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Original poster

Costco for the first time this am. What to buy?

45 replies

KeenoOnVino · 20/04/2019 07:10

Going to Costco for the first time this morning, I have no idea what to expect or what it’s like. I’m going with a member, and thought I’d pick up bulk buys of nappies and wipes, and eggs? (Do they sell eggs?!) but what else do I need? What is good? Is everything sold in huge amounts? So you can’t just buy some biscuits, you have to buy 500 packets of them?! Thanks!!

OP posts:
BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 20/04/2019 07:13

Toilet rolls, kitchen rolls
Part baked French bread
Professional strength Harpic
Mixed chocolate chip cookies are only 24 in a box so that's fine!

Cantchooseaname · 20/04/2019 07:13

They sell pretty much everything, in bulk.

The alcohol can be good value if you drink.
Coffee beans.
The Kirkland brand is their own, generally really good quality.
Good deals on meat.
It just depends what you use- it’s only bargain if it is stuff you want.
The kids books always get me!!

hidinginthenightgarden · 20/04/2019 07:16

They do sell eggs in trays of 24. Fab price as is te milk, some of the cheese and the butter.
Biscuits vary. You can get for example a box of 4 packs of biscuits. Crisps come in boxes etc.
Good price stuff - their palm oil free chocolate spread,
Robinsons fruit juice
Fruit shoots (save us a fortune when out and about!)
bread
cakes
books
clothes
Things that aren't cheaper but better quality -
Meat
fruit
ready meals

Fruit and meat is sold in large amounts.

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General shopping
Original poster
KeenoOnVino · 20/04/2019 07:19

Thank you - I have just bulk ordered toilet roll and kitchen roll of groupon annoyingly, before I knew I was going.

Bulk deals on alcohol sounds great! Too bad I’m pregnant 😁.

OP posts:
KTD27 · 20/04/2019 07:19

Rotisserie chicken and broccoli salad. Food of the gods

WoogleCone · 20/04/2019 07:19

Kirkland is the own brand and is really good.
Toilet roll in packs of 40, kitchen roll in packs of 15 (super sized sheets that are very absorbent!)
We also usually get the 130 wash boxes of surf and huge bottle of fabric softener.
Nappies are often on offer (90ish packs for about £11 pampers)
Dishwasher tablets when on offer are good value, last time I got about 250 for around £12.
Their fresh food is good too, we usually buy a tray of enchiladas on a Costco day for tea!
There are sometimes good offers on toiletries but I often think you can get those cheaper when on offer in supernarkets etc. The best deals come from cleaning stuff IMO.

Alcohol is good value mostly, boxes of beer etc and the odd good deal on bottles of spirits.

Be prepared to spend big but make space in your cupboards! And have fun! im not jealous of you today at all Grin

WoogleCone · 20/04/2019 07:21

Oh and if you buy bottled water, the Kirkland cases work out at 9p a bottle!

kmammamalto · 20/04/2019 07:22

The massive pies!! The chicken one is so nice! Have it for your tea!

canihaveacoffeeplease · 20/04/2019 07:24

Ohhhhh it's going to be busy on Easter Saturday, good luck!!

The roast chickens are great and cheap, meat and fish is good quality and inexpensive, milk, butter, fresh juice and cheese too, and you don't need to buy tons. The smoked salmon is lovely, but you do have to buy a whole side!

Toiletries, cleaning products and loo roll are things we always stock up on. Trays of soft drinks tend to be good value, and the books and kids books/activity packs are fab. Magazines are 20% off listed price you'd pay elsewhere so I always pick up one or 2!

Look out for the deals, they often hand out a deals catalogue on the way in, these can be well worth buying if they're things you'd use anyway.

Have fun!

Original poster
KeenoOnVino · 20/04/2019 07:28

Thanks all!! I’m excited. Husband thinks I’m
Mad going on a holiday weekend where it’s lovely and warm outside. He doesn’t share my passion for discounted toilet roll.

Can I join as a member of my brother signs me off or something? Or do you have to meet their criteria?

OP posts:
LutherRalph1 · 20/04/2019 07:29

Eggs are good price but (imo) very small and obviously not very fresh
Bacon is brilliant quality

MrsCollinssettled · 20/04/2019 07:31

Kirkland washing powder. Great even for sensitive skin and lasts forever.

I found that you need to know your normal prices. Last time I went the cat food saving was minimal because you can usually get offers on it in supermarkets. Big tub of galaxy hot chocolate powder was a good price.

Don't forget about the VAT.

Original poster
KeenoOnVino · 20/04/2019 07:33

Don't forget about the VAT.

What about it??

OP posts:
pippop1317 · 20/04/2019 07:49

If your brother is a member he can take you in with you.
The pizzas are huge and delicious. You HAVE to stop at the cafè on the way out. The flash multi surface cleaner is in a huge bottle and and good value.

pippop1317 · 20/04/2019 07:50

There is two prices on the tickets. Always look for the one inc VAT.

MrsCollinssettled · 20/04/2019 07:55

Pip beat me too it. Do your price comparison on the Inc VAT price (in smaller print). You don't pay VAT on books BTW.

DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 20/04/2019 07:56

NB: the toilet and kitchen roll is Cushelle/Plenty with different embossing/patterns. Prudhoe and Trafford Park mills iirc.

Original poster
KeenoOnVino · 20/04/2019 08:02

pippop but can I join as a member with his endorsement or do I have to meet their criteria and be one of the qualifying professions.....

Thanks for the vat tip!

OP posts:
pippop1317 · 20/04/2019 08:03

When I go, I usually check prices with Asda/Morrison online to see if i am actually getting a good deal. (Yes I'm that sad)

pippop1317 · 20/04/2019 08:07

Depends what type of membership he has. Both me and my friend are self employed and have a joint membership. With one card you take a guest. So both of us can go and take our husbands as a guest.

Costco for the first time this am. What to buy?
Frouby · 20/04/2019 08:08

The cookies in a pack of 24, ditto the square shortbread chocolate chip things. And they do a pack of 6 small victoria sponge cakes.

I went for the first time the other week. It was ok, check the origin of any meat, I saw USA beef and something else imported but can't remember what it was, thats if country of origin bothers you.

Some things were good value, some things I thought overpriced. I shop in Aldi though so maybe I am not good at judging normal prices.

I think to benefit from the savings you need a massive family, are catering for a big party or have loads of storage space.

Original poster
KeenoOnVino · 20/04/2019 08:13

He’s a qualified CA which is how he got his membership. I have a ltd company, am sole director, but it’s not in any of those industries. I’ve been told if you have your own company you can join but I think it has to be within those fields doesn’t it.

Ohhh I love choc chip shortbread!!! Thanks frouby I normally shop in Waitrose and Lidl, but my family is growing and go through food at a rate of knots, so this may be good!!

OP posts:
Zhx3 · 20/04/2019 08:14

The black rolls of bin bags are excellent, really strong.

I always buy spaghetti and dried pasta and tinned tomatoes. Big sacks of rice too, if you get through a lot.

They are doing these gorgeous red, round tins of cacao dusted truffles at the moment. I wanted to buy them and dd stopped me from doing so! (They are about 90 kcal each Grin ).

The brioche rolls.

My dc love a visit to Costco, they see it as a trip out to go sampling!

caughtinanet · 20/04/2019 08:15

I buy toilet rolls and water and things on offer but overall unless you buy branded food I don't think you'll save money.

If you need to shop to a budget ime Costco isn't the place to do it.

FraggleRocking · 20/04/2019 08:16

Part baked rolls
Meat on special offers (usually good if you freeze some anyway)
Laundry Detergent
Their cakes are good

Try not to get sucked in by stuff you really don’t need as you’ll end up spending a fortune. Lots of items are actually cheaper in the supermarkets, so echoing others, it’s good to have a general idea of prices when you go.