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. Buying in bulk is not just for survivalists in Idaho or families of fifteen. It is a great strategy for anyone looking to stretch their grocery budget and incorporate more real food into their diets. Not running out of ingredients or having to go to the grocery store as often are nice perks, too.
Couponing is great, 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’m also 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. It will definitely depend on your family’s household needs and budget, but 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 butter at Costco because I can get them consistently cheaper at a grocery store with coupons. However, on many non-coupon products, Costco prices often blow other stores out of the water.
:: For those times when you run out of your stockpiled items on off-months. For example, I try to stockpile chocolate chips in the winter when baking sales & coupons are abundant. I usually run out, though, which doesn’t go over well in our house. So I buy a big bag of chocolate chips at Costco which ends up being much cheaper than Winco in the long run.
:: For those of you feeding a small army. Providing the food for a large family, big reunion, or graduation party are all times when coupon shopping might not be the best use of your time and energy. By shopping a box store, you can buy big quantities, often without spending more than you would at your local Winco or Walmart.
:: For those times when you need a break from coupons. When I was nine 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 ply and roll size. 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 $14.99 for 30 big rolls at Costco.
:: 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 make 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 basic prices for your area. Here are some of the best deals I have found at Costco. These are all products I consistently buy (and some new favorite finds!). Prices and selection reflect the Portland-metro market, as of April 2014.
PRODUCE
I load up on produce right out of the gate. Costco has some great deals in the produce section, and they are carrying more organic options now.
The 6.5 pound bag of organic sweet potatoes for $6.99, the 1 lb. container or organic spinach or spring mix for $3.99, the 10-lb. bag of organic carrots for $5.79, or the 3-lb bags of organic bananas for $1.99 (.66/lb) are all good buys. The organic baby kale or 3-green mix is also one of my favorite new finds. $4.99 for a 3-lb bag is a sweet deal, especially when you don’t have to wash it. I use it to make a Green Juice or Kale Salad.
I always grab a big pineapple for $2.99. Let it ripen for at least a week on your kitchen counter. I haven’t had a bum one yet. Speaking of letting them ripen, grab a bag of 5 large avocados for $5.99. I’m with Jerry Seinfeld (“I don’t return fruit. Fruit’s a gamble! I know that going in.”), but it drives me nuts when I buy avocados that are rotten inside or don’t ripen evenly. Let them ripen for a week, then put them in the fridge when they’re soft and ready to eat.
The English cucumbers (3 for $3.49), grape tomatoes (2-lbs. for $4.99), and bell peppers (6 for $6.79) are a decent price for the size and quality. Costco’s big bags of garlic (3 lbs. for $5.79), onions, and potatoes are also a good deal, especially if you can split them with someone else. The apples are a good price in the off-season (spring/summer), but not worth it when you can buy or pick them fresh locally. The Pink Lady variety, around $1.50/lb, is my favorite.
Oh, and the strawberries suck me in every single spring. Thankfully they actually haven’t been half bad this year.
STORAGE & PAPER PRODUCTS
Costco is where I buy kitchen garbage bags, plastic wrap and parchment paper. And heavy-duty foil. It’s more expensive but so much better than the thin, flimsy stuff. We use it for grilling and camping, in addition to normal everyday stuff. And my husband is always sneaking it out of the kitchen for his covert energy-efficiency projects. Seriously, we have foil wrapped around some of the most random things at our house.
We’ve already covered my feelings about toilet paper, but paper towels are in the same boat for me. I just want to buy a bunch of big rolls for a good price (12 for $14.99) and be done with it for a few months. 48-count Kirkland AA and AAA batteries (not pictured) are a good deal, too, for about $13.
PANTRY STAPLES
Oh man, this is my favorite section of all. For starters, no one can beat Costco’s price on active, dry yeast at $3.99 for 32 oz. Even at Winco, you’ll pay double that. Granted, it’s a lot of yeast. Split it with some friends or store half in the freezer, half in the refrigerator. Then bake a crazy amount of No-Knead Bread.
The vanilla extract also falls into the can’t-be-beat price category. Costco carries 16 oz. for $6.99. The best I could find at Winco was 8 oz. for $11. The huge tub of coconut oil for $22.99 (.29/oz.), 4.5 lb. bag of chocolate chips for $8.99, and the almond flour for $6/lb. are good deals that will keep for a long time. Use almond flour to make Chewy Chocolate Almond Cookies. So good.
My Costco is now carrying raw Oregon honey, which makes me really happy. I had just decided to start buying local honey, but it’s not cheap. This Naked Wild Honey is only $16.69 for 4.5 lbs. I’m sold. Plus, how often do you get to see the word “naked” on your receipts? Don’t answer that.
The 3-lb. bags of nuts are a good deal. Almonds are $5.23/lb, pecans are $6.85/lb, and walnuts are $6.33/lb. All prices are slightly cheaper than the Winco bulk section.
I love Chia seeds. They are tiny and adorable and good for you. Also, the nutrients are easier for our bodies to absorb, as opposed to flax seeds, which have to be ground first. Costco sells a 2-lb. bag of Chia seeds for $13.99, much cheaper than Winco’s $9.10/lb. bulk price. Organic milled flax seed at Costco is $1.92/lb. I sprinkle both of these on my yogurt, add them to smoothies, or stir them into baked goods.
The 12-lb. bag of organic short grain brown rice is $13.99 ($1.66/lb.) I searched all over the Portland area, including Asian markets, for the best prices on rice and couldn’t find a better deal. Go here for steps on cooking perfect brown rice.
The organic quinoa is $5/lb. This is double the price it was a few years ago. Ugh. Winco does have quinoa in their bulk section for $4.20/lb. The organic rice milk comes to $1.66/carton which is a good price (Winco is $2.34 each).
Some other good bulk buys (not pictured) are the ground cinnamon, 32 oz. real maple syrup for $12.79 ($17.85 at Winco), 4-lb. bags of coconut flour for $6.99 ($1.75/lb. compared to Winco’s $3.24/lb.) and organic peanut butter for .20/oz. Krista also wrote a post on canned goods you should buy at Costco.
REFRIGERATOR / FREEZER SECTION
File this under weirdest pictures I have ever posted. Taking grocery pictures is an art… that I clearly have yet to master. I used to buy more in Costco’s dairy/freezer section. Prices have jumped and stock has changed lately, though, so I skip items like eggs and butter now. The half gallon of half-and-half is still a good price at $3.59. It might be my imagination, but it seems to stay fresh longer than other brands?
My husband is like a kid in a candy shop when we hit the cheese aisle, so I have to strap on his leash or I will find all kinds of mystery cheeses in the cart when we hit the check out stand. Costco has a good cheese selection, and some prices will beat your local grocery store. The huge block of feta cheese is $3.99/lb. Laurie buys this and freezes it in smaller portions. Also, the Pecorino Romano is a good hard cheese to keep in your fridge at $7.49/lb. A little bit goes a long way.
The organic frozen vegetables are around $1.20/lb. These are nice to have in the freezer for a quick side dish or stir fry.
HOME MAILER COUPON PRODUCTS
Costco doesn’t accept manufacturer coupons, but they send out home mailer coupons to members. Melody at This Beautiful Frugal Life does a great job of rounding up the best prices each month. I often stock up on deodorant, windshield wiper blades, storage bags, coffee, diapers/wipes, and some snacks when they are $2-5 off regular prices.
This is by no means a comprehensive list, just a look at some of the products that consistently make it into my huge Costco cart. If you are willing to be selective, you can often find quality items for cheaper than chain store prices. Also, think outside the grocery box: photos, gift cards, gas, mattresses, clothing/shoes, and flowers are often a better deal at your local big box store. Happy shopping.
Is Costco a good deal for your family? What do you buy?
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Just wanted to chime in with a small savings tip at Costco’s meat counter! At our Costco (Silverdale, WA), if you stand at the meat counter (where the hamburger is) and look straight up, there’s a big reader board with larger quantity meat prices. The price posted in our Costco for the ground beef shows a per pound, case price. It ships to Costco in 60 (??) pound boxes – six 10 pound tubes. I just buzz for the meat counter guy (or smile in the window!) and ask to buy one 10 pound tube. He will pull it out one sealed tube and individually price it at the case price for me. If you look down at the hamburger in the counter, it is packaged in approx. 8 pound trays. So really, what’s the difference?? The tray? I’m going to have to take it out and re-wrap it for the freezer anyways!
Why are some of the comments on here from years ago?
They update and re-post some of their better and more relevant posts every few years.
We update some of our posts with more relevant content but keep the main post. This post was done a year ago but didn’t have updated prices or pictures of what Emily is currently buying.
Yes! The original post was actually back in 2010! Some of the prices were significantly higher at both Costco and Winco… Hopefully this updated price list will be helpful.
Organic extra virgin olive oil is not only a great deal but I read an article about olive oil being fake and one of the only brands tested that was actually olive oil–Kirkland!
Kids gummy vitamins are a great price as are the generic meds.
Fred Meyer has sales on TP (like this week:-) where you can get 36 double rolls for $11.99 or 12 double rolls for $3.99. That’s my stock up price.
Thanks for the great info on olive oil!
I think the avacados come 5 to a pack, not 6, but I could be wrong. I’m glad you’ve had good luck with their produce. In the last week I’ve gotten a rotten pineapple and strawberries that were moldy less than 24 hours later. I was sad 🙁 I have a question about the raw honey. I’ve heard that liquid honey isn’t as good for you as solid honey, like the kind from Tropical Traditions. Any thoughts?
Oops, your’e right! It’s 5 avocados to a bag. I fixed it!
I have purchased raw honey from Vitacost and like it. From what I understand, raw honey is unpasteurized, unfiltered, and unprocessed. Because of this it is naturally crystallized and much more firm. This helps preserve the vitamins, enzymes, and antioxidants. According to Naked Wild Honey, the National Honey Board defines commercial raw honey as “minimally processed” (pretty general definition!). Their honey has been heated slightly to slow the crystallization. So I’d say, not as raw as some, but definitely less processed and more local than others.
Thanks!
I love Costco, I use EMEALS, for menu planning purposes, and they have a 2 week Costco plan. I save a ton of time and money. SO glad I am not the only one who doesn’t run around town for TP, Costco TP is worth every penny.
Thanks for post , it’s very helpfull to me. I love Costco to , but you point out some good finds that I didn’t see or look there:-)
I’m SO glad you mentioned their quinoa! I bought a bag each time I went to Costco but a few months ago the 4lb bag jumped to $20! Ugh!
I did the same thing! I actually didn’t even notice the price jump from $9.99 to $19.99 until I checked my receipt at home. Looks like time to switch to brown rice over quinoa until the price calms down…
When I had my membership, I bought every month: 5 lbs cheese $11.99+ (put into 5 or six quart size freezer bags), 4 lbs ground jennie-o turkey $9.99 (I cut each 2 lb pkg into quarters and froze them), and frozen boneless skinless chicken for less than $14 (don’t remember how many lbs). I also love the prices and sizes of spices and lemon juice.
I work at Costco, The only way you can shop with out a membership is if you are with someone who has a membership and when you check out you mush pay in cash. You cannot barrow someones card and go shopping with it.
I actually checked on this just a few days ago. It might vary by region, but you can shop at my local warehouse with Costco gift cards and no Costco membership. Just show the gift card at the front door, and they’ll let you in! You are correct that you can’t shop with another member’s card, though.
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.
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 🙂
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.
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
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!!!
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
I know this is an older comment, but wanted to respond just in case others are reading. I have done a pretty comprehensive stock-up price list on my site with what I consider stock-up prices, Costco’s per unit price and Winco’s bulk price. I haven’t updated in about a year, but it should give you a great place to start!
http://www.beautifulfrugallife.com/2013/02/a-few-updates-to-the-pantryhousehold-stock-up-price-list-2/
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for this stock up list!! I have been seriously needing this and every time I get a smokin’ deal I forget to put it on my list for stock up prices. This is a life saver and I hope you will consider keeping it updated for all of us lazy people to reference! 🙂
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 🙂
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.
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.
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?
Thank you- I am totally going to try the photo counter inkjet cartridge refills! This will save us tons…..
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
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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!!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Almost forgot, once a year I buy a year’s supply of generic Zyrtec for around $15.
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.
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 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 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.