Costco

[Jodi-FL]

We're getting a Costco here (we already have a Sam's) and it's been 5 years since I've had access to a Costco.

What are your favorite things to get there? and would you choose to have a membership to both (Costco and Sam's) for a family of 9 (with 2 dogs)? or if you would choose one over the other, which one would you choose and why?

thanks!

[Whisperlily]

I love Costco!

We don't have one here, and I miss it. Naturally, with a family of 9, you're going to appreciate buying in large quantities. One year we lived where we had a Sam's and no Costco. We shopped at Sam's, but we didn't feel the quality was as good as what we had been buying at Costco.

I really like a lot of their Kirkland brand products. (Store Brand) They are usually very close to the name-brand products, sometimes better. They have very high-quality fresh meat.

I bought a lot of clothes at Costco. They have quality brands at quite a discount from other retailers. They have excellent customer service, and a liberal return policy. (though I only returned something once in MANY years, because it was damaged.)

I would suggest getting a day-pass and looking around after it opens. If you have a friend with a membership, you can go in and shop if they go with you.

We don't have a Sams or Costco here, and I *really* miss it. Having shopped at both, I'd choose Costco over Sam's any day. But, I'd gladly shop at Sams if there was one close enough to me. :)

[Mekanamom]

It's been nearly 12 years since I've been to a Sam's. So I can't compare the two. But I do go to Costco once a month.

My favorite Costco purchases:


Pet Food
Wine
TP
Meat, especially the big bags of frozen chicken they have
I am lazy and we get those big platters of cut up fruits and veggies (they make really great school snacks.) Some are organic. We use them up within a week and buy Trader Joe's produce the rest of the month... unless our own garden is producing...
Apple Sauce, Fruit Cups, Granola Bars, Go-gurt... the packaged stuff that is easy to grab and go if we're in a hurry. We like fresh stuff better, but I'm glad to have these on hand when we're just out of time
Sparkling Ice flavored waters, Lipton Green Tea
Printer paper, Printer ink, Office supplies, Picture Frames
Occasionally furniture or appliances
Shower soap, sometimes shampoos, toothpaste


We save a lot by buying in bulk. We do end up with a LOT of packaging to recycle, though.

[Cathycam]

they carry great organics, the clothes are often higher quality and better prices than Sams, produce and meat are higher quality....

The only complaint I have is that they carry such great seasonal stuff that it often gives me the "wants" :o I have to be strong and keep an internal monologue going about consumerism and being wise, etc

When we moved away from my beloved Costco we bought a Sams membership - but honestly I often go there with the intention of picking up some things and very often come home empty handed because they were out of produce or it didn't look great, etc.

I agree, though, with getting a pass and checking it out for yourself. I'm really weird about shopping for fresh food and would wait a month for something to go on sale at Publix than buy it for the same price at Walmart or Albertsons....

[Jenny in Atl]

We LOVE Costco!!

Favs:

Wine (best prices and selection in town)
Meats (lamb, chicken, sausages, etc)
Fish
Seasonal veggies and fruits
Gluten free flax crackers & nut bars, Lara bars
Organic Milk (when I don't get OV at Harry's/WF)
Cheese(s)
Household stuff (tp paper, cleaners, etc)

It's not called the 100$ store for nothing!

[Crissy]

There are three things I like about Costco.

1. The prices
2. The books
3. The wine selection

I dislike grocery shopping in its standard form, and Costco really gets to me. The crowds! The carts! The screaming children! :eek:

Oh, I forgot the fourth thing I like about Costco. My husband is willing to do our shopping if he can buy everything at Costco. :D

[Amy in Orlando]

I like Costco much more than Sam's. I generally do our big "staples" shopping there every 5-6 weeks. I have set list of things we get and I rarely deviate from the list.

[Janet in WA]

If I had to choose, it would definitely be Costco.

I buy all of our paper products (paper towels, napkins, toilet paper, facial tissue, etc.) at Costco. The items they sell under their house brand (Kirkland) are top quality (manufactured by national brands and packaged under the Kirkland name) and very inexpensive.

[Karenciavo]

Page Protectors
Binders
Ink
Organic products
Meat
Fish
Big bag Perdue hormone free frozen chicken breasts (nice and thin)
Various housewares

I used to love their big square fresh pizzas, but they don't have them around here no more. http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/sad006.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org)

[Sandra in NC]

When Costco opened their first store here several years ago, they offered a trial membership, one year for free! Yours might do the same! I'd check with them when they get close to opening your store. (Our offer for a trial membership came in the mail, unsolicited.)

The things I love at Costco:

1) Parmesean cheese bagels (12 for $3.99)
2) Kirkland brand vanilla soy milk
3) Ready made rotisserie chicken

There are other things I like at Costco, but those three are my favorites.

[my4cowboys]

We buy as much as we can from Costco, because it's less expensive and the quality really is great. Actually, most of the things we eat and use come from Costco! Some things on our regular rotation:

Milk (way cheaper than grocery store at $5.00 for 2 gallons)
Butter
Eggs
Yummy Pugliese crusty bread
Regular everyday sandwich bread
All kinds of meat and seafood - ribeyes, ground beef, salmon (Their meat is very high quality because they have such high turnover and volume)
Frozen chicken breasts, also frozen salmon fillets
Fresh fruit and veggies in season
Frozen peas and corn
Fresh grapefruit in snack packs
Cheese - our Costo's cheese is literally half of what it is at the grocery store.
All paper products - T.P., napkins, etc.
Cleaning supplies - Tide, dish soap, shampoo, hand soap, Windex, 409, Clorox
Rotisserie chickens - so cheap and convenient when you need something for dinner!

Basically everything! They also have a lot of really good prepared food for quick and easy dinners, or if you're having a party, like meatballs, tamales, soups, pesto-sundried tomato-cheese dip, etc. I love to browse the area where the prepared stuff is and try new things. I've never had something that was icky.

[sdWTMer]

We're getting a Costco here (we already have a Sam's) and it's been 5 years since I've had access to a Costco.

What are your favorite things to get there? and would you choose to have a membership to both (Costco and Sam's) for a family of 9 (with 2 dogs)? or if you would choose one over the other, which one would you choose and why?

thanks!

Well, I'm a Texan but I still prefer Costco over Sam's.

This is what I get there:


Estroven (when they have the regular and not extra strength kind.)
Uncooked Tortillas
Frozen Salmon
Frozen Tilapia
Frozen Organic Blueberries and Other Frozen Veggies
Toilet Paper
Paper Towels
Paper Plates
Meat
Organic Bread
Organic Granola Bars (when they have them)
Organic Healthy Handful Snacks
HandClens Foaming Sanitizer & Lotion (Non-Alcoholic) I love this stuff.
Organic Peanut Butter & Jelly
Organic Butter, Milk, & Eggs
Ball Park Hot Dogs
Organic Pasta Sauce


Well, I guess that it is mostly it anyway. Now if they would just have all my knitting needles and yarn! :D

[Dana in OR]

Since it is 5 hours away. He takes a big cooler and usually buys seafood and meats which we repackage at home and deep freeze.

Two big favorites:
Kirkland brand frozen Shrimp
Kirkland brand frozen salmon fillets

I also like:
Spices
Wines
Olive Oil
Canned tomatoes
Stacy's Pita Chips

In the housewares dept:
Socks
Underwear
Kirkland brand Egyptian cotton towels - very luxurious!

and also many cleaning products.

You will love it. I am so jealous! In the summer there is a Costco I can get to in 2.5 hours so I can get there more often, in the winter the roads are just too treacherous to take the chance.

[Kay in Cal]

We do Costco once a month or so... I like that the are now carrying so many organic products, and we buy all our meat/cheese/milk there now. Meat is a particularly good deal!

Dh likes Costco because he gets great deals on DVDs and books, I like the kitchen-y gadgets.

But we'd never go on the weekend!

[8FillTheHeart]

Well, I have to make a plug for Sam's. :) (and I am a Walmart detester!! ;)) I have gone with my sister to Costco several times and there are some things that are available at Sam's that I absolutely love that were not carried at her Costco. Ghirardelli chocolate chips in a 3.5 lb bag, for one! The olive oil that I really like, as well.

I will say I never buy meat at Sam's (unless it is name brand frozen). I only buy very specific products at Sam's.

I am just excited b/c after reading so much about Trader Joe's on this board, I just found out that one is under construction on the other side of town. :)

[jmgconner]

Oh, how I love Costco and how my checkbook hates it. :) We often get:

milk
butter
eggs
rice
frozen chicken breasts (like Karen said, they are nice and thin!)
frozen veggies
meats
seasonings in bulk
toilet paper
printer ink and paper

[NicksMama-Zack's Mama Too]

We buy large quantities of apples, oranges,spinach, celery every couple of weeks.

Also, we buy ground beef, frozen chicken and salmon (yum!), milk, eggs, walnuts (big bag), fish oil, pizza, laundry detergent, trash bags, BOOKS....

My dh works right buy one, so it's very convenient. LOVE IT.

[Alice]

Dried blueberries
Dried mango
Salmon
Einstein bagels
Cashews
DIAPERS!!! (1/2 the price of the regular grocery store). That's the main reason we go.

My dh and kids love the free samples while you shop. :)

[ThelmaLou]

Nuts
Grape Juice
Honey
Maple Syrup
Rice Dream
Cheese (when I can't find it cheap anywhere else)
Turkey Bacon
Clothes
Some office supplies

[Sandy in Indy]

I have a membership to both. They are about the same distance from my home (actually I can be at 2 Sam's in about 20 minutes!) but my travels take me by Sam's more often--I have to make a special trip to hit Costco. BUT, I love the quality at Costco and they do have items Sam's doesn't carry. If anyone in your family wears glasses, their optical department can't be beat.

I feel that it's worth the cost of the memberships at both places. I split the Costco one with a friend, so it's not that much.

[Mekanamom]

In the housewares dept:
Socks
Underwear
Kirkland brand Egyptian cotton towels - very luxurious!


Oh yeah! I forgot those on my list. All of our socks, underwear, and towels come from Costco. Also sheets, unless I just can't find the right color. DH's work clothes are often Costco too. Winter jackets... MUCH better buy at Costco, and really good quality. We just bought a TV there yesterday. Good quality items and a great return policy too. :)

And... hehehe... I didn't write down cleaning products, because I mostly use vinegar to clean. But guess where I get my vinegar?? Those big jugs at Costco!! It's also the only place I can find the Ecos laundry detergent.

The kids always love shopping with me, because they know if they're good, they'll get a huge frozen yogurt after we check out. For $1.50 each, it's the best frozen yogurt in the area.

We are absolutely spoiled. My Costco is about 10-15 minutes away. The rest of the time we shop at Trader Joes, which is 5 minutes away. We've got it good.

[Deidre in GA]

milk
gas for the car
coffee
southbeach whole wheat tortillas
Smartpop popcorn
abuelita's tortilla strips
pace picante
kirkland jeans
eye exam/glasses/contact lenses

[Julpost]

I probably spend way too much....I should start tracking how long our groceries last. With a family of 7 though, we have a lot of mouths to feed! I usually get:

Frozen strawberries, blueberries, and orange juice (for smoothies)
Bananas, apples, lettuce, carrots, celery, peppers, onions, potatoes
rice
sugar, lemon juice, garlic and onion powder
canned tomatoes and tomato sauce
dried mangoes, nuts
frozen chicken, sirloin hamburger patties, salmon patties & fillets, sometimes shrimp
eggs (7 1/2 dozen in one box!)
juice boxes (for school snacks and lunches)
Goldfish crackers, Cheerios
Honey, maple syrup, olive oil, jam
TP, diapers, wipes
I LOVE the Kirkland cosmetics!

I've thought about trying the Grocery Game to see how much we'd save.

I like the quality of food at Costco though and for me, it's pretty time efficient to just go every other week or so. I supplement our groceries with local grocery store trips for things like scallions, cilantro, and good dark chocolate! :)

[Anne/Ankara]

I wish ours carried wine (not allowed in PA), but we do buy their fresh bread, fruits, water, books and such. It's good, but often the quantities are a bit daunting for our family of 4...