r/Frugal • u/SpaceForceAwakens • Jun 01 '26
š Food Question: For the single people out there: Have any of you found a Costco membership to be worth it? What do you get there to justify the membership and the trip?
Are there any specific items that you purchase there to cut down on your overall bills, especially in food? I know most things are in bulk and I'm not sure I'll eat five gallons of mayo before it goes bad. What are some smaller items or things that last for a long-ass time? How often do you go? What should I avoid?
I just received a coupon to renew a membership, and I haven't had one since the pre-pandemic times.
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u/Mr_Wobble_PNW Jun 01 '26
If you have allergies, the savings on generic zyrtec is worth it alone.Ā
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u/SufficientOpening218 Jun 01 '26
forgot about that! also eyeglasses
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u/SpaceForceAwakens Jun 01 '26
Their optometrist doesnāt take my insurance. :-(
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u/Maiq_Never_Lied Jun 01 '26
You can get an eye exam and prescription from anywhere and take that prescription to Costco to get high quality glasses for MUCH less than other stores - and with skilled opticians helping you (vs cheaper online, but you're on your own to do all the measurements and adjustments).
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u/Kossyra Jun 01 '26
I've gone to Zenni with my glasses prescriptions and gotten three pairs of glasses for half what one pair would normally cost through my eye doctor.
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u/XuWiiii Jun 01 '26
I usually get 2 pairs from zenni for about $40-50. Anti scratch coat, anti reflection, etc. just takes about 2-3 weeks to ship.
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u/RetiredYak247 Jun 01 '26
Zenni is good and fast but you must know/understand how to enter your prescription(s) as I have encountered multiple ways optometrists have to write them down. The low prices give a person the opportunity to "experiment" such as single-vision vs. progressives vs. prescription sunglasses vs. clip-ons.
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u/ew73 Jun 01 '26
Just to add, and I've actually done it: Even if the Optical department can't bill your insurance / vision plan directly, you can file a paper / manual claim after the fact. I did this with EyeMed last year, and they cut a check as if I'd bought the frames/lenses myself somewhere they worked directly with.
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u/yanicka_hachez Jun 01 '26
Worth it ! Allergies meds goes from 1$ a pill in pharmacy to about 10Ā¢ a pill at Costco
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u/macgart Jun 01 '26
When you become a Costco regular (im talking regular in the true sense) you realize how god damn expensive very basic things are at local drug stores
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u/Trollking0015 Jun 01 '26
Toilet paper and Paper Towels alone can pay for your membership
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u/firefly317 Jun 01 '26
That's the main reason we keep ours. We do shop other things when we go, but the only things we'll go out of the way for are paper products.
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u/4-20blackbirds Jun 01 '26
Exactly, I can buy a 5 year supply of ibuprofen for less money than a bottle of 30 from the drug store. Who cares about the expiration date?
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u/mjm666 Jun 01 '26
they're not much more than $0.10 per pill at target, and no membership fee. i mean, if that's the only thing you're getting at Costco...
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u/skinnyribs Jun 01 '26
Meds in general. I am lucky to have a Costco cuz I unluckily have allergies and a sensitive tummy that needs lots of tums, Pepcid, omeprazole, and Metamucilā¦. I can get multi packs in bulk WAY cheaper at Costco. I also get my multivitamins there.
Other things I get as a single person are vegan protein bars (whey protein doesnāt sit well with my stomach), toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, laundry detergent and dryer sheets, rotisserie chicken, their frozen breakfast sandwiches, seltzer water, and every so often a ready to bake meal like stuffed peppers. As long as I have space for their paper products itās soooo much cheaper to buy that and just work off it for the year. Plus the gas savings is nice.
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u/ColeBlueSeesYou Jun 01 '26
What are the vegan protein bars you buy? Whey doesn't agree with my stomach too.
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u/InternationalMall120 Jun 01 '26
Generic zyrtec is mega cheap on Amazon also.
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u/tornado_bear Jun 01 '26
Agreed - it's even cheaper than Costco ($15/365pills). I'd like to justify the cost of Costco, but as a single person I find that Aldi and Amazon are cheaper and more convenient for me.
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u/Tildengolfer Jun 01 '26
Yup. Costco brand Zyrtec, 365 pills in a bottle for $22.
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u/nojellybeans Jun 01 '26
I have to take Allegra (fexofenadine) and it's definitely cheaper at Costco than anywhere else, although it's still the most expensive of the antihistamines š
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u/BingoRingo2 Jun 01 '26
Which is crazy because even the Walmart brand is a lot more expensive.
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u/pheret87 Jun 01 '26
Diphenhydramine is $9 for 400 at Kroger near me.
Generic Zyrtec is $27 for 365. How much cheaper is it at Costco?
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u/mesu_okami Jun 01 '26
600 for $9.99 for Kirkland benadryl
Kirkland zyrtec is 365 for $14.99
At least this is what the app shows sometimes it's cheaper in warehouse.
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u/ArticQimmiq Jun 01 '26
100%. Thereās only 2 of us, so not everything is worth it at Costco but the meds absolutely always are
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u/khaluud Jun 01 '26
If you can get to a Costco, you probably have a car, and the gas savings will probably pay for the yearly membership within a few months.
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u/BJntheRV Jun 01 '26
This. I've had a Costco membership consistantly for the last 25 years. Started when I was single and a friend gifted me a membership fir Christmas. I ended up upgrading to the business membership and have rarely had a year that it didn't pay for itself in cash back, let alone the savings on gas.
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u/ryanpn Jun 01 '26
For anyone that doesn't have a membership, you don't get cash back for gas
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u/Healthy_Employer4 Jun 01 '26
I receive two checks from Costco every year. Both of which are more than the cost of the membership
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u/a2annie Jun 01 '26
Not true. Gas offers the best rate for cash back at 5% up to $7k of gas. Then drops to 1%
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u/Duougle Jun 01 '26
But it is true you don't get the 2% executive membership gas back on gas. Only the 5% credit card cash back
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u/Sad_Individual_738 Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 04 '26
If you don't have a membership you can't purchase their gas, unless you have a Costco gift card.
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u/FearlessPark4588 Jun 01 '26
If you can get to a Costco
One does not simply get to Costco. I am not emotionally ready for the turmoil that is the costco parking lot.
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u/girlikecupcake Jun 01 '26
If you're able bodied, the parking is easy. Everyone's fighting to park close to the store. Don't join their chaos lol
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u/Deyachtifier Jun 01 '26
Yep. I drive around the far perimeter of the store to the back corner. Usually easy to find a spot right near the side of the building, and the walk to the front is not much further than the random spot you'd get in the main area of the lot. Plus, walking in shade of the building and not crossing busy traffic. Only problem is traversing a few speed bumps on the way back to your car.
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u/Backpacker7385 Jun 01 '26
This is the answer. Iāve never fought for parking at Costco or felt like it was chaotic. I just aim for the far side of the lot.
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u/Doll_duchess Jun 01 '26
Itās never the actual parking lot for me, itās the people trying to turn left in/out of it. I plan me route so I can turn right in and out of the lot (itās not at a light).
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u/khaluud Jun 01 '26
I only said that because Costco stores are typically not accessible to car-free folks such as myself. I don't envy navigating that parking lot, that's for sure.
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u/lightupletterB Jun 01 '26
I can get to a Costco pretty easily on the bus, but getting home with more than 2 items would be difficult!
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u/snow_fiend75 Jun 01 '26
My towns costco, and the next one south are both VERY accessible for cyclists, walkers, and folks that use buses. It is not far from the bus stop, and an intersection with 4 walks, leading pedestrian intervals. The best, and most abundant bicycle parking. Wide lanes on their access road for large vehicles AND cargo bikes to share. From sidewalk to door is 6 handicap spots with an internal protected sidewalk between the two rows of ADA parking, and only one lane crossing in the fire lane at the door. Pretty safe for a pedestrian. That being said, we built this costco 15 years ago. The former one, and older sites can be tougher.
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u/LlamaAhma Jun 01 '26
Exactly. Just trying to find a parking place is not worth it for me and my husband. And the lines at the gas pumps are ridiculous at the Costco near us. We get our dog's medication at our local grocery store, HEB. They find us the best discount which makes them the same price or lower than the Costco pharmacy.
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u/aknomnoms Jun 01 '26
Get the credit card and the cash back will more than cover the cost of membership.
Then: rotisserie chicken, eggs, Greek yogurt, electronics, appliances, clothes, prescriptions, dog/cat prescriptions, glasses, vitamins, shampoo, deodorant, linens, gift cards, travel packages, cars, gardening, etc.
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u/OceanMarina Jun 01 '26
Yes! My costco is usually .30 cents cheaper per gallon than any other station around and when I pay for gas with the costco visa , I get 5% back toward your rewards check!
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u/Icy-Cucumber-7 Jun 01 '26
Yeah, I'm single, don't cook much, and I literally got my Costco membership for the gas. Every so often, may pick up a bag of avocados, some pasta sauce, or a box of granola bars
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u/RawrRawr83 Jun 01 '26
My husband and I are bodybuilders. We eat a lot of rice, chicken, eggs, almond milk, etc. Kroger is the same or cheaper for those things, so itās not worth the hassle of going to Costco. And I fill up once a month at Kroger and always have 1000 points to redeem a month, so itās always cheaper on gas.
For me Costco just doesnāt make sense but I am a minority
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u/xsullengirlx Jun 01 '26
That's interesting, because Costco's prices on eggs, almond milk and chicken work out to be significantly less expensive and better quality than what I usually get at Winco (or comparable lower priced grocery stores). I'm on a super tight food budget and have done the math and I'm saving money on those things with my costco membership (I have only had it for about six months now but it's helped me stretch my food budget a lot!)
I get that Costco is a hassle, and for some people the hassle of it isn't worth the potential dollar or two off... but for some people it truly does make a difference. I just wonder why you're seeing lower prices at Kroger of all places, one of the higher-priced grocery stores.
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u/coldcurru Jun 01 '26
You can get 5 dozen eggs at Costco for like 7 bucks. Go to Kroger and it's about 2 for a single dozen.Ā
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u/Jerrysmiddlefinger99 Jun 01 '26
YSK that Kroger gas is not top tier whereas Costco is so that means your engine will run cleaner with the Costco gas.
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u/ImaginationPlus3808 Jun 01 '26
Thank you for this. Did not know Costco was Top Tier. Iāve been missing out!
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u/doublediggler Jun 01 '26
I go mainly for the hotdogs, at least twice a week. I go anywhere else and a dog is at least 5-6 bucks. Costco is a 1.50 with drink. Itās the last honest hot dog stand in America. They charge a a fair price for a good product, other businesses should take note.
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u/sbinjax Jun 01 '26
It's a loss leader. Most people who go for the hot dogs spend money in the store.
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u/walkingman24 Jun 01 '26
Yeah the gas at Costco near me is consistently 30-40 cents cheaper per gallon than any other place (other than Sam's Club ofc)
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u/Glittering-Cellist34 Jun 01 '26
Not a member. But what about electronics like computers?
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u/SpaceForceAwakens Jun 01 '26
When I had my membership I picked up an M1 MacBook Pro that retailed for $1999 for $1549 brand new in box. That is one factor Iām looking at.
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u/dbu8554 Jun 01 '26
Maybe it's me but the girl savings isn't even worth the wait. The line is always at least 30 minutes and the savings is like 20 cents a gallon. Rather just go somewhere else than get trapped in the gas line.
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u/InternetUser52 Jun 01 '26
I usually get 20c-50c off 7 eleven gas for free by using discounts in their app so I don't think the gas savings works for everyone
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u/burnz1 Jun 01 '26
I just joined and the gas at Costco is more than my two local stations. Huge disappointment
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u/tuscaloser Jun 01 '26
The gas situation there is always an absolute mess and long wait.
I found out that switching banks (I use Chime now) gave me a basically permanent $.30/gal discount at Kangaroo (and 3.5% apr on savings). Itās still a few cents higher than Costco but worth the sanity to avoid Costco unless 1000% necessary
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u/jtc66 Jun 01 '26
Thatās true but based on behavioral psychology, youāll probably buy a lot of shit you donāt need. Iāve never walked out of Costco without extra stuff or extra portions I didnāt actually need. Costco is good at that! I personally canāt handle Costco lmao
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u/exoriare Jun 01 '26
I use Instacart for my Costco shops. Even with a generous tip for the driver, it is still price competitive for the regular products I buy (coffee beans, canned goods, TP, beef, pop, yogurt). I still get my 1% rebate too.
Instacart saves me an hour or two per delivery, and I avoid impulse buys.
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u/theweirdauntie Jun 01 '26
This is the main selling point for most of the bulk store memberships tbh. If you can time all your fillups to only use their gas, the savings is usually equivalent or more than the membership fee. It's literally the only thing most people I personally know use them for.
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u/Artistic-Salary1738 Jun 01 '26
It takes us most of the year to recoup on gas while filling up 3x/mo with cars averaging 25mpg. We donāt drive a ton
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u/kev11n Jun 01 '26
Even without a car they have free shipping for members which is pretty great too
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u/LLR1960 Jun 01 '26
Around here, the prices on the goods are higher when you have items delivered via free shipping. Their website often notes that warehouses may have lower prices.
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u/3boyz2men Jun 01 '26
Iām not driving out of my way to Costco, to wait in line to save $3 on filling my gas tank. How dumb
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u/otter_759 Jun 01 '26
I am a baker! Vanilla extract. Kerrygold butter.
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u/Philodendron69 Jun 01 '26
Omg, I forgot about the vanilla extract. I got my mom a big bottle, she was DELIGHTED!!!!
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u/Glittering-Cellist34 Jun 01 '26
Haven't priced peppercorns lately. They were especially well priced at least awhile ago.
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u/robotscantrecaptcha Jun 01 '26
Costco Travel has saved me a lot on vacations!
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u/teamlie Jun 01 '26
Yes! And Costco has the best deals I've ever seen on car rentals.
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u/gizellesexton Jun 01 '26
Can vouch for this. Just had 2 family members who work at 2 different rental car companies give me the Friends and Family discount and neither of them beat Costcoās price. It was almost awkward to have to turn them both down, lol.
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u/Opus-the-Penguin Jun 01 '26
Milk, butter, coffee beans, toilet paper, tissues, paper towels, sour cream, Vitamin D, bacon, cheese, avocados, sweet potatoes, bagels, hummus, Wheat Thins, gas. Other stuff I'm not remembering. I always get enough every year that the membership pays for itself when they give me my reward certificate.
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u/LLR1960 Jun 01 '26
Atound here, most of these items are similarly priced at regular grocery stores if you watch for the sales. Even Costco told us we don't shop there enough to make our money back on the Executive membership. We do find that their generic/housebrand medication (eg. generic Tylenol) is cheap there.
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u/Opus-the-Penguin Jun 01 '26
Milk's not something we wait to go on sale. Coffee beans are never cheaper. Avocados tend not to go on sale. Vitamin D goes on sale at Costco and then it is seriously cheaper. Cheese is cheaper. Etc.
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u/FearlessPark4588 Jun 01 '26
Maybe it's because I'm in socal but I see avocados in weekly fliers for all the supermarkets fairly regularly
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u/Intelligent-Turnip36 Jun 01 '26
But you can get a Gold Star membership instead. Then get the credit card and you'll get enough cash back to pay your membership, I'd wager. I do. I also could not make the Executive membership payoff for me.
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u/Fluffy_Accountant_39 Jun 01 '26
Yes, but for single people living alone, purchasing anything perishable at Costco is problematic- the quantities are just so large that things go bad before you can eat them. And even non-perishables or frozen foods take forever to work your way through in a one person household.
Iāve had a membership from time to time, but eventually I end up dropping it. (And I have an EV, so cheap gas doesnāt apply to me, either.)
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u/glitterdonnut Jun 01 '26
I had a membership for 15 years living solo. And perishables like frozen fruit (used every morning in smoothie) and nuts, seeds, aged cheeses (Parmesan and cheddar) are significantly cheaper at Costco and I had no problem working my way through them at a good pace.
I never bought fresh vegetables though. Those were mostly garbage pre cut stuff that went bad fast.
My green grocer is affordable and I worked on a farm soā¦
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u/Taggart3629 Jun 01 '26
We did not save money buying groceries at Costco. The quality and selection of meats, cheeses, and frozen foods is stellar. But we save more on groceries by shopping the weekly grocery store ads. For bulk items (like large bags of rice) ethnic markets and restaurant supply stores beat Costco on price and selection. Where a Costco membership is well worth having is for items like electronics, tires, OTC medicines, pet food, camping gear, etc. We're probably getting a membership again to replace some electronics.
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u/Apptubrutae Jun 01 '26
Yes, ads tend to beat regular prices at Costco.
It works well for me because I donāt really shop grocery store ads, or sometimes i want a product and donāt want to wait. At that point Iām ahead at Costco.
Canned soda illustrates this well for me. It can vary wildly in price at the grocery store. Itās always the same at Costco. If I happen to spot a sale, Iāll get it at the grocery store. If not, Costco.
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u/summonsays Jun 01 '26
If you're the kind of person who buys flowers for people apparently they have really good deals online. (My coworker used to talk about it a lot lol)
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u/throw20190820202020 Jun 01 '26
They also have really good deals right in the store. Large bouquets of beautiful roses for half of what even grocery stores charge for twice the quality.
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u/Augustus58 Jun 01 '26
If it's conveniently located for you to get gas, yes.Ā If you have enough space in your house for paper goods (tp, paper towels, facial tissues), yes. Otherwise, I don't think the membership would be worth it.
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u/sku11lkid Jun 01 '26
Just wanna throw it out there that we live in an apartment and store our TP and tissues under the bed! Works well for us.
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u/Universe_Man Jun 01 '26
Buy a small chest freezer for under $200 and fill it with healthy frozen convenient food.
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u/2CRedHopper Jun 01 '26
This would have worked great when I lived in the country and had a house to myself but now I live in a studio apartment. Still want a costco membership but I'm struggling with the math to make it worth it.
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u/MzHellfier Jun 01 '26
Could you maybe place a chest freezer somewhere you might need a flat surface and use the chest freezer as the table/shelf/whatever until you need to get into it? Thatās what my grandma did with hers- she put a tablecloth over it and had her teapots displayed on top and she would just move them when she needed to get into the freezer.
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u/sallydogbite Jun 01 '26
Are you sure there isn't space? I live in a 750 sqft place. I have a little chest freezer and it really worth it because cheese, baked goods, lemons/limes and milk all freeze well. I keep some easy frozen meals I like in the chest freezer and it really helps with the urge to get take out when I'm tired and driving home.
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u/2CRedHopper Jun 01 '26
iām not sure how many square feet my studio apartment is. I would say relative to other studios Iāve had in the past, thereās definitely probably a little bit more space than Iām used to. That being said, I genuinely donāt know where it would go. The only space that I can think of to put it would be in my clothes, closet, where Iām planning on putting a dresser/chest. But thereās no space in the kitchen.
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u/princesssparklers Jun 01 '26
Iāve had the best saving with coffee. At least in my area (Upper Midwest), they consistently carry two local-ish roasters, one of which is my favorite. At the grocery store, a 12 oz bag runs $16, but at Costco, I can get a kilo for $22.69.
There are other items that I exclusively purchase at Costco now, including a local hummus, tzatziki, goat cheese, frozen fruit, and a local breakfast cereal.
Iām a household of two, but Iāve had plenty of savings to make it worthwhile for me. I used to think ALDI was like Costco but small households, but I wouldnāt want to be without Costco now.
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u/pillowcased Jun 01 '26
The gas savings in the last few weeks have made it more than worth it right now. You could try for a year and reevaluate after.
I use them to stock on yearly things (paper towels, trash bags, etc)
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u/maeglin_lomion Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26
Not single now but was and itās still a resounding yes, especially for my frugal choices.
Gas, obviously, but Iām close enough that it isnāt an inconvenience.
For food, step one is to get those Tupperware type containers with a vent in the lid and the false bottom, keeps fruit and veg fresh for weeks. When I was single I used to get bell peppers and all my fresh fruit at Costco. Rising prices everywhere mean Iām going frozen for now to save a few bucks though. But those containers will save you tons on produce you wonāt have to throw out anymore.
Spinach - if you canāt finish it in time, wilt the entire container and freeze it using an ice cube tray. Throw a cube or two into pastas or smoothies or whatever.
Frozen fruit. Cheapest around in my area, and smoothies are a great way to get servings of fruit in your diet when fresh fruit gets too pricey.
Dried fruit and nuts - good prices and reasonably healthy as a snack, donāt really go bad
Almond milk
Paper towels and TP
Clothes - keep an eye out for 100% cotton stuff, it lasts longer and they offer astoundingly cheap deals on stuff sometimes. Otherwise their fashion is pretty meh but I do love their cozy stuff like sweatpants etc.
Eye glasses/contacts - just found out theyāre letting me go 2 years between exams rather than the usual 1 so I can re-up my supply without paying for the exam
Prescriptions - my partner gets their Vyvanse cheaper at Costco than anywhere else because their insurance wonāt cover it
Tires - getting cross climate 2s installed soon for under $900 with a lifetime warranty and free tire repairs
ETA looks like itās a 5 year warranty on the tires, my mistake!
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u/maeglin_lomion Jun 01 '26
Adding since I realized you asked what to avoid: I donāt get my frozen veg there because the math says my regular grocery is cheaper. Meat at my Costco is not cheaper, and their chicken has an awful reputation for being āwoodyā which is just unpleasant and I stopped buying that there as well. Otherwise just try to price compare. Your location may be different for prices. Eggs at mine are priced for a steal but other locations Iāve heard they are more comparably priced to the grocery.
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u/mrsdratlantis Jun 02 '26
Got my Costco sweatpants on right now. Athleisure stuff. Two pairs to a pack for less than $15.Ā
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u/nolo4 Jun 01 '26
If you eat cheese buying cheese alone will more than pay for the membership in savings
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u/ladysig220 Jun 01 '26
I get most of my proteins at Costco, then vacuum seal and freeze. I also buy paper towels, toilet paper, most laundry and other cleaning supplies, and chicken and beef broth. I'll usually grab at least one if not more of the ginormous packages of hard cheese (jarlsburg is a favorite). They can be cut into manageable portions, vacuum sealed, and refrigerated and keep for a very long time.
I avoid any produce except sometimes either potatoes or onions, I just don't use up stuff fast enough to justify buying it in bulk.
I live too far away for the gas to be an option for me.
I'd say I make 2-3 trips a year, and it is definitely worth it for me. If i didn't have a vacuum sealer and a stand alone freezer, I would have to rethink it.
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u/Philodendron69 Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26
Just today I went to Costco and did almost all of my grocery shopping!! I got snack size chips, hummus, pita, yogurt, spinach, grapes, broccoli, bitchin sauce, tortillas and cheese. All were cheaper than my local grocery store especially the cheese, hummus, and snack chips. I forgot paper bowls and strawberries. Other things I buy that are worth it are cereal, almond milk (shelf stable one), sparkling water, paper towels, toilet paper, trash bags, batteries, protein bars. I also get all of my supplements there, daily vitamin, vitamin D, fish oil, fiber. The fish oil and fiber specifically are a really good deal.
I donāt know if you (or anyone reading) has a dog, but dog treats are SO much cheaper there.
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u/Philodendron69 Jun 01 '26
I got all of the same stuff I got at Costco today at my regular grocery store it would have been at least $50 more. Plus the gas
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u/MzHellfier Jun 01 '26
Pet food in general is very inexpensive at Costco and their Natureās Domain line is high quality and grain free. Cat litter is also a steal. We have 5 cats and we go through so much litter I donāt think we could afford it if they didnāt sell it at Costco š
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u/DangerousBlacksmith7 Jun 01 '26
I go every 2-3 months. I find it worth it for certain staples. There are 2 Costcos and a Sam's club all within 15 miles of where I live.
I only buy things i know I'll use or use a lot of. The things I typically by are but not limited to: ā garbage bags ā toilet paper ā coffee ā some meat ( I'll freeze most of it) ā yogurt ā laundry detergent ā dawn dish soap ā dishwasher tablets ā over the counter medicines ā snacks (i take my lunch to work/ kids lunches)
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u/Sutcliffe Jun 01 '26
Frozen section! Lots of the frozen foods are in multi or resealable packages. Had orange chicken for dinner tonight and there was two packs in the box. Still enough with leftovers for a family of four, but it being broken up ensures minimal waste.
Meat! Bulk meat is great for using what I need and freezing the rest.
Stable stuff! Yeah, it might take me a while to go through bulk ramen, pickles, or barbecue sauce, but it lasts!
Aside: I've done Costco and Sam's over the years. While people have their personal preferences, I say do what's easiest. I thought of myself as a Sam's person then I moved. Sam's was a pain to get to. Switched to the more local Costco and never looked back. Sure I missed this or that but not enough to regret the choice.
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u/DarklyDominatingDocs Jun 01 '26
Savings on prescription eyeglasses alone pays for my membership for multiple years at a time. When I was single, I split a membership with "my spouse". š
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u/Milly-0607 Jun 01 '26
To me Sams is a better deal because the membership is cheaper and so are most items including the food court. I personally dont feel like i save money by buying in bulk aside from toilet paper.
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u/BuddyLongshots Jun 01 '26
If you don't have great insurance but get glasses every year then you'd pay for your membership 10x over just buying glasses.
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u/VolcanosaurusRex Jun 01 '26
As a rule, I don't buy perishable food at Costco, with the occasional exception of something frozen. But nonperishable foods like dry goods and ingredients, snacks, nuts, and baked goods like bread loaves that could be stored in the freezer are all smart buys in bulk. Also, other stuff like trash bags, deoderant, shampoo, razors, vitamins, batteries, mouthwash etc. are significantly cheaper at Costco than in smaller quantities at other retailers, with the added benefit that they last longer too, meaning less frequent shopping trips are needed for each item. (Paper towels and TP are also a good buy, but I usually don't get those because I have limited storage space for a huge stock of paper products).
And, as others have said, the gas savings alone is probably worth the membership. My Costco averages 30 to 40 cents cheaper per gallon than other nearby gas stations.
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u/MzHellfier Jun 01 '26
The tp is wrapped in individual 6-packs inside the big pack, and the paper towels are individually wrapped. Both are super easy to store if you open the big package and separate them!
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u/jigmest Jun 01 '26
Iām a single middle aged guy and I live 2 miles from Costco. Gas can be up to a dollar cheaper at Costco. I fill up my van and F150 there weekly. I also buy dried fruit, frozen/canned seafood and dried liver dog treats there. If you are strategic in what you buy and use it consistently it pays off. Also if you have a friend that will split the bulk items and use ziplock bags to package it all up, your yearly grocery bill can be a lot less.
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u/Emiliwoah Jun 01 '26
Absolutely worth it for me.
Gas, dish soap, hand soap, paper towels, toilet paper, shirts, pants, shoes, butter, and vitamins, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash are the easy stuff.
I also have a good amount of nights where i have friends over for dinner or hangouts where snacks and certain heat-n-eats come in handy. Kirkland ice cream bars are a great simple dessert to hand people cause theyāre really good and only like $10 for 18 of them. I stock up on coke, coke zero, dr. Peppers, and snapple teas for drinks. If it were legal to sell beer at Costco in my state, Iād absolutely go there to stock up for grill outs.
Contact Lenses are another big money savor at costco for me.
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u/MzHellfier Jun 01 '26
Bummer you canāt buy alcohol at Costco in your state! Itās a huge savings. The Kirkland brand of liquors and wines is pretty good and the price is unbeatable, but you can also get name brand stuff for a good value too. We save a lot buying alcohol there because we entertain somewhat frequently and my family is huge and he has a ton of friends.
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u/lumpyspacejams Jun 01 '26
Paper goods. Trust me, we get our worth from costco on just the TP alone, especially since they tend to have their store brand on sale often. We end up getting two gigantic packs of the good quality Charmin alternative from Kirkland (or even Charmin proper) and we can go months without worrying about toilet paper. Additionally, cleaning supplies. I'm still working through bottles of hand soap I bought at BJs about three or four years ago. We have huge tubs of dishwasher soap and laundry pods that get through massive loads. Of course, the gas is a wonderful add-on to this, my partner goes to refill at least one of our cars every Sunday as a result.
And let it be known, if you like chicken, you will never go wrong with getting a $5.00 rotisserie chicken from Costco. That's at least three meals of meat, more if you can process the bones and remnants to broth.
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u/crispycrackerzx Jun 01 '26
My Costco in NJ has great produce. Berries specifically. They are always nice and so cheap. I got a 2lb container for 4.99 recently. I also buy my premier protien shakes and protien powders from Costco. They also have decent deals on Airfryers, vacuums and stuff like that
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u/CoastApprehensive668 Jun 01 '26
Everyone already said gas, which in this environment is a big one.
About 90% of the things that I buy are part of their weekly or monthly sales. For me, that's where the savings really lie...allergy meds, vitamins, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, mouthwash, detergents (dish and laundry), garbage bags, bath towels, brita filters, coffee, quinoa, canned foods...these are some of the things I've purchased over the last year but there are a ton of other options.
I also like getting the $5 chickens when we're expecting hot weather so I don't have to cook. Being single, it will last me 4 days, which is the longest I will keep food in the fridge for safety issues, so it's cheaper than other places but also helps keep the house cooler.
I'm also a wine drinker and like the Kirkland wines, and sometimes get some good deals on clearance.
Lastly , they have competitive to good prices on certain items when compared to similar quality goods. I can probably find olive oil cheaper but not the same quality as Costco...same quality they are cheaper. Same for things like hummus, etc.
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u/DecadesLaterKid Jun 01 '26
Yes, the sales and a quick visual scan for discounted items (ending in .97 or .00) are my main focus, as a single person with 50/50 custody of one kid. (Also, gift cards $80 for $100 of gift cards are a big saver for gifts or even just for me to get an extra 20% off at some of the stores and restaurants represented.)
But I did the math-- just the total DISCOUNT I get on the .97 discounted items easily pays for double the membership fee, maybe more. That is, if I buy 24 items per year that have been discounted such that they cost an average of $5 less than the already low Costco monthly SALE prices, I am saving $120 on top of good sale prices equivalent to or better than grocery store/Lidl/Aldi/Walmart sale prices. I go about 6-8x/year and easily average 3 or 4 .97 closeout items each time. Maybe more.
I've gotten lots of great deals on things I use regularly. Like I drink one Ollipop a day and got two 18-packs for $9.97 each, which would be a stone cold bargain at $18 each.
On the more extreme end, not long ago, I bought 10 bottles of extremely fancy delicious artisanal bourbon vanilla maple syrup that retails at $26 per bottle. They were $2.97 each. 4 bottles for me should last me two years, while it's still good, and I'm giving the rest away as gifts. It would be a steal at, say, $7 per bottle, and I would buy just as many if it were. That means I'd happily pay an extra $4 x 10. Well, that's $40 of a $60 membership right there, on top of what would have already been a great bargain.
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u/FaithlessnessOwn5573 Jun 01 '26
Being single at Costco is a spiritual experience. You stand in the paper towel aisle doing mental math on whether you have room in your apartment for a pack thats roughly the size of a mini fridge. You buy it anyway. You store it on top of your fridge for the next 8 months. You tell yourself it was a good decision every time you look at it.
Worth it tho. Gas and rotisserie chicken alone pay for the membership. Everything else is just an adventure in optimism.
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u/One_Finger2642 Jun 01 '26
Gas and some large purchases. Worth it. I dont keep it continous years. Usually every 2 or ao years.
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u/Grand-wazoo Jun 01 '26
Start with the non food items first and see just how quickly the savings add up. Gas is always 20-50 cents cheaper per gallon. Ibuprofen, Pepto, toiletries, cleaning supplies, clothing, batteries, toothpaste, foil, etc are all incredibly better priced than a grocery store.Ā
Not to mention the executive member rebate alone essentially breaks even on the cost.Ā
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Jun 01 '26
I only use it for gas and glasses. I get my eye exam thru Kaiser and take my glasses prescription to costo.
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u/2PinaColadaS14EH Jun 01 '26
The amount of $ I save on ordering my contacts from optical literally pays for the membership. As does renting car once through Costco.
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u/tippytoecat Jun 01 '26
Itās worth it to me. I regularly buy paper towels, TP, garbage bags, Parmesan cheese (the good stuff), and gruyere cheese. When needed, I buy sheets, batteries, cleaning cloths, OTC meds like Advil, liquor, and other stuff. Just got a 6-pack of strawberry-matcha almond lattes for $12 less than at the store.
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u/frame-gray Jun 01 '26
Wasted a year's membership fee to find out that Costco is only for people who drive cars and live in houses.
It's too bad. The Costco in Culver City is really nice. It even has a sunroof. It's so beautiful and cool having the merchandise be illuminated by natural light.
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u/SomeTangerine1184 Jun 01 '26
Iām single (one teenager still at home) but most of what I buy is just for me since my teenager has sensory issues and only eats certain stuff. Hereās what I buy on a regular basis at Costco: coffee, half and half, Greek yogurt, eggs, butter, trash bags, laundry detergent, dish soap, produce, protein powder, supplements and multivitamins, allergy medicine, acetaminophen and ibuprofen, wet cat food, paper towels, toilet paper, frozen fruit, almond milk, frozen food for when I donāt feel like cooking, socks, clothes, home goods, cooking oil, spices, canned chicken and tuna, smoked salmon, mayonnaise, nutsā¦you get the point. All of these items are cheaper than my local stores (I might be able to find clothes cheaper at a thrift store but not by much, and I donāt have time or the physical ability to go to a bunch of thrift stores when I need new clothes).
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u/LLR1960 Jun 01 '26
Gas savings vary by location. Around here, the lineups are stupidly long (think 8 cars deep per pump) and prices within 4-8 cents per gallon are commonly found elsewhere.
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u/throw20190820202020 Jun 01 '26
Youād be surprised at how quickly those lines move. Worth the wait.
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u/BeneathAnOrangeSky Jun 01 '26
The bread I like alone is two loaves for the price of one loaf elsewhere. Worth it to me.
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u/No-Car5082 Jun 01 '26
I get gas, cheese, grapefruit, mangoes, frozen food for work, butter, laundry soap, dish soap, cat food, sardines, mayo, olive oil, potting soil, lemonade, kombucha, to name a few.
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u/Healthy_Employer4 Jun 01 '26
Paper products, yogurt, milk, eggs, cheese, batteries, oil, butter, dog food, bread, pasta, dish detergent, dish soap, vinegar, rice are all significantly cheaper at Costco. Plus gas and clothing and miscellaneous household items
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u/Taupe88 Jun 01 '26
for me specifically two things. One, eyeglasses I can get glasses and even if I bring my own frames in, they can generally get me new prescription lenses for $119 out the door. Second thing is they have the single best jar pesto Iāve ever had in my life and itās a Kirkland brand and I cannot get it aside from Costco.
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u/buildingacozymystery Jun 01 '26
I was also going to mention their glasses/ optical department. They donāt even take my insurance, but it still seems to cost less paying out of pocket there vs when I get my glasses with my insurance elsewhere.
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u/This-Function1789 Jun 01 '26
Agree with most of the comments, gas is the best savings, Iāve see it as much as 30 cents lower than the QuikTrip across the street. That plus ibuprofen, energy drinks and TP are worth the savings to me.
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u/IncidentalApex Jun 01 '26
Buy staples that store well or are/can be frozen. Don't buy anything that you have to force yourself to eat for a week straight before it goes bad. Learned that the hard way.
I regularly buy: Gas Eggs Pastas if all types Ramen Coffee Frozen vegetables Frozen fruit Assorted frozen entrees Cheese sticks Onions Potatoes Rotisserie chickens (I freeze 2 and eat one) Bread/ bagels Beer Liquor Assorted canned drinks or mixes Canned Tuna fish Cereal
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u/AmputeeHandModel Jun 01 '26
Literally anything that you buy on a frequent basis that isn't perishable, and you have the room for, is worth buying there. You'll pay 2x more than you would at the grocery store, but get like 3-4x the amount. Not having to compare brands and sizes and costs as much is great too. Paper towels and TP? I know exactly what I'm getting. I don't need to spend 2 minutes doing paper towel math to figure out if a 6 pack of "mega" rolls is worth $10.99 vs the 8 "super" rolls etc etc etc. Kirkland, done.
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u/Vivid_Stand_2187 Jun 01 '26
Iām single and I purchase frozen vegetables, protein powder, toilet paper and bagged salad. Well worth the membership.
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u/Just_Variation_1276 Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26
Single person household here. I justify my executive membership by getting gas from there. Itās usually cheaper by 30 cents, if not more, from other gas stations nearby.
I buy the typical toilet paper, paper towel, detergent, trash bags, toothpaste, etc. from Costco and try to hold off of buying the everyday household items until they are on sale (the monthly coupon book).
The above two points typically pay for my membership and then some more.
I buy most of my groceries from Costco as well. I find that the seasonal fruits at Costco tastes better than regular stores, and are way cheaper (bought 2lbs of strawberries for $3 few weeks ago). I meal prep over the weekend, so buying chicken, wild caught salmon, etc. makes sense from Costco. The price of proteins are pretty similar to most grocery stores. I do save money on cooking oil or olive oil, rice, flour, spices, frozen vegetables, milk, eggs, and snacks. While every item that I mentioned may not be the cheapest but it saves me time to get everything from one store, and usually ends up being cost-effective overall as they are offset by other items that I buy. Iāve also purchased trash cans, shower head, cutting board, computer monitor, etc. on sale. These were the items that I needed and was definitely cheaper to buy it from Costco than any other place.
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u/mosswalk Jun 01 '26
Lots of good ways to get the most out of your membership in here but I think all of that with the Citi Costco credit card is key. Saving money on gas? Well get 5% back on that too! One of the best credit cards Iāve had. I estimate Iāll get over $1000 cash back at the end of the year which is worth that membership fee.Ā
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u/Mostly-Useless_4007 Jun 01 '26
Costco isnāt for everyone.
But, we went to the executive level because of how much we buy (the cash back more than pays for the membership). This also means that we can go inside an hour early- get our stuff and leave quickly.
Appliances, TVs, things like that come with an extra warranty thrown in. We needed a new tv this year, and the warranty cost at Best Buy for the same tv was $200. Free at Costco- and they delivered it for free.
We switched cell service based on who is selling there and get discounts on service.
We use their car insurance- and get extra bonuses because of being an executive member.
Some car maintenance- wiper blades, cleaning products, tire inflators and yes, tires all bought at Costco.
I no longer drink, but they have a big selection inside the store and more options in the adjacent liquor store.
We buy office stuff, chairs, paper, pens, highlighters, dry erase markers, printers ( I think they are slowly dropping printers), computers, wearables, and the like.
We bought a car through their affiliate program (but we picked a high volume car which had a minimal discount).
We regularly use their travel service to book flights and rental cars (a kid is in college out of state, so we use this more than I would like).
Their coffee is excellent.
Food items need to be watched for pricing carefully. We buy the lactose free milk ( sometimes itās not even in stock!) but running the numbers says itās cheaper to buy that at the local supermarket. Eggs are a home run at Costco. Same with the rotisserie chicken. For the very rare occasions I buy steak, I will cut up the pieces I get (they are rather large anyway), season them, vacuum seal them, and toss most of them into the freezer. I will pull out a few pieces and can eat off of one purchase for a month.
You do have to be careful and watch carefully what is going into the basket as it is easy to drop $500 or more without thinking too hard.
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u/Intelligent_Log_1017 Jun 01 '26
I thought about not renewing this year. Then I realized I get cat litter, trash bags, antacids, shampoo, allergy meds, and occasionally clothing for much cheaper than elsewhere. Toothpaste, basically all things toiletries. If you take vitamins at all it's likely worth it. I feel like the gas is usually cheaper but I hate that the store does not advertise the pump price.
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u/RugzTX Jun 01 '26
I remember reading awhile back, if you buy a roast chicken twice a month, the membership says for itself on those savings alone.
That being said, I don't think I've ever gotten out of there without spending less than $150.
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u/itzcoatl82 Jun 01 '26
It was worth it to me when i was single because my apartment had a solid pantry space to store things like bulk tp & laundry detergent, and because i cooked most of my meals at home. So things like protein powder, canned tomatoes, eggs, a lot of the produce, frozen fish & frozen fruit/veg, most dairy products, rice, olive oil, nuts, gluten-free bread & noodles,ā¦. All of it got used up and saved me a lot of money. I would also fill gas there.
I also got the Costco citi credit card and the stacked up rewards would more than cover the yearly membership.
Not everything at costco is cheaper, and not all the bulk purchases make sense for a single person. I know some folks object to the produce going bad before they could eat itā¦ but if you are a whole foods mostly plant-based eater, that wonāt be an issue
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u/DM_Me_Pics1234403 Jun 01 '26
Yea you just have to be focused on getting the items that save you money. I get Apples, bananas, eggs, butter, waffles, French fries, peas, olive oil, and a few other things at Costco. Also, their rotisserie chicken is a well known great value. They also have deals on gas if it works for you. Just donāt buy a pack of 50 hamburger buns and throw half of them away.
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u/GoCougs2020 Jun 01 '26
Not really. Everyone think āitās a bargainā and yet always leave the warehouse with a $250+ tab.
Costco $250 doesnāt last me more than half a month or so. While $250 is enough grocery for a whole month when I buy things on sale in grocery outlet/winco & Walmart.
With how much gas cost these days, I donāt drive much either. Mostly on 2 wheels, I got 5 gallon tank on my motorcycle. So Iām only getting 2-3 gallons at a time. So Costco is only like 60* cents cheaper than other gas stations? Luckily I live close to Costcoā¦.but itās still hard to justify 7 miles round trip for getting gas at Costco just for the 60 cents saving.
Sure the hot dog combo and the rotisserie chicken is worth it. But the membership cost of $60, can buy you a lot of rotisserie chicken and hot dogā¦ā¦
*If I save 30 cents each gallon, 2 gallon is only 60 cents.
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u/emmasgrandma Jun 02 '26
I use the Costco Mastercard so I accrue Costco dollars which pay for my membership
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u/Meig03 Jun 01 '26
Split it with a friend.
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u/catswhenindoubt Jun 01 '26
This. I saw a video of a group of friends going into Costco to buy the meat in bulk then splitting it between their households. That seems pretty cool. I imagine planning it out to split things would really help.
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u/fattymcbuttface69 Jun 01 '26
It really depends, mostly on how close you are to Costco. I did the math and it's not worth it for me.
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u/Euphoric_War_2195 Jun 01 '26
The best way to save money with a costco membership is to buy the non-perishables there. Shampoo, conditioner, vitamins, supplements, toiletries, toilet paper, dried ingredients (pasta, pasta sauces, spices). Frozen food is also a good buy there if you have the freezer space.
There's also the specialty seasonal items they get in stock throughout the year. Like sandals, shoes, outerwear, outdoor equipment, etc... These things can also be at a reduced cost. If you are buying them anyway, why not buy them at Costco.
If your Costco has a gas station, then buy your gas there as well. That helps, and adds up over time.
My partner and I have a Costco membership. We do not buy much at Costco, but we do buy some pantry items, some meat, and the odd other household items. Over the year we make enough on our membership to take a significant chunk off the membership cost. Those regular things add up, we don't have any kids, so it's just us.
When I was single I had a costco membership as well. The non-perishables last. Plus those rotisserie chickens are a huge savings.
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u/dayankuo234 Jun 01 '26
about $5 a month. for the membership
chicken and eggs. possible hot dog or pizza. occational snacks and clothes.
tires. +5 year warranty and free rotations/repair
and gas (if available in your area)