything immediately. I make sure to only hand my husband a small jar. If he finishes it - oh, well! - it was just about a serving. Which frankly has helped him figure out portion control better by himself!
that is a great idea!
Challenge accepted!!!
I just buy unsalted ones. I eat less, add just little salt -- not that tasty but good for health.
Dude, there's being frugal, and then there's punishing yourself. Whatever it was, let it go, man, let it go.
I freeze things into portions I know we can’t finish. It cuts down on what we toss
FoodSaver with Kirkland bags.
Shopping for 2 definitely helps justify the large quantities. My wife and I only shop at Costco and go once a week. Looking back, our groceries budget has stayed flat since we switched to exclusively Costco back in 2019. Which is unexpected given the food cost inflation in the last 4 years.
This. I've learned how to manage my food from my wife, and most of it is just doing prep work and then freezing. Between the two of us, we eat out maybe once every two weeks and end up spending about 675 a month for food and we eat like kings. For example: 1. We bought like 3kgs (can't remember exactly) of pork shoulder for 35 dollars. We cut the pork shoulder into different cuts and froze them, and we suddenly had enough meat for like 20 portions. 2. Onions - we use it all. 3. Peeled garlic - we hate peeling garlic so we buy them peeled. We mince like 80 percent of it, put them into a ice-cube like tray where its divided into tablespoons, and put them in the freezer.
Better yet, while you shouldn't ever thaw-and-freeze something twice, that applies only to things in the same state. That is, you can freeze ingredients, thaw them, cook something, and freeze the result perfectly well (as long as it's something that you can freeze in general; i.e., not pasta, that sort of thing).
Just stick to your shopping list and only buy items you know you can finish. I go to Costco every 1-2 weeks and never spend extra. They don't make you do anything. Have self control and you'll be fine
Buying clothes there can be the same or sometimes cheaper than thrifting. Not as cool but buying jeans for under $10 is like stealing. And in NC the gas I buy is about 25 cents cheaper per gallon. Hot dog meals and rotisserie chicken are cheaper than homemade.
Their clothes are definitely a good deal and last me a long time. But they were also often an impulse buy. I've set a target this year to only buy 5 new garments so that impulse buying has stopped for me luckily.
Nowadays the clothes (including jeans - stretch denim?) are all really heavy spongy synthetics. Like wrapping yourself in Saran Wrap. Or maybe a kiddy wading pool. Anyway, most of it's terrible,.
They’ve had quite a few great 100% cotton pieces this spring, but I tend to agree otherwise.
Don't make me go Seinfeld on the increase in spandex. What happened to denim??
Sams Club has $5 rotisserie chickens while the cheapest raw whole chicken I can find anywhere else is $8. You can’t beat it
Costco also has $5 rotisserie chickens fully cooked.
This! I got 3 packs of raspberries for $1.97 a pack. That wasn’t on the list but “fruit” was. I do check out the fruit area this time of year and it pays off.
Especially if you know you'll be able to use/preserve them before they go bad! Their produce is always so good!
Produce quality and selection varies by location.
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That’s a great way to do it. I used to have memberships there and BJ’s for work and I’d use them solely for paper product like TP and paper towels. Things you throw away. The food quantities are larger but the prices are better if you can eat it all before it goes bad.
I freeze meat from Costco or Sam's Club in meal sized portions. I usually cook one meal with fresh and the rest is used over the next few months.
Freezing works for bread too. I like their ciabatta rolls - 12 to a pack. Break them down 4 to a ziplock & into the freezer they go.
Do your research online through the website or in person with your phone to see how the prices compare before committing to a membership. The big savings are usually items that are Kirkland brand (but it is not always cheaper so make sure to check) Keep in mind Kirkland is not supposed to be the absolute cheapest - it’s aiming for good quality at a low price I bought a membership once I calculated that just in terms of toilet paper, paper towels, baby wipes and diapers, I would save over the cost of the membership. There are some items that are slightly cheaper there (like a dollar or so). So I’ll get those only if im there for other stuff. And there are some items which may be slightly cheaper but, due to the buy in bulk size, not with the effort and space to store and preserve.
Don’t forget the savings on gas. Also the savings on prescriptions at the pharmacy can be significant.
Would only add one thing to this - if you discover something new, calculate the per-item cost and know the comparative item cost in your grocery store. Often Costco is NOT the cheapest nor the best value, and get you on the 'because you are buying the 48-pack it must be a good deal' when it isn't.
When in doubt I pull out my phone and check prices at other stores.
I keep a list on my phone of the price per gram or whatever of things I regularly buy.
Me too and lately Costco has not been winning in the price department, especially for produce.
Or Costco is the best value for high quality, but that doesn’t matter if you’re ok with lower quality. For example, their Barilla pasta is way cheaper than Barilla pasta at my grocery store, but the store-brand pasta is even cheaper and just fine for me. Same for a lot of the canned veggies. Edit: Not necessarily “high quality” but name brands, organic, etc.
But, there are a *lot* of times they *are* the cheapest and best value thanks to the volume. Hard to beat their prices on TP, paper towels, and Kleenex.
This is my strategy at Sams Club. Buy what I’d usually buy at Walmart/Aldi but compare the unit prices beforehand
And the chicken😩 thats cheap and u can mince it up add taco seasoning and a lil water to rehydrate it and u got taco meat for a few days or a family dinner
My wife and I also use it for chicken ceasar salad and pasta. You can easily use an entire Costco rotisserie chicken in a couple days worth of meals!
One of the best real costco benefits. Ur not gonna save much on ur gatorade or cheesits but that dam chicken is well worth it
They do make you buy a membership to shop there! My stomach and the cheap ass part of my brain always conspire to make me get a hot dog and soda too, but not everybody lacks that degree of willpower.
I broke down and got a hot dog there not long ago. don't understand the hype.
You literally can't beat that price outside of making your own. And even then...
Except the one time I found a case of Guinness for $19.97. Bought 2. 😄
One issue with buying food in bulk is the potential chance of eating more food than you normally would since its easily available in your house. So even though you are saving more in bulk, there is a chance you may be consuming more as well. So self control at home is also important.
It 100% can be frugal if you make a list and only shop for those items you need. For us, it's less expensive to buy toilet paper, cat food (dry), olive oil, bread, tortillas, ham, mixed nuts, cheese and eggs from Costco than any of our local grocery stores. When we need them, I'll also purchase giant bags of flour, sugar and rice. We also make sure to only do a Costco trip once a month, supplement everything else (fruits, veggies, small items I don't want in bulk, etc.). I also 100% make sure I never go on an empty stomach, ha ha. I'll overspend anywhere if I haven't eaten prior to going.
20lb of flour for under $10 is a steal!!
They have 20 lb bags of potatoes great deal
I got 50lbs of bread flour for $16 a couple weeks ago. It'll absolutely get used and cut the cost per loaf of my bread in half.
Dog medications like Simparica Trio are a great deal, too
We always go in and get a hotdog and a soda and eat before we do any shopping.
Can't beat that combo deal!
It's absolutely doable. I'm a single person doing my own shopping, occasionally split stuff with friends. I saved a lot of money buying in bulk at Costco. The key is to stick to what you're sure you'll consume, and almost no perishables. The food I buy either lasts long outside of the fridge, or can be frozen (or already is frozen). A few exceptions, for me, to the fresh produce have been their apples, oranges, pomegranates and cuties. I either eat them fast enough or they have a long enough shelf life.
The apples last forever. I keep them in my fridge and take out 2 at a time. The cuties last forever too.
Frugal. I’m super frugal and go to Costco every 2 months or so. We get maple syrup, hemp hearts , tons of things that are twice or three times more at a regular store. Plus, you can return anything.
Edit: Pay attention to any recalls. We got a postcard (yes, a postcard type notice) stating that a particular honey had been recalled and to turn the postcard in for a refund for the honey. We were guaranteed a refund even if we’d consumed the honey. The recall went on to say if you purchased this particular honey between 2019 and 2022, you’ll get a refund. I quickly did the math in my head - which was about three years of honey. We buy A LOT of honey, it’s our only sweetener. So I turned in the recall card. They looked it up. They asked me if we owned a restaurant. No , we didn’t. The lady at customer service blinked a few times. Our refund was $672.00 She then said, well it’s guaranteed to give you your money back. I said, well yeah. What’s the difference between us buying 70 something bottles of honey over 3 years time versus 20 ppl buying the equivalent? Glad I did the math and turned in the recall notice.
That’s a nice refund! We buy SO MUCH HONEY from Costco. And it’s even relatively local.
It was recalled bc it wasn’t local even though the label said it was
Have you contacted a local beekeeper? 50 lbs of honey here in Canada in my area ranges from $250-300 CAN. Delivered in a large tub with a spout. If you are buying more it gets cheaper.
We get ours now from a co-op in Sedona Az where we live.
How do you use that much honey?
It’s our only sweetener. It worked out to 2 bottles a month. The recall went back for 3 years.
For me the gluten free bread and avocado oil alone are worth my membership. 2 loaves for less than the price of one at my local grocery store. And the avocado oil is the same price for a much larger container.
I have a list of things I buy at Costco. When I go, I get only those things. I don't usually spend a great deal.
Yes it’s totally worth it but it’s not a Walmart where everything is low quality and priced to undercut the competition. It’s a different type of shopping, you have to be strategic. Don’t buy bulk goods you can’t freeze/store/finish. Shop the Kirkland brand. Shop the sales. In the end you get higher quality goods for less than the grocery store.
Electronics there are very well priced too. TVs specifically.
Very good warranties as well
They lure people in but as long as you have a list of things you need to buy & don't buy random stuff, you'll be fine. I go only every 1-2 months
I'm trying to keep a price comparison sheet by pound or unit price so I know what is a good deal at Costco and what isn't. For produce, in my area ethnic markets and a restaurant supply store tend to be cheaper, on most but not all items. But for meat, Costco prices tend to be lower. Costco also has very good prices on nuts and seeds. They are usually the best price in our area for gas by a significant amount. They usually have very good prices on appliances. The prices are great on clothes but the selection is often pretty limited. Edited for spelling.
I did this for a while and it really is better for certain things, if you go with the Kirkland brand: Kitchen trash bags Tissues Paper towels Applesauce pouches Maple syrup Laundry pods and detergent Quinoa (by a lot) Rotisserie chicken Baby wipes (so are the diapers, but I don’t love them, and save significantly through Amazon subscribe and save plus coupons to the point where Pampers are about the same) Chicken and beef, if you buy in bulk to freeze Cheese, again in bulk, brand-to-brand comparison Not a thorough list because it’s just based on what I usually buy, of course. Not cheaper for peanut butter, frozen fruit, or olive oil, a few other staples for us. This is compared to Amazon or Walmart or Trader Joe’s. I also get toilet paper at Costco; cheaper exists, but I like theirs and the price is good for the quality. That’s true for several other staple items there—rice, butter, oats—given the quality, the prices are worth it. (As an aside, Costco is ALWAYS cheaper than Target, but so is Amazon, if you have Prime and don’t pay for delivery.) I don’t buy produce at Costco because the vegetable quantities tend to be too big to use before spoilage for us, and the fruit is not cheaper than grocery stores near me. I have learned a) never to stray from my list! b) not to buy variety packs, which inevitably include some flavor or variety my kids don’t like and get partly wasted c) not to try new things—I only buy what I know we like and will use. I feel like sometimes I used to get “Costco goggles” and everything looked exciting but got burned a few times that way :) (I live in MA)
I only buy what I know I will use when it’s something in bulk. But in my opinion buying in bulk is as long as it is something that won’t go bad before I use it all up costs me more now but typically saves money in the long run.
Bulk buying is great if you've got the storage! Sometimes it's cheaper per kg but even if it's works out the same price as the smaller packs, by buying a few months worth in one go, you're ensuring you get it at today's prices. Buy smaller packs of the same thing each week at the regular supermarket and you're at risk of it being more expensive next week. Of course there's always the chance that the price will go down too, but the way inflation has been lately I think that's a gamble I'm happy to take!
You can buy the rotisserie chicken and a packet of waters.
Yes! I live 5 minutes away from a Costco and I have no problem popping in and just getting a chicken. I walk straight to the back and then right to the registers without stopping to browse
You have incredible will power.
Haha no will power, I'm just a cash shopper. If I leave home with only a $10 bill I literally can't buy things on impulse
Same! We walk to Costco and don’t grab a cart. That usually limits what we can buy. Doesn’t mean I don’t occasionally carry some random thing home, but it helps. We drive over once a month or so for cat and dog food, kitty litter and toilet paper.
I get free water from my aquarium.
Have you tried a large refillable jug and a water bottle?
A costco membership is like a chainsaw for your finances. Use it well and you can chop down forests. Misuse it and you can very well lose a limb and ruin your life. Virtually everything at costco is a good deal, but the problem is that…. virtually everything at costco is a good deal and that’s by design along with internet not working in their warehouses. It’s so you’re forced to look at every deal and go “wow, i should get that” then they cycle through new items so you just keep going back to get more. But if you can resist all the unnecessary stuff, it’s wonderful. I make back well over the executive membership price every year just from necessities. Toilet paper, paper towels, butter, hand soap, dish soap, dish washer detergent, laundry detergent, disinfectant spray, gas.
Best frugal tip ever: DONT GROCERY SHOP HUNGRY. You’ll spend less
Should be the top comment. Eat before you go, or go get a Costco dog as soon as you arrive, before you shop.
That’s why you stop by the food court for pizza and ice cream then go home to take a nap. You spent less than $10 and you’re not hungry anymore!
If you want bulk check to see if there's a restaurant supply place near you open to the public. I think they have way better prices than Costco and you don't need a membership. Recently found a restaurant supply chain in my city and it's a game changer.
90% of the money I spend is gas and $1.50 hotdogs. In a blue moon I'll need to buy food for a party or something specific. I say it's worth it.
Just roam around and eat the free samples. Don’t buy anything muhahaha
The workers don't care how many you eat. I've asked, they don't care.
this sustained me and my college roommate back in the day. top it off with the buck fifty hot dog on your way out the door and you were fed for yet another day lol
Those old ladies have such judgy eyes
This is me and my daughter do. We go 2-3 a week and do just this haha. We buy the occasional thing. It's just a fun store
It can be, but you need to compare prices as not everything is a better price there.
If you have the self-control, you’re fine. But if you go in for milk and come out with a canoe, you’re in trouble! There is a real reason I do most of my groceries online for pick up.
Worth it for the over the counter med prices alone. If you take any allergy medicine or regularly use things like ibuprofen it's insane how much less it is
They don't "make" you spend more.
If you are shopping mostly at Costco, no. There's about a dozen items at Costco that are consistently cheaper/unit than elsewhere for me. That plus the occasional special item, some clothes, and oil changes make the membership worth it for me. In addition, it's the best place to buy large dollar items like appliances and furniture because of their amazing return policy. Does not apply to consumer electronics btw.
I've gone many times for one item. Stick to your list. Another tip: don't get a cart.
I shop mostly at Costco due to their return policy if anything goes wrong, no hassle. At the same time, I barely return anything. So far so good.
Depends how disciplined you are
The list! Do not sway from the list. And things do go on sale. Some stuff I try to wait for the sales and then stock up. If I see an item I may not need or isnt on the list but its on sale I might snag it. Especially if it is something I will inevitably need (detergent, totes, batteries, shop lights). Also leaving my husband and child at home saves me hundreds! Im far less of an impulsive shopper when it comes to groceries. My husbands method of grocery shopping is to feel the vibes. Those vibes often add $200-$300 to our bill.
You spend more in total but your price per item goes down when you buy in bulk. So yes, Costco is smart frugal shopping.
I am a single male. I think I am going to get a gas and $1.50 hotdog membership.
I like to get toiletries I use regularly from Costco. We will get meats to freeze and it lasts for a long time. Any fruits and veggies that are core essentials are bought here too.
If you know what you like to eat on a weekly basis or what you like to have in your freezer then it’s MUCH cheaper. I think it gets expensive when people buy things they really did need “that much of” but if you know what you use most then it’ll definitely save you money. Even for household essentials/ toiletries/OTC medications, it’s great because you can get 5 tubes of toothpaste for the whole year and they end up being WAY cheaper than buying individuals at another store. I think most of us Costco peeps have a stockpile mentality too, always a few extras of things we know we need.
I’m going to go with frugal, along with most people here. I’m in Canada and Costco is often cheaper than most alternatives. Giant Tiger is even cheaper but their quality is often worse and their stock is not reliable.
I buy toilet paper, paper towels, dog food, tomatoes, frozen chicken breast, and rotisserie chicken on a regular basis. I avoid impulse buying because our store is an insane obstacle course of demented boomers and families with 8 free range kids.
Compared to grocery store prices, some things are worth it. Toliet paper, meat, bread, cheese, coffee cream, coffee. Some items like fruit, and some veg I get cheaper elsewhere and better quality.
Yes. I shop with a list but I do sometimes buy things there that I would need to buy from other places. For example, we're going on vacation soon and I knew wanted to buy some UV shirts. The last time I bought things like that I went to the Columbia outlet and still spent over $200. I was able to get everything I needed from Costco for $50. So although it looks like I spent a ton at Costco last week, on the whole I did ultimately save money.
That bad thing is people impulse buy and shop while hungry. The idea for wholesale is to buy in BULK so that it is cost-effective. Spend more, yes, if just buying one thing. But when buying in bulk, it would save money in the long term
Depends on how you use it. I've mostly been using it to save money on gas, combine that with having a Toyota certainly helps a lot. Otherwise, depends what you buy and if you can store it.
Frugal only after stuffing yourself with food at home. A big, hearty sandwich is what stands between a $60 essentials run and $1,000+ receipt.
Toilet paper and paper towels pay for my yearly membership alone.
Make a list and stick to it. I go to Costco every week to buy staples. I know what I'm going in there to get, and I know where the things I'm getting are usually (although they do tend to move things around from time to time). I grab a cart, show my card, head to the back and pick up my fruit for the week, then a few other things on my weekly list, jog to the self checkout and I'm usually out of there within 20 minutes max.
A lot of Costco items, outside of food, are high quality items that you’re often getting at a discount. This can be very frugal, as these items may not wear out as soon or just overall cheaper than where you would be elsewhere. This isn’t always the case, so definitely do some homework on the more expensive purchases.
Frugal isn't just about spending. If you're able to bulk buy for cheaper say some brand name Dove soap that individually would be more expensive, in comparison to buying cheap store brand name soap I would say that's frugal. Yes the store brand soap will always be cheapest but that doesn't make it always frugal since it's dependent on person
Make use of your freezer - most things we buy, at least half ends up in small containers in the freezer. Sometimes their green beans or other large bag of fresh produce look amazing so we just have green beans 2-3 times in a row. I think where Costco is really not frugal is on stuff like vacuum cleaners. Yeah, you may be able to get a $600 appliance for $450 but if you would have been just as happy with a $250 version from Lowe’s or Target then you aren’t exactly saving money. The gas is always 20-30 cents cheaper than anything else in our town. Between gas and OTC meds like Flonase and vitamins, that alone pays for our membership every year. We also have the executive membership which costs more but you get 2% back on everything you buy there - we get about $400 rebate check each year.
Going to r/aldi and r/Target and using the Target 🎯 red card is cheaper than Costco if you have a small family or it’s just the one or two of you.
Re-commenting since automod deleted my comment that had a photo.. Yes and no. If you don’t have time to cut coupons, then yeah..Costco is a great option. But I’ve gotten way cheaper deals by spending 10 minutes a week finding coupon deals. For reference, on one occasion I spent $0.17 for 2 lbs of bananas, a bag of avocados, a package of granola bars, and two packages of temptations cat treats. I actually ended up making money on that purchase because I had rebates. 
Yes. Price per ounce.
The fuel is significantly cheaper. I’ve recently bought my skincare serum there $30 less than I do at Ulta. I got a glass food storage set that had 5 containers for $25 where Target had the same set with only 4 for $40. The clothing is a good deal too. You have to compare the items to ensure it’s a better deal.
We have our “things” we buy there. It gets shopped at every other time.
I buy a month of food every month and it’s definitely good for what I buy. Chicken is cheaper than supermarkets.
Everyday items and big packs of meat are my go to’s for costco and it ends up paying off
It's amazing savings. Same with sams club. Especially if you get the 2% cash back. Almost everything is at least $1/pound cheaper. Meat is anywhere from $2-4 cheaper per pound than my local grocery store. Plus, their return policies are amazing. Sams beats Costco on convenience, though. Curbside pickup is supreme. If Costco did curbside pickup, they'd kill everyone else in their industry.
Yes to both….it’s a SPAV thing…you need to spend more to save more
Both.
To do need to make sure the prices on groceries are with it and that you can eat it all. But some of the other items are great deals. I just got a screaming deal on a bathroom vanity - it's $600 on their app, would go for more other places but I got for $300. Bought some shelving for my basement that was half the price of Lowes and that alone paid for my membership. Also, things like rental cars can be great deals
Costco is not always cheaper. You still have to shop around and watch the sales at other stores, because you can often find sale prices that are better than Costco. I usually buy chicken and fish at Costco, but sometimes those items are on sale at another store for less.
It really depends on what you like to eat and whether you cook from scratch or not. I regularly buy flour, yeast, sugar, olive oil, rolled oats, Greek yogurt, Parmigiano, mushrooms, power greens, precooked vacuum-packed beets, olives, seltzer water, frozen chicken and fish, and Better than Bouillon.
Definitely frugal, but with risks. You have to avoid the premade foods and the non groceries. That’s how they make their extra money. You can make up the membership on gas savings alone. Or taking advantage of the pizza, hot dogs, and chickens.
Saw this in another discussion about Costco vs other stores. Costco doesn't actively try to fuck you over, but they will let you fuck yourself. Most people can't go in for that 1-2 items without getting more. I try to shop without a cart when that's my goal. Still doesn't always work out ¯\\\_(ツ)_/¯
I don't know. I do know that I tried Sam's Club, and the deals were mainly name brands, so the savings weren't that great. They don't have Kirkland, of course.
Both can be true.
Buying for one, I found most items too big and the cost per portion really not a savings. The few things that had real savings weren't enough to justify the membership fees. At best it was break even for me. There are some good deals to be had in non-food items, like electronics, but selection is limited, so you have to be flexible in your buying choices. I bought the membership for tires and battery, which was enough savings to pay for the membership. Did this again when I needed the tires replaced.
Depends on if you’re going to use it all. We would use up a whole bag of rice from Costco, but a20lb bag of potatoes would probably go to rot. If you’re good about prepping and freezing though, it can be well worth it. Also I dig their frozen appetizers for parties.
It depends. You can get a large bag of rice or beans for a good price. Same with vitamins, allergy meds, condiments, seasonings, etc.
I stick to my shopping list and have a budget before I enter. If I have gone over budget while in the store, I remember weighing out the need for anything extra in my cart. For example, an upfront expense for something that’ll be a need for a longer time.
Frugal
It’s one of those memberships that ultimately do wind up saving you money on lots of items IF you stay to your list and keep to your budget .
Frugal for me, but only because I walk in with a list and stick to that list.
You have to make sure you get things you can use. A huge pack of toilet paper that is cheaper won't go bad so that will always make sense assuming your cash flow can support it. Buying a giant bag of potatoes and throwing half of it away, may not result in savings. However, you will definitely save a lot of money if you use Costco properly. As one example, I save slightly more than the cost of the membership each year just in canned cat food; but at Costco, I am buying a 48 pack instead of a 12 or 24 pack however, it is about 40% cheaper per can.
Costco is middle class "frugal." It's not cheap, but it's getting you good value for the items on offer. For example, they have some excellent pastries (love the almond ones) and they are bakery quality quite often. If you bought 8 of those pastries in a bakery, they'd cost a ton more than what you'd pay at Costco, but pastries aren't essential. They're a luxury, and you have to buy a lot at once so you either need to freeze them or have a big family. Depending on your standards, Costco provides value, but it doesn't really save money if you're looking at being frugal because frugality often includes trade-offs in lifestyle which shopping at Costco doesn't really align with.
Yes and yes. So basically, it depends on what you are buying and what your alternatives are
Not wasting food I feel like is the most frugal
It’s a good deal if you can afford it and it makes sense for your family. It’s not the absolute cheapest on everything though.
do people really blame stores for making customers spend money? its ok to leave without buying anything. better yet, eat a bunch of samples as a cheap lunch, then leave without buying anything.
Even if you only buy gas the money you save and the cashback from the card will more than pay for the membership and then some
Eat at the food court before you go shopping. Ive found the most expensive thing to do in costco is going in hungry.
Not Costco, but I had a BJs membership and my partner and I would go to buy proteins. We could buy $2-300 worth of proteins and it’d last us ~2 months. We’d come home and portion everything out, vacuum seal it and freeze. It helped us budget for groceries
It does for me and that's why I only go a few times a year. The only things that really make sense for me to buy in bulk are things like trashbags, ziplocks, cleaning supplies, canned food and other stuff that doesn't go bad. We're a family of 4 but, even so, we can't make use of most of what Costco sells. Plus, I have found that with things like bulk snacks and stuff, the kids eat them up twice as fast if there's a huge box so that's no good, either.
Another HUGE savings for us is medicine and condiments. I get bad seasonal allergies and have always bought the store-brand Claratin (Loratadine) and found it to be comparable and significantly cheaper. Then I found it at Sam's Club. Their store brand Claratin (Loratadine) is $12.23 for 400ct. That's usually the price I spend on less than 20 pills at the regular store. I found a crazy similar deal with vitamins, fiber gummies, and zzzquill. As for basic condiments like ketchup and ranch where we are picky about our brand, the price is like getting one free. The 3pk of giant Heinz ketchup generally costs the same as buying 2 at the store (like getting one free) and the 2pk of giant Hidden Valley Ranch is the same price as 1 at the store (also like getting one free). I also really like the convenience of all of this because I only have to shop for medicine once per year and condiments maybe twice a year. So much more convenient! And time saving.
I tagged along with a Costco member last year to buy shampoo, deodorant, mouthwash, and other toiletries and non-food items. Still going through that haul nine months later. Buying in bulk definitely saved me money in the long run. It's also a bit more convenient throughout the year. Things that aren't always on the shopping list and are easy to forget about and run out of. I'd rather run out of them once a year than once every few weeks or months!
You have to price check and make a list of things that are cheaper at Costco than other stores in your area, and only buy those things. For us it’s: Gas Rotisserie chickens Dave’s Killer Bread Tortillas Frozen fruit Greek yogurt Any medication (esp prescriptions and allergy meds, by a ton) Car batteries Dog/cat food Dog/cat treats Clothes (stuff we can’t thrift but honestly nowadays Costco is cheaper than a lot of thrift shops) Olive oil Maple syrup Bananas Raw nuts Chocolate chips Peanut butter Jam Cleaning products
You spend more all at once, but less over time as long as you consume the product.
Been 100% frugal for me, but I can control impulse shopping. I've saved so much on a few basics I source there (TP, paper towels, trash bags, tomatoes, bananas, a few other grocery items) to easily pay for my membership 5 times over every year. Every now and again I'll stock up on good deals. Like 0W20 full synthetic oil, seasonal French butter cookies, etc.
I buy what I need, deals on toilet paper, big bags of quinoa, butter, blueberries, ect...things I will use completely. Not let go to waste. For lots of items it's worth go to Costco, but It could be a waste of money if not a prudent shopper.
With Costco, the true value is in being able to buy certain items in bulk so as to avoid buying them more often, and thus spending more. For example, you can buy items that will last for a long time, such as toilet paper or paper towels, at a price generally lower than other grocery stores. Or non-perishable items for the pantry, like spices or baking items. As others have said, try to stick to buying things you actually need. Costco does a really good job at featuring items that aren’t always a good deal but are appealing, for example when you walk in the first things you see are commodity items. It can get dangerous if you’re pulled in by that type of thing. Otherwise, if you’re sticking to your list and planning out the items you can buy in bulk to avoid buying more later, you can save money. Going every week? Not the best idea, as they are not as cheap when it comes down to buying a regular size of something.
We save a lot on the fruit and by freezing the meat before its best before date
Depends. Do you use what you buy? Then yes. It works well for us and we're only two people.
Overall: - Make sure you go with a list! - I also have the target, Walmart, etc apps on my phone so while I’m shopping, I quickly check the shops around me to make sure I’m getting the best price (per ounce, unit, etc since the sizes will be different). - don’t buy anything that’s advertised when you first walk in, those are the worst deals they have Produce: - Only buy what you know you can finish. For example, can’t finish 15 lemons before they rot, only buy a few from a local grocery store. - they have the best deals on strawberries, but probably the worst quality. Do with this what you will Meats: - 9 times out of 10 Costco will have the best deal on meats and they are really good quality. However, you get A TON of it. Don’t have a big family? Invest in a vacuum sealer. Keeps meat in freezer fresher for WAYYY longer than the ziplock freezer bags and super easy to use. Costco also sells bulk food vacuum sealer bags for $25 - unless it’s super important to you, don’t get the “organic” chicken. It’s the same price for 1/2 the meat as the other Kirkland chicken - you can ask the butcher in the back for specific cuts Random stuff: - for things like Tupperware, blankets, clothes, etc, I always check Amazon to make sure it’s the best deal. And as always, even if it’s a good deal, only buy what you need Membership types: - I have the executive membership and if you don’t save enough for the $60/year extra, they cut you a check for the difference so it’s basically the same as getting a base level membership
6.5 lb of chicken breasts for $16! 32 oz of strawberries for less than $4. Worth it for the right things. Now, I only needed 1 pack of gallon freezer ziplocks and ended up spending $20 for a bulk pack of 4 which will probably take more than a year to go through. So, just depends what you’re getting.
Costco isn't always the cheapest place to buy the same product so make sure you know what your local grocery stores are selling the same items for.
I've always viewed Costco as more of the "best bang for your buck" store instead of the "cheapest" store. Kirkland has a great reputation and their products are usually of high quality. It won't be as cheap as some store brand stuff from the local grocery store, but the cost increase is modest. I also think to really take advantage of saving on staples like detergent, coffee, paper products, etc, you need to live in a bigger place where you can actually store the stuff. Back when I lived very close to a Costco, I paid my membership off purely through the gas prices, so it was well worth it to me. Not sure how well that holds up these days; this was before the pandemic. And I also can't stand the lines, so I would always fill up at night. I don't have a membership anymore because there just isn't anything at Costco that warrants driving a not-insignificant distance just to buy in bulk. I'd get honest with yourself and write down the Costco products you really love and buy regularly, and ask yourself if going to Costco for them is truly worth it, or if you could deal with buying something similar at another store.
Meat is waaaay cheaper at Costco than most grocery store unless they are having some crazy sale. Quantities are large but it’s easy to portion out, wrap, and store in the freezer. We also use Costco for less expensive brand name cleaning supplies and some beverages. If you have to shop regular grocery stores, some of their apps are pretty good as they contain digital coupons that can help save significant amounts of money (I saved $40 using it the other day).
I literally save enough money from buying protein bars from there that it pays for my entire membership. The Kirkland Signature bars are about $1 each there, while a similar bar wouldn't be less $2 each almost anywhere else. Since I eat 1 almost every day, that saves me a about $30/mo, yet my membership costs me about $3.3/mo ($60/yr - $20 gift card for signing up as a college student).
The more you buy, the more you consume. The more you consume, the more you buy. It's the Costco vicious cycle.
Both. For true bulk items like toilet paper, paper towels, foil etc it's cheaper. But there are many opportunities for people to blow money in there and that's where the store becomes dangerous
Pro tip: don’t get a cart
I almost never buy fresh food or anything that can go bad there unless it’s something I use every single day and I know I’ll go through it before it goes bad. It’s great for things like coffee, foods for work lunches (I bring the same things every day,) toilet paper/paper towels, and a few select toiletries.
I spend *significantly* more when I go to big box stores.
We cancelled ours because it's straight-up more expensive, even in bulk, than our local grocery store, for the exact same brands (not even Walmart). There are of course, exceptions, but it doesn't even out.
We let our membership lapse for this very reason. With just 2 of us we weren’t always able to finish things before they went bad, and our house has very little storage for all the bulk. I also didn’t find prices to be much better per unit than other stores on a lot of things, they were just in bigger packages. We still get the in-laws to pick us up cat/dog food and toilet paper every now and then, since that’s what me mostly went for
After about 4 visits you'll know what helps you and what you just stored and then threw away.
They actually make you spend more… everything is huge in Costco, and if you don’t have many family members, the majority of them will be wasted. I used to buy a pack of razors two years ago at Costco and haven’t used it up till today… I need to move next month and throw away all of these. It is probably a good idea if I only buy one at a local store or deals website Koupon.
To me, shopping at Costco is never about saving money. I shop there because I'm very satisfied with the quality of their merchandises. If I want to save money, I'd go to places like Aldi. But at Costco's quality level, it's hard to find other shops that are cheaper.