photo by David McKelvey
Is it possible to find any good deals hiding on those warehouse shelves loaded with vats of olive oil & tubs of detergent? I think so, and I’m not just saying that because I love Costco. Which I do. Ed & I used to consider Costco a cheap (?) date. We’d wander the aisles & meet back up in the book section. And don’t even get me started on those free samples.
I love couponing, but I will never be one of those shoppers who only defines a good deal as being “free or nearly free.” I think any amount you can shave off your grocery bill is better than nothing. I think it’s unrealistic to expect every item to match up with a coupon. I think I’m somewhat picky when it comes to food, and I’m ok with that. Like you, I’m not willing to feed my family just what is cheap to the exclusion of what is real and nutritious. Couponing has definitely made my grocery dollars stretch farther than I ever thought possible while still allowing us to eat quality food. While it will definitely depend on your family’s household needs and budget, I have personally found our Costco membership to be worth the small annual fee we pay my husband’s employer to get it.
Big box stores like Costco or Sam’s Club can be a good option…
:: For those products that are rarely or never paired up with coupons. I no longer buy cereal or juice or butter or baby wipes at Costco because I can get them consistently cheaper at a grocery store with coupons. However, on many non-coupon products, Costco prices often blows Winco out of the water.
:: For those times when you run out of your stockpiled items on off-months. For example, I try to stockpile enough chocolate chips during the winter months when baking sales & coupons are in season. I usually run out, though, which doesn’t go over well in our house. Especially when the craving for these hits. So… I buy a 10-lb. bag of chocolate chips at Costco which ends up being cheaper than Winco in the long run.
:: For those of you feeding a small army. Providing the food for a large family, big reunion, graduation party, etc. are all times when coupon shopping might not be the best use of your time & energy. By shopping a box store, you can buy big quantities, often without spending more than you would at your local Winco or Walmart (see list below).
:: For those times when you need a break from coupons. When I was 9 months pregnant with my second child, I did not have the energy or the desire to run around to multiple stores doing coupon deals. I still needed to buy enough food to hold us over following the baby’s arrival, though. My husband and I headed to Costco to stock up on a few week’s worth of easy meals and fast snacks. I just made sure that everything we piled in the cart was on budget and cheaper than Winco’s prices.
:: For products you use frequently. I cannot tell you how much I hate doing coupon deals for toilet paper. Ugh. Not my idea of a good time. I have decided that even though it seems more expensive up front, buying Kirkland tp takes the headache out of comparing roll size & ply. I bought Charmin-type brands (mega rolls) in other grocery stores on great sales/coupons and was always frustrated when they were fluffier, squattier, and smaller. For my sanity, I avoid tp deals like the plague and happily pay $17.99 for 36 big rolls at Costco. Or take postage stamps. My husband and I buy 100 for $43.75 which lasts us all year long. It’s barely cheaper than the post office, but it sure beats standing in their lines!
:: When you can force yourself to stick with your list and your budget. The hard part with Costco is restraining yourself to just picking up the good deals, avoiding the temptation to load your extra-large shopping cart with all the other extra-large offers. I am a reformed Costco shopper. I used to think it was impossible to walk out of there for under $100. Now I create a list and stick to it. I once heard the advice to avoid shopping with a cart at Costco to limit your purchases to what you can carry out in your hands. Not bad advice. Unless you’re lugging kids along, too. Then it’s bad advice.
Costco can be a great source for selected groceries and household products if you know baseline and comparison prices for your area. Also keep in mind if the item is matched with coupons & sales in other stores that will almost always bring it lower than even a great Costco price. Here are a handful of products I consistently purchase at Costco. All of their prices (in bold) are cheaper than the lowest prices currently offered at WinCo (in italics/parantheses). In an effort to be fair, I always compared like brands (generic or name brand) and products (organic, all-natural, regular).
Costco (and Winco) Prices for the Portland-Metro area as of 5/28/10:
Almonds, whole (3 lb.) – $9.89 ($3.58/lb. bulk)
Bananas – .44/lb. (.44/lb.)
Batteries, 48 count (AAA) – $12.99 (AA) – $10.99 (varies)
Bread, multi-grain (2- 28 oz.) – $3.89 (varies)
Broth, organic chicken (6- 32 oz.) – $9.95 ($2.70/each)
Chai Tea Concentrate (Oregon, 3- 32 oz.) – $7.29 ($4.28/each)
Chocolate Chips (10 lbs.) – $16.99 ($1.75/12 oz.)
Cinnamon (Saigon, 10.7 oz.) – $2.69 ($2.68/4 oz.)
Coffee (Kirkland, 2 lb.) – $9.99 (Starbucks, $6.98/12 oz.)
Contact Solution (3 bottles) – $7.69 ($4.51/bottle)
Cucumbers, English (3) – $3.29 ($1.18/each)
Half & Half (Darigold, 1/2 gallon) – $2.65 ($3.37)
Honey (6 lb.) – $11.99 ($3.23/lb. bulk or $12.03/4 lb.)
Hummus (30 oz.) – $4.85 ($2.48/14 oz.)
Raisins, organic (2 lb.) – $6.99 (no organic options)
Romaine, hearts (6) – $2.99 ($1.98/3)
Tortillas, flour (40) – $4.99 ($6.39)
Mac ‘n Cheese, organic (Annie’s, 15 boxes) – $12.89 ($1.77/box)
Maple Syrup (100%, 32 oz.) – $13.79 ($19.71)
Mozzarella cheese (2 lb.) – $3.99 ($7.20)
Odwalla Superfood Smoothies (2 -32 oz.) – $5.75 ($4.98/32 oz.)
Peanut Butter, all-natural (Adam’s, 80 oz.) – $6.99 ($3.62/26 oz.)
Pecans (2 lb.) – $10.59 ($8.38/lb. bulk)
Pineapple – $2.99/each (out)
Quinoa, organic (4 lb.) – $9.99 ($3.52/lb. bulk)
Vanilla, pure extract (16 oz.) – $6.75 ($3.98/2 oz.)
Yeast, active (32 oz.) – $3.89 ($3.09/16 oz.)
This is by no means a comprehensive list; many other dry goods such as spices, dried fruit, canned, and organic items are also good deals if you select and compare sizes & prices carefully.
Costco doesn’t accept manufacturer coupons so you’re not going to be scoring any crazy deals or outrageous bargains. However, if you can be selective and restrained (Oh, the agony! Trust me, I feel your pain.), you can often find quality items for cheaper than the cheapest chain store prices.
Also, think outside the grocery box : photos, gift cards, gas, clothing/shoes, flowers, and other items are often competitively priced. Ed & I purchased our pillow-top mattress at Costco for a good price 3 years ago and have been very happy with it. Pet urn, anyone? No? How about this baby? Maybe not, but at least treat yourself to an ice cream at the food court. Happy shopping.
Is Costco a good deal for your family? What do you buy?
{ 51 comments… read them below or add one }
I am with you on the TP. I tried to find good deals, but decided it wasn’t worth stocking all those little packages. I wrote that off a long time ago. Love the list, as there were things I didn’t know about on there. Off to get my yeast today.
Adding to your list, they have par baked loaves of crusty bread 2 for $6.49, the loaves are so large we cut them in half (we have teenagers). Dave’s killer bread 2 for $6.99, rotisserie chicken (make sure it touches the top of the container), and most spices, including the fresh pepper grinder and fresh sea salt grinder. And we can’t forget the Nutella, don’t judge me, judge my kids, I can’t stand the stuff.
i don’t have my own membership but i go along with my mom about once a month. some things i get pretty much exclusively at costco include organic chicken and ground beef, butter (always much cheaper at costco than at the regular store in my area), nuts, and contact solution (can only get a good deal on the kind i need elsewhere a few times a year, regular price is cheaper at costco)
i also like to (but don’t always) pick up some in season fresh fruit and snack foods like popchips
Carrie,
How does that work when you go with someone who has a membership? I have been thinking about splitting the membership cost with a friend, but I didn’t know how it would work for us both to be able to purchase at Costco.
Thanks.
My mom and I share a membership. The card is in my name so we usually go together and I pay. Then she pays me back later. If she needs to go and I can’t make it, she takes my card and just has to pay cash. The name on the debit card must match the name on the Costco card.
I share a membership with a friend. We each have one card. The only drawback is that she gets all of the coupons in the mail. I get emails from Costco, so I know when new coupon books are coming out, so I just ask at the Front desk for a coupon book. I really like sharing with a friend. Plus we have the executive membership. When you combine how much we both spend in a year, we earn a large enough rebate check to pay for our annual membership.
I love Costco! You can’t beat their return policy!!
I don’t think that you could actually split the membership with someone, since you have a picture on the card. You can purchase on someone else’s membership, however, as long as you are paying in cash.
ooops! Serves me right to reply before reading the other responses! The other posters are right; this is the same as ‘sharing’ a membership with my husband. Totally makes sense!
I can’t eat cows milk, but can have goat and sheep milk. I love cheese and get most of my calcuim from it (I’m nursing, so that’s a lot.) so I buy goat and sheep milk cheese there. It’s at least half or less of what it is most anywhere else.
I also like to buy some produce (mostly fruit for my preschooler and toddler) in the winter when the farmer’s market is closed. Their prices and quality are often better than elsewhere.
I love Costco. That being said, I have found that it is easy to load a cart up in a hurry. I have a business membership so I get 2% back on in-store purchases and an AmEx card so I get 3% back on my gas purchases. We pay our cards off each month so it is a real savings for us. Certain things are easier for me to buy on one trip there but I am still a “deal” shopper at heart. They are building a WinCo store about 1/2 mile from the Lacey Costco. I am pretty excited about that.
Almost forgot, once a year I buy a year’s supply of generic Zyrtec for around $15.
we buy a lot of things there-dave’s killer bread, kirkland sig organic pb, the frozen organic green beans (they’re the only frozen i’ve ever found that taste like fresh!), canned tuna, frozen fish, chicken nuggets, coffee, bananas, organic baby spinach…
the prime beef steaks are amaziiiiiing. we get the basic sirloin and it runs about 5 bucks a pound. which is pricier than sales at the grocery store, but it’s AMAZING.
Don’t forget the hot dogs! My two are still little enough that I can share a hot dog with them and we can have lunch for $1.50. Which is a little strange because hot dogs gross me out anywhere else.
I love Costco for those few things that I can cheaper there that I want a large amount of.
String cheese, Craisins, Pears, Bananas, pre-mix salads, Potstickers, sometimes coffee ($3.49ish per lb for whole bean) and more.
Other things I just prefer from Costco: the tortillas you finish cooking at home, they have some bread that you finish baking at home that is AWESOME, the chicken bakes, and more.
Thank you for this! I was just talking to my sister in law about wanting to compare some of the prices with Costco!
On the tp – that’s not a bad idea.
Thanks!
I also get my TP from Costco! Not only is a good price but it last like 5 months. Not worry about running out is worth it to me. I am also partial to the Kirkland brand disinfectant wipes! And their paper towels. And I try never to get gas anywhere else. Their price can’t be beat.
Fred Meyer is usually the same price or less for gas (if you have a Freddy’s gas station nearby) and they give rewards card members 3 cents off a gallon everyday. You can get 10 cents off per gallon for one fill-up if you earn 100 points or more for your store purchases.
Emily:
Thanks so much for your comments about Costco! Especially your price comparison chart — very helpful!
You know, the other day, I was wondering if any of the bloggers that I follow shop at Winco because it’s never mentioned. I would LOVE to know when coupon deals/paired with Winco’s regular or special prices beat out Safeway, Freddy’s, Target, etc. I used to shop at Winco all the time because a lot of everyday products tended to be priced cheaper than at other chain stores, but since I started to follow blogs and coupons, I don’t tend to go there because I never know if I’d get a better deal there or not. I really wish Winco would advertise their prices and sales in a flyer (I know, it’s a way the can cut down on their expenses by not producing/printing flyers) but again, with my limited time and the other multiple stores I can go to — I like to know ahead of time where I’ll get the best deals, instead of searching around the store with no idea.
Any thoughts or advice about this? I would definitely implement Winco back into my regular routine if I could keep up-to-date on pricing & deals.
Oh, and just like all stores, some of their prices are better; others are not. Every store has to make a profit, so they aren’t cheaper on EVERY single item, but on many, they are!
Here is a blog I check sometimes for WinCo prices:
http://nwcouponlady.blogspot.com/
Just look for her WinCo link!
The ladies at http://fabulesslyfrugal.com/ list Winco deals. They are in Idaho so sometimes the prices are a little different than what I find here in Oregon. Their highlights give me a good heads up on good deals to keep my eye out for.
Amy & Jennifer:
Thanks so much for giving me these references! I really appreciate it. I’ve been wanting to implement Winco back into my shopping routine and now I feel like I’ll be able to. Interesting that the blogs are both from neighboring states!
The prices might not be exactly the same, but I’m sure close enough that it will give me an idea of what to expect. Thanks again!!!
I LOVE Costco. I used to work there, and many of my family still does. My husband and I are there at least once a week. We’ll never be able to survive living more than 5 minutes from a warehouse. Costco ROCKS! My list of Costco faves is too long, we pretty much buy everything there!
This was really a helpful post! Thanks for the list of items as I was wondering what are the “deal” items at Costco. I was trying to figure out if it’s really worth the membership fee as it’s only a mile from our house and would be really convenient. I’m thinking we will renew our membership. Thanks for the tips!
We are a family of 12 (yes 10 kids). I do shop at costco but I hate it. Here is why. The milk even though can be a good price the milk jugs are a horrible design. My kids can not pour without spilling. Also the free samples drive me crazy. On two different occations I have had my children run over by some adult trying to get their free sample. Once it was for a 1/4 of a bite of bean and cheese burrito. Not even something that good. I do like to use there coupon book sometimes some great deals. Popcorn and formula are a good deal there.
Totally agree on the toilet paper…hate, hate, hate to coupon this item!
Costco also has the best price on my husband’s and my contact lenses and solution! It’s almost worth the membership fee for this alone for me.
I also buy tortillas, maple syrup, yeast, peanut butter, butter, Romaine hearts, pineapple, and other things you listed as well. But, like you said, you HAVE to stick to the list. I make it a point to NEVER take hubby with me when I go because we will end up spending so much more!
Also, my kids think it’s such a treat to get a hot dog there for lunch, and you seriously can’t beat $1.50 for a huge hot dog and a drink!
I am so with you on the TP. We have a septic tank so have to be careful with no buying the thick triple ply TP – so Costco Kirkland brand is just right. Never run out and cheap too. Also batteries, peanut butter, chicken. Plus we buy our laundry / dishwashing soup there as well – again septic system and kids with sensative skin (why mess with a good thing.) Also when my kids were little I would buy diapers at Costco – I know they were more expensive but I did not have time or enegery to go to multiple stores with coupons for a small package of diapers – better to get a case at a reasonable price and have a good supply until I was ready to hit the coupon again for the best sales.
Frozen strawberries!!! During strawberry season you can probably get them a little cheaper at stands, but then you have to prep and freeze yourself. My family goes through way too many to make it worth the work. We eat them fresh while in season, and rely on Costco the rest of the year.
Ever since I started couponing, I had never done any tp deals. Then I did the last Safeway deal with tp and detergent. Uuum yes, it was my first and last. The tp is 2ply so I was hoping my family could use less or separate it before use or something – no luck. I have decided on tp and paper towels, Costco has a life long fan in me!
The main things I buy are the cheesecake (best place in town to get it because I’m in So-Lame), the Sinai Kosher hot dogs, and just recently, Kirkland Cashew Clusters (omg yum!) Sometimes I buy other items, but like the OP said, I’m usually there just to browse with my Beau.
We actually just made the decision to cancel our membership this year. Not that I don’t LOVE Costco, but we were really only getting a few things exclusively there. They have the best consistently low prices on the tortilla chips and salsa that my husband MUST have in the house. I know he won’t complain about my couponing ways if I at least have these well stocked. My parents go really often so I just have them pick me up a few bags of chips and salsa to last us for a while. Not worth the $50 membership for us.
We are due to have our second baby any day and I will start buying my produce again when I start making his food in five or so months. They definitely have some good prices on produce, especially when I need to buy in bulk. Formula is significantly cheaper there as well, if you use it.
Otherwise, I can generally find all of my stock up items through couponing. We just had to make the tough decision that the membership fee wasn’t fitting into our budget.
Great column! Always wonder whether the coupon deals beat Costco . . . so your list was very helpful. I haven’t bought contact solution in a year — can usually get it ‘free’ with Walgreens RR.
Enjoyed reading this! Thanks for taking the time to price compare all of that for us! We stock up on our frozen blueberries there and Craisins…sometimes the chocolate chips and now I’m going to add the TP! Thanks!!
Costco coupons can really make it worth the trip as well… sometimes the prices are better than using a mfr coupon at a store… just depends!
Also- I’m with you on the clothes, gifts, etc.
See what you like at Costco- then head over to the Eagle Bargain Outlet- 174th/Powell, or Clackamas on 82nd…
many times I have found Carter’s and other kid items there for $3.99, and somtimes they have coupons in local mailers for buy1get1 free…
I bought my dtr a swimsuit for $4 cheaper than at Costco… perfect size… someone else just get the wrong size. Costco doesn’t “resell” their returns, so Eagle Bargain buys it and sells it!! It’s great! Bought bedding there once. You can get furniture, too!
Fiber One bars are $9.59 a box. That’s $1.60 a box/5 ct like at Safeway, FM, or Winco… but this month the $2.50 coupon brought it down to $7.00. $1.17 a box. Not as good as FREE, but a great stock up price!
to clarify- FiberOne bars are at Costco… not at the Eagle Bargain Outlet… I was referring to the Costco coupons on this months deals…
but separately, there are coupons in random home mailers for Eagle Bargain, esp. if you are in their mailing area!
Thank you for the price comparison! I often stand there staring at an item, trying to decide if I can do better elsewhere. Usually I can. There are quite a few things on my “must get at CostCo” list though. Chicken, Seattle’s Best Coffee, Kirkland disinfecting wipes, milk (I double HATE the jugs though), medicine…
There’s nothing like the relief of finding what you’re looinkg for.
Thanks for posting this. I have not shopped at Costco for a few months and when I did, I had sticker shock after shopping with coupons for five months! Thanks for the heads up on TP and goat’s milk. We are running low on TP and I have been keeping my eyes open for a good deal. Plus my baby just went to goat’s milk and it is EXPENSIVE ($3.59-$3.99/quart) at Albertson’s and New Seasons. I will check out Costco this week!
If you don’t have a membership, but want to shop at Costco on your own time, have someone you know buy you a Costco Cash card. Then you can go whenever you want without the member present.
Here’s my Costco shopping list!
(formatting is weird b/c I cut and pasted it)
Item Cost Cost/unit
Berries (Frozen) $10.99
Brown Sugar $2.79
Butter $6.70 $1.70/lb
Cheese (Shredded) (5 lbs) $11.99 $2.40/lb
Cheese (XSharp) (2lbs) $8.69 $4.35/lb
Ckn. Base 16 oz. $6.99 $0.44/oz
Kettle Chips $4.25
Choc Chips (Nestle) $7.59
Coffee (Organic) (3lbs) $13.59 $4.53/lb
Contact Soltn (Clear Care) $12.99
Corn (Frozen) (5lbs) $4.99 $1/lb
Honey 6 lbs $8.79
Garlic (Minced) (48 oz) $3.45 $1.15/lb
Ibuprofen $6.45
Ketchup $5.99
Lightbulbs $13.99
Mac & Cheese (Kirkland)
Muffins $4.25
PB 80 oz. $6.99 $0.87/oz
Peas (Frozen) (5 lbs) $5.99 $1.20/lb
Rotisserie chicken $4.99
Salsa (Organic) (66 oz) $5.89 $0.09/oz
Soy Sauce (64 oz) $4.79 $0.075/oz
Spinach $3.79
Sponges (18) $11.79 $0.66 ea
Thai Swt Chili Sauce (1L) $4.69
Thermacare $10.99
Sundried Tom (32 oz) $7.59 $0.28/oz
Toilet paper (Charmin) $19
Tomato Paste (12 x 6 oz) $5.99 $0.50 ea
Tortillas
Vanilla Extract $6.75 .42/oz
Vinegar $3.49 $1.80/gal
ZipFiz x30 $27.49
Just found a new favorite at Costco! Refill your printer cartridges for cheap! $7.99 for my black ink and $10.00 for color! Fill em up at the photo counter. Couldn’t we all use more ink?
Ground beef! I have this thing about ground beef. I cannot stand any gristle, bone, cartilage, sinew, etc. in ground beef. I will quite literally puke. This winter my husband and I bought ground beef from every grocery chain in town and ALL of them had “hard things,” as I call them. Even buying the 95% lean kind. Finally we decided we would only buy Costco ground beef. We have never EVER had a problem finding gristle in Costco ground beef.
Kirkland baby formula ($10 a can) and wipes! Nothing beats these prices (from what I’m willing to do) and they’re pretty close to the door so if you need to grab and go it’s easy.
I LOVE Costco and I think that the membership is worth every penny….we go every week or two and consistently buy
Milk (2 double packs) I agree the jugs are awful though!
eggs
strawberries
mangos last week (less than $1 per mango!)
goldfish
pirate booty
ground turkey
chicken
mini bagels
tortillas
toilet paper
tortellini
tillamook cheddar cheese
motzerella cheese
cottage cheese
I am sure that there is more…I try to stay under $200 every 2 weeks and spend less that $300 total on groceries every 2 weeks; filling in with items from Winc. My budget is high compared to some super couponers but for our family of 5 (kids ages 12,8, and 4) it works for us
My husband LOVES LOVES LOVES Costco and is convinced that EVERYTHING is cheaper there! I would love to do a price comparison on costco most frequently purchased items vs. grocery store, drug store, coupon purchases. But…the price comparison would have to be based on a single unit. Does anyone know if there is any sort of data base out there or blog that has costco prices listed?
Thanks!
Tanya,
All of the prices should have the unit price on them, just bring a printable price list with you to the grocery store and check when you go to Costco to see what’s a better deal there! Good luck
Dana
YAY! I LOVE this post. Lately whenever I’ve gone to Costco, I feel guilty for not going somewhere where I can use coupons/get things for super cheap or free. BUT I have certain items that are just WAY easier to purchase in bulk and pay a bit more for just for the sanity. (Toilet paper is one of them… thank you for taking my guilt away with your post!!)
I’ve been meaning to ask you if you are a Costco shopper at all and whether it’s worth it to shop there. This posting answered that. THANK YOU!!! SOOO helpful!!!
I was just at Costco and was wondering if you shopped there too! You made me so much less guilty for shopping there ESPECIALLY about the TP! Thank you
just FYI – yeast. Went to my Costco today (Everett, WA north of Seattle)- they were out and indicated they are discontinuing yeast. They indicated all the other local stores had some but once they were gone they would be gone. So if you are almost out of yeast – go get some soon. I paid $3.86 for 32 oz – or $0.12/oz.
Not sure if you all know this as well, but if you are given a gift card and don’t have a membership you can still shop at costco.
While having a membership is easy and you do get good deals we did get rid of ours. Don’t see a need for it anymore
We are lucky in the New England area to have another wholesale club option BJ Wholesale Club. They offer their own store coupons and you can use manufacturer coupons on top of the store coupons. So they prices end up being cheaper then the Sam or Costco’s in our area. So on things I use regularly, wholesale clubs are the way to go.
Grade A stuff. I’m unquestoinbaly in your debt.
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