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So You Want to Shop at Costco? Here is What You Should Buy!

July 25, 2012 By arzea 11 Comments This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Lately I have been shopping a little more often at Costco, but it is still difficult for me to spend more than 10-20 minutes at a time in there.  I always have my 19 month old son with me, and often he screams until I take him out of the cart seat.  He loves to ‘push’ the cart around, and usually this would be okay if it were the middle of a random weekday, but it’s always after work, or on the weekend, and most people that shop at Costco know just how crowded it can be at those times.  So, a 19 month old pushing a gigantic Costco shopping cart into every display, leg, ankle, and little kid wondering around in the store is not a good idea.  Anyway, so I was telling my friend that I never really get a chance to browse around at Costco and see new things and great deals.  I always know what I need, and I am in and out.  So the staples I always buy at Costco:

Costco Quinoa, 4lb bag for $9.99 (prices vary by location)

Organic Quinoa.  I use quinoa all the time in cooking, and if you haven’t tried it, you need to ASAP (go to costco now).  It is a ‘superfood’, delicious, filling, easy to cook, and really no negatives at all.  If you live rice and other grains you will like it.  It absorbs the flavor of whatever you cook it with, so it is very versatile.  I recently made Quinoa and Tomato Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms and they were delicious.  Anyway, if you have purchased quinoa from other stores, you know it is pricey.  I have seen it at kroger for $8.99 for a 1lb box, at Whole Foods for $14.99 for 1.5lbs.  You can order it off Amazon as well (the same bag is over $17 on amazon), but I still don’t see any prices that come close to matching Costco’s price.

18oz package of portabella mushrooms

Portabella mushrooms (or mashrums as some would say…)!!!!  Generally I would never buy produce in ‘bulk’, but these babies are super cheap and we eat A LOT of mushrooms in our house.  This 18oz package cost $4.99.  That is nearly .28 cents per ounce.  At Kroger (I usually compare to Kroger because that is the main grocery store I shop at), you can buy a 6oz package, of not so good looking mushrooms, for $3.99, which is roughly .67 cents per ounce.  Kroger is 2.5 times more expensive for these bad boys.  I actually wanted to buy like 5 packs when I discovered these, but then I decided to be reasonable and only buy one for the time being….I can always return next week.

Bananas!

Bananas are another good buy at Costco.  They come 8-10 per bag, and cost $1.40-$1.50.  Considering bananas are usually around .50 per lb, it usually cost about $2 for around 6 bananas.  My toddler eats these things like they are going to disappear of the planet next week, so it’s a good deal for us.  If you are thinking, “well I can’t eat that many bananas before they go bad,”  please see this recipe, and this recipe and thank me later.

Kirkland Brand Milk

Milk!  Another thing my toddler drinks a ton of!  My husband and I don’t drink too much milk, but we easily go through a gallon a week with out son.  Costco sells there milk for $1.99 per gallon (prices vary by location), and you do not have to buy it in bulk (you can get just one!).  That is at least .70 cents cheaper than what they sell it for at the other local grocery stores.

EVOO!

Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  If you are like me, and cook a lot, you go through a lot of oil.  It is expensive and that price definitely adds up.  This is one thing that is really smart to buy in a large quantity because it will last you a while, and it’s something most people need often.  I have seen prices jump around, but it’s always lower per ounce than anything I have seen anywhere else…and it’s good too!

Take and Bake pizza!

If you have a Costco membership, you likely know how tasty their pizza is from their food court area.  It is so cheesy and gooey and delicious, but did you know that you can take a pizza home with you and bake it yourself?  They actually have 2 options.  You can call the food court and have them sell you a premade pizza (baked or not) for $9.99.  It is huge, like 18 inches.  Or you can browse their premade (daily) pizzas in the back of the store in the refrigerated section.  They usually have different kinds such as Pepperoni, Pesto Margarita (as seen above) which is my fav and sooo yummy, also Hawaiian, Cheese, and 256 Meat Pizza (may or may not be an exaggeration).  I like picking up the pizza (prices range from $7.99-$9.99), and then baking it at home.  You eat 1-2 slices of this pizza and you are FULL.  Trust me, try it out.

Glasses and Contacts

Their Optical Department is awesome.  You can get an exam for $49 (glasses), or $99 (contacts).  On top of the cheap exam, lenses and contacts are also heavily discounted here.  A few years ago I was wearing a very expensive contact, and it was $30 cheaper PER BOX at Costco than it was ordering at 1800contacts.  Frames and lenses are also cheaper, and the quality is perfect.  They even have designer frames, which are a little more expensive obviously, but no where near the cost you would pay anywhere else.   CBS News did their research and says, “For $49, a licensed optometrist will perform a vision and eye health exam in an in-store exam room. A week later, you can pick up your specs. In a survey by Consumer Reports, 30,000 lens-wearers chose Costco as their favorite optical retailer over vision store chains, independent optical shops, and private doctors’ offices. Costco Optical earned the highest scores for overall satisfaction as well as for price, with its $157 median price for glasses. Compare that price with an average of $211 at independent optical shops, $212 at private eye doctors’ offices, and $228 at Pearle Vision. Costco also stood out for lack of problems, such as loose lenses, distorted vision, or damaged frames in the first weeks after purchase.”

Lastly, their photo department.  Prints are only .13 per pictures (sometimes they have coupons, too), and you can load at home and order for them to be delivered or you can pick them up.  They have all kinds of picture services such as calendars, tee-shirts, coffee mugs, blankets, and much more.  I have ordered several things and they are always great quality.

So, that is that!  If you want to shop at Costco these are some must adds to your list!  What do you like to buy at Costco?  Do you have any more great suggestions for me?  Like I said, I don’t get much time to browse so I could be missing something great!

Related

Previous Post: « Quinoa & Tomato Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms
Next Post: Guest Blog: Southwestern Chicken Egg Rolls with Amy’s Cilantro Sauce »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Heidi @ lightlycrunchy says

    July 25, 2012 at 11:15 am

    I haven’t been to Costco in almost a year now, maybe it’s time to go back (we have a farm/business membership paid by our in-laws, so Im not wasting membership fees).

    Reply
    • arzea says

      July 25, 2012 at 11:28 am

      You should! I have heard they have more great deals in the produce department, and I didn’t even mention the pharmacy. Most scrips are only $4!

      Reply
      • Heidi @ lightlycrunchy says

        July 25, 2012 at 11:30 am

        I’ve bought my glasses there before too and thought it was a great deal. Mostly, I try to avoid it because it’s a long drive away and I get tempted by all the shiny things. 🙂

        Reply
  2. Denise says

    July 25, 2012 at 12:02 pm

    I’ve also purchased the “Kirkland 100% Columbian Coffee” a 3-pound can for $11.99 and it’s delicious. I know that once a year they sell it for $10.99, it’ll be in their monthly coupons that they send out. You want to watch for it and stock up at that time (definately worth it if your a coffee drinker)! Also the “avocados” are $5.99 for a bag of 6 and they’re shipped from California. Just be sure to touch them and make sure they’re not soft (unless you want to use them all in a day). I purchase everything else that you mentioned and have never been unsatisfied with the prices & quality. ;D

    Reply
  3. Nicole Garnica says

    July 25, 2012 at 12:21 pm

    You have me giddy with excitement to go try Costco. I can’t wait to get my membership and find the great deals. Thanks!

    Reply
    • arzea says

      July 25, 2012 at 1:52 pm

      let me know what you get!!

      Reply
  4. jessica says

    July 26, 2012 at 11:10 am

    I also get the organic sugar…organic ground beef, organic chicken thighs (i know you are vegetarian, but for those meat eaters out there), spam 😉 nutella…kid’s clothes are cheap.

    Reply
    • arzea says

      July 26, 2012 at 2:24 pm

      Nutella?!?! Really???

      Reply
  5. jessica says

    July 26, 2012 at 11:10 am

    oh! and at christmas they have chocolate truffles made in france that are to die for.

    Reply
    • arzea says

      July 26, 2012 at 2:24 pm

      That sounds sooooo good! Do you think they would make a nice gift or hostess present for a christmas party?

      Reply
  6. lista de email says

    August 15, 2012 at 2:45 pm

    thanks for the share, doing a good job. lista de email lista de email lista de email lista de email lista de email

    Reply

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Hi! I’m Allyson - Welcome to my blog where you will find lots of recipes & food goodness, DIY projects, crafts & a little bit of everything. I’m so happy you stopped by because I have a lot to share with you! Lets connect on social media, and be sure to subscribe to my email so you won’t miss a post!



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