If your toddler is in diapers, then it is probably worth it.

If you don't like the membership they will refund your the cost.

It's just my DH and I so I only go about once a month mostly to buy their meat which I think is excellent. When we have guests staying for a few days then I stock up on a lot of things. It's hard to beat their quality.

I think Costco saves us some time and money. We are a family of 4, 2 adults and 2 preschool aged kids.

The limited selection works for us because they are usually well established brands and we do not have to spend time comparing brands.

We go once a week to get gas and do 95% of our grocery shopping there. Our staples include organic milk, eggs, bottled water, apple juice, broccoli, carrots, meats, fruits, cheese, wine, ready-made food, bread, and grab and go snacks.

Usually our bill will be $100-$150. If I buy a week's worth of groceries at a mid-tier grocery store (like Giant or Safeway), it will definitely be north of $150, unless I clip coupons and am very, very selective, which takes time.

Once in a while we will get shampoo/conditioner, toothpaste, vitamins, toilet paper, aluminum foil, paper towels. Definitely need storage room for these items because it comes in bulk.

We also go there for one-time big purchases like printers, Flat screen TVs and changing our tires.

You can "try it out" by going with someone who already has Costco membership.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd also rather support a business that stands behind its products and pays people a fair wage and trains them to promote from whinin.

Huh? Costco is one of the good guys in terms of wages. It's not Walmart/Sam's busted for hiring illigals

Good wages, great benefits and people love working there.
A friend works there PT and she gets subsidized retirement there and she really appreciates that.

I have some cousins who have worked at Costco, and they were great to work for they thought. I had an Aunt who needed to supplement her Social Security and she has actually enjoyed working there (she's a food taster person). Another cousin was a contractor and during the housing crash (they're in the Midwest) he worked there and they pay very fairly and have good benefits. He's still there part time even though the contracting market has picked back up. Check the tags of people who work there - you'll see lots of them have been there surprisingly long times because they treat there employees fairly.

+1. I rather shop at Costco, is possible, than buying them elsewhere. I know a lot of people working for Costco.

I spent $30k/year last year just on grocery at Costco for a family of six.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd also rather support a business that stands behind its products and pays people a fair wage and trains them to promote from whinin.

Huh? Costco is one of the good guys in terms of wages. It's not Walmart/Sam's busted for hiring illigals

Good wages, great benefits and people love working there.
A friend works there PT and she gets subsidized retirement there and she really appreciates that.

I have some cousins who have worked at Costco, and they were great to work for they thought. I had an Aunt who needed to supplement her Social Security and she has actually enjoyed working there (she's a food taster person). Another cousin was a contractor and during the housing crash (they're in the Midwest) he worked there and they pay very fairly and have good benefits. He's still there part time even though the contracting market has picked back up. Check the tags of people who work there - you'll see lots of them have been there surprisingly long times because they treat there employees fairly.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, but one of us goes on our telework or flex day, not on the weekend. We are very strategic and maintain separate Costco and Grocery Store shopping lists, and we limit the perishables we get at Costco. It's also important to have the storage space available. We have a family of two adults and two toddlers.

That is what we do too. I have specific things I get from Costco and when we need enough I get them there. The Costco in Pentagon City has a great wine selection too. The meats alone though are worth it. You do have to be careful though or you will find yourself as I do going in for coffee, juice boxes for lunches, and leaving with $400 worth of stuff. I've learned to stick to my list and let myself buy *one* (OK, sometimes two) impulse items.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks! I'm going to join Costco! I was just thinking about food and supplies like toilet paper I didn't even consider the savings on diapers, glasses, gas and party supplies. We're planning a birthday party for LO in a couple of months so I'm definitely joining before then.

Costco is the best for entertaining. The cups, plates, plastic ware etc are worth it. As another PP said, if you have the Executive Membership, you get 2% back on purchases, so with store and gasoline purchases, we end up getting a rebate check that covers our membership fee. We are a family of 4 and do quite a bit of shopping at Costco. Somethings we don't need in bulk, but for things like paper towels, laundry detergent, trash bags and kids snacks....it's totally worth it.

Membership is $60 a year. What are you, some school secretary from Lancaster, PA for which $60 a year is a big deal?

Anonymous wrote:The Wheaton Costco doesn’t have alcohol correct?

Correct. None of MD ones sell alcohol

Anonymous wrote:We recently bought a high quality 2-piece sectional sofa for $800. It was available only at the warehouse so we had to haul it ourselves. But totally worth it. We have been looking to replace the old sofa but could not find the one we like in the furniture stores. One day we went to costco for a grocery run and happen to see it and knew that it was the one. It is reassuring to know that they do not sell shoddy stuff like at the cheap furniture stores. Also their generous return policy adds to the peace of mind.

+1

We have bought great furniture there as well as a bathroom vanity.

Last year, however, we ordered a sectional from Costco online and it was terrible, about as deep and comfortable as a park bench. We called and they took it back and issued a full refund, no problem at all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Wheaton Costco doesn’t have alcohol correct?

No - you have to go to DC or Va for alcohol.

The pentagon city Costco is incredibly huge if you ever want to go on a wine run. They have their own chocolate factory where they make things like chocolate pentagons or turkeys or Easter eggs and they make gelato at the snack bar. It’s got to be one of their biggest stores it’s incredible.

The DC Costco is superior in every imaginable way to any of the others in the region.

I buy tires, gas, eyeglasses, vacations, clothing, toiletries, etc. at Costco. It’s well worth the membership, especially since I have one close to my house.

Anonymous wrote:The Wheaton Costco doesn’t have alcohol correct?

No - you have to go to DC or Va for alcohol.

The pentagon city Costco is incredibly huge if you ever want to go on a wine run. They have their own chocolate factory where they make things like chocolate pentagons or turkeys or Easter eggs and they make gelato at the snack bar. It’s got to be one of their biggest stores it’s incredible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd also rather support a business that stands behind its products and pays people a fair wage and trains them to promote from whinin.

Huh? Costco is one of the good guys in terms of wages. It's not Walmart/Sam's busted for hiring illigals

Good wages, great benefits and people love working there.
A friend works there PT and she gets subsidized retirement there and she really appreciates that.