Is Costco worth it?

[Daisybell1]

I have just become eligible for a Costco card. However, living in the middle of nowhere means its a lengthy drive to the nearest one.

If I combined the drive with other errands, are the savings worth the price of the membership card? I've been looking at the vouchers to try and work out if its cheaper...

Yes, yes, yes. I love the place - I c

See got too excited :) I couldn't live without it. Something's can work out roughly same as supermarket (supermarket offer dependant) Costco is worth it for sheer quantity - example: this week got 40 toilet rolls for 10 pound (Andrew in store is 4.79 for 9 rolls (the toilet roll I got is branded - quilted velvet I got this time). Washing powders/coffee/tea, sugar -it's amazing I love the place.

Andrex not Andrew! I'm sure he isn't available for 10 pound :)

Generally yes, but know your prices.

Tinned and dry goods def worth it. Do you have space to store things? Cos you buy big amounts of stuff. So fresh food only it if you have plenty of people to eat it in time.

We go and stock up on butcher meat, freeze it in portions and defrost as and when needed. Their own brand stuff ,Kirkland, is really good quality and reasonably priced. Always end up coming home with random items though, can't remember ever just buying what we need.

You need to know the regular prices. Sometimes things aren't any cheaper at all and other times you can save loads. I got the Andrex loo rolls earlier in the year - £15 for 45 rolls, and as e1 said, it's normally £5 for 9 (or more I think?!)

Washing powder/tabs/calgon is usually much the same as supermarkets (I think anyway) unless it's on special.

I am low carbing and going through almonds at a disturbing rate - the Kingland ones are The Best and work out to be a much better price.

Cheese is a good price too as are the enormous pots of olives.

Their bagels are to die for (sadly now low carbing they are a thing of the past).

The cakes/platters etc are great value for parties (huge cakes & lovely) for £8.

I personally don't find their veg to be a good price (and I normally shop at Waitrose) and I find most of their packages too large.

Their ziplock bags are good and good value.

So, it's more about good quality stuff at a reasonable price than 'getting stuff dirt cheap' and not buying too many extras ... oops!!

Thank you, that's all very helpful. I guess its worth maybe taking along a printout of my Asda shopping list and having a look when we're down there.

Items I always have on my Costco shopping list are -

Orange juice
Weetabix
Bottled water
Toilet rolls
Kitchen rolls
Mince
Washing up liquid
Alpen
Coffee machine coffee
Tea
Bird food
Batteries
Polish
Books

I'm sure there is more.

Normally DH goes with MIL 4-6 times a year and stocks up. I've been a few times and tbh don't think the food is much better value than shopping around at 'normal' supermarkets but it is really good for household stuff - dishwasher tablets, loo roll, washing powder, kitchen towels etc are usually really good prices.

Probably worth a trip for the carrot cake though!

As I have said before.

I think you need to make sure that you have a list including price and weight so you can compare.

We normally get

Floor wipes - 3 together orange, lemon and fresh air.
fairy soap powder - 90 washes about £20
pure/fairy conditioner

Kirkland whole chicken nuggets
Youngs fish fingers and scampi

Kirkland fresh pork ribs
chicken thighs about 9/10 for about £4.50
chicken breasts/fillet stripes
Flour
vanilla extract - a lot cheaper
chocolate chips

Used to buy kirkland baby wipes. were lovely and thick and used far less the if using pampers

I think the benefit of Costco depends on two things, how
immediately financially comfortable you are and how disciplined you are.

Things may work out cheaper, but as they're sold in bulk, you have to pay out a lot in one go, so if you have a strict monthly budget, it may not be for you. However, if you can afford bigger outgoings in one month to make savings over the next few months, it will be a lot more beneficial.

And then there's discipline, Costco sells everything. Things you never even knew existed. And because they change their stock so much and have no guarantee of having a particular product in next time, you can feel tempted to just go for it. And it you want to treat yourself to something from the bakery counter as you might in a supermarket? You can't just buy one cookie, you have to buy 24, or you can't just buy one chocolate bar, it has to be 48. It all soon adds up.

I cancelled my membership because whenever I went I ended up spending loads on things I didn't really need. However, if you're disciplined about it, I can see there's the potential to make lots of savings.

I agree Hercy.

DH's family are obsessed with the place so when we went on a s/c holiday last year he insisted it would be good way to shop for the week.

We spent about £130, and still had to make several trips to supermarkets for little things to actually make complete meals as there are only 3 of us so no point in bulk buying sauces etc.

Can't say that having cheese sandwich packed lunches for an entire week floated my boat either ...

I think costco is worth a trip for party catering, otherwise like others have said, might not be worth it. The brands are quite high end and not always cheaper than supermarket offers, and defo not as good value as aldi!

Clothes, books and gifty stuff are pretty good in addition to what other s have said. You will find yourself coming home with a random juicer or chafing dish though...

We go a couple of times a year when we are having a birthday party, massive bbq or christmas do.

Plus you have to move to a bigger house to find space for the 140 kitchen rolls and 600 dish washer tablets you just bought

Worth every penny and more!
There are certain things you can't find anywhere else! From foodstuffs, like fantastic small fresh cucumbers and large packs of berries, to the larger things like workshop/tool storage furniture and home appliances.

I think so. End up spending way more than I anticipate every trip though.

Always keep a stock of :

Kirkland toilet roll
Kirkland kitchen roll (huuge sheets)
Kirkland bottled water - small bottles
Kirkland washing powder - uber concentrated- lasts ages.
Aquafresh toothpaste
Paracetemol and Ibuprofen in bulk packs

Other things we buy are meats, fish, chicken.. I freeze in portions.
Canned tomatoes
Canned mackerel
Canned tuna (if on offer)
Big tubs of herbs and spices

The cakes if we are having a party!

Pizzas are good value - too thick a base for me, but the Dc love them.

Oh massive tubs of marmite, Skippy peanut butter and Nutella. Very much cheaper than supermarkets.