Posted: 12/13/2011 5:42:00 AM EDT
| is a Costco membership worth it for groceries only for two people? |
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My wife and I use Sam's club (same thing, slightly different inventory) and have for over 10 years. We buy a LOT of stuff there and do save quite a bit of cash. Now, with the baby we're saving even more.
You do have to be careful, somethings are priced at or slightly higher than retail prices so, it pays to know what you'd be paying elsewhere. |
| yes , love it plus you get 2% back at the end of 12 months. Great for prep too for bulk rice ,beans, nuts , lot sof other stuff. I save quite a bit. I cut out milk form my diet so rarley go to the grocery store now too. The deli is very good as is the meat dept. |
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I look at Costco kinda like I look at reloading.
I don't save any money but I shoot more and have better ammo. Also, we live less than 5 minutes away from Costco so it's our gas station too. Between that and the rebate, we may save a little money but we eat a whole lot better. |
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No. The wife and I call it "The Hundred Dollar Store" because that seems to be the minimum we can get out of there for. I did a marketing paper on Sam's, and one of the things their model is based on is the average members bill, which is coincidentally around $100 ( I think it was $104.xx) 
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I have memberships at both Costco and Sam's.
The Costco membership pays for itself with the 2% cash back. And yes, I can get really nice items for half of what they would cost in a grocery store when you figure on quantity. You can piss money away quick if you don't watch yourself though. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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invest in a food saver vacuum sealer.... $12 of cheese lasts us MONTHS Between your time messing with packaging, the electricity to run a chest freezer, and the vacuum sealer and wraps, you end up paying more than if you were to just buy smaller quantities. Unless you are a family of like 6+. |
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I look at Costco kinda like I look at reloading. I don't save any money but I shoot more and have better ammo. Also, we live less than 5 minutes away from Costco so it's our gas station too. Between that and the rebate, we may save a little money but we eat a whole lot better. 
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Go in with a budget and a list and stick to it and you'll save a lot. We buy things like trash bags, cases of water, dishwasher tabs, coffee, baby wipes ect. Once you think you need a case of granola bars or it would be awesome to have a years supply of chewing gum, then your budget is blown and your savings are negated buying useless shit you didn't really need to begin with. Once you start scouring aisles for things you "need," you're fucked.
Their house brand Kirkland has always been top notch in my book. I have never been disappointed in their products. Things we NEED in bulk and we hunt for coupons while we're at it. We usually budget about $100 but we can save $50/mo shopping there over buying at the grocery store or even Wal-Mart. ETA: I was going to post some links as an example, but for some reason Costco doesn't have their dish tabs or Oxyclean online. Walmart sells 48 dish tabs for $13 and at Costco we get 96 for the same price. Same with Oxyclean. We can get 5lbs for just a hair over what 2lbs costs at Wally. Just an example.
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My wife will only buy certain products at costco so I'm sure we come out ahead.
Personally, I hate that place. Full of idots blocking the aisle so they can get free food samples and I swear on certain days they must bus in loads of seniors with dementia. It is starting to remind me of the walmart/kmart crowds. |
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As a whole, it does on specific items - but I probably buy a whole lot more than I really need there. As said before - the meat department (and seafood stand) are one of the big reasons I'm a member.
I try to go during the week and avoid the crowd on weekends. |
Side note: They will give you two membership cards. When my wife lived with her parents still, they had a card, and gave her the other. Since we got married a few years back, it seems she forgot to give the card back. So we take turns paying the membership fee. Her parents live in a different state, and SAMS hasn't said a word yet. Half price makes it that much better of a deal. 
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Their cheese pizza is like crack.  I get those Kirkland frozen cheese pizzas and a big sack of the spicy pepperoni. Then I can make an extra pepperoni pizza at home. To me that makes a better pizza than any chain. And Costco has the best bagels outside of a Jewish bakery. I buy the greek yogurt by the flat, along with diet Coke, the flavored sparking water, and the Kirkland bacon is awesome. I only wish NC would allow them to sell liquor, I hear the Kirkland bourbon and vodka is great. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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It can save you money if you control your purchases. We have a family of 5 and we have a LOT of gatherings at our home, so we save money on many items. But then again, there are many times when I'll buy something perishable and not use it. I hate throwing things away. You will find good deals on things that you don't really need, but you may find yourself buying them anyway just because they're such a good deal. It's all in how well you exercise your willpower. |
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I try to shop there with their coupons - generally I can make it out of there w/o going off the list.
We also have a business Costco- their restaurant supply section is great. I have bought a lot of kitchen items there that was well below what you'd pay at a kitchen shop at a mall. They also have bulk meat, so you can buy a whole ribeye and make your own steaks if you like. The bulk goods are nice too that + vacuum sealer = win! (and don't come at me bro with the time it takes to seal + electricity + freezer)
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Nope, we're not renewing our membership next month.
The only thing we regularly buy there is dog food. Kirkland brand is made by Diamond and is good stuff. I can get Diamond Naturals from Amazon for the same price but without the immense fucking hassle of going to Costco. I fucking HATE setting foot in that store. |
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The Wife and I go to BJ's. I think it saves a little bit but you have to be ok with eating the same stuff. It's good for non perishable stuff too. Like soap, deodorant, paper towels, toilet paper, blah blah blah. Yep. Bjs saves my wife and I money as well. We still have tO get some things at conventional grocery stores though. Formula is the cheaPest there |
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invest in a food saver vacuum sealer.... $12 of cheese lasts us MONTHS Between your time messing with packaging, the electricity to run a chest freezer, and the vacuum sealer and wraps, you end up paying more than if you were to just buy smaller quantities. Unless you are a family of like 6+. A freezer costs what, $40 a year to run? |
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is a Costco membership worth it for groceries only for two people? No. Costco will save a disciplined shopper in some circumstances. New baby at home? Diapers and wipes are cheap at costco. Start buying bulk condiments that you'll eventually throw away, you lost money not saved. |
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is a Costco membership worth it for groceries only for two people? No. Costco will save a disciplined shopper in some circumstances. buying bulk condiments that you'll eventually throw away, you lost money not saved. This. I ended up giving a lot of canned goods away to people who needed them. Since I knew I would not eat it. After a few years of rotating and throwing some stuff away. I changed completely on what I buy for food storage and what type of foods I buy. |
| I never know what I am going to walk out of there with..............6 pack of tape measures, 3 pack of tarpaulins, maybe a gallon of tarter sauce. I love it. I am their ideal customer because I completely buy on impulse.......and if I get home and change my mind......I return it. The other day I bought 3 large tubs of hummus, I brought it home and it sucked......I returned them......no questions asked. Whats not to like ?! |
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SAVE money? Maybe not. GET MORE VALUE for your money? You betcha, in both quantity AND quality. You do need to be discilined though, or you will come home with a remote operated TV camera that's good for looking in between walls and such. You NEED a $35 custom leather garage stool, don't you?
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