Who knew getting the most out of your Costco membership was an exact science? These members-only warehouses have their perks. Just head there on a Saturday to find a huge amount of customers with shopping carts filled to the brim. While people are stocking up on cereal for the winter thinking they got a great deal, that might not be the case. To make sure you’re really getting the best deals you can, find out what to buy and what to steer clear of in Costco.
The Best And Worst Things To Buy At Costco
Buy- Maple Syrup
As we’re all aware, real maple syrup can cost quite a bit. Your favorite breakfast restaurants probably use the alternative which is loaded with corn syrup and doesn’t taste anything like the real stuff. Kirkland was smart to make their own Pure Maple Syrup. The large 1L and price tag make it an instant best-seller.
Buy- Maple Syrup
Don’t Buy- Books
The book aisle in Costco is good for one thing: browsing. While the prices might be lower than some other stores, there are online retailers like Amazon which are your best bet. Lots of specialized bookstores also tend to offer used books for great prices.
Don’t Buy- Books
Buy- Toilet Paper
Even though the rolls are quite large and the 30-roll pack takes up a significant amount of space, the ultra-soft toilet paper at Costco is a must. You definitely won’t mind giving up some space when you see the price tag. The same goes for the store’s paper towels.
Buy- Toilet Paper
Buy- Olive Oil
Just about all cuisines use olive oil, so it’s a staple you probably want in your kitchen. We recommend buying the large options that Costco has to offer. You won’t have to worry about running out, and you’ll save quite a bit of money. Other than the fact that it’s extra-virgin, organic, and high-quality, it’s very cheap.
Buy- Olive Oil
Don’t Buy- Ground Coffee
Who else thinks of coffee as a religion? Yeah, same here. Lots of people can’t start their day without their coffee, and if you’re one of them, listen. While you’ll save money by getting the larger size, you’ll pass on something important, which is the taste. Once the coffee beans get ground, they’re exposed to air and lose their flavor and strength. If you consider freshness to be a priority, you’ll want to pass on the big jars.
Don’t Buy- Ground Coffee
Buy- Gas
Even if all Costco’s warehouses closed down and the only thing they kept open was their gas stations, it would still be worth having a membership. The gas prices are great. Next time you take out your credit card, don’t forget to take out your Costco card as well.
Buy- Gas
Don’t Buy- Kirkland Light Beer
Even at Costco, brand names like Corona, Budweiser, and Guinness are your best bet. Costco’s attempt at beer is the Kirkland Light Beer, their beer brewing abilities are sub-par, to say the least. Just avoid the hassle of returns and skip this.
Don’t Buy- Kirkland Light Beer
Buy- Frozen Fruits
This item might just get you to buy a second freezer and still save you money. You can keep frozen produce for quite a while, which makes it a good item to buy in bulk. While frozen fruit is a fan favorite, if you happen to have space, it would be a good idea to stock up on frozen veggies as well.
Buy- Frozen Fruits
Don’t Buy- Fresh Fruits And Veggies
We will admit, this is a tricky one. While buying your favorite fruits in bulk sounds like a good idea, the truth is that you can find it cheaper somewhere else. Especially when it comes to fruits and vegetables that aren’t in season. Oftentimes, grocery stores have better deals.
Don’t Buy- Fresh Fruits And Veggies
Don’t Buy- Spices
Spices are similar to ground coffee since they also don’t have a long shelf life. While they won’t expire or go bad, they will lose their flavor over time. If you’re an average person cooking for 2-4 people, go with smaller jars. Leave bulk spices to restaurants.
Don’t Buy- Spices
Buy- Vanilla
While spices tend to lose flavor over time, vanilla doesn’t have that problem. The large bottle of vanilla extract that is sold in Costco is actually a good buy. It’s good to have in stock in case you suddenly want to bake cookies!
Buy- Vanilla
Don’t Buy- Tissues
While most brands will be fine for sneezes, when you have a cold, you’ll need heavy-duty, good quality tissues. Even though it’ll save you money to buy tissues in bulk, you’ll be compromising the quality. Kirkland tissues tend to be thin and rough, exactly what you won’t want with a runny nose.
Don’t Buy- Tissues
Buy- Tires
Aside from getting your winter and summer tires at a cheaper rate, you’ll also get high-quality service. For this reason, customers can count on Costco’s Tire Centre for anything they’ll need. Even those who aren’t members choose this warehouse to buy new tires.
Buy- Tires
Don’t Buy- Soda
Even if you want to buy all your soft drinks while you’re already out shopping for food, you’ll save money if you go to your local grocery store instead. The soft drink shelves always have sale stickers on them, you just need to look for them.
Don’t Buy- Soda
Don’t Buy- Diapers
Parents know just how expensive kids are. Diapers alone can empty a wallet in seconds. While it makes sense to buy them in bulk, the box can be pretty heavy. Not to mention, you’ll go through them quickly anyways. Amazon has great discounts on diapers, especially if you buy them in bulk. On top of that, free delivery makes sure you won’t have to carry it all.
Don’t Buy- Diapers
Buy- Breakfast Cereal
Everyone seems to love cereal, no matter how old they are. Costco has been one of the best places to get cereal for a while now. That hasn’t changed. Popular brands like Post and Kellogg’s are offered at cheaper prices. Not to mention, the bigger boxes are hard to beat. Cereal has a long shelf life, meaning that you won’t have to worry about it going stale. However, we do recommend that you don’t open them until you want to eat them.
Buy- Breakfast Cereal
Buy- Plastic Wrap
Plastic wraps like Kirkland and Vitawrap are a must at Costco. You’ll be able to store these for years. Not to mention, their large quantities will last you a long time. Aside from this plastic working on almost every surface, it also is the cheapest on the market.
Buy- Plastic Wrap
Don’t Buy- Shampoo Or Soap
Similar to soft drinks, soaps and shampoos are almost always on sale at supermarkets. You should have to pay the full price for these products. Unfortunately, Costco doesn’t offer much of a discount on them. You’re better off buying them at another store on sale.
Don’t Buy- Shampoo Or Soap
Buy- Oatmeal
Costco’s 60-packet on Instant Oatmeal is a much better buy than any other grocery store. On average, you’ll save almost $10 when buying this amount at Costco instead of your local supermarket. You’ll just need space to store the box since it’s big.
Buy- Oatmeal
Buy- Healthy Bite-Sized Snacks
It’s no secret that healthy food can be expensive, making it less accessible for everyone. Well, Costco offers healthier foods for lower costs, especially their best-selling Aussie Bites that cost $12 for 32 bites.
Buy- Healthy Bite-Sized Snacks
Buy- Cashews
It’s unfortunate, but nuts are expensive no matter where you go shopping. Buying them in larger quantities can at least save you some money in the long run. Costco’s reclosable lid is a smart feature that ensures the nuts will be fresh for much longer.
Buy- Cashews
Don’t Buy- Condiments
Condiments like ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise don’t have much of a shelf life, they just stay fresh and tasty forever pretty much. However, once they’re opened, they do need to be refrigerated. Fitting these big containers in the fridge door will be a challenge in itself.
Don’t Buy- Condiments
Don’t Buy- Salsa
This salsa jar that’s sold in Costco is most definitely party-sized! The huge amount makes it great for any get-together, but for those who rarely eat chips and salsa, a smaller jar is a good idea. Costco’s giant version will spoil before you’re even halfway done with it.
Don’t Buy- Salsa
Buy- Snacks
Pre-packaged snacks are perfect for kids’ lunch boxes and for people on the go. Costco has just about everything you can possibly need, from sweet to salty and more. The big boxes are a great way to save money and are practical so you’ll be able to stock up on all your favorite snacks.
Buy- Snacks
Buy- Vitamins
Drugs and vitamins can get expensive pretty quickly. A lot of times, we end up paying for the brand name when the product is the same one as the store brand. Kirkland brand vitamins are the same as any other, you’ll just get them in a bigger bottle for a lower price. It’s a win-win!
Buy- Vitamins
Buy- Batteries
Most people tend to use electronics that are powered by batteries on a daily basis. Unfortunately, this power source comes at a high price. Next time you’re at Costco, make sure to get some Duracell batteries. Kirkland also has their own batters, and they’re made by Duracell.
Buy- Batteries
Buy- Milk
If you and your family go through a gallon of Kirkland’s milk before it goes bad, then, by all means, go for it! If you see websites telling you to buy milk elsewhere, it’s only because of the large quantity. If you know you’ll finish it, then it’s worth it.
Buy- Milk
Buy- Coffee Cups
For environmental reasons, it’s advised to steer clear of individual coffee portions. However, they are convenient and economical for those who live alone. Costco’s individual cups are very cheap compared to other brands and they taste just as good.
Buy- Coffee Cups
Buy- Rotisserie Chicken
There’s a good reason Costco’s $5 rotisserie chicken is the company’s best-selling product. In fact, it’s been a fan-favorite for years now. The chicken is cooked and ready to eat. Not to mention, the large size will be enough to feed the whole family. If you have too much chicken and not enough people to feed, just store the rest in the fridge and eat it the next day!
Buy- Rotisserie Chicken
Don’t Buy- Toothpaste
Another product that’s almost always on sale is none other than toothpaste. While Costco does offer big tubes with a few in a pack, you’ll definitely get better deals in a supermarket or a pharmacy that’s nearby.
Don’t Buy- Toothpaste
Buy- Peanut Butter
Everyone enjoys peanut butter – even the dog! Not only will the family-sized jar save you money, but it will last much longer than any other jar. On top of that, peanut butter doesn’t go bad. The same goes for almond butter, so it’s best you stock up on both.
Buy- Peanut Butter
Buy- Bagels
Costco has its own brand of bagels which are absolutely delicious. The 2-pack is very cheap and you also have a handful of flavors to choose from. Whatever you won’t end up eating in the first week of purchase you can freeze to eat at a later date.
Buy- Bagels
Don’t Buy- Kirkland Almond Milk
Costco has great options for those who can’t or don’t want to drink milk. However, we recommend that you go with Almond Breeze almond milk instead of the Kirkland brand. While Costco’s version is organic, it’s ingredient is not great, resulting in a sub-par taste.
Don’t Buy- Kirkland Almond Milk
Buy- Tahini
Tahini is a great choice for salad dressing and it’s a crucial ingredient when making hummus. Like plenty of other things, sesame paste is pretty expensive, so it’s a good idea to buy it in bulk at Costco. Just be sure to keep it in the fridge after opening.
Buy- Tahini
Buy – Bacon
This might come as a bit of a surprise, but Costco’s Kirkland sliced bacon has a very good rating from customers. The only bad thing anyone had to say was the amount you have to buy at once. In any case, it has a price that no other store can beat.
Buy – Bacon
Buy – Bacon Crumbles
While bacon is great, it’s always a good idea to have bacon crumbles on hand. They’re effortless and are good on anything. They can transform a dish into something completely new in the best way possible.
Buy – Bacon Crumbles
Buy: Fresh eggs
There are two benefits to buying eggs at Costco. For one, the prices are great. In addition, the variety is great as well. “They have a surprising level of choice when it comes to eggs,” a customer wrote. You can find anything from regular eggs all the way to organic and free-range eggs.
Buy Fresh Eggs
Buy: Hot dogs and soda at the food court
While pizza has been rated the best item in Costco’s food court, there are plenty of regulars who disagree. In fact, they claim that the hot-dog-and-soda is the best deal you can get. This snack even has its own fansite. On top of that, this hot dog has been named “the best hot dog in America” by Business Insider.
Buy Hot Dogs And Soda At The Food Court
Buy: The acai bowl at the food court
Another food court item you’ll want to buy at Costco is the acai bowl. The plant-based dish only costs $5! It’s a great bargain. It turns out that people loved it so much that it made headlines in the summer all across the United States.
Buy The Acai Bowl At The Food Court
Buy: Cheese
To cheese lovers, Costco’s cheese aisle is heaven on earth. Of course, it’s all fairly priced. However, the variety is incredible. The amount you get for less than $20 can easily feed three to four dinner partied over a couple of weeks.
Buy Cheese
Skip: Signateur gas grill
While Costco does have this gas grill for around half the price you’d normally pay for a Weber grill, people have said it isn’t built so well. On top of that, it could be hard to find replacement parts for it.
Skip Signateur Gas Grill
Buy: Organic berries
The one exception from the fresh produce rule is organic berries. If they happen to be in season, you can find a great deal on the berries. As you probably know, berries have plenty of health benefits, and they can get expensive at times.
Buy Organic Berries
Skip: Flour, baking powder, and dried yeast
All kinds of baking ingredients like flour, baking powder, and dried yeast have shorter shelf lives. People have warned others of buying these things in bulk since they can go bad quickly. So skip the big amounts and buy them in smaller containers.
Skip Flour, Baking Powder, And Dried Yeast
Buy: Kirkland organic coconut water
If you happen to like drinking a lot of coconut water, you’ll want to get a 12-pack of Kirkland organic coconut water. It has plenty of five-star reviews online and is priced very fairly. Not to mention, this amount will last you a while.
Buy Kirkland Organic Coconut Water
Buy: Verka organic yogurt
You can get a 64-ounce tub of Verka organic yogurt for just a little bit more than you would pay for a 16-ounce yogurt at a grocery store. Surprisingly, this product has a rather long shelf life and it tastes as good as other whole-milk products. To top it off, this yogurt was given a good rating from the Cornucopia Institute. It promotes family farming.
Buy Verka Organic Yogurt
Skip: Las Fortunitas tortilla chips
If your local Costco happens to sell Las Fortunitas chips – those that come in that huge bag that’s as big as a garbage bag – don’t get them. It’s not because of the price. The entire bag costs less than $6, which is an incredible deal. It’s not the taste either since these chips are delicious. The only reason is that you most likely won’t finish all of these chips. Even if you happen to buy it for a party, you’ll probably be left with half of the 5-pound bag at the end of the night. Not to mention, Fooducate gave these chips a B-minus since they contain hydrogenated oils.
Skip Las Fortunitas Tortilla Chips
Buy: Kerrygold butter
There are a few brands of butter that are sold at Costco, and the organic Kirkland brand is one of them. If you’re looking for some high-quality butter, foodies have said they prefer Kerrygold. It’s made with milk from grass-fed cows.
Buy Kerrygold Butter
Buy: Kirkland vodka
While getting any sort of alcohol at Costco is good, you’ll get the best deal for vodka. Costco’s house-brand vodka is so good that some people have a theory that it might just be Grey Goose undercover. There are even websites that have done taste tests of Costco’s vodkas against some name brands and Kirkland’s French vodka came out on top!
Buy Kirkland Vodka
Don’t Buy- Kirkland Laundry Detergent
While this laundry detergent might seem like a good way to save money, it won’t do much more than that. You’ll need to spend that money you saved on new clothing since your low-quality detergent ruined all the ones you had. Aside from this stuff being bad for your jeans, it tends to cause allergies and reactions in addition to respiratory problems as well as asthma. If that isn’t enough to convince you, it’s also terrible for the environment.
Don’t Buy- Kirkland Laundry Detergent