So we did it.
We got a Costco Card.
And I'm still kind of confused about it. I don't really know if it's going to be a good thing, or a major money drain. What if it makes me buy bulk spaghetti that we never end up eating? What if it dupes me into thinking something's a grrreat deal when I probably could have found it cheaper in a no-name brand somewhere else? What if it tricks me into thinking I need 50 bottles of ketchup for food storage, when one lasts us for MONTHS?
...Is it weird that my Costco Card can apparently control my mind? I'm a little scared of it.
I like to grocery shop as little as possible. I actually love to do it... but there, my friends, is the potential problem. So I only go once a week. And I have to go with a list, made from a meal plan for the week...
...because otherwise, I would come home with 50 bottles of ketchup.
.
So after getting into this rhythm...we've decided to brave the Costco card, in hopes that it will actually be a good thing....that I'll be able to plan a little farther in advance, get some things for a little longer term, and give Darren access to their photo lab. And so on and so forth. And did you know that if you don't use it as much as you thought you would, or aren't happy with it, they'll give you back your money? And if you buy it through the school they give you a $10 gift card? Sa-weet.
I'm curious to know if there's any tips out there for making this scary little card a little more useful...and not so...intimidating. I'd love to hear your thoughts on using it wisely. Is it as scary as I think it is?
6 comments:
Ok, so I found you through Jenny Allred (I'm her sister in law)...and I was just interested on what you had to say about "the card". I don't always like shopping at Costco, but they do have good quality products. I do watch and compare with other stores, and don't just think they're always the best deal. They have the $/100g or $/kg, so it's nice to compare their own products. Their prices are amazing for diapers and photos!! If nothing else, its good for food storage because you'll be buying more, and they'll last! Hope that helps!
Costco is great for a lot of things, often their bread, meat, and Produce are competitively priced. Everything in the forzen section is awesome. pay 12 bucks for 60 Jalepeno poppers when at safeway they're $6 for about 7 of them. Cereal is almost always cheaper, as with most of there bulk stuff, but you do need to be careful, especially with things that you can find in large quantities elsewhere, we have the executive membership which usually ends up paying for itself, and we don't shop there a whole ton. Always remember Diapers, Milk and Cheese will be cheaper at Walmart, unless they're on sale. Beside walmart has dairyland milk for a dollar less than safeway, and it's better quality than what you'll get at costco or superstore...and cheaper than both of those places too. As long as you have a good idea of how much stuff should cost you can't go wrong with costco. And their clothes are cheap cheap!!
It has always been dangerous for us to have a Costco Card. It is Brett's "happy place" and he always spends way more than he should when he goes. Once they had dove products on sale and he came home with like multiples of every item. He figures he is saving money if it's on sale, even if we don't need it or want it. That's an issue all of it's own though :) We do love Costco, just be aware of your list and don't get tricked into their coupon's or buying the things they are sampling.
Because we live in NYC and the closest Walmart is over 45 min away, we'd be crazy to NOT have a Costco card and go there for whatever we can... The prices of groceries at the stores around here are outrageous plus we live less than 10 min away from Brooklyn's Costco. My tips are: -Make room in your freezer
-Ask a friend to split the 10lb bag of chicken with you (or anything else you know will take you awhile to get through) and -Make Costco your last trip of the shopping day/week so you can check the prices of things at other stores (to make sure you are getting the best deal you can).
to be honest, we wouldn't have one if we didn't get it as a Christmas present every year. I find we spend way more on groceries then needed for a family of three. Bulk is nice but for big families. on a more positive note i love there photo center!
costco is my weakness. make your list, write down the prices, compare elsewhere. ANY NEVER LOOK AT ANYTHING ELSE IN THE STORE THAT ISN"T ON YOUR LIST. that is my problem. "oh I don't know where the croutons are...must be by the goldfish crackers. bad bad bad. but i love my membership, movies and books are soooo cheap. and they have the best kids jammies.
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