Some may scoff at those who are thrifty– coupon clippers, bulk buyers, people in search of any deal they can find, but what we all must accept is that the idea of supply and demand is so prevalent in our everyday life that we are naturally wired to think economically. No matter how much or how little you care about saving money, we all must make small choices every day that impact how we make the most of the resources we have.
Scarcity is inevitable, especially in today’s world. So whether or not you are looking to save five cents on milk, or shy away from being suckered into a giant bag of pretzels, let’s look at these Costco products holistically, as a metaphor for humanity’s inevitable need to make economic choices.
Laundry Detergent
Average Price: $18 per 200 oz*
Verdict: Skip it
Laundry Detergent / costcocouple.comLaundry Detergent / costcocouple.com
Did you know that laundry detergent has a shelf life? Yep. That’s correct. The magical cleaning liquid only lasts about 6 months once opened, according to most experts. One or two bottles may suit you, but don’t buy too much in bulk unless you plan to go through it all.
Costco’s Kirkland brand of Ultra Clean, “Free and Clear,” detergent has received some troubling reviews, including some users reporting a bit of skin irritation or contact dermatitis after washing their clothes. So, you may gather that this detergent is neither free nor clear.
Unbaked Pastries
Average Price: $0.02 per cookie based on a 22.99 pack of 120 balls of cookie dough*
Verdict: Buy it
Unbaked Pies @renacorwin / Twitter.comUnbaked Pies @renacorwin / Twitter.com
Let’s face it. We all need a cookie every now and then. But do we really want to spend any more than 2 cents per cookie? Maybe we would. That said, who doesn’t love the idea of having a whole bunch of frozen cookies on standby for whenever your, “cookie moment” arises?
A little known Costco hack– ask the bakery counter for unbaked cookie dough balls. For only $22.99, you get a big ol’ box of cookie dough, enough to make 120 cookies! That comes out to two cents a cookie. Simply, wow. Watch out Costco, the Cookie Monster might be coming to visit soon.
Books
Average Price: $14.99*
Verdict: Skip it
Books @drdominee / Twitter.comBooks @drdominee / Twitter.com
Books are an ancient form of entertainment and throughout history have been influential in shaping our culture, personal identities, world politics and much more. Books are really important. That said, you can get them on Amazon pretty cheap and you can also get audiobooks and digital e-books. You can even get used books.
All that aside, from a purely economic standpoint, our research has led us to believe that the books offered at Costco are not really any better of a deal than you can find elsewhere. If you’re looking for some page-turners, maybe it’s best to look elsewhere. Stay away from airport books, however, where they are most overpriced.
Toilet Paper
Average Price: $0.50 – $0.75* per roll
Verdict: Buy it
Toilet Paper @Sterling W / Youtube.comToilet Paper @Sterling W / Youtube.com
Essentials like toilet paper are perhaps the most coveted items on any average day of the week, but especially so in the times of a global pandemic. We all want to make sure we keep things sanitary, and Costo is one of the most efficient places to procure the rolled papyrus at its lowest available price.
Did you know that toilet paper was actually invented in China in the year 1391 for the family of the Chinese Emperor? Little did they know it would one day be used by teenage pranksters to decorate their school principal’s yard.
Coffee
Average Price: $5.50/lb.*
Verdict: Skip it
Coffee / costco.co.ukCoffee / costco.co.uk
Not all coffee is created equal. This makes determining the value of a particular brand of coffee extremely difficult. The Kirkland brand of ground Columbian coffee only comes in a three-pound tin. Most coffee connoisseurs agree that coffee does not stay fresh as fast as you can consume three pounds of it.
Because of this relatively short shelf life, it might be better to stick to smaller bags of beans, or perhaps even find yourself a coffee grinder and purchase whole beans that will stay fresh longer and therefore make for better coffee.
Blender
Average Price: $69.99
Verdict: Buy it
Blender @ExploresRetail / Twitter.comBlender @ExploresRetail / Twitter.com
Consumers can often find pretty good deals on single appliance items when shopping at Costco. This is because they use these items as incentives to keep you shopping there and buying bulk items. So why not take advantage of their little tricks?
Next time you need a new blender you may want to consider checking the Costco prices because you could find a pretty good deal, and deals are important in today’s day and age. Currently, Costco has a good variety of blenders of different price points.
Fresh Fruit
Average Price: Between $1.05 to $1.56/lb*
Verdict: Skip it
Fresh Fruit / maximimages.comFresh Fruit / maximimages.com
If you are an avid compost bin user and want to keep your bin plenty full of old rotting produce that you didn’t use because you bought too much at a time, Costco is a perfect place for you. However, if you don’t like wasting food, buying fresh fruit and vegetables in bulk may not be your best bet.
Costco keeps their prices low by procuring massive amounts of produce from large corporate farms, and most of what you will find will be your average varietals and most commonly purchased goods. If you want some real variety and don’t mind spending a little more, check out your local farmers market!
Frozen Fruit
Average Price: $1.50/lb*
Verdict: Buy it
Frozen Fruit @Big Tent Vegan / Pinterest.comFrozen Fruit @Big Tent Vegan / Pinterest.com
You can pretty freeze any kind of fruit and it will stay good for a really really long time. That’s why it’s a great idea to take advantage of Costco’s perennial low prices on frozen fruit. If you found a good deal on a nice new blender, maybe it’s the perfect time to pick up some frozen fruit.
In addition to being great for smoothies, frozen fruit can be enjoyed as a healthy afternoon snack as well. Whether its bananas, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, a mix of berries, pineapple, or peaches, frozen fruit can benefit your life in countless ways. Especially at a good price!
Spices
Average Price: $5.49*
Verdict: Skip it
Spices @ Corona Communications, Marketing & Design / Pinterest.comSpices @ Corona Communications, Marketing & Design / Pinterest.com
You may be easily tempted by a massive container of onion powder but a word of the wise, don’t buy a massive container of onion powder. Many people believe that spices have an infinite shelf life, but they really only stay fresh for 6 months to a year. How often do you really need to whip out the coriander?
Another reason not to buy spices in bulk is that often there is a reason those spices are cheap. You can often find better tasting and more potent spices in smaller containers from your local grocery store.
Gasoline
Average Price: Between $2.53 and $2.66 per gallon*
Verdict: Buy it
Gasoline @Costco / Facebook.comGasoline @Costco / Facebook.com
If there’s any clear-cut, hands-down, battle-proven example of Costco’s membership incentive, it’s the gas. Once you have a Costco membership you will automatically be able to get gas at Costco stations for about twenty percent less than the average station in the neighborhood.
The only downside to this price advantage is the cost of your time. Since the lines are long for gas, you may want to drop off a significant other or grumpy teenager at the front of Costco to get a head start on shopping while you wait in line to fill up.
Milk
Average Price: $3.65 per gallon*
Verdict: Skip it
Milk / boxed.comMilk / boxed.com
The milk at Costco is fine. Just fine. It tastes fine, it looks fine and it is priced fine. Why shouldn’t you buy it? The jug. The jugs that Costco uses for its one-gallon containers have taken the internet by storm because of a serious design flaw.
Many users report an unsatisfactory loss of milk when it spills around, claiming its spout dribbles milk all over. That’s very frustrating for any milk drinker, especially milk drinkers who are serious enough about their milk drinking to report milk jug design flaw findings on the internet.
Cheese
Average Price: $2.19/lbs
Verdict: Buy it
Cheese / costcocouple.comCheese / costcocouple.com
Let’s face it. The cheese game at Costco is pretty strong. They have a wild and roaming refrigerated cheese section, bountiful with cheeses. Whether you’re after a nice chunk of sharp cheddar to shred onto a bowl of chili, some mozzarella for a pizza, or a whole spread of different cheeses to throw a fancy party, Costco is the place for you.
Unlike the cheeses themselves, the prices don’t stink. The prices are pretty good. For less than 20 bucks you can get quite a large chunk of cheese. Next time you’re feeling cheesy, check out Costco for some good cheese deals.
Canned Vegetables
Average Price: $5.99/12, 6 oz. cans*
Verdict: Skip it
Canned Vegetables / simpleandhealthyfoods.wordpress.comCanned Vegetables / simpleandhealthyfoods.wordpress.com
You would think canned vegetables would be a great Costco purchase since they have such a long shelf life. That said, the shelf life of canned goods is only very long before the cans are opened. So if you open a giant bulk-sized can of corn, you’re gonna have like a week or so to finish that corn.
Also, canned goods are one of the most couponed items since couponing began. Since Costco doesn’t really do coupons in the same way as regular grocery stores, it’s probably worth keeping an eye out at your neighborhood shop. Chances are, you’ll find cheaper prices than Costco.
Eggs
Average Price: $3.09 per dozen*
Verdict: Buy it
Eggs / costcocouple.comEggs / costcocouple.com
If you’re a daily egg eater or an avid baker, you’ll probably want to pay attention closely here. Even if you’re not one of those things, you may want to consider reading on. The prices on eggs at Costco are excellent.
Another reason you may find the act of purchasing eggs at Costco desirable is the variety among the selection of eggs they have available. You can get brown eggs, free-range eggs, brown free-range eggs, organic eggs, and even your basic conventional white eggs.
Ketchup and Mustard
Average Price: $6.19 for 2, 30 oz bottles*
Verdict: Skip it
French's Mustard © Edgar Lee Espe / Shutterstock.comFrench's Mustard © Edgar Lee Espe / Shutterstock.com
You may be interested in procuring condiments from Costco if you are either an avid hot dog eater, a daily burger griller, or planning a massive family reunion. Otherwise, you may want to skip purchasing ketchup and mustard from Costco.
For one, although many believe these items have a long shelf life, it is typically not long enough for you to use these bulk-sized condiments before they lose their flavor. You wouldn’t want your ketchup to lose its tangy kick or your mustard to lose it’s… muster.
Nuts
Average Price: $15.89/2.5 lbs.*
Verdict: Buy it
Nuts @CostcoUK / Facebook.comNuts @CostcoUK / Facebook.com
Nuts are notoriously expensive dry pantry items. They also have a very long shelf life, especially if stored in airtight containers in dark places. That makes buying nuts in bulk particularly desirable if you enjoy nuts as well as reasonable prices.
Nuts are high in protein and often figure into many of today’s low-carb diet trends. A nice healthy snack to fight off cravings throughout the day. Another added bonus, the nuts from Costco mostly come in sturdy, resealable containers so you can store them safely and properly instead of plastic bags that many grocery stores often sell them in.
Chips
Average Price: Lay’s Potato Chips, Classic, 1.5 oz, 64 ct $33.69*
Verdict: Buy it
Chips / costco97.comChips / costco97.com
Bulk boxes of individual chip portions have long been a staple of Costco’s inventory. Especially for kids, buying these big boxes of mixed variety of chip bags is always a good idea at Costco. Chips also have a long shelf life when unopened, and because of the small portion size, you are keeping most of your chip stash fresh for the long run.
If you have the munchies you’ll love the selections at Costco. The chip and other dry snack aisles are abounding with flavor opportunities ranging from your classic Cheetos to premium kettle fried potato chips.
Cereal
Average Price: $8.99 for 61.9 oz box of Frosted Flakes*
Verdict: Buy it
Cereal / costco.comCereal / costco.com
Cereal was built for one reason and one reason only. To be affordable and last a while. That’s why cereal ranks highly on our list of things best suited for Costco’s business model as well as for consumer’s pocketbooks.
Whether you like Frosted Flakes, Frosted Mini-Wheats, anything frosted really, or Kirkland’s infamous Ancient Grains Granola, you really are doing a service to your bank account by choosing wisely to procure a large amount at a low price. No question about it, if you like Costco, Cereal, and low prices, you’ve come to the right place.
Over-The-Counter Medicine
Average Price: $19.89 per 320 ct
Verdict: Skip it
Over-The-Counter Medicine / costco.comOver-The-Counter Medicine / costco.com
After a long romp around the store and a lot of hard economic choices to make, you may find yourself with a headache by the time you get to the over-the-counter medicine section. Because of that, you might be easily tempted by a giant bottle of Ibuprofen.
Medicines at Costco are typically not worth buying in bulk because they will most likely expire before you get through them. So even if you snacked on too many free samples, and a massive container of Alka-Seltzer seems very desirable, don’t let your temptation get the best of you.
Vitamins
Average Price: Varies
Verdict: Buy it
Vitamins @Authentic Depot / Facebook.comVitamins @Authentic Depot / Facebook.com
Unlike regular over-the-counter medicines, purchasing vitamins and supplements from Costco could be a worthwhile undertaking. The prices are a bit lower than competitors and there is a wide array of different kinds of vitamins for your everyday health needs.
Since they are typically items you take on a daily basis, chances are you’ll burn through your vitamin supply before they expire. You can even find vitamin varieties at Costco like the gummies or powdered forms. Whatever your choice vitamin format is, there’s no question that you’ll be getting a pretty good deal from Costco.
Flour
Average Price: $6.99 for 25 lbs
Verdict: Skip it
Flour @theketodad / Facebook.comFlour @theketodad / Facebook.com
Like many baking products, flour is one of those ingredients that you always think you need, but rarely finish before it goes bad. The same goes for other items like baking powder where you only use about a teaspoon or two at a time.
The flour selection is also limited, they mostly have all-purpose flour. You’re not going to find you durum wheat or semolina flour here. So unless you own a bakery or just really like to be well-stocked with flour, you’re probably better off procuring your necessary ingredients at a regular grocery store.
Batteries
Average Price: $18.99 for a 48 pack
Verdict: Buy it
Batteries / costco.comBatteries / costco.com
Here is a little known fact: The Kirkland brand of batteries which are much cheaper than Duracell, are in fact made by Duracell. This makes buying batteries at Costco one of the wisest choices a shopper can make.
Batteries are also one of the most commonly needed items that you don’t have when you need them most. So save yourself the trauma of not being able to find AAs for your TV remote. The batteries at Costco are a deal worth considering.
Diapers
Average Price: $0.18 per diaper
Verdict: Skip it
Diapers / costcobusinesscentre.caDiapers / costcobusinesscentre.ca
Unless you have septuplets, you may find the need for this many diapers a bit unnecessary. But even if you do find yourself in need of a lot of diapers, there are better options out there. Not all items at Costco are priced lower than their competitors, and diapers are an example of this.
Some consumers have found better diaper deals by using Walmart or Amazon’s subscribe-and-save functionality to keep the diapers coming straight to your door faster than your child can soil them. Keep an eye out for decent diaper deals out there.
Rotisserie Chicken
Average Price: $4.99*
Verdict: Buy it
Rotisserie Chicken @Costco Rotisserie Chicken / Facebook.comRotisserie Chicken @Costco Rotisserie Chicken / Facebook.com
After a long trip to Costco, the last thing you want to do is cook when you get home with all of the well-priced products you just purchased. A little hack— try the $4.99 rotisserie chicken. It’s enough to easily feed a family of four and tastes pretty good to boot.
The Kirkland Signature brand hot rotisserie chickens are roasted daily on Costco’s in-house rotisserie machine so they are always fresh. They don’t use any preservatives, MSG or artificial flavors or colors. Not bad for five bucks. Add a couple of side dishes and you have a nice dinner for four.
http://www.investing.com/magazine/the-best-and-worst-deals-to-be-had-at-costco/
BY MA.TT SK.LAR
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