If there is one place I wish I would have registered for our wedding, it’s Costco. I’m not kidding. There is no other place in the world where I can get a 50 pack of Sharpies, a perfect cut of filet, a homemade apple pie and a couch all in the same place. Think about it. That being said, shopping in bulk can be incredibly intimidating. When we first moved to Hawaii, people told us that shopping at Costco was the ticket to an affordable existence. Thankfully, Dane and I were both Costco members from way back, so we were already well aware of the goodies in store for us, but we were only two people. Bulking for two can be hard! Let me break that warehouse down for you so you can bulk shop with ease & forget about wasting! Today I’m talking about shopping hacks for Costco…including what that asterisk on the label means!
1. Do not step foot in that dream warehouse hungry.
Yes, I know this sounds crazy, but it’s true. First things first, if you’re hungry, you’re going to grab every useless item in sight. We all know that Costco samples are Satan’s way of reaching the hungry, so don’t drink the Kool-Aid! Eat lunch and THEN go to Costco. You can still snack, don’t worry.
2. Meal plan!
Know what you’re going to eat for the next seven days and plan for it. Making hamburgers, meatloaf and hosting a taco night? Buy the big pack of fresh ground beef and save yourself from multiple trips to the store and/or individual packs of meat.
Even if you don’t plan on using everything that week, pick up a box of plastic bags, portion and freeze the meat when you get home. This technique has saved me countless times! Plus, having a freezer stocked with protein makes last-minute dinners a cinch.
3. If you love it, be wary of the asterisk!
An asterik beside the price on a Costco sign means that the item isn’t going to be stocked anymore. Once the warehouse’s stock of that item is gone, it’s never coming back. I learned this the hard way when I came across a specific type of bagged salad two summers ago.
4. Items that end in .97 are marked down!
Typical items at Costco end in .99, so if an item is $19.97, you’re getting a deal 🙂
5. Kirkland brand ROCKS.
Admittedly, I’m a brand snob, but not when it comes to Kirkland brand. Sometimes, I even choose Kirkland over a more national well-known brand like Tide or Kraft. The quality has never let me down and I haven’t had any allergic reactions like I sometimes do with off-brands.
If my love for Costco hasn’t been made clear by now, it’s true — I’m obsessed. Do you shop in bulk? What are your tips?!
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