Costco newbie. What should I buy?

[Anonymous]

Nuts, gas, tires, electronics, mini peppers, Perrier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have Costco, but I shop at Sam's Club.

I get non-perishables because I have storage space and it saves me a lot of time buying things every six months instead of every month. I get paper towels, toilet paper, kleenex, ziploc bags, aluminum foil (actually closer to a 2 year supply of this! ), baby wipes (our daycare goes through a lot of these), dish detergent, laundry soap.

I buy some canned products that we'll use a lot like canned soups, baked beans. They have the brand of tomato sauce that I use in a pinch, so I'll get a 3-pack that can be used when I'm pressed for time. I get pantry staples that I use more of (dried basil and oregano, honey).

I get milk there because my kids drink a lot and it's much cheaper than the grocery. I get orange juice because I get a larger jug and it costs about the same as the smaller jug at the grocery. I also get fresh fruit there every other week because I get decent fruit and a lot more of it for the same price as the supermarket and our kids love fruit, so they eat some almost every meal. I try to have 4-5 varieties of fruit since they don't like to eat the same thing meal after meal. I get the basic medicine cabinet goods like multi-vitamins, tylenol, artificial tears, toothpaste, fish oil pills that we take because I can get a larger quantity for a better price there.

I get a wide variety of frozen goods because they are good deals and they'll last for the length of time that it takes us to consume them.

This PP has great suggestions. We are only 2 adults but still shop at Costco because it saves money. No one has mentioned gas - Costco has the best prices!
Mostly stick with non-perishables, except for milk, because I make my own yogurt and it is so much cheaper. I stay away from produce because it is too much, with a few exceptions - I will buy a large bag of spinach, wilt & freeze in portions; I buy their mini sweet peppers because they are good quality and last a long time, and are so easy to toss into any dish.

There is no gas station at the Wheaton Costco - thank god!

You must live nearby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have Costco, but I shop at Sam's Club.

I get non-perishables because I have storage space and it saves me a lot of time buying things every six months instead of every month. I get paper towels, toilet paper, kleenex, ziploc bags, aluminum foil (actually closer to a 2 year supply of this! ), baby wipes (our daycare goes through a lot of these), dish detergent, laundry soap.

I buy some canned products that we'll use a lot like canned soups, baked beans. They have the brand of tomato sauce that I use in a pinch, so I'll get a 3-pack that can be used when I'm pressed for time. I get pantry staples that I use more of (dried basil and oregano, honey).

I get milk there because my kids drink a lot and it's much cheaper than the grocery. I get orange juice because I get a larger jug and it costs about the same as the smaller jug at the grocery. I also get fresh fruit there every other week because I get decent fruit and a lot more of it for the same price as the supermarket and our kids love fruit, so they eat some almost every meal. I try to have 4-5 varieties of fruit since they don't like to eat the same thing meal after meal. I get the basic medicine cabinet goods like multi-vitamins, tylenol, artificial tears, toothpaste, fish oil pills that we take because I can get a larger quantity for a better price there.

I get a wide variety of frozen goods because they are good deals and they'll last for the length of time that it takes us to consume them.

This PP has great suggestions. We are only 2 adults but still shop at Costco because it saves money. No one has mentioned gas - Costco has the best prices!
Mostly stick with non-perishables, except for milk, because I make my own yogurt and it is so much cheaper. I stay away from produce because it is too much, with a few exceptions - I will buy a large bag of spinach, wilt & freeze in portions; I buy their mini sweet peppers because they are good quality and last a long time, and are so easy to toss into any dish.

There is no gas station at the Wheaton Costco - thank god!

You must live nearby.

You betcha.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: There is no gas station at the Wheaton Costco - thank god!

You must live nearby.

You betcha.

Where was the station planned? I went there yesterday and though the warehouse wasn't really beside any residential.

[Anonymous]

Um once you figure in the cost of membership do you really save money? Has anyone analyzed this?

[Anonymous]

Mom likes the mixed nuts and I don't have a membership but loved a greek yogurt jalapeno flavored chip dip. Lowfat and yummmmm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Um once you figure in the cost of membership do you really save money? Has anyone analyzed this?

I'm the Sam's Club poster above. I figure that I save at least as much as the annual membership, especially considering that my mother who lives in Florida has the second card and she also shops there frequently. However, I factor in that in addition to the monetary savings, the time savings that I get from shopping there vs shopping at grocery stores also is a huge plus. And since my local Sam's has a gas station which is always 3-8 cents cheaper than the cheapest gas around, and I add about 10 gallons per weekend, that it does add up by the end of a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Um once you figure in the cost of membership do you really save money? Has anyone analyzed this?

I use the Amex card for my membership. I charge enough to get back the $100 (cash reward) I spend in membership annually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Um once you figure in the cost of membership do you really save money? Has anyone analyzed this?

Yes, we do. DH and I calculated that the savings on coffee (Mayorga beans) alone pays for our annual membership.

[Anonymous]

I love the Kirkland toilet paper! It lasts forever.

[Anonymous]

Coffee, yogurt tubes, diapers, wipes, wine, snack foods (pirates booty, granola bars, Marcona almonds, dried fruit), brakfast cereal, big ticket items (TVs, cameras, vacuums), kids clothing, books, cleaning supplies, bottled water, towels....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I asked about your family. We have two kids, an extra fridge and storage space and we use the heck out of our membership buying the following: Milk (organic or not), eggs (organic or not), soda, ice tea/energy drinks, coffee, Beer and Wine (if in Virginia), produce (fruits and veggies are great but not organic), snack packs for lunches, Hillshire Farm deli meat, hot dogs, flour, sugar, spices, coffee, artificial sweetener, butter, gogo applesauce pouches, baby carrots, asparagus, heads of lettuce, packaged butternut squash, flank steak, organic ground beef, organic chicken, pasta sauce, oatmeal pouches, chicken nuggets (mickey mouse shaped), Ultimate FIsh Sticks, frozen chicken breast, frozen salmon, yogurt, bread (white and wheat), chips,

TP, Papertowels, napkins, vitamins, feminine products, suntan lotions and similar, OTC medicines and similar, prescription glasses are reasonably priced, cat food (canned and bagged) frontline for cats, batteries, lightbulbs, babywipes, laundry detergent, dish detergent, night face cream, day face cream, shampoo, soap, cleaning products

Clothing and similar: socks, underwear for kids, pajamas for anyone, beach towels, regular clothes for kids, all my workout clothing (bras, pants, shirts), some regular clothes for me, sneakers for me

Random things--they have nice flowers, nice towels and sheets, different seasonal decorations and plants that are often a great price. Super cute and cheap halloween costumes!

Special occasion stuff--they have yummy desserts and lots of pre-prepared foods. Hit or miss but mostly hit.

Things to avoid--shopping at peak times--it is a zoo. Also, avoid the 7-layer dip --basically mush. And avoid the mixed greens--they are almost always on the verge of rotting. I keep trying and hoping but never a good decision. If you want to buy lettuce there, buy whole heads.

Love COSTCO!

What is your height and weight, also BMI

[Anonymous]

I spend so much at Costco they pay my membership back. Executive Member.
Buy Zip locks and break down larger packages of meat and cheese...bagels...whatever to freeze.
I buy everything...
Dog food,batteries,tp,paper towels,coffee,dishwasher pellets,trash bags,knapkins.
For food I buy steaks to freeze,butter in bulk to freeze,peeled garlic in bulk...freeze. I like the olive mix they sell...I mix with Balsamic and use as sort of a dressing on their artisan lettuce. I buy produce...mangos...blueberries...wine...office supply! You name it. Consumer Reports did report on Costco a while back and you do save money. For new parents the formula and diaper pricing really good.
For me it saves me trips to the store to buy bulk...I go about one time per month and spend anywhere from 450 -650 for family of 5. Plus pets.... If you are in money saving mode obviously the prepared food is where they get you...I do like their prepared salmon, I tend to split the package to cook over 2 nights and I buy their asparagus to go with....

[Anonymous]

Marcona almonds. Single best thing there.

[Anonymous]

I buy mostly non-perisheables:

toilet paper
kleenexes
paper towels
cleaning supplies
batteris
vitamins
quinoa
canned beans & tomatoes
some spices (black pepper, turmeric, cumin)