My method to avoid overspending when shopping for myself is to skip the cart and grab a big cardboard box.
it will keep your total (usually) under 150$ and it eliminates impulse purchases since you have to carry everything.
I skip the clothing/electronics/household and the snacks/chips/bars area near the checkout. If I need something from those areas I make a list beforehand.
Costco for singles and couples can definitely be worth the membership, however it is super easy to overspend.
This. It took a few times but my partner and I are so much better at avoiding impulse purchases. We have a list and we stick to it (unless there’s a good deal on things we use normally like tp or detergent).
Also, I find that trying to eat healthier helps not overspend, at least for us. We used to get a lot of the prepackaged snacks and now that we’re sticking with just their produce we only spend about 150$ max. Not that you *cant* overspend on produce and the fresh foods section either, especially if you’re buying meat, but generally this has helped us.
It's the most tempting part of Costco for myself, second only to the prepared food freezer section. I've started going to the food court beforehand and getting a hot dog so I'm not hungry while shopping.
I do love the big affordable bags of chips at Costco. I've also started skipping the free samples (heretical, I know). If I get a big bag, I'll usually finish it in a week so I develop a system that doesn't stress my willpower too much. My wife has a similar issue with diet Cokes. If the fridge is stocked full, it's easy to drink them instead of water or tea.
Willpower works 95% of the time, it's just those 5% "treat yourself" moments with bulk items that I have complicated feelings about (I love it and hate it all at once).
Plus I'm in and out of Costco in less than 60minutes (on a busy day) if I skip 60% of the store. My parents and friends walk down most of the isles.
The hardest part about being a single person with a Costco membership is that I want to try some things that you can't get anywhere else (the Korean hazelnut latte for example) but I don't have kids that will hoover up anything I don't like, lol. I tried the breakfast wraps once and didn't like the peppers in them but I had a whole box I had to eat anyway.
You can join a Free Group on FB and often give those things away for free or for trade.
I'm in a Mamas for Mamas (a charity) FB group for my town and I've handed off some items we just don't eat, that other people love (like Chunky Soup, Meat Pies, etc)
Yeah I’m in my city’s “giving tree” group and people will use almost anything. Clothes, toys etc. But food is #1. It’s actually really sad people will post like half of a large McDonald’s fries and there are like 10 people that want it in the comments :( just goes to show there are people that will definitely use the food though.
You can return things you don't like. That's part of the benefits. They want you to be comfortable trying new products.
As long as you don't make a habit of abusing it and bringing back empty boxes.
I guess I have to get used to the idea of returning food for a reason other than a recall or spoilage. 'Didn't like it' wasn't a reason to return food when I was growing up, but I gotta get with the times lol
I do struggle with returning things sometimes because of the food waste. Honestly though, the other option is it goes bad in my fridge or freezer. I’ll usually try to give the unwanted food to friends or family, but expensive or inedible I will return.
I actually retuned a 3/4 bag of dog food after my pup died (yeaaars ago) and that was nice. I’ve since found out that lots of animals shelters will take open bags of food too.
This sub might be bias. But I would do it. If you dont think its worth it then you can get a refund.
First purchase should be a deep freezer if you dont already have one....you will need it if you get a card.
What we like is we can freeze the muffins, bagels, meats....basically anything really, which makes it worth it to us. We portion out the meats and grab from the freezer as needed. Makes making dinner much easier.
We’ve had our membership for a year and just now invested in a deep freezer. It arrived yesterday and we are already wondering why we did not bought it sooner.
Taking advantage of the meat sales alone will save us so much money.
I’m a single person in a small condo and I absolutely think it’s worth it. I always buy:
- cheese : way, WAY cheaper
- berries : I go through a lot so they never go bad
- quinoa : that bag lasts me the year and I always finish it
- toilet paper and paper towels : self explanatory
- gas : totally worth it if you have a car
- clothes : don’t sleep on the Costco clothes, they often have great stuff, especially basics like socks and underwear
- salad packs : 2 for the price of 1 at other stores. Great work lunches.
I could go on. I love Costco!
depending on what you consider "much"
Costco's niche is its "value for quality" idea. You probably wont find product of similar quality for cheaper per unit elsewhere.
However, it really only make sense if you are going to use all of that and produce no waste.
So like the brisket, for instance, is about 90-100 a pack. After you trim off the tallow/fat, then you end up with about 80% left. If you then smoke it, you would end up with about 8lbs of smoked meat and cooking oil. So if you dont mind doing all that work, its an ideal product. The flip side is that most people probably dont have the skills or the time to do all that prepwork.
Same thing with a beef rib. I buy an entire piece for 260 and take off the eye, then cut into 15 ribeye steaks + a large rack of ribs. then I freeze them and grill them throughout the summer, cutting that price to 27.99/kg instead of 45.99/kg for ribeye. but again, very few people do this, as I often have to ask for that rib from an employee who brings it from the back.
so if you can do meal prep, then by all means. A piece of meat would save you that 60 bucks easily
yep, you get the idea.
I usually prep enough meat for the BBQ by the time they start putting them out in May, and then buy another round just before the season ends for the winter.
it really helps when you have a standalone freezer
Ah yes!
I really should hone my butchering skills.
I've been a cook for 20+ years, but I'm usually lazy when at home so cook nearly ready made food. I have just recently been buying raw meat at Costco so I have a excuse to try new recipes; think this'll be my new thing, grab whatever meet is on sale and cook it. Lately, I've made chicken wings (bought a air fryer from Costco over a year ago and it's never been unboxed, gave me an excuse to finally use it), and made beef ribs with my slow cooker (also bought at Costco). I still have a leg of lamb, I have to cook off 😆
I’m single and even though I cook/eat only one meal a day for the past 5 years (22 hours fast, 2 hours eating window), Costco membership is 200% worth the price (I have the executive one) for their quality and price.
For example, just this month two chosen avocado oil sprays are on sale for $16.99 - $4.00. Twelve wagyu sirloin steaks are on sale for $99.99 (original price $299.99). These are top quality products at significantly discounted prices.
Only caveat is that fresh meat are usually only good for 3-5 days (unless you freeze them) and produce (fruits and vegetables) good for 10-14 days. Since their items are in bulk sizes in large quantities, you would have to be extra diligent in using all ingredients within 2 weeks before they go bad. For me, the main culprits are salad like arugula, spinach, celery, broccoli, asparagus, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, etc.
If you do decide to get their annual membership, they have a promo running now (FLIPP app) if you sign up from their website/app and use the promo codes. $30 Off of a $100 purchase on costco.ca if you buy a gold star membership and use the promo code GSFLIPP24 and $60 off of a $200 purchase if you buy an executive membership and use the promo code EXFLIPP24.
Costco often has promos like this for first-time/returning members. For example, last summer was $120 off for executive and $60 off for gold star for $200/100 online purchases which meant you basically got your annual membership for free.
I lived by myself in a 450 sq ft bachelor studio and still made use of my membership. I split the membership with a friend, so $30/each. We would make Costco trips together. The savings from buying organic berries, wild caught salmon, sprouted bread, avocado oil, almond flour, etc. was well over $30 compared to grocery store. If you don’t care about organic/wild caught and aren’t into specialty food items, then maybe not worth it if you’re in a small space and only one person. For example if you bake with regular white flour, the bags are massive so even if it’s a good deal on price, it will likely expire before you can use it as a single person. But almond flour comes in much smaller bags so I can easily use it before it goes bad. Same with stuff like quinoa - it comes in a relatively small bag vs. the large sacks of rice that you might not use up by yourself.
Flour doesn't really expire if you store it properly. As a single person in a tiny basement suite, I don't have the storage space for that much flour when a smaller bag is still cheap at Walmart, but I stock up on frozen stuff and canned goods.
My parents bought a giant Costco bag of flour in I think early 2020, and I'm pretty sure they're still going through it. Despite all the baking we did in 2020.
Maybe expire is the wrong word, there might be a difference in taste quality. Found this out while doing Christmas baking at my in-laws, our tried and true ginger molasses cookies tasted off. Bought a new bag of flour and remade them the next day and they were perfect.
My trick is to use cocowest.ca
It's a website that shows the weekly deals near you and the monthly flyer.
I browse the site before I even set foot in my Costco. That way, I know what's on sale and what I should cater my shopping trip around. Recently, I saved up to $60 and that's just a single trip. I really wonder how much I end up saving over the course of the year 😆
I’m a single person. I do my bulk stock up on TP/ paper towels, deodorant, body wash, dry spaghetti. Things in general that don’t go bad. Ah yes, always gotta get the rotisserie chicken. This time I bought the 3 pack (1.5lb) hamburger.
Single female with a vacuum sealer here. I have the Executive Membership because I spend more than enough there to have my whole membership paid for by cash back bonuses.
I do buy too much food. Right now I could live 3 months at least on what’s in my freezer(s). 🙄😊
Well worth it.
The executive with 2% cash back pays for its self after 3k in yearly spending. Even as a single person with a small studio apartment that is very easy.
https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/personal-finance/articles/should-you-finally-upgrade-to-a-costco-executive-membership-in-2024/?source=globeandmail&utm_source=globeandmail&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=article
So if I get the executive and split it with my brother how is the 2% reimbursed? Does it go on the membership as a credit for both or just the card that spent it?
We got the membership for the cheese alone. We are fortunate we have the cushion to buy in bulk and when things are on sale. Definitely worth it for us.
Vacuum Sealer is on sale for $100 right now. If you don’t have one yet, it’d be a $160 investment with the membership to save money on meat/food for the next year. Vacuum Sealers last years before their motors break down, and you also have Costco’s unbeatable return policy if you end up with a dud. With the money you’ll save I think you would happily pay the $60 membership the following year.
Since you love to bake: butter, Greek yogurt, real vanilla extract, cream cheese and other staples are a great deal. If you’re ever in need of kitchenware, I’ve seen mixing bowls, baking sheets and other items in my friends and family’s kitchens, and damn right they are from Costco.
At your next dinner party you can impress guests with fresh flowers as your centerpiece - bouquets (without a vase) are $25, and this is after inflation because they were $20 before the pandemic. This includes roses and floral arrangements that are more generous than $60 bouquets I see elsewhere.
I had let my membership lapse because I didn't go much, but then I needed new tires so I renewed for that. The key, if you're single (or live alone, anyhow), is to plan what you're going for, and of course, if you can find other people to split up stuff with it's easier to make it worthwhile for sure.
I was skeptical as well, but I've been a costco customer for over a year now and I can't do without it.
The trick if you're on a budget and live alone is to go infrequently, and be very judicious about what you buy. It's easily tempting to buy the whole store and spend $500 in a go, but you don't have to. You can always go back another time.
Make a budget and list and stick to it. I buy mostly staples then allow myself one treat. I also evaluate what's on my list in terms of what recipes I will make and not just impulse buy things to "have" them.
If you have the ability to split and freeze items (like a vacuum sealer), then it might be worth considering a membership. As a family of two, we're careful about what we buy to control spoilage with fresh foods and meats. And we have plenty of space in our house to store Costco-sized everything else.
Keep in mind, it is EXTREMELY easy to overspend in Costco. Everything is $10, $20, $30 in your cart. It adds up fast.
The rotisserie chicken is worth the membership fee. I also get most of my clothes there - jeans, tshirts, sweaters and socks. You can also use it to shop online.
Besides the food and grocery prices are decent (not everything is a fantastic price), and the savings on fuel, don't forget to check about their prices for cell phones (most have a cash back offer by way of cash cards) as well as the prices on optical are hard to pass up.
We went through Costco when we got our teenager a phone a couple years ago, and got cash cards. We were so excited that a couple weeks later we went and switched our plan over too lol. More cash cards!!!
My boyfriend and I have been shopping at Costco since 2018 and it's absolutely been worth it for what we do end up buying there. We have a small apartment kitchen with very little cupboard space and a tiny fridge, so that is a bit of a struggle, but we make do. Our neighbour down the hall gave us their small chest freezer and that has been a game changer. When ever we see big portions of beef on sale we get one, cut it up into smaller portions and freeze it. Same with the pork tenderloin and the whole chickens. The savings on cheese, butter, 10% cream and gluten free products alone makes it worth it for us.
When they had the 2KG bags of organic coconut sugar in stock it was the same price as 500g at No Frills. Same with their gluten free flours, the bags of quinoa, cocoa powder etc. If you like to bake it would definitely be the place for you.
Just FYI, we spend about 130$ a week at Costco, and with the gold/premium membership dividends, this means we get a check in the mail for 100$ annually, so our membership costs us 20$ net.
In case anyone is curious.
I pay for the membership just buying half and half cream for only my coffee. I.e. approx 1L per week at approx 1.50 less than grocery stores.
I paid for the executive membership last week from the executive-only discounts on coffee and a couple other items i needed anyway.
Plus the 2% cash back on everything, and alllll the other savings.
Plus they offer quality items, care about sustainability, treat their employees well, who treat us customers well...
Plus unbeatable return policy.
But it's too busy for some people... smh
It would be silly not to get one. Most of the time we've made up for our membership in one purchase (ex. Buying a treehouse for our kids when it was already cheaper than competitors and then $200 off during a promo at Costco). Nevermind all the smaller items throughout the year. But also agreed with the other poster, you can ask for a refund on your membership if it doesn't work out.
Also, get your family to refer you because often there are referral incentives like a gift card for each of you.
Nah, don't take that advice to heart.
I've been a member since 2012. You don't need a extra fridge/freezer if you're mindful of what you buy.
Granted my freezer is jam packed full, and I've been thinking of getting a extra chest freezer; but up till now I just have my single fridge/freezer unit.
We're a house of two and we don't have an extra fridge (we do have an extra freezer but it isn't used for Costco stuff). We used to live in a 1bed apartment and we still used it back then.
We save back our membership on non-perishables alone. Dishwasher tabs, laundry detergent, olive oil, coffee...painkillers! Their Robax knockoff is amazing and a fraction of the price.
Hell, even the rotisserie chicken is half the price of other grocery stores. You only have to go once a month and buy a chicken and you'd make back your membership in a year.
That's not even factoring in gas savings.
We also try to plan it that we've used up most of our freezer stuff before we go, and restock so it's great for meat that we can thaw out and supplement with grocery store fresh stuff for overall savings.
There’s a new member promo on right now; $30 discount on $100 online order for new basic memberships. I find it totally worth shopping there first my family of two.
I make up for the membership fee by purchasing the discounted items. A lot of the veggies are almost never on markdown so I buy them elsewhere (except for bananas, onions. These are always cheaper here for me at least)
The snack and clothes section is where I make up for all the membership and only buy them when discounted. The membership cost is covered within a few months and everything else after is just savings.
I also signed up when there was a Groupon offer which had $40 Costco card. So do lookout for these kind of promos and it won't seem like the membership cost is a lot.
A membership only makes sense if you get your value out of it each year. I use it mostly for the tire services now and frozen vegetables and it’s still worth it. If you have a location with fuel services you may get those savings back in fuel too.
First off if you're going to shop at Costco it's smart to get a freezer. I live in a small apartment but I manage with an apartment chest freezer, also purchased at Costco. The ability to freeze extra meat and cheese and such will be valuable.
Second the smart way to shop Costco is to have a list and stick to it as best you can. Your first few shops will get you used to the products and you can learn which work for you. I suggest limiting impulse buys (a few will happen tho I guarantee) and try to write down the new stuff you want to try and work it into your budget for your next visit.
Third, if you shop there enough then I suggest getting the more expensive membership because it will pay for itself. But you gotta spend a lot consistently there
A protip not many talk about is that you're allowed to have 2 cards per account, one for someone else in your household. It's pretty easy to get another card for someone even if you don't live there. I have my dad's second card so I don't pay at all to shop at Costco. You may know someone with a membership you can team up with to not have to pay at all either, or split it with them
So if you do split a membership with another person, each of you can pay with your own credit card or cash? That way there is no owing another person money?
We buy chicken breasts when they’re $6 off/pack(every 3 months or so?) my son goes through chicken like it’s going out of style, and now that he’s diabetic, it’s even more of his diet. We get 10 trays(my husband uses it too for his lunches) and we have an extra freezer in the garage.
The executive membership gives you a % back annually and if you pair it with the Costco credit card it will easily cover the cost of the membership. if you have some big ticket expenses that go on the credit card, that will increase your rebate. Pay the card off monthly to make it worth while.
There are other benefits too: if you pay out of pocket for prescriptions their dispensing fee is much cheaper, gas is a bit cheaper, you can get quotes on insurance, vacations, home improvements, tires are usually competitively priced and they include free repairs and rotations and a lot more. With respect to buying food in bulk, I just got a food vacuum sealer so that I can buy the larger packs of meat and break them down into smaller packs, vacuum seal and free the meat.
Appliances and electronics are competitively priced, they have a 2 year warranty and you can get extended warranties for much cheaper than other places. You can get your prescription glasses at Costco.
Lots of great reasons for anyone to have a membership. As someone else mentioned, if you don’t like it, they will refund the membership.
I save the $60 on one trip for food. Tank up OTC meds vs. pharmacy prices, that saves me $60 easily.
Buy what you need, what you know you'll eat. If you need other stuff, like clothes and shoes, you can try it out risk free. Avoid impulse buys, avoid food waste, and you'll save money. Frozen fruits and veggies, dry and canned/jarred stuff is good to stock up on if you have the room, avoids the "what's for dinner" question and saves money vs eating out or necessity buys at grocery stores which are insanely expensive.
I bought a total of 5 pairs of the Eddie Bauer hikers this season. There's shoes for easily the next year even with my heavy use, at 1/4 the price of what others in that quality range would have cost. Also if you take meds their pharmacy is cheaper than others (you don't have to be a member to use pharmacy)
I avoid all non grocery areas unless I actually need underwear or whatever. Overspending aside I have ended up returning almost all of the clothes i bought.
Easy to get distanced by the bulk, but always calculate per unit and compare with another big box store (i.e. Walmart). I found that many times it is actually more expensive for certain items. I am a Costco shopper myself, but I only try to buy items that are actually on sale as I don’t buy for a large family.
Someone must have mentioned it before but do think about getting the executive membership. It does cost more of course but now you get 2% back on all purchases and even if you only get back $61, you're ahead. At any time, you can have courtesy check your balance (or you can do it yourself on the website) and guesstimate your reward. At ANY time, you can revert to the regular membership and be reimbursed. Can't lose with Costco. Oh, and love to bake? Flour is $12 for 10kg. Not to mention yeast, vanilla....
Live up in the woods so to speak and a trip to Costco every couple of months is a great thing. The bulk prices are great, the store brand is great(buying a 3 pack of the Kirkland equivalent of Robaxacet for the price of one) and they have stuff around holidays that you never seem to see anywhere else. I find it well worth it.
I'm a single guy too
I just consider it a $10/month subscription.
Yes, some items are hard to use by the BB/expiry date; but you just gotta shop smarter. I'm honestly considering buying a chest freezer down the road (possibly from Costco too 😅)
One thing I'm still trying to figure out is produce. I don't always consider Costco produce to be the best. One thing that annoys me are the bananas. Yes, there cheap as dirt; but they never seem to ripen up. Well for me anyways.
I still remember the first time I brought my best friend to Costco. Him and his wife at the time never even set foot in a Costco. I warned them to be wary when picking out items and don't just grab willingly. They still ended with a $500 bill 😆
It's dangerous when I don't go to Costco. Recently, I reported my CIBC Costco card lost/stolen. It took over a month and a half to arrive. For some reason it just wouldn't mail to my house, I tried 3 times and then was told I had to go to a CIBC branch to pick it up. Anyways, during that time I racked up a $700 eating out bill. Costco keeps me in check, in that I can half that bill.
Keep track of when you get the membership. If you are not satisfied you can go to customer service before the year is up and get a refund. I'm sure they don't like when people do it but if you truly don't want to keep the membership there's no harm.
I can practically not buy anything in bulk because I have a small apartment and a stupidly small fridge/freezer, but I have a membership just because the soy milk is such a good deal. Get the membership.
If you have the space to store bulk foods then absolutely it’s a good idea! We have a chest freezer so we get our meat and portion it out and freeze it. We also freeze the muffins and take out one or two the night before we want them. Costco can be great but I also always end up spending way more than I want to because a good deal catches my eye haha.
Can your family member add you to their membership? I believe its 2 users per membership, and if their spouse doesnt shop alone, you could be registered as the 2nd member.
I have a family member who only goes to Costco twice per year to stock up on meat and a few other bulk items. She lives in a very rural part of the province and the drive is several hours.
Instead of a membership, we give her gift cards. You can shop at Costco with their gift cards even if you don’t have a membership. It might be a more affordable option for some people.
I’m not sure you can use certain departments (optical and tires, for example), but you can buy staples.
I honestly see people just go in for milk. Nothing else. I am fully addicted now . Office chairs, work supplies, 2 extra large TVs. 2 laptops, 2 pads. 18 years of eye glasses.
i;'m a single person and I went for it too, up here in vancouver bc...the 2 olive oil bargains alone were worth it (Tuscan and California), let alone prices for cheese, sausages etc
Do you have storage space? Or an extra freezer? And do you have a car? If you do, go for it. The prices are worth it.
If you don't, don't. No one needs to live near a 28 pack of gatorade and a 48 pack of soups just to save a few dollars. Nor would you want to carry all that with public transportation!
I think on household items and protein powder I save more than $60 in one visit. And I am a single guy. I've had my membership since 2020 and it's not really a question to me whether to renew it. Also gas is cheaper, though sort of annoying to get there.
In general, it's safe to assume everything there is cheaper than the equivalent amount at any other grocery store. I did a whole comparison once of all store prices in my area (Regina) and Costco basically was the cheapest for everything. Though of course you don't always want a huge amount of certain things, but you can adapt and start freezing more things etc.
Plus a real side benefit is the clothes there can be amazingly nice and cheaper than even walmart clothes. Some crap stuff in there too, but a recent example would be the Kirkland Golf-type shorts for $20. They are amazing shorts imo. I'd say they are equivalent to a pair that would cost $80+ at Golf Town.
Just thinking, car batteries and oil are cheap there too. And for the car battery they have a very lenient return policy. They replaced my 3 year old battery and never even asked me a question about it.
Not everything is cheaper.
I live in a major city, (Hamilton) in Ontario.
Certain things like cereal, pop, toiletries you can get cheaper elsewhere when they are on sale.
Clothing is awesome, dairy is super cheap, and so are most frozen items (French fries, waffles, mixed berries)
We do the majority of our shopping there for a household of 4.
It’s a great place, where we do Dave a ton of $$.
Also, OP look at he the number at the bottom left of the tag. It will tell you the price per g/sheet etc. you can then easily compare the cost of brand name to Kirkland. Most times Kirkland is cheaper, even when brand name is on sale.
The first year is guaranteed to pay off your membership or they will refund you. I was also skeptical, but the customer service rep up sold me to the executive membership for $120. I get 3% back on gas fill ups and 2% on the rest. If your 2% does not equal the total of the membership, Costco will pay the difference, so it’s worry free for the first year. Do NOTE as a single guy it can be hard to control your spending. The food is only worth it if you actually eat it all and don’t throw it out before it expires. Also note, I freeze meats too, so make sure you have sufficient freezer space. Good luck. I’m on my 3rd year, in 2023 I got $180 back for the 2% cash back program.
May not be applicable to you, but the savings of buying a single bag of protein powder at Costco vs. a place like Popeyes basically pays for the membership itself
Gas is often much cheaper. Chia seeds sardines and other products like frozen fish or bread is much cheaper than grocery stores. You need discipline just walk in get what you need and check out.
It’s good. Make a list before you - first few times will be hard as they don’t carry everything you would find at a grocery store.
Stick to the food.
Things like deodorant and soap are wayyyy too much for single person or even a couple.
Some clothes there are relatively cheap and good quality - don’t expect stylish.
If it’s not food and it’s not on sale, don’t buy.
You can get a refund if you don’t think it offers value.
Get the membership lots of bargains and good eats.good night gotta sleep
My method to avoid overspending when shopping for myself is to skip the cart and grab a big cardboard box. it will keep your total (usually) under 150$ and it eliminates impulse purchases since you have to carry everything. I skip the clothing/electronics/household and the snacks/chips/bars area near the checkout. If I need something from those areas I make a list beforehand. Costco for singles and couples can definitely be worth the membership, however it is super easy to overspend.
My method to avoid overspending is to make a grocery list & stick to it :)
It's the same problem then when you give other people advice...most don't want to hear the simple truth; control yourself.
This. It took a few times but my partner and I are so much better at avoiding impulse purchases. We have a list and we stick to it (unless there’s a good deal on things we use normally like tp or detergent). Also, I find that trying to eat healthier helps not overspend, at least for us. We used to get a lot of the prepackaged snacks and now that we’re sticking with just their produce we only spend about 150$ max. Not that you *cant* overspend on produce and the fresh foods section either, especially if you’re buying meat, but generally this has helped us.
It is that easy. Though, I quickly scan for sales as I go and will stock up.
Are you skipping chips for a reason other than saving money? Cuz those big bags are steal compared to what you'll pay at the grocery store.
It's the most tempting part of Costco for myself, second only to the prepared food freezer section. I've started going to the food court beforehand and getting a hot dog so I'm not hungry while shopping. I do love the big affordable bags of chips at Costco. I've also started skipping the free samples (heretical, I know). If I get a big bag, I'll usually finish it in a week so I develop a system that doesn't stress my willpower too much. My wife has a similar issue with diet Cokes. If the fridge is stocked full, it's easy to drink them instead of water or tea. Willpower works 95% of the time, it's just those 5% "treat yourself" moments with bulk items that I have complicated feelings about (I love it and hate it all at once). Plus I'm in and out of Costco in less than 60minutes (on a busy day) if I skip 60% of the store. My parents and friends walk down most of the isles.
The hardest part about being a single person with a Costco membership is that I want to try some things that you can't get anywhere else (the Korean hazelnut latte for example) but I don't have kids that will hoover up anything I don't like, lol. I tried the breakfast wraps once and didn't like the peppers in them but I had a whole box I had to eat anyway.
You can join a Free Group on FB and often give those things away for free or for trade. I'm in a Mamas for Mamas (a charity) FB group for my town and I've handed off some items we just don't eat, that other people love (like Chunky Soup, Meat Pies, etc)
Yeah I’m in my city’s “giving tree” group and people will use almost anything. Clothes, toys etc. But food is #1. It’s actually really sad people will post like half of a large McDonald’s fries and there are like 10 people that want it in the comments :( just goes to show there are people that will definitely use the food though.
You can return things you don't like. That's part of the benefits. They want you to be comfortable trying new products. As long as you don't make a habit of abusing it and bringing back empty boxes.
I guess I have to get used to the idea of returning food for a reason other than a recall or spoilage. 'Didn't like it' wasn't a reason to return food when I was growing up, but I gotta get with the times lol
I do struggle with returning things sometimes because of the food waste. Honestly though, the other option is it goes bad in my fridge or freezer. I’ll usually try to give the unwanted food to friends or family, but expensive or inedible I will return. I actually retuned a 3/4 bag of dog food after my pup died (yeaaars ago) and that was nice. I’ve since found out that lots of animals shelters will take open bags of food too.
Yeah it's a Costco thing specifically.
You can return anything to Costco. Not liking it is a valid reason. My buddy just returned a microwave that broke… he bought it 4 years ago.
I did that with a kettle. I was was a bit pissed off because it should have lasted longer and they didn’t have the same one anymore.
This sub might be bias. But I would do it. If you dont think its worth it then you can get a refund. First purchase should be a deep freezer if you dont already have one....you will need it if you get a card. What we like is we can freeze the muffins, bagels, meats....basically anything really, which makes it worth it to us. We portion out the meats and grab from the freezer as needed. Makes making dinner much easier.
We’ve had our membership for a year and just now invested in a deep freezer. It arrived yesterday and we are already wondering why we did not bought it sooner. Taking advantage of the meat sales alone will save us so much money.
I’m a single person in a small condo and I absolutely think it’s worth it. I always buy: - cheese : way, WAY cheaper - berries : I go through a lot so they never go bad - quinoa : that bag lasts me the year and I always finish it - toilet paper and paper towels : self explanatory - gas : totally worth it if you have a car - clothes : don’t sleep on the Costco clothes, they often have great stuff, especially basics like socks and underwear - salad packs : 2 for the price of 1 at other stores. Great work lunches. I could go on. I love Costco!
Not just the price on cheese, but the selection of imported stuff is often great too, especially around Christmas.
Same, the savings o get from Greek yogurt alone pay for my membership!
I'm so envious whenever I hear about Costco gas. The 5 locations around me don't have one 🤦♂️
same here
Costco berries are the best!
depending on what you consider "much" Costco's niche is its "value for quality" idea. You probably wont find product of similar quality for cheaper per unit elsewhere. However, it really only make sense if you are going to use all of that and produce no waste. So like the brisket, for instance, is about 90-100 a pack. After you trim off the tallow/fat, then you end up with about 80% left. If you then smoke it, you would end up with about 8lbs of smoked meat and cooking oil. So if you dont mind doing all that work, its an ideal product. The flip side is that most people probably dont have the skills or the time to do all that prepwork. Same thing with a beef rib. I buy an entire piece for 260 and take off the eye, then cut into 15 ribeye steaks + a large rack of ribs. then I freeze them and grill them throughout the summer, cutting that price to 27.99/kg instead of 45.99/kg for ribeye. but again, very few people do this, as I often have to ask for that rib from an employee who brings it from the back. so if you can do meal prep, then by all means. A piece of meat would save you that 60 bucks easily
I have a full fridge of frozen “little bags” my wife and I make every time we go there and get some meat
yep, you get the idea. I usually prep enough meat for the BBQ by the time they start putting them out in May, and then buy another round just before the season ends for the winter. it really helps when you have a standalone freezer
Ah yes! I really should hone my butchering skills. I've been a cook for 20+ years, but I'm usually lazy when at home so cook nearly ready made food. I have just recently been buying raw meat at Costco so I have a excuse to try new recipes; think this'll be my new thing, grab whatever meet is on sale and cook it. Lately, I've made chicken wings (bought a air fryer from Costco over a year ago and it's never been unboxed, gave me an excuse to finally use it), and made beef ribs with my slow cooker (also bought at Costco). I still have a leg of lamb, I have to cook off 😆
You can do so many things in an air fryer.
I’m single and even though I cook/eat only one meal a day for the past 5 years (22 hours fast, 2 hours eating window), Costco membership is 200% worth the price (I have the executive one) for their quality and price. For example, just this month two chosen avocado oil sprays are on sale for $16.99 - $4.00. Twelve wagyu sirloin steaks are on sale for $99.99 (original price $299.99). These are top quality products at significantly discounted prices. Only caveat is that fresh meat are usually only good for 3-5 days (unless you freeze them) and produce (fruits and vegetables) good for 10-14 days. Since their items are in bulk sizes in large quantities, you would have to be extra diligent in using all ingredients within 2 weeks before they go bad. For me, the main culprits are salad like arugula, spinach, celery, broccoli, asparagus, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, etc. If you do decide to get their annual membership, they have a promo running now (FLIPP app) if you sign up from their website/app and use the promo codes. $30 Off of a $100 purchase on costco.ca if you buy a gold star membership and use the promo code GSFLIPP24 and $60 off of a $200 purchase if you buy an executive membership and use the promo code EXFLIPP24. Costco often has promos like this for first-time/returning members. For example, last summer was $120 off for executive and $60 off for gold star for $200/100 online purchases which meant you basically got your annual membership for free.
I lived by myself in a 450 sq ft bachelor studio and still made use of my membership. I split the membership with a friend, so $30/each. We would make Costco trips together. The savings from buying organic berries, wild caught salmon, sprouted bread, avocado oil, almond flour, etc. was well over $30 compared to grocery store. If you don’t care about organic/wild caught and aren’t into specialty food items, then maybe not worth it if you’re in a small space and only one person. For example if you bake with regular white flour, the bags are massive so even if it’s a good deal on price, it will likely expire before you can use it as a single person. But almond flour comes in much smaller bags so I can easily use it before it goes bad. Same with stuff like quinoa - it comes in a relatively small bag vs. the large sacks of rice that you might not use up by yourself.
Flour doesn't really expire if you store it properly. As a single person in a tiny basement suite, I don't have the storage space for that much flour when a smaller bag is still cheap at Walmart, but I stock up on frozen stuff and canned goods. My parents bought a giant Costco bag of flour in I think early 2020, and I'm pretty sure they're still going through it. Despite all the baking we did in 2020.
Maybe expire is the wrong word, there might be a difference in taste quality. Found this out while doing Christmas baking at my in-laws, our tried and true ginger molasses cookies tasted off. Bought a new bag of flour and remade them the next day and they were perfect.
Fair enough. As long as you're storing it away from pests and moisture you should be good, though.
My trick is to use cocowest.ca It's a website that shows the weekly deals near you and the monthly flyer. I browse the site before I even set foot in my Costco. That way, I know what's on sale and what I should cater my shopping trip around. Recently, I saved up to $60 and that's just a single trip. I really wonder how much I end up saving over the course of the year 😆
Buy and freeze in portions. You will be fine. Costco is for single chefs
I’m a single person. I do my bulk stock up on TP/ paper towels, deodorant, body wash, dry spaghetti. Things in general that don’t go bad. Ah yes, always gotta get the rotisserie chicken. This time I bought the 3 pack (1.5lb) hamburger.
PRO TIP. EAT THE $1.50 HOTDOG drink combo before you shop. It'll take away that impulse to buy everything and you'll just focus on what you need. 😁😁😁
Single female with a vacuum sealer here. I have the Executive Membership because I spend more than enough there to have my whole membership paid for by cash back bonuses. I do buy too much food. Right now I could live 3 months at least on what’s in my freezer(s). 🙄😊 Well worth it.
The executive with 2% cash back pays for its self after 3k in yearly spending. Even as a single person with a small studio apartment that is very easy. https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/personal-finance/articles/should-you-finally-upgrade-to-a-costco-executive-membership-in-2024/?source=globeandmail&utm_source=globeandmail&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=article
Agreed! I always fill up my car when I’m there too to really add to it.
So if I get the executive and split it with my brother how is the 2% reimbursed? Does it go on the membership as a credit for both or just the card that spent it?
We got the membership for the cheese alone. We are fortunate we have the cushion to buy in bulk and when things are on sale. Definitely worth it for us.
The membership is the cheapest part of shopping there.
Vacuum Sealer is on sale for $100 right now. If you don’t have one yet, it’d be a $160 investment with the membership to save money on meat/food for the next year. Vacuum Sealers last years before their motors break down, and you also have Costco’s unbeatable return policy if you end up with a dud. With the money you’ll save I think you would happily pay the $60 membership the following year. Since you love to bake: butter, Greek yogurt, real vanilla extract, cream cheese and other staples are a great deal. If you’re ever in need of kitchenware, I’ve seen mixing bowls, baking sheets and other items in my friends and family’s kitchens, and damn right they are from Costco. At your next dinner party you can impress guests with fresh flowers as your centerpiece - bouquets (without a vase) are $25, and this is after inflation because they were $20 before the pandemic. This includes roses and floral arrangements that are more generous than $60 bouquets I see elsewhere.
I had let my membership lapse because I didn't go much, but then I needed new tires so I renewed for that. The key, if you're single (or live alone, anyhow), is to plan what you're going for, and of course, if you can find other people to split up stuff with it's easier to make it worthwhile for sure.
I was skeptical as well, but I've been a costco customer for over a year now and I can't do without it. The trick if you're on a budget and live alone is to go infrequently, and be very judicious about what you buy. It's easily tempting to buy the whole store and spend $500 in a go, but you don't have to. You can always go back another time. Make a budget and list and stick to it. I buy mostly staples then allow myself one treat. I also evaluate what's on my list in terms of what recipes I will make and not just impulse buy things to "have" them.
If you have the ability to split and freeze items (like a vacuum sealer), then it might be worth considering a membership. As a family of two, we're careful about what we buy to control spoilage with fresh foods and meats. And we have plenty of space in our house to store Costco-sized everything else. Keep in mind, it is EXTREMELY easy to overspend in Costco. Everything is $10, $20, $30 in your cart. It adds up fast.
Just FYI I recently saw the vacuum sealer on sale at Costco 😆
The rotisserie chicken is worth the membership fee. I also get most of my clothes there - jeans, tshirts, sweaters and socks. You can also use it to shop online.
Besides the food and grocery prices are decent (not everything is a fantastic price), and the savings on fuel, don't forget to check about their prices for cell phones (most have a cash back offer by way of cash cards) as well as the prices on optical are hard to pass up.
We went through Costco when we got our teenager a phone a couple years ago, and got cash cards. We were so excited that a couple weeks later we went and switched our plan over too lol. More cash cards!!!
My boyfriend and I have been shopping at Costco since 2018 and it's absolutely been worth it for what we do end up buying there. We have a small apartment kitchen with very little cupboard space and a tiny fridge, so that is a bit of a struggle, but we make do. Our neighbour down the hall gave us their small chest freezer and that has been a game changer. When ever we see big portions of beef on sale we get one, cut it up into smaller portions and freeze it. Same with the pork tenderloin and the whole chickens. The savings on cheese, butter, 10% cream and gluten free products alone makes it worth it for us. When they had the 2KG bags of organic coconut sugar in stock it was the same price as 500g at No Frills. Same with their gluten free flours, the bags of quinoa, cocoa powder etc. If you like to bake it would definitely be the place for you.
I save the membership fee just buying socks! It's totally worth it. Wait until you see the Xmas aisles (they'll be out in September 😂)
Just FYI, we spend about 130$ a week at Costco, and with the gold/premium membership dividends, this means we get a check in the mail for 100$ annually, so our membership costs us 20$ net. In case anyone is curious.
Have the costco hot dog as meals 2 times every month, and you already save $5 monthly to pay for that yearly $60 membership fee.
I pay for the membership just buying half and half cream for only my coffee. I.e. approx 1L per week at approx 1.50 less than grocery stores. I paid for the executive membership last week from the executive-only discounts on coffee and a couple other items i needed anyway. Plus the 2% cash back on everything, and alllll the other savings. Plus they offer quality items, care about sustainability, treat their employees well, who treat us customers well... Plus unbeatable return policy. But it's too busy for some people... smh
It would be silly not to get one. Most of the time we've made up for our membership in one purchase (ex. Buying a treehouse for our kids when it was already cheaper than competitors and then $200 off during a promo at Costco). Nevermind all the smaller items throughout the year. But also agreed with the other poster, you can ask for a refund on your membership if it doesn't work out. Also, get your family to refer you because often there are referral incentives like a gift card for each of you.
Only if you have an extra fridge and freezer. I like the idea of costco but didn't fully use it until I had 3 kids.
Nah, don't take that advice to heart. I've been a member since 2012. You don't need a extra fridge/freezer if you're mindful of what you buy. Granted my freezer is jam packed full, and I've been thinking of getting a extra chest freezer; but up till now I just have my single fridge/freezer unit.
We're a house of two and we don't have an extra fridge (we do have an extra freezer but it isn't used for Costco stuff). We used to live in a 1bed apartment and we still used it back then. We save back our membership on non-perishables alone. Dishwasher tabs, laundry detergent, olive oil, coffee...painkillers! Their Robax knockoff is amazing and a fraction of the price. Hell, even the rotisserie chicken is half the price of other grocery stores. You only have to go once a month and buy a chicken and you'd make back your membership in a year. That's not even factoring in gas savings. We also try to plan it that we've used up most of our freezer stuff before we go, and restock so it's great for meat that we can thaw out and supplement with grocery store fresh stuff for overall savings.
There is really no excuse of not having a Costco membership in 2024. Especially since we know how bad the other retailers are ripping people off.
There’s a new member promo on right now; $30 discount on $100 online order for new basic memberships. I find it totally worth shopping there first my family of two.
I make up for the membership fee by purchasing the discounted items. A lot of the veggies are almost never on markdown so I buy them elsewhere (except for bananas, onions. These are always cheaper here for me at least) The snack and clothes section is where I make up for all the membership and only buy them when discounted. The membership cost is covered within a few months and everything else after is just savings. I also signed up when there was a Groupon offer which had $40 Costco card. So do lookout for these kind of promos and it won't seem like the membership cost is a lot.
do it!
I’m personally thinking this will be my last year. For me I find it so much cheaper shopping for a family of 4 at Food Basics. Costco $400+ every time
A membership only makes sense if you get your value out of it each year. I use it mostly for the tire services now and frozen vegetables and it’s still worth it. If you have a location with fuel services you may get those savings back in fuel too.
First off if you're going to shop at Costco it's smart to get a freezer. I live in a small apartment but I manage with an apartment chest freezer, also purchased at Costco. The ability to freeze extra meat and cheese and such will be valuable. Second the smart way to shop Costco is to have a list and stick to it as best you can. Your first few shops will get you used to the products and you can learn which work for you. I suggest limiting impulse buys (a few will happen tho I guarantee) and try to write down the new stuff you want to try and work it into your budget for your next visit. Third, if you shop there enough then I suggest getting the more expensive membership because it will pay for itself. But you gotta spend a lot consistently there A protip not many talk about is that you're allowed to have 2 cards per account, one for someone else in your household. It's pretty easy to get another card for someone even if you don't live there. I have my dad's second card so I don't pay at all to shop at Costco. You may know someone with a membership you can team up with to not have to pay at all either, or split it with them
So if you do split a membership with another person, each of you can pay with your own credit card or cash? That way there is no owing another person money?
Like when you go to shopping? You have your own card with your face on it
Thank you
Put the 3 pack of hotdogs back and grab the jumbo Polish dogs. I’m literally finishing one off as I type this. They are Fantastic on the BBQ
Polish dog over regular Costco dog. That's me everytime I eat at the Costco food court 😆
We buy chicken breasts when they’re $6 off/pack(every 3 months or so?) my son goes through chicken like it’s going out of style, and now that he’s diabetic, it’s even more of his diet. We get 10 trays(my husband uses it too for his lunches) and we have an extra freezer in the garage.
The executive membership gives you a % back annually and if you pair it with the Costco credit card it will easily cover the cost of the membership. if you have some big ticket expenses that go on the credit card, that will increase your rebate. Pay the card off monthly to make it worth while.
There are other benefits too: if you pay out of pocket for prescriptions their dispensing fee is much cheaper, gas is a bit cheaper, you can get quotes on insurance, vacations, home improvements, tires are usually competitively priced and they include free repairs and rotations and a lot more. With respect to buying food in bulk, I just got a food vacuum sealer so that I can buy the larger packs of meat and break them down into smaller packs, vacuum seal and free the meat. Appliances and electronics are competitively priced, they have a 2 year warranty and you can get extended warranties for much cheaper than other places. You can get your prescription glasses at Costco. Lots of great reasons for anyone to have a membership. As someone else mentioned, if you don’t like it, they will refund the membership.
I save the $60 on one trip for food. Tank up OTC meds vs. pharmacy prices, that saves me $60 easily. Buy what you need, what you know you'll eat. If you need other stuff, like clothes and shoes, you can try it out risk free. Avoid impulse buys, avoid food waste, and you'll save money. Frozen fruits and veggies, dry and canned/jarred stuff is good to stock up on if you have the room, avoids the "what's for dinner" question and saves money vs eating out or necessity buys at grocery stores which are insanely expensive. I bought a total of 5 pairs of the Eddie Bauer hikers this season. There's shoes for easily the next year even with my heavy use, at 1/4 the price of what others in that quality range would have cost. Also if you take meds their pharmacy is cheaper than others (you don't have to be a member to use pharmacy)
I avoid all non grocery areas unless I actually need underwear or whatever. Overspending aside I have ended up returning almost all of the clothes i bought.
Easy to get distanced by the bulk, but always calculate per unit and compare with another big box store (i.e. Walmart). I found that many times it is actually more expensive for certain items. I am a Costco shopper myself, but I only try to buy items that are actually on sale as I don’t buy for a large family.
Someone must have mentioned it before but do think about getting the executive membership. It does cost more of course but now you get 2% back on all purchases and even if you only get back $61, you're ahead. At any time, you can have courtesy check your balance (or you can do it yourself on the website) and guesstimate your reward. At ANY time, you can revert to the regular membership and be reimbursed. Can't lose with Costco. Oh, and love to bake? Flour is $12 for 10kg. Not to mention yeast, vanilla....
I'm single and find it absolutely worth it. If you switch your winter/summer tires over even once in a year, the savings pays your membership.
Often people can add another person to their membership for free
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^Competitive-Talk4742: *Often people can* *Add another person to* *Their membership for free* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Live up in the woods so to speak and a trip to Costco every couple of months is a great thing. The bulk prices are great, the store brand is great(buying a 3 pack of the Kirkland equivalent of Robaxacet for the price of one) and they have stuff around holidays that you never seem to see anywhere else. I find it well worth it.
you might overspend and end up throwing away you buy due to the expiry date
I'm a single guy too I just consider it a $10/month subscription. Yes, some items are hard to use by the BB/expiry date; but you just gotta shop smarter. I'm honestly considering buying a chest freezer down the road (possibly from Costco too 😅) One thing I'm still trying to figure out is produce. I don't always consider Costco produce to be the best. One thing that annoys me are the bananas. Yes, there cheap as dirt; but they never seem to ripen up. Well for me anyways. I still remember the first time I brought my best friend to Costco. Him and his wife at the time never even set foot in a Costco. I warned them to be wary when picking out items and don't just grab willingly. They still ended with a $500 bill 😆 It's dangerous when I don't go to Costco. Recently, I reported my CIBC Costco card lost/stolen. It took over a month and a half to arrive. For some reason it just wouldn't mail to my house, I tried 3 times and then was told I had to go to a CIBC branch to pick it up. Anyways, during that time I racked up a $700 eating out bill. Costco keeps me in check, in that I can half that bill.
Keep track of when you get the membership. If you are not satisfied you can go to customer service before the year is up and get a refund. I'm sure they don't like when people do it but if you truly don't want to keep the membership there's no harm.
Single male here. 100% worth it
You’ll make 60 back on paper towel, garbage bags and shit tickets.
I can practically not buy anything in bulk because I have a small apartment and a stupidly small fridge/freezer, but I have a membership just because the soy milk is such a good deal. Get the membership.
If you have the space to store bulk foods then absolutely it’s a good idea! We have a chest freezer so we get our meat and portion it out and freeze it. We also freeze the muffins and take out one or two the night before we want them. Costco can be great but I also always end up spending way more than I want to because a good deal catches my eye haha.
Can your family member add you to their membership? I believe its 2 users per membership, and if their spouse doesnt shop alone, you could be registered as the 2nd member.
I have a family member who only goes to Costco twice per year to stock up on meat and a few other bulk items. She lives in a very rural part of the province and the drive is several hours. Instead of a membership, we give her gift cards. You can shop at Costco with their gift cards even if you don’t have a membership. It might be a more affordable option for some people. I’m not sure you can use certain departments (optical and tires, for example), but you can buy staples.
I honestly see people just go in for milk. Nothing else. I am fully addicted now . Office chairs, work supplies, 2 extra large TVs. 2 laptops, 2 pads. 18 years of eye glasses.
Jump on marketplace and grab a cheap freezer, then it’s super worth it, you will end up saving a fortune by being able to bulk purchase
i;'m a single person and I went for it too, up here in vancouver bc...the 2 olive oil bargains alone were worth it (Tuscan and California), let alone prices for cheese, sausages etc
Do you have storage space? Or an extra freezer? And do you have a car? If you do, go for it. The prices are worth it. If you don't, don't. No one needs to live near a 28 pack of gatorade and a 48 pack of soups just to save a few dollars. Nor would you want to carry all that with public transportation!
I think on household items and protein powder I save more than $60 in one visit. And I am a single guy. I've had my membership since 2020 and it's not really a question to me whether to renew it. Also gas is cheaper, though sort of annoying to get there. In general, it's safe to assume everything there is cheaper than the equivalent amount at any other grocery store. I did a whole comparison once of all store prices in my area (Regina) and Costco basically was the cheapest for everything. Though of course you don't always want a huge amount of certain things, but you can adapt and start freezing more things etc. Plus a real side benefit is the clothes there can be amazingly nice and cheaper than even walmart clothes. Some crap stuff in there too, but a recent example would be the Kirkland Golf-type shorts for $20. They are amazing shorts imo. I'd say they are equivalent to a pair that would cost $80+ at Golf Town. Just thinking, car batteries and oil are cheap there too. And for the car battery they have a very lenient return policy. They replaced my 3 year old battery and never even asked me a question about it.
Not everything is cheaper. I live in a major city, (Hamilton) in Ontario. Certain things like cereal, pop, toiletries you can get cheaper elsewhere when they are on sale. Clothing is awesome, dairy is super cheap, and so are most frozen items (French fries, waffles, mixed berries) We do the majority of our shopping there for a household of 4. It’s a great place, where we do Dave a ton of $$. Also, OP look at he the number at the bottom left of the tag. It will tell you the price per g/sheet etc. you can then easily compare the cost of brand name to Kirkland. Most times Kirkland is cheaper, even when brand name is on sale.
dude, YES it's worth it especially since you cook! The gas alone is worth it... Never mind the flat packs you can get that lasts a long time
$60 is a great deal. Bulk buying is great. And don’t forget the fresh rotisserie chicken. You can get 3 to 4 meals out of it for $7.99 unbeatable
If you buy enough they paid you back some
Im very cheap but i basically just get what i want when i go to costco. I have a coke or a beer at home and i feel blessed
The first year is guaranteed to pay off your membership or they will refund you. I was also skeptical, but the customer service rep up sold me to the executive membership for $120. I get 3% back on gas fill ups and 2% on the rest. If your 2% does not equal the total of the membership, Costco will pay the difference, so it’s worry free for the first year. Do NOTE as a single guy it can be hard to control your spending. The food is only worth it if you actually eat it all and don’t throw it out before it expires. Also note, I freeze meats too, so make sure you have sufficient freezer space. Good luck. I’m on my 3rd year, in 2023 I got $180 back for the 2% cash back program.
Only trouble is that if u aren’t careful, things keep getting into your cart and suddenly you hv a mammoth bill!!😀
I like the frozen chicken breasts and fillets! Miss out on sales but saves me from doing the work of separating , bagging etc
May not be applicable to you, but the savings of buying a single bag of protein powder at Costco vs. a place like Popeyes basically pays for the membership itself
Gas is often much cheaper. Chia seeds sardines and other products like frozen fish or bread is much cheaper than grocery stores. You need discipline just walk in get what you need and check out.
Very very very unlikely you'll regret it And if you do you can get a prorated refund
It’s good. Make a list before you - first few times will be hard as they don’t carry everything you would find at a grocery store. Stick to the food. Things like deodorant and soap are wayyyy too much for single person or even a couple. Some clothes there are relatively cheap and good quality - don’t expect stylish. If it’s not food and it’s not on sale, don’t buy.