[Aprilmar10]

Their tire service is worth it. Gas too. I like going in for a fast lunch when we are out. Polish dog and soda for $1.50.

We get toilet paper there when I cant stock up. We get firelogs there when I cant find them cheaper. There are plenty of good buys.

[catlover7731]

I love Costco, but our diet is way different than a lot of people, so it comes in handy. I go twice a week and spend between $80-$120.. For the month this is what I get there.( not everything is bought every other week, some is only monthly)
Water
toilet tissue( we only use scott tissue and if it is not on sale I get it here)
Paper towels.( if I can't get a good deal)
Fresh Salmon( much cheaper than the local stores)
Tylapia( again cheaper )
whole chickens $7.50 for 2 big chickens at my local stores they are $4 + for one
Chicken sausages once every few months
Feta cheese( it is $8 for a big slap.. much cheaper than the local stores)
Romano cheese - again cheaper
Roasted red peppers every few months.. it is $4 for a huge jar.. much cheaper than the local stores
Canned Italian tomatoes( I bought a 6 lb can for $3.50- a 1 lb can is $2.99 at my store)
Olive oil..
raviolis, hummus, falafel, and other things
Bananas, red onions, tangerines, peppers, broccoli, romaine lettuce, carrots, avocados,
almonds
tortillas, specialty bread

If I was to buy these things at my local H.T. I would spend double or more for a total, so I enjoy going to Costco, and savings, I always have a list when I go, and allow $20 for an extra item. It works for me because my diet requires these things, if you are able to get everything cheaper that you need with coupons, than I wouldn't recommend Costco.
JMO

[lilacii]

We began our membership because of my husband's business. Since then, we are able to get great bargains on some things- Gas, for sure... We also buy our bread there (best organic bread around-), frozen fruit, and some fresh fruit. For the items that we buy "organic", it is often much cheaper there because they are so expensive at other groceries-even after coupons.

[mommyof1beauty]

For us, we have a membership and to be honest we never go. DH used to go there and drop 200-300 in one visit with just getting stuff...frozen bags of meals and such. But since I started using coupons, I have eliminated shopping there altogether. I have enough TP to last a whole year in my house and it was sooo much cheaper than going to Costco.

I live in an area that there are always 2-3 stores at least doubling if not tripling/quadrupling...and Albertsons takes competitor coupons. Makes it easier to shop there and much cheaper.

For most people who dont coupon, then Costco is a hit. Or, for those who dont have stores that double/triple, then I guess Costco is better for them. For us it does not save us anything...I dont plan on renewing our membership this year.

[btrcpv]

If i just bought milk at costco i save $350/year, i also live in the land of no doubbles
I just have a list of prices of the things I buy the most and if i can't find it cheeper with a coupon off to costco i go!!

[McEngle]

We use our Costco membership just for the diapers and for all the things there aren't good value coupons for: meat, produce, spices, diapers, wipes, dairy, HE detergent, dishwashing liquid, trash bags, tp and paper towels. When you break down the unit prices with volume, I do not see a better comparison by coupon when you add in the expenses of gas, clipping sorting, store stock and limitations. You can't beat the deli food either, the rotisserie chicken are always cheaper and larger than the grocery store for and they have huge supreme pizza's for $9.99, all you have to do is call ahead for pick up. I also buy most of our clothes from there. We also wait for the monthly savings book and save a lot just shopping from there.

[LindseyLouXOX]

We used to shop Costco but in the end we spent too much money there. We would wander the aisles and find goodies there, we'd never get out spending less than $300 on seemed like stuff we didn't even need, and it wasn't saving us any money. We cancelled it years ago when we moved and the Costco is 30+ miles away. Our good friends swear by Costco, so I went with her again to try it out. There is nothing there I can't get with my coupons for cheaper, except sometimes meat. But even then, I basically went for a ham and they were all between $20 and $25. I got a John Morrell spiral cut 10 lb ham for $13 at Smiths when I spent $35 (which included the ham, so I spent $22 on all of our Christmas dinner plus more, I REALLY scored with coupons and I won a gift certificate there for $75 so I used the other GC leftover for a GC to Kohls.)
I also used Costco for frozen hamburgers for my DD birthday. My friend said I can go anytime with her, so for once or twice a year it's worth it for special occassions, but I am not going to pay for a membership!

[mr6347]

We buy gas, milk, coffee, eggs & dog food there.

I could get dog food cheaper using coupons, but I do not want gobs of bags of dog food attracting critters in my house. I want just enough to go in the plastic, sealable dog food container that we have.

[shanabme]

Love costco for things like the more expensive items that there are never Qs on. Like the nicer block cheeses, wines, liquors, bulk eggs and even some of their fresh flowers and bakery items. Sam's for the same reasons.

My girlfriends meet there one a month and go together. We all pay cash so we have one membership with two cards we split between all four of us. So the membership fee is cheapo! Like $12.50 a year each.

[archychick]

I have never been in a costco so I have a couple questions for you experts...

Do they have a good selection of organic dairy stuff? Milk, butter, or cheese?

Do they have good deals on beer/wine? Alcohol always seems to be a budget buster...!

Do you have to show a membership card to get in the door, or at the register? I would like to go there to look around and see if I would like to invest in a membership. Or perhaps they have sample or temporary memberships?

TIA!

[Vhampyre]

I just got a Sam's membership.

In November, I was too excited to pick up some little Idahoan potato pouches for like .40 after coupons. I was trying to explain what a great it was to a friend and looked on the Sam's member site for a price and realized that Sam's had the same potatoes in a large tub for a per-serving cost that was half the cost of what I paid. No sale. No coupons. No doubling limits. No grouchy cashiers.

After my discovery, I went to Gordon Food Service and Sam's Club with a notebook in tow and wrote down some things we buy all the time. Sam's had the better prices of the two, even after membership fees. As luck would have it, my credit union gave us a coupon for a $10 gift card with a new membership, so I paid $40 for a membership and got $10 back on the spot.

I buy a 6 pack of romaine lettuce hearts each week at Meijer for $4.99. So far, Sam's has had them for $2.99 every time I've stopped in. If this price discrepancy continues, I'll have recouped my membership fee over a year's time and then some. The best part for me is that Sam's Club is across the street from my Meijer. I literally only drive a few more feet to get cheaper gas or milk or lettuce.

So far, I've picked up flour for .29/lb., popcorn for .32/lb. sliced pickles .54/pint. I really think as long as you have willpower (and I would believe most coupon people do), you can go in and out of these stores without dropping several hundred dollars and make wise purchasing decisions.

I pay to save no matter what for anything outside of IPs. In my area, newspaper inserts are thin. I either pay full price for out of town newspapers, or pay a clipping service, or bid on online auctions.

[TJ_2008]

Originally Posted by Vhampyre

.... I really think as long as you have willpower (and I would believe most coupon people do), you can go in and out of these stores without dropping several hundred dollars and make wise purchasing decisions...

yes WE do, but the kids and husbands out there don't hahahahahaha

[The4Rosas]

We have a membership for Costco and BJ's. I used to use it alot before this site, but we still use it for some items that are cheaper there then in the other stores. My DH uses for the computer stuff and gas. They do save us more than the membership we pay.

[kadreath]

the Kirkland brand of dog food at costco is comparable to most mid-grade pet store varieties for about half the price. they also have the best price on water softener salt (we use the rust-out type). with what we save on those two items, it pays for our membership.

[sfmathews]

We have a Costco card. We used to alot more frequently and yes, shell out $250-300 per visit. We have scaled back on that, and only go for certain things now.
We use their dog food, Kirkland's brand. It is premium, equal certainly to the higher end foods at Petco or Petsmart (no fillers, corn, meat by products, etc). It's $22.00 for a 40# bag. We also buy alot of produce there, as it's much cheaper than the grocery. Like a 6 pack of red bell peppers I won't pay $2.00 each for, but at Costco, they are 6 for $4.00. Also, lettuce, spinach and baby greens are quite a bit cheaper as well.
I also like their wine selection and agree that their wine prices are cheaper by a few dollars.
Also, they roast their own coffee, and I can get a 2.5 pound bag of beans for under ten dollars!

[lutherandj]

Originally Posted by boyzrus

You have to stick to your list (I know it's hard!). You also have to know your unit price to figure if you are getting a deal. Sometimes it is better to go to Target or Walmart.

Here's what I get (not every time I go)
ground beef
brisket
flank steak
pork tenderloin
strawberries
blueberries
apples
cheese
tp
paper towels
trash bags
starbucks frapaccino
dino chicken nuggest
ball park franks
eggs
string cheese
ketchup

Mary

I get my toilet paper and paper towels for free - or just about free (marcal small steps) using coupons at our local grocery store. I get the starbucks frapaccino at WAG when it's on sale and use coupons. I've also bought the viva single roll paper towels for cheap using coupons when I cant get the marcal small steps (at the grocery store). Eggs are free this week at Target when you buy two bottles of juice. Can't remember the brand off hand. I'm not 100% sure, but I think others are correct about the milk being cheaper at Costco.

Our costco is near a water park and in the summer, when it's really hot and we've spent a day in the hot sun swimming, we stop there for cheap soft serve ice cream.

I also like their sweet bread and butter chip pickles, gravy mix and bread crumbs.

And sometimes our prescriptions are cheaper there; even cheaper than our copay on our insurance.

I like their American Express Card as they give me money back on all my purchases and 3% on eating out.

I'll keep my membership but don't shop as much there as I did before I started to coupon.

I remember we use to buy the multipack of toothpaste and the big things of shampoo and I havn't paid for either in over a year because I get them free using coupons.

[autumnrainbow]

If you are a student you can get a free $15 giftcard with Sams Club membership purchase, making it only $25 after the coupon. My fiance and i Just got one. Have to admit I like Costco better. They had a bigger selection of natural stuff, but I couldn't justify spending $45 for it right now. I buy mostly produce, frozen fish, big bags or basmati rice (although you can get them comparably priced at international food stores), eggs , pasta sauce or noodles (sometimes cheaper at the regular store so check your prices), big packages of single bottles of juice to take to work (way cheaper than the soda machine and healthier).

Of course gas as well.

Years ago I developed enough pictures alone to make it worth it for that and the gas....

Of course with the gas you need to live nearby. My sams is not so close. i get gas when I am there, but I am not going there just for it...

[Econo-shopper]

Originally Posted by minimunklemama

I can never get out of that place without spending $250-$300
and now I have learnt hw to use coupons,I wonder if it really does save money.
What items are still worth the trip for me?

Hi, it's been awhile since this discussion started, but I thought I would just post this just in case it could help someone.
OK I calculated the toilet paper at COSTCO per two-ply sheet and it was several points cheaper than any toilet paper deal I've seen all month with my coupons and I've got some good ones, like $3 off Charmin. So I started calculating everything we use (milk, eggs, oatmeal, you know, the basics) and it was all a very good price per unit). And yes, I probably looked crazy writing everything down while strolling the aisles. Ha!
The items that are not cheaper are toiletries, like Shampoo, soap, toothbrushes/pastes. All that can be bought much cheaper with coupons at other stores.
This month, Dec. I decided to try an experiment, I bought $116 worth of food for the month, all basics. Some of it will last for many months, probably (like cans of black beans). I froze all the bread. Now for the rest of the items, like produce and items that you can't buy in large quantities, I'll watch for sales and use coupons. I'm hoping my new plan works. It was hard to spend that much money on food only at COSTCO.

[dotalbot]

I use Costco for meats (cheaper and better quality then in the grocery store), milk, coffee, formula, tequila and vodka, and gas. We pick up clothes for the family there also. There are a few other odds and send that we get throughout the year. For us, the membership is worth it and we have an executive membership and AMEX card so, our rebates at the end of the year pretty much pay for our membership!!

[Econo-shopper]

Originally Posted by dotalbot

I use Costco for meats (cheaper and better quality then in the grocery store), milk, coffee, formula, tequila and vodka, and gas. We pick up clothes for the family there also. There are a few other odds and send that we get throughout the year. For us, the membership is worth it and we have an executive membership and AMEX card so, our rebates at the end of the year pretty much pay for our membership!!

We use the AMEX, too! Love it. We try to go in and cash the rebate check and walk out and deposit it soon after, unless we really need something. That way we aren't tempted to use it on stuff we don't need. It's taken me some time to use COSTCO to my advantage, I used to buy all kinds of food that I just wanted because it looked unique. We got the Exec. membership this year for the first time. I wasn't too happy about it being $100. But then I went back and asked about it and membership services said that they will refund the difference of the Exec and Basic fee if you don't reach atleast a $50 rebate. So now I'm glad we go the executive membership. Especially if my new plan of stocking up on the 1st of the month works out. Thanks for your reply!