Is Costco worth the membership fee for weekly groceries?

[Paulacarl]

Hi,
We're on an economy drive in these tight times and I'm wondering whether it would be worth our while to join Costco so we can stock up more cheaply on tins, dry goods, cleaning products etc. We've got a reasonable amount of storage space so can cope with the bulk buying. I'm just not sure what their product range and prices are like for ordinary household groceries and don't want to fork out for the membership and then find its not really much use.
Does anyone have any experience?
Thanks

I got a Costco card with great enthusiasm. Groceries are cheaper at Asda. There are savings to be made on things like 200 toilet rolls but I don't have the space for storage.
I don't have a card anymore and the only things I miss are the birthday cakes...

I love Costco but sadly don't live near enough to one to use it for all my shopping. I agree you can shop cheaper for some things but the Costco stuff is much better quality so I would shop there all the time if I could.

TBH alot of Costco stuff can be bought cheaper when supermarkets have BOGOF and special offers.
There range is limited too.
I like only Nescafe Gold Blend for example. They have the big drums, but I can stock up when it's at Sainsbury.
Likewise dishwasher tablets, there's always a half price somewhere.
Clothes are a bit meh and ££ (There were some tops last week that looked rubbish on the hanger so after washing they'd be rags)

BUT on the plus side:

bin bags
The 'wallet' they send out has coupons for money off washing powder, and it's professional grade

Kirkland- their own brand is excellant
Bread, cakes good value
Capri Sun (for school)

I got a handheld Kenwood mixer that I knew was £20 less because I'd been pricing them up.

And the prices are shown without VAT and with total VAT

Cans, bottles pop, again supermarkets can be cheaper

We have a Costco card, and find them really good for things like toilet rolls and cleaning/washing stuff. Sometimes their booze is quite cheap too, and soft drinks. The thing is, if you're going to buy in bulk, you need somewhere to store everything.

We tend not to buy fruit and veg, they seem more expensive than the supermarkets.

No. It's good quality but not massively cheaper.

I save more going to Aldi.

I only have my card so mil can go.

It really depends how far away your Costco is and therefore how often you would go.

We are about 40 minutes from two Costcos and I only make it there 2 - 3 times a year. I usually spend about £500. A few years ago, I spent £250 max, and that often included some cheeky purchases rather than just food and cleaning supplies.

Costco only sells quality products. You can get these products cheaper than a standard supermarket, but they are not cheaper than 'value', non-branded products.

When I go, I stock up on detergents, toiletries, disposables, cans, boxed wine . I take advantage of the well-priced meats, produce, bakery products, but have to buy these in between times as well.

The home and garden goods are great, but you don't really know what they are going to stock before you go, so these tend to be (for me) impulse purchases (and therefore blow your budget).

I no longer live close to my nearest Costco, so now I go about twice a year and like ClaireRacing, spend a fortune. But I time it so that it works with the vouchers and stock up on washing detergent and loo roll. I also get toiletries. And the price of the Kirkland brand Ibuprofen is worth the membership alone. And no silly restrictions like you can't buy more than 12 tablets at a time. The meat is very good quality.
I'm lucky that I do have a good storage area at home. I was living in an apartment a few years ago and I couldn't do it then.

nope. they're not cheaper than supermarket own brand. the fruit and veg goes off quickly ime.

we have membership because dh wears contact lenses and the costco ones are cheaper than any alternative we can find, even dodgy off-brand online ones. We do also buy other stuff there occasionally. the only things I find worth buying there are dishwasher tabs (because fairy is great and a gazillion times cheaper in coscto) and bird and dog food. I bought some strawberries there recently and they were mouldy within 2 days, which wasn't surprising becasue when I checked they had come from the USA, which was disappointing in the middle of UK strawberry season!

If you're desperate to buy branded stuff then I suppose you would save at costco.