Are you aware that you must use some kind of science if you want to make the most out of Costco? The members-only warehouse certainly has its benefits. You only need to go one Saturday and see all the customers with shopping carts full to the brim. People would think that they are getting a good deal by stockpiling cereal, but they might actually be mistaken. It is important to find out which product to buy and avoid if you want to get the best products with the money you worked so hard to earn!
The Best And Worst Deals You Can Get At Costco
Buy- Maple Syrup
If you want the good stuff, you have to spend a lot on maple syrup. Most breakfast joints only offer an alternative full of corn syrup. This does not taste like the real stuff at all. We are glad that Kirkland has created its Pure Maple Syrup, which comes in a large 1-liter size and an affordable price tag.
Buy- Maple Syrup
Don’t Buy- Books
The Costco book aisle is only good for browsing and nothing else. Even though the prices look lower than in other bookstores, you are better off using Amazon instead. There are also bookstores that sell used books for even better prices.
Don’t Buy- Books
Buy- Toilet Paper
Have you seen those huge 30-roll toilet paper packs at Costco? We know that they do not seem convenient because of the size, but this is one thing you should get from the store. When you see the price tag, you will not mind giving up space for it. This also works for the paper towels at the store.
Buy- Toilet Paper
Buy- Olive Oil
Olive oil is a staple in a lot of cuisines, so we are sure that you will need this in your kitchen at one point or another. It is a good idea to buy the large options at Costco. With this, you can save cash and always have some handy. It is not only organic and extra-virgin, but it is also high-quality and economical.
Buy- Olive Oil
Don’t Buy- Ground Coffee
A lot of people cannot start their day without a cup of joe. If we are being honest, we would not know how to survive without coffee either! Listen up, fellow java lovers. It is true that you can save money by getting a huge pack of coffee from Costco, but you should never forget to prioritize taste. When coffee beans get grounded, they get exposed to air and lose strength and flavor. Make freshness a priority!
Don’t Buy- Ground Coffee
Buy- Gas
It is a good idea to have a membership even if they close all the Costco warehouses and only had their gas stations left. They offer great prices on gas, so you would not be wrong to fill up your vehicle here. The next time you bring out your credit card, make sure to whip out your Costco membership card too.
Buy- Gas
Don’t Buy- Kirkland Light Beer
Beer lovers are fond of brand names including Guinness, Budweiser, and Corona. At the Costco warehouse, you will find Kirkland Light Beer, which is the company’s attempt at selling beer. In reality, the beer is only ever sub-par. Instead of returning them, simply go for your favorite beer.
Don’t Buy- Kirkland Light Beer
Buy- Frozen Fruits
Frozen fruits might be a good enough reason to get a second freezer, but you will save money if you buy them from Costco. Frozen produce will last for a long time, so it is a good idea to get it in bulk. Frozen fruit might be a hit among the health-conscious, but frozen veggies are also great!
Buy- Frozen Fruits
Don’t Buy- Fresh Fruits And Veggies
This entry is a rather tricky one. You might think that it is a good idea to buy your favorite fruits in bulk, but you can probably get them somewhere for a lower price. This is especially true when it comes to veggies and fruits that are not in season. You will get better deals at your local grocery store.
Don’t Buy- Fresh Fruits And Veggies
Don’t Buy- Spices
Spices, just like ground coffee, do not have the longest shelf life. Even though they would not expire or spoil, they do lose their flavor after a certain period of time. If you cook for 2 to 4 people on average, you should get smaller jars instead. Italian restaurants are the only ones who should get them in bulk.
Don’t Buy- Spices
Buy- Vanilla
Even though spices lose flavor after a little while, vanilla tends to retain its flavor. The large bottle of vanilla extract at Costco is a great investment. If you like to bake cookies, you will not regret this choice.
Buy- Vanilla
Don’t Buy- Tissues
Even though a lot of brands will do it for a regular sneeze, you should have good, heavy-duty tissues when you have a cold. Even though it is economical to buy tissues in bulk, the quality will go down. Your runny nose needs something better than the Kirkland tissues, which are thin and rough.
Don’t Buy- Tissues
Buy- Tires
You will not only get summer and winter tires at lower prices, but you will also get better service at Costco! For these reasons, customers like to go to the Tire Centre when they need to get something fixed. Even those who are not members will go there for new treads.
Buy- Tires
Don’t Buy- Soda
It might make a lot of sense to get your soft drinks when you shop for your food, but this is not a good way to save money. You should go to the local grocery store instead. It is not unusual to see sale stickers all over the soft drink shelves, so make sure to be on the lookout for them.
Don’t Buy- Soda
Don’t Buy- Diapers
Just ask any parent, and they will tell you that it is expensive to raise a child. Your wallet will be drained by diapers alone. You might think that it is a good idea to buy them in bulk, but the box can get heavy. On top of that, they will be gone in no time at all. Amazon offers great discounted diapers when you get them in large amounts. Even better is that it offers free delivery to make your life so much easier!
Don’t Buy- Diapers
Buy- Breakfast Cereal
Everyone seems to be a big fan of cereal. Costco has become known for being a great retailer of cereal, and you can trust us on this one. Popular brands such as Kellogg’s and Post are often available at discounted rates, so we recommend getting the big boxes. Cereal can stay on the shelf for a long time, so you do not have to worry about its freshness. However, it is recommended to avoid opening the packs until you intend to consume them. After all, crunchy cereal is in a league of its own!
Buy- Breakfast Cereal
Buy- Plastic Wrap
Plastic wraps, including brands like Vitawrap and Kirkland, are must-buys at Costco. You can keep them for years, which is always a good idea. This material will work on any surface that you can think of, so they are bound to come in handy. On top of that, they are very cheap compared to other brands!
Buy- Plastic Wrap
Don’t Buy- Shampoo Or Soap
Shampoos and soaps can be compared to soft drinks since they are always discounted at grocery stores. You should not pay for these products in full. Sadly, Costco does not have much in the way of discounts. The best thing for your wallet would be to get them at a different store during a sale.
Don’t Buy- Shampoo Or Soap
Buy- Oatmeal
Costco offers a 60-packet of Instant Oatmeal, and it is a great deal. This is better than what you can get at the grocery store. You can save almost $10 when you get this offer at Costco instead of the local supermarket. However, you need ample space to store them all.
Buy- Oatmeal
Buy- Healthy Bite-Sized Snacks
Healthy food is normally priced higher than regular food, so not everyone can afford it. Luckily, Costco has cheap but nutritious food. You should try out their Aussie Bites. You can get 32 bites for $12!
Buy- Healthy Bite-Sized Snacks
Buy- Cashews
Sadly, it is hard to find nuts for cheap. The best that you can do is to buy them in huge quantities to save money. Costco offers a reclosable lid, which is a great way to ensure that they stay fresh for a while.
Buy- Cashews
Don’t Buy- Condiments
Condiments like mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup do not have a shelf life. They can stay tasty and fresh for a very long period of time. However, you need to keep them refrigerated when you open them. Not only that, but it can be a hassle to fit such huge containers inside your fridge! Skip them.
Don’t Buy- Condiments
Don’t Buy- Salsa
Truly, this salsa jar from Costco is party size. The huge amount makes it amazing for a get-together. However, smaller jars are the way to go if you do not eat chips and salsa that often. The huge version from Costco will only spoil before it is half empty.
Don’t Buy- Salsa
Buy- Snacks
Pre-packaged snacks are simply amazing when you are on the go or making lunchboxes for your kids. Costco offers a huge variety regardless of how you like it. The huge boxes are practical and financially profitable if you like to stock up on your snacks.
Buy- Snacks
Buy- Vitamins
Vitamins and drugs can get pretty pricey, although you might not realize that you are paying more for the brand name. In reality, they are not any different from the store brand. Kirkland vitamins are the same as the more popular counterparts and cost much less. This is a true win-win situation.
Buy- Vitamins
Buy- Batteries
A lot of gadgets rely on batteries for power. Sadly, this can get pretty expensive over time. The next time that you are at the warehouse, you should grab some Duracell batteries. You might be surprised to hear that Kirkland makes its own batteries. The good news would be that they are made by Duracell!
Buy- Batteries
Buy- Milk
Does your family go through an entire gallon of Kirkland’s milk before it goes bad? If this is the case, you should do it. If you find websites that give you the opposite advice, they are only doing that because of the quantity. As long as you can finish it before it spoils, it is going to be worth it.
Buy- Milk
Buy- Coffee Cups
You should avoid individual coffee portions if you are concerned about the environment. However, this is an economical and convenient solution if you are living on your own. The individual cups from Costco are cheap when you compare them to other brands.
Buy- Coffee Cups
Buy- Rotisserie Chicken
Do you love the bestselling $5 rotisserie chicken from Costco? It has been famous for quite some time at this point. It is ready to eat and already cooked, which means that you can feed the whole clan with it in no time at all. You can always save the leftovers for later if you can’t finish the entire thing in one go!
Buy- Rotisserie Chicken
Don’t Buy- Toothpaste
We bet you have noticed that toothpaste is almost always discounted. Even though Costco has big packs with a couple of tubes, you can get better deals by going to the pharmacy or supermarket instead.
Don’t Buy- Toothpaste
Buy- Peanut Butter
We are sure that your family likes peanut butter as much as the next person. You should get the family size jar if you want to save money. You will also be glad to hear that peanut butter and almond butter do not go bad. Buy now and ensure that you do not ever run out of these tasty spreads!
Buy- Peanut Butter
Buy- Bagels
Did you know that Costco offers bagels? We are glad to report that they are delicious! They have cheap 2-pack ones that come in a variety of flavors. If you did not finish them in the first week, you can simply freeze them and enjoy them at a later date.
Buy- Bagels
Don’t Buy- Kirkland Almond Milk
Costco offers amazing options for people who cannot drink regular milk. However, it is better to get Almond Breeze instead of the Kirkland almond milk. Even though Costco offers an organic version, the ingredient list is rather lacking. On top of that, it just does not taste that good.
Don’t Buy- Kirkland Almond Milk
Buy- Tahini
Tahini might be our favorite salad dressing! This is also very important if you want to make hummus. This sesame paste can get a bit expensive, so you are better off buying it in bulk at Costco. Do not forget to store it in the fridge as soon as you open it.
Buy- Tahini
Buy – Bacon
The Kirkland sliced bacon has received the thumbs up from many customers. The only negative in the reviews was that you had to buy a lot of it in one go. However, the great price is a good enough reason to buy it.
Buy – Bacon
Buy – Bacon Crumbles
Even though bacon is amazing, let us not forget how glorious bacon crumbles are. It does not take any effort to add it to your dish. On top of that, it can drastically improve whatever you are cooking.
Buy – Bacon Crumbles
Buy: Fresh eggs
There are only two benefits if you get your eggs from Costco. The prices and the variety are great. One customer said, “They have a surprising level of choice when it comes to eggs.” You can get anything from free-range eggs to normal eggs.
Buy Fresh Eggs
Buy: Hot dogs and soda at the food court
Pizza is yet another bestselling item at the Costco food court. However, there are folks who believe that nothing beats the hotdog and soda deal. This snack has even received a fansite! It is also neat to hear that Business Insider said that it was “the best hot dog in America.”
Buy Hot Dogs And Soda At The Food Court
Buy: The acai bowl at the food court
You should not miss out on the acai bowl from Costco food court either. This is plant-based and will only set you back by $5. People are such huge fans of the bargain that it was hot news during the summer.
Buy The Acai Bowl At The Food Court
Buy: Cheese
The cheese aisle at Costco is great for cheese lovers. There is a huge variety over there, and they are priced fairly as well. In fact, you can get enough cheese for 3 or 4 dinner parties for less than $20!
Buy Cheese
Skip: Signateur gas grill
Even though Costco offers the Signateur gas grill for about half the price of a Weber grill, you should know that it is not the best on the market. Not only that, but it is hard to look for replacement parts.
Skip Signateur Gas Grill
Buy: Organic berries
Organic berries are the only exception to the fresh produce rule we mentioned earlier. When they are in season, you can get a good deal on them. Berries might be delicious and healthy, but they can be pricey.
Buy Organic Berries
Skip: Flour, baking powder, and dried yeast
Baking ingredients such as baking powder, dried yeast, and flour have a short shelf life. You should not buy them in bulk since they tend to go bad in no time at all. It is better to get them in small amounts.
Skip Flour, Baking Powder, And Dried Yeast
Buy: Kirkland organic coconut water
If you like coconut water, you should get the 12-pack of the organic coconut water from Costco. The Kirkland product has many 5-star reviews and is reasonably priced. This should last you a while as well.
Buy Kirkland Organic Coconut Water
Buy: Verka organic yogurt
You can get a 64-ounce tub of Verka organic yogurt for only a little more than you would shell out for 16-ounce ones at the grocery store. It is surprising to hear that it tastes like whole-milk products and boasts a long shelf life. The yogurt has been given a good rating from the Cornucopia Institute, an organization that supports family farming. There are many yogurts at Costco, but this one is the best!
Buy Verka Organic Yogurt
Skip: Las Fortunitas tortilla chips
Does your local Costco sell Las Fortunitas chips? You should skip the ones that you can get in a huge bag, and not because of its price either. It will set you back by less than $6, so it is a good deal. This is even true when you consider just how tasty the chips are! The only drawback is that you might not finish the entire thing. You can buy them for a party, but we can guarantee that your guests won’t be able to finish them either. Fooducate also rated them B-minus because the chips have hydrogenated oils.
Skip Las Fortunitas Tortilla Chips
Buy: Kerrygold butter
You will find many butter brands at Costco, but the best one of these would be the Kirkland organic one. However, foodies say that Kerrygold is of better quality since it is made from the milk of grass-fed cows.
Buy Kerrygold Butter
Buy: Kirkland vodka
It is a good idea to get any type of alcohol from Costco, but vodka has the best deals. The house-brand vodka at the warehouse is so good that some suspect that it might just be Grey Goose on the down-low. There are also sites that named Kirkland French vodka the best of the lot after doing a taste test.
Buy Kirkland Vodka
Skip: Hearing aids
Hearing aids can get pretty expensive, and your insurance might not cover it. If you need them, you might know that Costco offers them for low prices. While you can save some money, you should think twice before getting a hearing aid from there. People said that there is poor service in some branches. On top of that, many locations do not have the right equipment to adjust the hearing aid as needed. If you ask us, you would be better off spending your money on hearing aids that actually work.
Skip Hearing Aids
Buy: Prescription glasses
It can be pricey to get prescription glasses, and it can get even pricier if you are getting special lenses. A solution to the problem would be to buy glasses online, although it is not easy to get the right fit and number. The optometry department at Costco serves as a great fix for a problem like this! You can get an eye test in the store or just hand them a prescription from a different place. If you do not have insurance, this is an excellent option. Costco members get online discounts on contacts and glasses too.
Buy Prescription Glasses
Buy: Wedding floral arrangements
If you and your partner would describe yourselves as money-conscious and adventurous, you should go to Costco for your wedding floral arrangements. You can get a bouquet and an entire arrangement that will make the ceremony look glorious. You only need to spend around $449 if you go here instead.
Buy Wedding Floral Arrangements
Buy: Luggage
Even though there is not a huge luggage selection at Costco, it does offer good but affordable suitcases. Clark Deals even included Costco as one of the best places to go if you want luggage bargains. According to the website, you should also look out for coupons if you want to save even more money.
Buy Luggage
Skip: Name-brand clothing
Have you ever seen those designer clothes at your local Costco? Be warned that they are going to have lower quality compared to the items you will see at the original store. Many manufacturers like to cut corners when it comes to their Costco products. Feel free to buy the items if you like them, but it is not reasonable to expect them to be of good quality. Marshalls offers better bargains on name-brand items.
Skip Name Brand Clothing
Buy: Shirts and pants for work
Even though Costco does not have the best deals on designer clothing, customers like to get their regular shirts and pants from the store. A Red Flag Deals forum user explained, “All my work shirts are Kirkland shirts. High-end tailored shirts aside, I think the Kirkland stuff is the best value on the market, just as good quality (sometimes better) as what you get at The Bay or mid-range stores.”
Buy Shirts And Pants For Work
Buy: Athleisure clothes
Do you need clothes that you can take to spin class or yoga? You might be surprised, but you will have a lot of options at Costco. A blog called Tough Nickel claimed that you can get good bargains at Costco!
Buy Athleisure Clothes
Buy: Underwear
While you will find reviews that complain about the quality of the elastic on men’s briefs from Costco, many were happy about the price of and comfort offered by the products. The reviews on the Costco website are mostly five out of five stars!
Buy Underwear
Buy: Flu shots
Customer reports said that you can get flu shots for cheap at Costco. This is the place to buy them if you are paying for it out of pocket. On top of that, you can also get shots for HPV and pneumonia from here.
Buy Flu Shots
Buy: TVs
Costco is not the place to go if you already have a specific TV in mind. However, you can get a set that works just fine if you are a little more flexible. Not only can you get a TV for a good price, but you can also get an extended two-year warranty to go with it.
Buy TVs
Buy: Golf balls
Are you thinking of getting some golf gear? You should get them at Costco next time! The warehouse actually has a golf ball under its Kirkland brand. Golfers seem pretty happy with the products. Golfalot tried out their balls and said that they are comparable to premium ones!
Buy Golf Balls
Worst: Electronics
You have no idea what you might find when you drop by your local Costco. While most shoppers head there for their groceries, they often get distracted by the aisles of clothes, books, and accessories. However, nothing is harder than passing by the electronics section without checking out the products. Even though the vacuums, appliances, and TVs look amazing, they would not give you the best bang for your buck. Researchers revealed that other stores offer better deals for these products. On top of that, you do not need to pay a yearly membership fee to avail of them!
Worst Electronics
Best: Nuts
It is a good thing that Costco offers just about any nut that you might want. They all come in huge packages as well. However, we all know that nuts are expensive on average. When you go to the warehouse store, they are priced reasonably and come in resealable containers that keep the nuts fresh.
Best Nuts
Worst: Kirkland Signature Paper Towels
You might think that it is a good idea to buy paper towels in huge quantities. There might be certain advantages to it, but we would not recommend getting the 30-pack of Kirkland Signature Paper Towels. A study was conducted on this matter, and Kirkland placed third out of the four tested brands. On top of that, Consumer Reports did research on the top 5 brands of paper towels. Kirkland landed in the last spot! The paper towels are far too thin to do anything about tough messes.
Worst Kirkland Signature Paper Towels
Best: Pills
When it comes to prescription pills and over-the-counter pills, Costco is the best place to buy them. Consumer Reports did a study that compared the prices across 150 American pharmacies. It revealed that Costco is the best bet when it comes to price.
Best Pills
Worst: Sunscreen
You should know that sunscreen is only effective for up to 3 years. If you get a Costco multipack, make sure to check its expiration date to see if it will still work for you. No one likes to waste money, after all.
Sunscreen
Worst: Disposable Razors
Even though it might sound like you are getting a good deal when you buy a huge box of disposable razors, you should go to Walmart instead of Costco. The latter offers 14 Kirkland razors for $23, which means each razor costs $1.64. Meanwhile, you can get 10 Gillette disposable razors for $7.97 or $0.80 a piece at Walmart. We will let you do the math!
Disposable Razors
Buy: Uncooked Cookies
Not a lot of people are aware that you can buy cookies and uncooked pastries for very little money. You can just go to the bakery counter and ask for a box. They will be glad to let you buy it! You can save so much money this way. You normally need to pay $7.99 for a box of 21 cookies. However, you can get as much as 120 uncooked cookies for only $22.99!
Buy Uncooked Cookies
Worst: Rice
A lot of shopping experts say that you should not buy your rice, especially jasmine rice, at Costco. A frequent shopper at Costco looked into it and realized that she pays 35% more when she gets her rice from Costco. She was comparing it to the prices at a local Asian store. In some cases, the same amount of rice cost $40 at Costco but only cost $14 at a small shop. What a huge difference!
Rice
Worst: Dried Pasta
Even though your wallet would not cry if you get dried pasta from Costco, you can get a better bang for your buck elsewhere. Comparisons revealed that you can get pasta from Trader Joe’s and Walmart at a cheaper price.
Dried Pasta
Worst: DVDs
Do you still like to buy DVDs? All we have to tell you is that you should not buy them at Costco. You will get better deals if you buy them at Amazon instead! The products will be shipped directly to you too.
DVDs
Worst: Gel Dishwasher Detergent
Consumer Reports made this claim: “The Kirkland Signature Gel is one of our lowest-rated detergents.” The writer also went on to say, “It struggled with dishes, pots and pans, and resistance to water spots.”
Gel Dishwasher Detergent
Worst: Canned Goods
You would not get the best deals on canned goods by going to Costco. You can go to other stores that sell them for 20% to 40% cheaper per unit. There are more savings waiting for you if there is a sale!
Canned Goods
Worst: Body Lotions
If you want to buy your favorite lotions, you should use coupons to get them at the lowest possible price. You can get the same lotions at other retailers for a much lower price if you wait for the right sale.
Body Lotions
Worst: Protein Bars
Why would you risk getting 40 pieces of Costco’s protein bars if you have not tried them yet? On top of that, these protein bars go for around $1 per bar. Instead of these items, you should opt for the Pure Protein bars on Amazon. If you buy them in bulk, you can avail of them for only $0.90 per bar.
Protein Bars
Worst: Whole Grains
Whole grains have oils in them. They are present in the bran and germ of the grain, which is why these products go bad pretty quickly. This is also the case for seeds and nuts. Even though the oils are taken away when they are processed, it is possible that they will remain attached to the grain.
Whole Grains
Worst: Jerky
Beef jerky is preserved with the use of salt and spices, so you might assume that it will stay fresh for some time. This is not the case. The snack needs to be refrigerated as soon as it is opened. A lot of jerky packages should be eaten three days after it is opened and kept in the fridge. The jerky will not last longer than a week or two after it is refrigerated. This is the reason you should get the small packages instead.
Jerky
Worst: Hummus
Unless you want to throw a party, there is no reason for you to buy the huge tubs of hummus from Costco. You should just get a small container from a regular grocery store to avoid wasting any food.
Hummus
Worst: Printer Paper
If you do not print at home that often or are shopping for your office, you will get better deals on paper at the office supply store instead of Costco. Staples and other similar stores offer supplies and paper for very little money. You can get better discounts if you have coupons or attend a back-to-school sale!
Printer Paper
Buy: Gift Cards
Costco offers gift cards for big retailers with a discount of 15% to 30%. It is even possible to get a deal on a bundle of two separate gift cards. Trust us, this is a good way to save money and ensure that your gift will be a hit.
Gift Cards
Buy: Wine
Costco has done well with its cheap but high-quality wines! As a matter of fact, this is one of our favorite things from there. The store has its Kirkland label, which is produced by a lot of famous wineries. Nice.
Wine
Buy: Meat and Poultry
When you go to Costco, the club price is below the standard market price. The grade of beef is better too! If you want to buy a big amount of meat, it is always possible to divide it and freeze them for later.
Meat And Poultry
Buy: Kirkland Animal Crackers
It does not matter if you need to feed the kids or just want a delicious snack. We can all agree that Kirkland Signature Organic Animal Crackers are the bomb. They are available in a 64-ounce barrel for only $9.99. You can get the same product at other supermarkets for the same price but 4 ounces less.
Kirkland Animal Crackers
Buy: Kirkland Honey
You can get the 100% U.S. raw, unfiltered honey stored in 3-pound jars under the Kirkland Signature brand. The price tag on this item is only $8.99! You can get 2-pound jars for $12.99 at other stores.
Kirkland Honey
Buy: Kirkland Italian Sparkling Water
If you like sparkling water, we bet that your go-to brand would be San Pellegrino. However, you should try Kirkland Signature Italian Sparkling Mineral Water as well! They are stacked beside each other because they taste the same. There is a pretty big price difference, however. You can buy a 24-bottle pack of Kirkland sparkling water for $12.99, while a smaller case of the other brand costs $16.99.
Kirkland Italian Sparkling Water
Buy: Kirkland Vitamin Water
We are here to let you know that the fruit-flavored, mineral-rich, and no-calorie Kirkland Signature Vita Rain Zero tastes just like Glaceau Vitaminwater Zero. They are both available at Costco, but they are not priced the same. The 24-pack of 20-oz Vita Rain Zero has a price tag of $9.99. Meanwhile, a case of the other product will set you back by $15.99.
Kirkland Vitamin Water
Don’t Buy- Kirkland Laundry Detergent
Kirkland laundry detergent will help you build up your savings, but this is the only advantage you can expect. You will actually spend more money since this low-quality detergent will just ruin your clothes. It is not only terrible for your favorite pants, but it can also cause health issues such as allergic reactions, asthma, and even respiratory issues. On top of all these things, it is also bad for the environment.
Don’t Buy- Kirkland Laundry Detergent