14 Secret Costco Shopping Hacks That Will Save You Money

Looking for some tips for shopping at Costco? I’ve got you covered. Here are my favorite tips and Costco hacks for shopping!

Some people look at me like I have twenty heads when I tell them that I shop at Costco over a normal grocery store most of the time and that I wish we would have registered at Costco for our wedding. Don’t you know other places sell milk? Aren’t there only two people in your family? How do you eat that much? And the list goes on and on.  Believe me, I’ve heard it all. I just kind of chuckle to myself and let them think they know everything.

The reality is that we actually save money and eat healthier by shopping at Costco for the bulk of our household groceries, alcohol and cleaning supplies. Today I’m sharing some secret Costco hacks that I use (and keep tucked in the back of my brain) for when I’m shopping at this warehouse wonderland. Let’s get started…

1. Kirkland (Costco’s brand) is super high quality and often comes from the same place as name brands that you recognize. This is especially true for their wine – more on that later! You’re paying for a label (just like at any other place) so choosing the Kirkland brand is a great way to save and still enjoy a quality product.

 

2. The middle of the store is where the deals are, so unlike shopping the perimeter at other grocers, stick to the high-traffic middle. Lifehacker refers to this as “action alley”, because it is frequented the most. Don’t stray if you’re looking for a deal!

 

3. Costco’s meat is some of the best I’ve seen (at least here in Hawaii). They have an amazing selection of organic meat (their grass-fed beef is super popular for this reason) and buying it in bulk and freezing it into portioned sizes as opposed to purchasing on an as-needed basis works really well for Dane. We typically buy all our meat at once every couple months and never even have to think about going to a grocery store when it comes to meal planning. WIN!

 

4. We tend to eat pretty much all organic, so knowing where to find a deal is crucial. Milk, eggs, butter, meat, chia seeds and coconut oil are all cheaper than our local organic grocer at Costco.
**We will head to Whole Foods if we are looking for a specific product or a small quantity of a certain perishable. If I could find a way around this, I totally would!

 

 

5. Look for products that you love, but others don’t. Often new or seasonal items that have been sitting on shelves for an extended period will be marked down by the manufacturer. You can always tell, because the price will end in $0.97!

 

6. The produce at Costco is often locally-sourced, so I don’t feel badly about skipping farmer’s markets to support local. If there is fresh produce in our refrigerator, we will eat it, so normally nothing goes bad and we can feel good about our food choices for all meals.

 

7. Always go to the customer service desk first! The first thing I do when I walk in the store is do an about-face turn to hit up customer service for coupons. They give them to you if you ask!

 

8. Prescriptions, Gas and Vacations..Oh my! Our insurance through the military doesn’t cover a couple of the prescriptions we take, so we always have them called into Costco. A consumer report found that Costco is actually one of the cheapest places to get scripts filled. And while you’re saving, look into filling up your gas tank, renting a car or booking a vacation. All are offered through Costco’s membership plan and I can honestly say — WORTH IT!

 

9. Stock up on cleaning supplies, paper products and office supplies. If you don’t have the space in your current house to buy these products in bulk, split the items and cost with a friend. We often do this and it works out well for two families – getting what we need AND saving!

 

10. Costco is the number one wine retailer in the United States. Why? Because you cannot beat their prices or quality. First things first, if you don’t already have a Costco membership, some stores will allow you to still purchase alcohol there. Check your state to see if you are among the lucky….and then get yourself a Costco membership! Second, the inventory and selection of quality bottles is what I love most about the wine section of Costco. I have found new favorites and classics for affordable prices. Not the mention, their Kirkland Brand Prosecco is $6.99 and there is NOTHING I don’t love about that.

 

11. Always keep your receipts! Costco has a 30 day price-adjustment policy and a 90-day return policy. We’ve gotten money back for multiple items that we purchased previously, only to find out the price dropped right after.

 

12. Keep your eyes open at the holidays for gifts and year-round for birthdays! You can stock up on discounted gift cards. We purchased discounted movie tickets that beat out our normal military discount, so you KNOW it’s good 😉

 

13. If you see an asterisk (*) on a price sticker, it means the item will not be restocked. If it’s something you love, grab a few!

 

14. And last, but certainly not least, the samples. They are endless and free. Capitalize.