Joined Costco on Sunday... tips & tricks?

For Christmas we got a membership to Costco and on Sunday we activated it. We ended up spending a TON of money (almost $300 for a two-person household!) and I am having buyer's regret, lol. I am working on a cost analysis to determine how much we spent, the amount of product we bought, and what a comparable price would be (for us this means Walmart prices) to see what was actually worth it and what we may be better off buying at a non-warehouse store. I am going to post it on my blog and I'll post it here as well when I'm done

Anyone have any tips & tricks for shopping at Costco or other warehouse clubs?

Some of their prices are really good, and some of their items are actually more expensive than what you can find on sale at other stores.  You just have to know what things usually cost in "regular stores".  Also, since they tend to sell things in cases, see if friends or neighbors want to split cases with you.  I do that with my family, since I'm the only one who has a membership.  If you're in the market for electronics, I think they usually double the mfr warranty, and you can always go on-line at Costco.com to read the reviews and sometimes even have the item delivered for free S & H (sometimes). 

Their meats are awesome, BTW, and a decent price.  I buy the pork tenderloins and then cut them into a size for the two of us and vacuum pack them for freezing.  You'll get a coupon book probably once a month that will tell you some of what is on sale that month.  You normally won't actually need the coupons, but you'll be able to see what's on sale before you get there...vitamins, meats, cereals, etc.  However, when we were there last week I noticed several things on my list that were on sale there weren't in the mailer.  Bonus

Look for the Kirkland Brand stuff.  They are very high quality...even their liquor.  Well, that's my opinion anyway

I would love to join Costco if they would just open a store close to us. I much prefer Costco over Sam's Club. There is a Costco in Harrisburg and our kids have a membership, so my DIL will take me shopping sometimes. We split cases of some items to make it a little economical for both of us. When I know I'm going to Costco, I really go through the house and make up a nice list.....need to make it worth my while as I don't get there often.

Their Kirkland brand is excellent; even Consumer Reports will often call the brand a Best Buy for things like laundry detergent and some cleansers.

You need to know prices and you need to keep your eyes open for good buys. It's the only way you'll make it work. 

Years ago, we had a Sam's Club membership. I had written down a lot of the prices from our local supermarkets for the items we used most often. I actually had a notebook that I used to keep track of stuff. We knew that some items were good buys. And others? Not so much. 

I'm really curious to see your cost analysis and I do hope you'll show us.

We've learned to only buy groceries that we normally get anyway. Impulse buys at Costco can get pretty costly. If you buy a food product just to try it out,  if you don't like it you end up with several pounds / gallons of whatever it is you don't want to eat.

Also keep in mind how much storage you have at home. If you don't like the huge bottles of ketchup, mouthwash, dishwashing liquid (or whatever), keep the smaller bottle you already have at home and refill it. I second the buying of Kirkland brand - very good quality and often they have their name alongside the brand name on the product.

You can order from Costco online, too, they have great prices! We have an executive membership since it pays back a small amount that ends up paying our membership every year.

We are joining Costco on the weekend. I can't wait, I love going there.

We love Costco - were just there today. When we first joined we "overbought". I remember buying a giant container of potato salad, and we're just 2 people. Everybody who came to our house was offered a doggie bag of potato salad!

Their meats are great. We buy Roma tomatoes at Costco, Sally Sherman tuna salad, which is excellent. We loved their chicken salad but for some strange reason they discontinued it.

And note that if you don't like something, their return policy is excellent. No questions, no problems, just money-back guarantee.

I love Costco. . .one just opened in Sioux Falls. I think their prices are better than Walmart's for comparable products, but some of their products are higher-end than Walmart's (like organic vs not, etc.) and if you don't care about the quality then you might not want to pay the extra. I'm single so I freeze a lot (open the big container, separate into individual servings, freeze).

I would like a Costco membership again, especially as they're opening a new store up the road soon. But I'd have to do a cost/benefit analysis of the price of membership, and how much we spend. We used to spend around $300 every time we went! Admittedly, we tend to get a bit carried away. For just two people, I don't think it's really worth it in the end. However, I agree that the Kirkland brand is good, and they have all kinds of products that other stores don't carry and I do like trying new stuff.

Do you have a chest freezer? To really take advantage of bulk buying, you need to be able to store everything properly without it getting it the way.

I love Costco! It saves us a lot of money when we stick to our list!

Things that are worth it:
-toilet paper
-paper towels
-dog beds
-wipes
-eye drops (after LASIK, I discovered Costco carried the exact brand of eye drops I like in a 100count for $18 vs $24 for around 70 vials at Walgreens
-Dried coconut and mango(the Phillipines brand is awesome)
-canned tomatoes; they are a staple in my cooking and I go through them often, so it's cheaper to buy the case
-Cascade
-Laundry Detergent
-rotisserie chickens
-lemons
-chicken stock/broth
-Citrucel
-nuts and healthy snacks
-magazines, gas, tires, prescriptions (you get a discount)
-Wine!
-cheeses and deli selections are good, but keep In mind if you will use what you buy before it goes bad.
-Rice
-some meats: we have an extra fridge/freezer, so if it is something we will use at a good price, I will buy in bulk on occasion.
-bruschetta from the deli -omg it's amazing!!!
-some electronics, but you need to shop around and compare prices

--------- buy elsewhere--------
-Olive oil: Whole Foods is much cheaper on their 365 brand and it's great quality
-Clothes: you can't try them on in store, and other places have better quality for the price
-Herbs/Spices. They will go bad before you can use them all when you buy in bulk.
-fresh fruit/vegetables : when you buy in bulk it can spoil quickly and it isn't always as fresh. The only things I buy in bulk ares lemons because I go through them like crazy.
-Pet foods: Diamond owns the Natures Domain grain-free brand, and they have had recalls, so I no longer buy pet food from there.
-decorations: overpriced
-bread; it will spoil before you can use it all
-k cups: Bed Bath & Beyond offers 20% off coupons and is much cheaper!
-makeup and body care: when you buy in bulk, if you hate it or it doesn't work for your skin, you're stuck with it. Stick to places like Ulta that offer 20% off coupons often on high end and drugstore brands!

kookycats said:

And note that if you don't like something, their return policy is excellent. No questions, no problems, just money-back guarantee.

Click to expand...

You are right, it's a fantastic policy!  I return defective items but never remember I can return food we don't like!

We've had a Costco membership for years.  It was great when the step kids were teenagers and they and their friends could eat enough for an army.  But now that it's just the two of us and we don't need to stock up as much, I tend to forget about going there.  @StarryEyedTiGeR  --great list!!  

I love Costco - I get my packing tape for my business there, and we have bought appliances, and other large ticket items there.  Usually, it's for groceries - I buy their raw cut up cauliflower (think it's a 2 lb. bag and yes, it's gone in a week+ - we use cauliflower for soups, faux rice, faux pizza crust, raw in salads...), their ground turkey, fosters boneless skinless chicken thighs and the breasts - six packs and each pack can be easily separated and then popped into the freezer as is (at least I do, no issues to date with freezer burn).

I buy cheese here in bulk - the Finlandia Deli Slices, and love some of the gluten-free sausage options they have (Sabatino's brand and 5th street Grill) that I can't find close by.

We go in with a list, keep impulse shopping to a minimum, and feel we save a great deal by doing so.