What to Buy from Costco that Will Actually Save You Money

Jul 14, 2019 | Budgeting Tips, Costco, Finances, Food, Grocery Shopping, Shopping Tips, Video

Raise your hand if you love Costco as much as I do! Now keep it raised if you love looking at your receipt when you walk out the door… that's what I thought. Here are the best tips on “what to buy from Costco” so that you don't walk away broke.

What to buy from Costco that will actually save you money - everything you need to know! Tips from Fun Cheap or Free

I consider myself to be a bit of a Costco expert. Not only have I been shopping there my whole life (yes, family outings to Costco as a kid were the bomb), I've become fascinated with Costco and have made a point to learn everything I can about this amazing store.

*Note: When you click the links in this post, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

This has led to me doing several TV segments about shopping at Costco and even getting personally invited to an exclusive behind-the-scenes view of the store by a Costco GM. Over the years, my “How to shop at Costco” posts have gone viral. Every time I post on Instagram about my Costco finds, I get asked loads of questions about my Costco shopping trip. It made me realize that my “Costco Fundamentals” posts are so old, I bet hardly any of you have actually seen them!

Oh, the mysteries of Costco…the $200 store, as many people call it. Does it save you money? Are the deals as good as they seem? Is it worth having a membership? How do you shop there and not lose your entire paycheck? How do I fit Costco trips into my budget?

All great questions.

Thus, today I've compiled a massive list of what to buy from Costco that will actually help you save money! Here are the best resources all in one place! This post breaks down how to budget for Costco, what to buy and what to avoid, how to use their coupons, tricks for getting tons of cash back on your membership, and much, much, more. Hope you enjoy it!


Watch below to see the behind-the-scenes tour of Costco I gave on Studio 5, talking about what to buy and what to avoid, as well as how to use the coupons, find the best deals, and find secret discounts on their price-tags:


BEFORE YOU SHOP AT COSTCO

Now there are a few things you need to know before you hit the streets… I mean aisles at Costco.


MEAL PLANNING WITH STAPLES

Dinner ideas printable on a refrigerator, from Fun Cheap or Free

As for having meals planned out in advance, my answer is…I do when I can! Let me tell you…making a meal plan at LEAST one week in advance will save your family hundreds over time. Dinner was often a last-minute thought in my house. Since really trying to think through a few meals in advance based on what's on sale, I have saved my family tons! And have made my life a lot easier.

I have a big list of 101 dinner ideas that I keep near my fridge for last-minute ideas. Most of them can be made with the staples I keep on-hand and the produce deals I get that week from deal-shopping. It's amazing what can be whipped up if you keep “general items” on-hand!

Alright now… let's get to shopping!


WHAT TO BUY FROM COSTCO

For my shopping at Costco, I typically stick to the bulk items that are usually involved with cooking and try to take advantage of their coupons whenever possible.  If you don't get the coupons mailed to your house, the membership desk usually has extras. Ask to be put on the mailing list next time you are there!

So below, I have listed the things I pretty much regularly buy from Costco. Just for the record…No, I don't always buy these items every time I go. Rather, I buy these when they go on sale and/or if I'm running low on my supply. I usually always try to keep these items on hand.

One more note, no, I didn't list EVERYTHING here…there are plenty of things that I missed, I'm sure.


BEST DEALS FROM COSTCO ON FOOD

Costco lasagna on a plate, from Fun Cheap or Free

Frozen foods and lunch items are basically the best from Costco! Here are some of my favorites to keep on-hand:


COSTCO FROZEN FOODS

  • Kirkland Frozen Lasagna – I usually shy away from frozen, store-bought meals. However, in this case, since it's around $10 for two trays (I believe), it's a decent deal. One time I mentally calculated the cost of making lasagna, and Costco can basically do it cheaper!
  • Bags of Frozen Fruit and Veggies – They are not only cheaper but much better than other stores' frozen veggies.

LUNCH ITEMS FROM COSTCO

  • Lunch Meat – See HERE for this killer deal I found once.
  • String Cheese – I freeze most of it, and pull a few out of the freezer at a time and keep it in the fridge for my kids. Packing them into lunches frozen is also a great way to keep them fresh – they are perfectly thawed out by lunchtime!
  • Chips – Potato and Dorito chips mainly
  • Tortilla Chips – the 3 lb bags of Mission chips
  • Snack Items – Fruit snacks, granola bars, some crackers, pretzels, veggie straws, etc. Nearly always with a coupon.
  • Applesauce Pouches – for my kids (like THIS KIND) are great for lunches on the go.
  • Those awesome Kirkland chocolate diet drinks (like Slim Fasts kinda). Great meal on the go!

FRESH FOOD FROM COSTCO

  • Eggs – The cheapest place I've found to buy brown eggs.
  • Milk
  • Cheese – I buy their huge bags of shredded Kirkland mozzarella and cheddar. I divide them into small sandwich baggies and freeze them; pull out one bag at a time as needed. I also buy a huge 5 lb block of cheddar, slice it up, freeze it in small baggies with small squares of wax paper between the slices, and pull them out when needed. The slices are great for sandwiches.) – see my tips HERE.
  • Bananas – Unless I can price-match it cheaper that week.
  • Potatoes – They may not be the cheapest, but they are HUGE and last forever.
  • Strawberries – When in season. They are the biggest and best strawberries EVER. Tip: Rise them in 1 part vinegar, 10 parts water. They will last way longer!
  • Romaine Lettuce and Bagged Spinach – I can often price-match the lettuce for cheaper, but the huge bags of spinach are nearly always cheapest at Costco.

If you do buy bulk, make it last. If you opt for the huge container of strawberries and they start to go bad, don't toss them! Get creative!

  • Freeze them to use for later!
  • Make strawberry spinach salad for dinner or make smoothies for breakfast. Make freezer jam. Do what you can to NOT let anything go bad because you're just throwing money away. My tip? FREEZE. EVERYTHING. If it's on its way out, freeze it! If it ends up being funky when you thaw it out, hey…at least you tried. This goes for everything – produce, meat, bread, sauces, fruit, buns, milk (yup. freeze it.), you name it.
  • Buying bulk WILL save you tons of money…unless you only use half, then throw away the rest. See some of my creative uses for food HERE.

STOCK UP ON BAKING AND COOKING ESSENTIALS

  • Seasonings and Pre-Minced Garlic – Their containers are HUGE and are much cheaper than other stores!…unless you buy them loosely in bulk, seen HERE.
  • Canned Food – the BIG cans. The small cans aren't the best deal, but the huge cans are! Open them up, divide them up into saved jars, freeze them. Spaghetti sauce, tomatoes, pineapple, whatever it is, just divide it up.
  • Quinoa
  • Frozen Salmon – With coupon when possible.
  • Hamburgers and Foot-Long Hotdogs – Smaller hotdogs are nearly always cheaper at Walmart, but their Kirkland foot-long ones are to die for.
  • Salsa – We love their Kirkland salsa. Tip: If it starts to go bad before you can use the whole container, stick the rest in the freezer and pull it out when you're ready to use it! Never let it go to waste.
  • Juice – With coupon when possible.
  • Jam (see HERE)
  • Rotisserie Chicken – Great quick, healthy, cheap dinner idea.
  • Olive Oil
  • Vegetable Oil – I buy the huge container,  pour some into a smaller container that I keep by my stove, and keep the huge container in my cold storage. I refill it when needed.
  • All Things Baking – Flour, sugar, sometimes butter, and margarine.
  • Pancake Mix & Syrup
  • Chocolate Chips – With coupon.
  • Nuts – And you can freeze them too if you don't go through a huge bag of sliced almonds or a big vat of mixed nuts quickly!
  • Organic Items – Costco how has an extensive array of organic items. I'm not much of an organic shopper myself, but if you are, Costco is hands-down the place to get the best deals!

Don't forget about the Costco bakery!

  • Tortillas – Their bake-at-home ones are basically the most delicious tortillas ever.
  • Bread, Rolls, Buns
  • Bagels – Not necessarily always cheaper, but WAY better. I also like the mini bagels for brunches, parties, and mini pizzas/sandwiches for the kids.
  • Cakes – $17 for their MASSIVE, semi-customizable cakes? Unbeatable. Oh yeah, and they are delish too!

As you can see, most things on my list aren't necessarily for specific meals. Rather, they are staples that we try to keep on-hand at all times if I shop in bulk once a month. By keeping up with the coupons and stocking up on the items that are on sale that month at Costco, we tend to always have the things we need on-hand so we don't have to pay full price for them in a time of need.

I buy most of my other produce, meat, and pantry items at good ol' Walmart! HERE's how I grocery shop based on what is on sale and what I plan to cook that week!


NON-CONSUMABLE GOODS FROM COSTCO

cleaning supplies from Costco on a counter, from Fun Cheap or Free

Next up! Let's chat non-consumables! The non-food side of the store holds the best deals. Many of us think FOOD when we think Costco. But really, the best margins in price are on the non-food side of the store! Furniture and housewares tend to have the highest markups – anywhere, all the time. But with Costco, they will never have a higher than 14% margin on ANY of their products at ANY time. Thus, they drop the price dramatically to stay within that 14% margin. So cleaning supplies, diapers, dog food, vacuums, rugs, pot & pan sets = all great deals.

First up, a little tip! Learn your prices and don't impulse buy furniture and appliances. Those are NOT always the best deals at Costco. To see a great video showing other great insider tips of shopping at Costco, click HERE. Only buy items that you will actually use. It's not worth it to stock up on something that will sit in your cupboards for the next year or two and never be used.

However, on the flip side, don't be afraid to store things. Some people might not want a Costco-sized pallet of toilet paper because, well, that's a lot of toilet paper to hold onto! But guess what? It's cheaper. Deal with it 😉 Haha. Hide it under a bed, in a Rubbermaid bin in your garage, under your stairs. Don't be afraid to hold onto things that you will use. The savings are worth it many times!


NON-FOOD ITEMS ON YOUR GROCERY LIST

Costco is great for finding deals on quality items that you may use around your house, especially if you're a mom with young kids… or a dog!

  • Laundry Supplies – Detergent, fabric softener, dryer sheets. with coupons (see HERE for my preferences)
  • Cleaning Supplies – Disinfectant wipes, Comet, Swiffer refills, etc. (with coupons)
  • Personal Supplies – Face lotion, hand soap, body soap, deodorant, razors, shampoo, and conditioner. Don't forget a coupon! Extreme Coupon-ers will gasp at this because you can often get them cheaper with couponing, but I go for convenience since I only buy these 1 or 2 times per year.
  • Paper Goods – Plates, utensils, cups are all great with coupons. You can actually run their clear cutlery through the dishwasher, see HERE.
  • Toilet Paper and Paper Towels – The Kirkland brand mainly. It tends to be cheaper, even if a different brand has a coupon.
  • Garbage bags – The big, sturdy black ones – with coupon. Trust me, you get what you pay for with garbage bags!
  • Ziplock Bags – with coupon
  • Socks
  • Postage stamps – When I need a lot of them. They aren't cheaper per stamp, but you don't get slapped with any fees, and it's an easy way to buy lots of them at once.

Heads up! You might not need 800 toothbrushes. If it's just you and your spouse, it would probably take you a few years to go through a Costco-sized container of toothbrushes. Don't get too excited about the convenience of Costco. If you only need 2 toothbrushes, maybe buy a $1 toothbrush and put the money you would've spent on Costco toothbrushes toward other things.


COSTCO ITEMS FOR BABY

  • Diapers & Wipes – $5 or $6 off per box usually when you use their coupons. I buy whatever brand is on sale that month because Huggies actually makes the Kirkland brand (so they are literally as good!)
  • Baby formula – Kirkland formula is just as quality as the expensive stuff (it's most likely made by the same manufacturer, actually)…but a fraction of the price!

COSTCO SERVICES

Costco offers a lot of great services that you may not be aware of!

  • Prescriptions & Vitamins – with coupons when possible, but in general, they are nearly always MUCH cheaper at Costco! Tip: you don't actually need a membership to buy from their pharmacy.
  • Photos and other printing – GREAT deals on prints many times. If you buy their picture frames, you get 100 free prints included which is killer. Also, they often have $5 or $10 off photo books in their coupon books.
  • Printer Ink – You can refill your empty cartridges for $7! (And sometimes they have an additional coupon in their mailer.) I've done this for years, and it works great.

COSTCO DEALS FOR YOUR PET

  • Dog Food – about 1/2 the price of pet stores!
  • Dog beds, bones, and treats

OTHER DEALS FROM COSTCO

  • Flowers and Plants – A friend of mine's folks own a large chain of flower shops. They said that Costco's prices are so good, absolutely no one can compete with their prices. Same with their plants and trees.
  • Outdoor Equipment and Sporting Equipment – When in season. Even if it's not the most rock-bottom price, their return policy makes it worth buying there, in my opinion!
  • Electronics – We bought our nice DSLR camera from there after shopping around for months. It went on sale around Christmas time, so not only was the price good, but their return policy is awesome. BUT…shop around because not all their electronics are cheaper.
  • $1.50 Hotdog/Drink combo – $1.50? For a hotdog and drink? Now that’s what I’m talking about, people! For those Costco hotdog virgins out there, we’re not talking a dinky boiled hotdog. It’s a true-blue, footlong dog of goodness and wonder. Fun fact: when Costco first opened in the 70′s, it was $1.50 for a hotdog and drink. The price has never changed and will never change – guaranteed. In fact, Costco was losing so much money on their hotdog combo that they actually built their own hotdog factory and now manufacture their own Kirkland hot dogs to keep the price down! Now that’s true love if I’ve ever seen it…
  • Gasoline – This will save you major $$ over time and is 3% cashback on your card!

Now, keep in mind, it depends on why you are buying. Costco may be more expensive than Walmart (that's where I am comparing my prices because those are the two places I shop), but their quality might not even compare in some people's minds. The quality of the things I buy isn't different enough for me NOT to save money. Does that make sense?

That being said, here are a few more tips for ya!


WHAT NOT TO BUY FROM COSTCO

ground beef in a cast iron pan, from Fun Cheap or Free
  • Ground beef – I can almost always price-match it for $1.60 or less, and get the super ultra lean stuff for less than $2/lb. I stock up like crazy when it's on sale at other stores and freeze it, so I always have it on-hand (I oftentimes cook it up first, put it in 1lb quantities in freezer baggies, and freeze it so it's ready to go for recipes). Costco's is upwards of $2.50 or $2.99/lb. Good quality, but much more expensive. Ground beef is cheap, fatty meat by nature, and is rarely ever eaten alone. Since it's usually mixed into the meal, why pay a lot?! I save my money for the nice meats.
  • Other meat (roast, steak, etc.) – This is a personal preference. Costco's quality is unmatched but based simply on price, you can get better deals when they go on sale at the grocery store. For me, I'd rather buy good food (and maybe not THE BEST food) and stretch my dollar to get MORE food. But, once again, personal preference.
  • Cereal – They have coupons occasionally, but still more expensive at Costco.
  • Small cans of canned food – It's convenient to have them in a big box of 8 or 10 cans, but the price per can is higher than Walmart, especially if you price-match a good deal.
  • Condiments – Condiments go on sale like CRAZY in grocery stores around holidays. Stock up on ketchup, mustard, and BBQ sauce at stores when they go on sale and you'll save way more.
  • Soda – Costco soda may be tempting because of the HUGE boxes, but when you price it out per can, you can almost always find a better deal at your local grocery store when it goes on sale. Plus, soda stays good for a long time so stock up when it’s on sale and hold onto it, rather than buying at Costco.
  • Pasta & sauce – You can typically get 1lb of pasta for $1 (oftentimes much less) on sale. It's usually always more than that at Costco.  Sauce you can usually get for $1 per jar (or much less) at Walmart, Costco is nearly always more expensive. I buy cheap pasta sauce and use it as a base to making my own sauce. I make large quantities and freeze it. Much cheaper, and better!
  • Most produce – Once again, personal preference. Costco's produce is awesome, huge, often organic, and high-quality…BUT it's typically more expensive. Once again, I'd rather stretch my dollar and get MORE for my money. There are times when their produce is cheaper, but you just need to learn your prices (see below for more on that). For example, their 3lb bags of spinach is a great deal. And when in-season, their strawberries are competitively priced. They might not be the cheapest, but the size and quality make them a good deal. However, their apples, oranges, grapefruits, grapes, and other produce will cost you a lot more.

MORE COSTCO SHOPPING TIPS

  • LEARN. YOUR. PRICES!!!! I cannot stress this enough! Remember, just because it's bulk and/or from Costco doesn't mean it's cheaper. I carry around a little “price notebook” with me and mark the price per ounce, pound, or ‘price per each' of things. Learning your prices is really the ONLY way you'll save money at Costco.
  • Take advantage of the pharmacy. Did you know you don’t actually have to have a membership to use their pharmacy? It’s true! But members get additional discounts. Costco pharmacy prices pretty much slaughter the competition, even Walmart (and especially Walgreens. They are NOT that good of a deal, people!)
  • USE. THE. COUPONS!! For heaven's sake people, use the coupons! Don't get them? Ask the membership desk. They even have them online many times. When there's a coupon for something you need or would buy anyway (very important) then stock up. Limit 2 on diapers but you only need 1 box? Buy 2. Then go back and buy more. Why? The coupons rotate. So yes, the Huggies coupon will be back, but not for another 2 or 3 months. What happens when I run out of diapers in the meantime? I end up paying full-price…unless I have them on hand.
  • Make a budget and shopping list and stick with it! If you don't need it, you're wasting money…even if it is a good deal. Be disciplined. Make a budget, make a list, and don't be afraid to take stuff off the conveyer belt when checking out. Use some self-control, people! 🙂 Once again, click HERE for how I work shopping at Costco into my tight budget.
  • Don't be afraid to return things. Costco has a great return policy! They will take back just about anything. So if you buy the solar lawn lights and they don't fit right in your yard, don't be afraid to take them back. Now, that being said, please don't abuse the system. Returning things unnecessarily or dishonestly (using it with full intention of returning it after using it, for example) only increases prices for the rest of us. No fun-o. Try your best to make it work. If it doesn't, get your money back.

COSTCO MEMBERSHIP DEETS

This is another post of mine that went viral, it's all about how to get the most out of your Costco membership. I thought I'd put a few key points below to help you have it all in one place. Here it is in a nutshell!

  • Choose your membership wisely! There are two options. Weigh the pros and cons… but either way, you have nothing to lose.
  • Plan for your rewards and how you'll use them.
  • Stack rewards with your credit card.
Image with text that reads "what to buy from Costco" from Fun Cheap or Free

While you're here!

Don't forget about my Secret Sauce online budgeting program, Budget Boot Camp! Super fun video program that makes money easy to understand. All you need is a screen and you're set!

And don't forget, if you don't save at LEAST what you paid for the program, I'll refund every dime. You've got nothing to lose! Use the code FCFBLOG to get an extra 10% off, because I love you 😉

Looking for a few more of my best shopping tips?

Happy shopping!

Jordan Page Signature from Fun Cheap or Free

60 Comments

  1. Rachel

    I know that most Costco’s, if not all, have stopped having extra coupon books at their warehouses. It has to do with the manufacturers willing to work with Costco and not have too many people abuse the system by getting multiple deals if there was a limit in the first place (for 1 or 2 of that particular deal). If you aren’t getting the booklets mailed to you, you need to go to the counter and get put on the mailing list and by the next booklet release date, you’ll get one!

    Reply
    • Crystal Rose

      Agreed, the cashiers at ours keep them at the register too. I don’t even bother to bring my coupon book anymore.

      Reply
    • Laura Santucci

      One an always go online to see the coupons at Costco.com. No need to print them out as they are not needed to get the discount anymore.

      Reply
    • Liz Muns

      Costco does have Great deals! Thanks for the info on what to buy. It was very helpful!

      Reply
  2. Crystal Rose

    I agree with most of what you said. We do buy our cereal there though. When the frosted flakes are on sale they’re a better deal than at regular stores (without couponing.) I actually like to buy our ketchup at the Dollar Tree. They have the Hunt’s brand 24 oz containers for a buck- can’t beat that price! I’ll have to check out the lasagna at Costco now though. It’s such a pain but I make it at least once a month when the weather is cool.

    Reply
  3. Shambray

    Great ideas! I learned quite a bit. Costco can be overwhelming and it is hard to know what is a good deal or not. I have my staples that I go there for all the time, but my list just grew. Thank you!

    Reply
  4. M'Lisa

    Great info! Thank you! I feel like you mentioned before that you buy those applesauce pouches for your kids for special times. I want to get some for camping next week, but want to buy the best brand. Did you mention which brand of those is better? If you did please let me know! Thanks!

    Reply
  5. EmmaJ

    I didn’t see you mention nuts or batteries on the list. I think those are both great deals. And you can keep nuts in the freezer so they don’t go bad.

    Reply
    • FunCheapOrFree

      AAH! Good call, adding it now! Thanks for the reminder!

      Reply
  6. Jamy

    Sadly, no Cosco nearby. We have a Sam’s club. Any idea if the membership/cash back is the same?

    Reply
  7. Laura

    You are my GO-TO Costco girl! XO What’s your take on their big bags of frozen veggies? Wondering the price versus the smaller ones at a local grocery store. Thanks!

    Reply
    • FunCheapOrFree

      YAY! I do love me some Costco 🙂 I love their bags of frozen veggies. They are a pain to find room for in the freezer, but the veggies are quality and great to have on-hand. I buy the smaller ones when they are on sale ($0.80 or less per bag) but also keep a few of the big bags on-hand as well. I’m a freezer hoarder though so don’t judge me :S

      Reply
      • Elsie

        We divide the bigger bags into smaller, food saver bags, takes up less room and lasts even longer, same with cheeses.

        Reply
  8. tara

    My husband is a manager at Costco and I have to agree with your list. The only things I would add are toys, whole pizzas and car rentals. Not only does costco tend to bundle their toy packages, but they mark them down if they don’t sell. One year I got my daughter a princess Sofia package that included a plush doll, a princess sofia dress for my daughter, a tiara and jewelry for $20. Last year I got her a cabbage patch doll for $10. Also their whole pizzas from the food court at the best value in town. No where else can we get a multiple topping 18 inch pizza for 9.95.

    Reply
    • FunCheapOrFree

      Such great info, thanks for sharing!! XO

      Reply
  9. Christina

    One thing I didn’t see mentioned… Liquor, beer and wine. The Kirkland brand of Liquor is way cheaper and the same quality as higher priced ones like Grey Goose, Makers Mark and Cabo Wabo. We switched to the Kirkland brand and will never go back, plus they last forever because they are the liter size bottles. I haven’t tried their wine yet, but they are the #1 sellers of wine in the country, so they must be doing something right.

    Reply
    • Amanda Rose

      Jordan is a Mormon so she doesn’t drink alcohol. That is why she doesn’t have anything on it 🙂

      Reply
      • FunCheapOrFree

        Correct, thanks for clarifying Amanda! But yes, Alcohol is a great deal at Costco!

        Reply
  10. Swayze

    Wow this was incredibly helpful!! I don’t have a Costco membership but I think about getting one every time I need toilet paper, paper towel, batteries, and even DVDs. But I’m always worried it won’t be worth the membership price. As it’s just me, I’m still not sure it’s worth it bc it can take almost 7 months just to go through paper products so would I really be shopping there enough. But next time I consider it I’ll know that I can take a year to test it out. If, before, my one year is up I don’t think I’ve saved enough money to have paid for the membership I could return it and know for sure it didn’t work. If it does work then I’ve got great savings worth the money.

    Thank you so much for sharing this. I will definitely keep this in mind!

    Reply
  11. Sylvana swinburne

    What happened to the free samples you posted on FB? I am already a Costco members on FB you posted free samples 2 boxes maximum where are they pls

    Reply
  12. .sheilajackson

    Sounds nice

    Reply
  13. Laura Santucci

    AMEX is no longer used at any Costco. Any VISA will now work but Costco has a deal with Citibank that gives cashback just like the old deal with AMEX. Just use their Costco branded card for cashback at the end of the year.

    A big thing that you missed was the auto program that gives you a 15% discount on Auto repairs at the dealer o you. You must print out the coupon and give it to them. It includes both parts and labor unlike the coupons from my dealer that were only 5% and didn’t include parts! I saved $350 the last time that I need something big done!

    Reply
  14. brenda

    I LIKE SHOPPING THERE

    Reply
    • FunCheapOrFree

      Me too!

      Reply
  15. Marina Kalugin

    do NOT buy any produce at Costco….if not organic it is GMO and /or has toxic processing which makes it “last forever”….real potatoes do NOT lat forever ulness you live where you have a real root cellar and it is cool enough during the winter..

    do NOT buy the organics which are grown in MX as the workers there earn a pittance and compete with local farmers..

    It is not always about what is cheapest, it is about what is right and proper….buy local, buy organic , right?

    Reply
  16. Katie Baker

    How do I get that free sample?

    Reply
    • Helen Downing

      Interested in free samples. How do Iget them?

      Reply
      • FunCheapOrFree

        Free samples for what, exactly?

        Reply
        • Nancy DiPasquale

          I’m with Sylvana Swinburne. Below is what was on Facebook. You click on it and it takes you to this website ( http://funcheaporfree.newzroomz.com/)

          FREE SAMPLES – Limit 2 Per Household
          COSTCO.US
          Selling Out Fast! Free Online Samples For All Costco Shoppers – Click To Get Yours Becaus

          Reply
          • FunCheapOrFree

            Oh my gosh someone is ripping off my site! Will you please link to the original facebook post where that link was posted?

  17. Ginette Desbiens

    I want to try

    Reply
  18. connie.smith

    I love shopping at cosco

    Reply
  19. connie.smith

    I love shopping at Costco they have great buys if you have a large family and trying to save money.

    Reply
  20. Belinda

    You should do a new follow-up blog post because there are several significant things that have changed. Amex is no longer their card – they are now Visa merchants.

    You mentioned that you can always find ground beef cheaper at grocery stores – that’s the line where I scrolled back up to see the date on this post LOL. Because ground beef has skyrocketed since 2014 and Costco is almost ALWAYS the most cost-effective place to buy good quality ground beef now. It’s basically the only place I will buy ground beef. other meat cuts – I still agree – pay attention to costs and ads although the quality of meats at Costco is certainly excellent.

    Reply
    • FunCheapOrFree

      Yes I need to do a follow-up for sure! Adding it to the list!

      Reply
  21. Marcia Bryan

    You can have your pet prescriptions filled at Costco, too. NEVER let your vet fill them unless they will call Costco and price match. My vet’s office charged me $60 for a months supply of my cat’s thyroid medicine…it was $13 for a 90 day supply at Costco!

    Reply
  22. Belinda

    I would really enjoy having free things from Costco. I really do love shopping there get all the things in bulk. Hope that Costco never ever does go out of business. You can save so much money when you buy things in bulk so much money. And the membership is very very reasonable.

    Reply
  23. Kristin R.

    I’m interested in knowing how you fit Costco into your budget. The link you provided in your post doesn’t work any more (the one that says, “See how I fit buying bulk into that budget here). Thanks!

    Reply
    • FunCheapOrFree

      I have $175 per week for groceries (because there are 7 people in my family = $700 divided by 4…) so when I go, I just be sure to only spend $200 or less at Costco! Easier than you think :). I might not be able to get everything all at once (in fact, I rarely do) and I only buy certain things at costco. I’ll buy my groceries at Walmart one week, then won’t need as many groceries the next week so I’ll go to Costco and focus on non-food items like diapers and cleaning supplies. It just rotates!

      Reply
      • Rosa

        Why groceries at Walmart? I find Walmart convenient but not the best price on almost all grocery items. A tip about their “Great Value” brand. Some things it is a great value. Others the name brands are cheaper. Compare Great Value paper towels with Sparkle. Sparkle is a better deal. But for most groceries, it’s far cheaper to go to the local/regional/semi-national grocery chain. Here in NC Food Lion is cheapest. There are quality differences in meats / bakery etc. Have to pay attention to that. The others that seem higher quality (Ingles / Publix / Harris Teeter / Lowes Foods) you really have to watch the ads, if it’s not on sale, it’s expensive.

        Reply
  24. Sarah C

    I am new to your site and am LOVING it!! I am trying to find the information for how you budget for Costco and fit buying bulk into your budget and it goes to a page not found. Can you help?
    Thanks!

    Reply
  25. Wendy

    Now that Costco has gone away from AMEX do you use the Visa option that they went to?

    Reply
    • FunCheapOrFree

      Yes I do!

      Reply
  26. Kirsten Hulse

    I loved reading this post. It helped me so much in ehat to look for while shopping. I never knew they refill your ink. Game changer!

    Reply
  27. Ciera

    I love February too! The rewards are the best! And rinsing strawberries in vinegar?! Totally trying that! Thanks!!

    Reply
  28. Brynn

    I thougt I knew a lot about Costco, but I learned so much from this post, thanks! And I’m going to start getting prescriptions here, those can be so expensive. Thanks!

    Reply
  29. Heather B

    So many great tips! I had no idea about the picture frames!

    Reply
  30. Tina

    We go to Costco and leave almost empty handed most of the time honestly (gasp)! With a big family yet (one baby girl, and other on her way), it’s hard for me to want buy in bulk just yet, and I’m in fact barely justifying maintaining my membership there. Is is worth is to keep the membership for the couple good deals we actually do get? (…and the pizza and free samples of course ha!)

    Reply
  31. Samantha

    I have read all your Costco posts multiple times . I shop at Costco once a month and I want to make sure I’m doing it right . Thank you

    Reply
  32. Kamryn Carlson

    This has really helped me to better understand what I do and don’t need from costco! Thank you!

    Reply
  33. Karly Havens

    Love this!! We are getting ready to do our first huge once a month shopping haul and this has helped me with some ideas!!

    Reply
  34. Jessica

    Thank you for the list! My parents buy us a Sams’ Club membership every year, but seeing all of the coupons Costco uses makes me wonder if I ought to switch over. Do you or your team ever do price comparisons between the two stores?

    Reply
  35. Christy Evereklian

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE Costco!!! Thanks for the extra tips!!!

    Reply
  36. Madelyne McKee

    Such a good post. I’ve always wondered if I’m getting the most out of my Costco membership. I’m convinced now that I am! We will be getting about 130 back this month as well.

    Reply
  37. Julie

    Amazing guidance! My husband and many of his family members have worked for Costco, we’re die hard fans but I always estimate each item we buy as being $10. Thanks for sharing what not to get too!

    Reply
  38. Christen wells

    This gave me confidence to skip a few things at my last trip and stay within budget. ????

    Reply
  39. Shawna

    I didn’t question this article until I saw the price of ground beef. I can’t remember the last time it was least than $3.60/lb nowadays if early over $4 for a pound of 80/20. I hope the other information is still reliable.

    Reply
  40. Davey

    As per your suggestion, I put my fresh strawberries in a vinegar solution to let it rise. It’s been in there for hours and still hasn’t risen any. Still the same size.

    Reply

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