Post by daisypaloma on Oct 19, 2014 23:00:43 GMT -5
I have a love-hate relationship with Costco. Today was just pure loathe.
DH got a good deal on 4 tires today, so we braved the crowd. But I shuddered passing through the food court crowd. All those people bumping into and yelling over each other over dollar Sundaes and hotdogs.
I can't even describe the hate over weaving through the parking lot full of crazy drivers and shoppers with oversized carts that they can't even see cars/people in front of them.
But I also don't know anyone who shops at Costco as their main grocery store. It is more like a supplemental stop for food items.
It's mine and I would guess it is for a lot of people where I live due to their prices compared to the grocery stores.
Every week I buy milk, a chicken, formula, 2-3 kinds of fresh fruit, one kind of fresh veg and gas. Then you throw in every thing else we buy as we need, eggs, yogurt, bread, spaghetti sauce, jam, pb, toothpaste, vitamins, pop, tp, tissues, diapers, wipes, fish, chicken, beef, shrimp, cereal, etc. and there it is. And this is not to mention special occasion buys like gifts and party food and clothes. $8 for a carter's outfit!
Safeway has become my supplemental food store. That's where I go for "ingredients."
Post by dragonfly08 on Oct 20, 2014 5:58:26 GMT -5
Another vote for never go to Costco on a weekend! Or a Friday before/Monday after a holiday weekend.
Also, it's really trial and error to find out what items will save you money. Some things are not cheaper, either compared to regular store prices or b/c you simply can't use that quantity so even with a per unit savings you've spent more overall than you need to. We definitely do well there b/c we buy 25 lb. bags of flour, large containers of honey, paper products, chicken breast, salmon, cases of Snapple iced tea, toothbrushes, granola bars, and a bunch of other things that we will use all of and that work out to be cheaper when purchased in bulk even if I do have to store 15 toothbrushes or 60 granola bars in a closet somewhere. And gas is a savings, too, if your location sells it. Tires, also...it's been worth our while to buy them there, as they're cheaper and they'll fix a flat on their own tires for free.
We make enough in rewards on the Amex to pay for our membership each year so at worst it's a wash, at best we earn a little extra plus the savings on the items. And a hot dog/drink for $1.50 is a hard bargain to pass up. :-)
We actually go to Costco for our weekly grocery shopping, but we will stop by other grocery stores a couple times a month for other things we need and don't want a ton of.
We usually go after work - so maybe an hour or so before they close. Usually pretty empty. We'll also go a couple hours before they close on the weekend. Never had any trouble.
I live alone and still shop a lot at Costco - bread, buns, water, lettuce, apples, vitamins, store brand pain relievers are all items I buy regularly. Oh yes, and gas - it's worth it just for the cheaper gas
Another thing I like is they keep track of what you buy under your membership number - a friend of mine purchased a baby monitor last year as a gift and it stopped working this summer, she had lost her receipt but Costco found it in her history and gave them a full refund on the item when all they were looking for was a copy of the receipt to show it was under warranty in order to send it for repair.
Post by crashgizmo on Oct 20, 2014 11:33:56 GMT -5
Like others have said, the dog food pays for the membership for us. Our 65 pound dog has grain allergies and we pay $30 for a 40lb bag vs. $50-60 elsewhere. Multiply that by 12 times a year, and there you go.
Also, vodka, laundry detergent, wipes, and paper products are all go to's for us. Way easier to buy twice a year than to keep picking them up monthly.
Costco is a nightmare on the weekends and I refuse to go. I go on a Tuesday morning or make DH go on Sundays. He has more patience than me.