Is a Costco membership worth it?

it wasn’t for me

Do you buy for a large family? Can you share membership or bulk buys with someone?

Most things are sold in bulk , do you have room in the fridge, freezer, cupboards?

Some Costco's also sell cheap petrol/diesel.

Unless you like buying in bulk probably not no

No, we had membership for a year and then didn’t bother again. I can’t say we found any particular bargains, whether in bulk or otherwise. Diet Coke, shampoo, conditioner, bin bags - all examples where we were no better off buying in bulk than buying offers from the local supermarket. The baked goods are fine, but I had no need for 24 pain au chocolats, or enormous cakes.

For an hours trip, probably not
You need to take into account that it would cost the annual subsection (£42 currently) so your savings need to be above that, plus the distance as its not local to you

Fuel prices would be good - but any saving on that would be lost on driving to get the “saving”

The one nearest to us has just got a petrol station so we have rejoined. The if it is nearby and has petrol, yes otherwise possibly not. It's fun though!

Been a member for 20yrs+ and love it.
No large family, just like a lot of their products and are happy to buy larger than normal quantities.
Often take a friend or family member along so they can stock up, no-one has ever been disappointed.
Earlier this year I bought several of their garden plants as they looked such good value, time has shown that my confidence was not misplaced and they have flourished.

It works for us, we go and bulk by meat, bread, milk, sausages and freeze for the month. Also toilet rolls and washing up powder, we got boxes of crisps and snacks for the kids lunches, the list goes on . We also get some meals for that week, it keeps our weekly shop costs down. Also fill my car up with diesel once a month when there.

if you don’t do this type of shop then it may not be worth it

Have you got space to store? Costco isn’t for bargains, it’s for bulk buying. I rate their meat and cheese but just don’t have the space. You also need to account for VAT when you are looking at prices. Ours does good deals on tyres.

We don't buy a lot but love going . It's well worth the membership for the cafe alone !

Yes. I have the executive membership with the annual rebate this has covered our membership for 10yrs plus.

Loads of people have told me its not worth it over the years but I love the products you can’t get anywhere else and I scan for reductions and have saved lots to counter balance the stupid stuff I didn’t need ( was fun though)

The cafe? I assume yours isn’t just some chairs and tables near the tills, selling unhealthy-looking hot dogs then?

It’s brilliant if you love a mooch! I could spend all day in there 😁

The cafe at our Costco sells baked potatoes, enormous pizzas, chicken burgers, mango smoothies, hot drinks, chicken bakes and ice cream. Does yours not?

My DC love it, we always get food.

No. But at least you get some kind of money back if you dont re coup your membership fee.

Only if you have a large family, cater for events or run something like a scout group that goes camping. People that I know that have had one usually give it up after a while and say it’s too easy to buy more than you need

The kitchen roll is worth it for me.

We love Costco and have been shopping there for about 20 years. It’s not necessarily really cheap but the quality is really good.
We buy the toilet paper, kitchen roll, dishwasher tabs, laundry liquid, fabric softener, meat and fish, cheeses, butter, vitamins, shampoo and shower gel on a regular basis.
Couple of weeks ago I bought new glasses (varifocals) for a good price and a set of 2 hard shell Samsonite suitcases for £99. The clothes are good too.
Lots of lovely Christmas food in now and lots of stuff for gifts too

If you’ve got the space to buy things in bulk, and the will power/organisation to work out what is good value and what isn’t then it’s definitely worth it.

we have a big family and a large amount of storage space, as well as ours having a petrol station so it’s well worth it.

Prob not worth it for me but we like Swedish meatballs. Greek Yog, hummus, hot chicken. Part baked rolls, frozen chicken, pizza and spring rolls.

I always spot something in another trolley I fancy this time is was choc covered mango!

The nearest Costco to us is about 10 miles away. If we're on the motorway going jn that direction we do come off to fill up and occasionally go into the store. Their prices aren't generally competitive, but sometimes there are bargains to be had. You just need to know what you'd pay elsewhere.

The fuel price (usually around 10p per litre cheaper than elsewhere) usually more than covers the cost of membership. I doubt we'd bother otherwise.

We buy diesel and tyres, toilet paper and paper towel, cooking oils, giant paneer I portion and freeze, oranges, avocados, ready meals, birthday cakes, rotisserie chicken, and box sets of kids books.

Also buy bulk pancake mix and syrup as I do those most weekends. Bulk coffee is ok but I buy a local roast now.

I run workshops at work and my combo to get the best from a room is sweet, salty and healthy snacks so I usually get the participants flat pretzel chips, mini oranges and something from the bakery- cookies or pastries depending on time of day. I always go the night before one.

Got a great deal on sandals and the clothing is sturdy though not inspiring.

DS loves the cafe hotdogs but we don't buy them because they have way way too much sodium. The cookies are good when they have them.

You need to know your prices, as there are some good deals, but equally, not everything is - as others have said you can get as good, or better in your local supermarket.

Then you need space to store some of the bulkier things.

Trays of meat, etc are a good price if you cook that much, which of course, most people don't so then you have to have space to freeze stuff and be organised enough to label, remember, and then defrost stuff.

Petrol is good if you were local, but obviously not an hour's drive away.

Useful if you frequently cater for parties, or large gatherings, or bringing cakes in to a large office, but again, only if it is near where you live, or potentially near work.

I go about once a year on a friend's card, and find it good, but a) I've not paid for membership, and b) it is fairly local.
Otherwise, I wouldn't go.

Things that are worth it:

Tyres - really good deals on these
Blankets/ mats/ cushions - good quality for price
small appliances - often a decent bit cheaper
Kids toys and books - can often get more unusual things
gifts - they do good sets in run up to christmas
meat is good quality
Bottled water
toilet rolls
If having a party or catering for a good amount of people
Big bags coffee beans
Bin bags - super strong and last forever
Batteries - their own brand
some clothes are decent prices
random interesting stuff
Halloween and christmas decorations

I don't find it's cheaper. But agree with a PP it's fun and my kids love it ( for the cafe no doubt).

If you buy branded it will be cheaper. If your a own brand bargain hunter like me, then no. But we have lots of kids so buying in bulk loo rolls, washing powder etc saves effort. I don't buy any of that in my weekly shops now. I go to Costco once every approximately two months and spend about £250 on loo rolls, blue roll, cheese, chicken nuggets, dumplings and pizza. Then blow the savings plus some in the cafe on the kids. Hence only every two months.

These are more expensive but better quality. Washing powder etc is on par price wise with lidl own brand I think? It's certainly not a rip off anyway