It should come as no surprise that I love Costco. Actually, I think it might be a rule in a mom handbook somewhere. When you shop at Costco it’s easy to get excited by all the seemingly incredible deals. It’s true that there are a ton of good deals to be found, but sometimes you have to weed through all the impulse buys or just “okay” deals to find the really great ones. So what should you buy at Costco? What’s worth it? As a mom to five little ones and a Costco member for as long as I remember (my mom was a member when it was Price Club!) I definitely have my opinions. Read on for my thoughts on what to buy at Costco… and what to avoid.

what to buy at Costco

As you can imagine, we’re there quite often as a family of seven. In fact, when we lived in Lubbock the closest Costco was in Albuquerque… and yes, we would plan weekend trips to go. Over the years we’ve learned that there are some things that we continue to buy at Costco over and over again. These items are a good value and good quality.

• gift cards: Why should you buy gift cards at Costco? Because they really will save you money! Gift cards purchased at Costco are often $5-$10 less than if you purchased from the actual location. For example: two $50 restaurant gift cards for $80. Already a good deal, right? However, sometimes you can find them on sale for an even bigger discount. So if you frequent one of those locations you might want to consider stocking up when you see those on extra discount. Keep in mind that different Costco locations offer different gift cards depending on the region too.
• baked goods: You know I love the cakes at Costco. They are much cheaper than from your local supermarket and the taste is delicious. If you’re in the market for muffins and rolls too then these are also a great deal at Costco, especially when considering the quality and size!

• diapers and wipes: I know lots of people that love the Kirkland brand and they are a great deal. Personally, they’re not my favorite. However, if you like Huggies brand then stock up when they go on sale because the cost is fantastic (they’re usually on sale every third cycle or so).
• cereal: Even when it’s not on sale cereal at Costco cereal is a good deal. If you’re buying it when it’s on sale (there’s usually at least one type that’s on sale) then it’s an amazing deal! In my experience if you check the price per ounce and you’ll see that it is always cheaper than even the store brand at other stores.

The food court is a favorite stop of ours too! It’s good food and inexpensive to feed our family of seven. Different locations will sometimes have different regional food items. My favorite if you can find it? Gelato.

things to think about

It can be easy to walk in and fall down the rabbit hole at Costco. While shopping the store, keep in mind that the middle area is where the seasonal and “impulse” buy items are located. Unless you actually need a new backyard shed or snow shoes you might want to avoid the middle altogether. Trust me, your budget will thank you.

• meat: Meat at Costco is good quality, but if you’re on a strict budget you might want to avoid purchasing it here. The cost is often much higher than you could buy it for at another store and doesn’t go on sale as often. However, the rotisserie chicken is a great value, especially since it’s much bigger than rotisserie chickens sold at other stores. Always check the price per pound to compare.
• electronics: Even when they go on sale electronics sold at Costco are oftentimes more expensive than you could find at another retailer. Their return policy might make it worth it though. Some electronics are 90 days, some are able to be returned at any time for any reason. Check their policy to see if it’s worth it to you.

• fresh produce: Depending on the location most fresh produce sold at Costco these days is organic. Which is great if that’s what you buy anyway. But if it’s not then you’re paying a lot more for your produce. Also, will your family be able to eat all that fresh produce that you’re buying in bulk before it goes bad? Carefully consider what produce you’re choosing before purchasing. Some things that our family buys are: romaine lettuce packs, watermelons, bananas (not organic), and baby carrots.
• frozen foods: There are so many delicious things in the freezer section at Costco. And their free samples can drag you in every time. However, oftentimes the frozen, prepared food is overpriced when you break it down per meal. If you’re paying $10 for something that will make one meal for family, it might not be in your budget. Stock up on favorite items when they go on sale and save the rest of the time.

Other things our family loves to buy at Costco:

• Kirkland Signature Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Kirkland Signature Bacon Crumbles
• Package of five dozen eggs
• Kirkland Signature Protein Bars
• Kirkland Signature Vanilla Extract
• Dairy Products such as butter, cheese, and milk. (Note–we are a family of seven and quickly go through these large quantities. If you are a smaller family look at the expiration dates on the milk and consider if you’ll be able to finish them before they go bad. Cheese and butter can be frozen to extend their shelf life.)
• Easy readers, picture books, and school workbooks
• Gadgets and items that might break and are covered by Costco’s awesome return policy (for example, a vacuum or blender)
• Costco gasoline!!

Do you have a Costco membership? What’s your favorite thing to get there?