I try to avoid going into the bakery section. I might buy something I’ll regret later 
2 Likes
I’m usually very successful at avoiding the bakery section of our local Costco, but yesterday my husband went will me and spotted a giant loaf of cranberry walnut bread… let’s say almost half of it is now gone. No more shopping there with Mr.!
6 Likes
My H will also head to the bakery items at Costco. I try to limit him to what he buys if I am with him.
1 Like
The cranberry walnut bread was a winner in my house! Publix discontinued the one they made in the bakery, came back with a different one that we didn’t like, and I think that one is gone now also. Happy to have the Costco one; just wish I had it sliced so I could easily freeze part and not eat it all at one time!
1 Like
I don’t know if anyone has mentioned this, but ShawWife just bought glasses there. She found comparable frames elsewhere at a price of $700 (not including the lenses). The lenses would have been $500. At Costco, ShawWife said the total cost including lenses was $199.
7 Likes
The eye glass centers are independently owned so vary by store, but I’ve always really liked them. There is often a coupon for 40% off a second pair.
I ordered bifocals and hated them, and they gave me full credit to get new glasses (progressives).
2 Likes
I don’t know about out of state, but in CA, the doctor (eye exam) is independent. The materials (glasses, contacts, etc) are not.
3 Likes
One time I didn’t have insurance that covered glasses and the guy gave me a big price break and he said he was the ‘operator’ of the eye glass center (not the doctor, who was indeed independent and took my insurance). I don’t think managers of other departments could just give a big discount off tires or bread or liquor, but maybe.
They do run the charges through the Costco card/credit card.
I wasn’t thrilled with the optometrist that I was going to, so I took a flyer on Costco optical.
I was very happy with the optometrist and I’ve been very happy with the glassses I ordered.
I’m shocked how inexpensive they were. I even got a pair of prescription sunglasses. I’ve never had a pair, I have a high index prescription and am very picky.
Ask my last optometrist, I had them remake mine and my husband’s because I was that unhappy.
2 Likes
LOL - Remembering my first pair of prescription sunglasses. My husband kept telling me it would take time to get used to them, but I knew something was wrong. Turns out they swapped my left and right eye prescription. So glad I went back and complained!
Same here in WA. Anyone can see the optometrist, but only members can purchase the glasses and contacts.
My husband is very happy with our Costco optometrist. The doc has been at his practice since the store opened in the early 2000s. He caught a very serious condition my husband’s old ophthalmologist missed. Glasses and frames are top notch. Costco apparently has its own optical manufacturing facility.
I was at Costco today and would have inhaled a cranberry walnut loaf! Good thing I didn’t venture into that area!
5 Likes
I switched to the optometrist at my Costco 5 years ago and she is great!
1 Like
Honestly, For my small family, there seems to be little Sam’s Club or Costco can really offer that isn’t ridiculous overkill. I have enough Irish Spring to last me until the end of the world. The prescription savings at Sam’s is unbeatable, though. They’ll always be our pharmacy. HEB just introduced a new free and clear store brand laundry detergent at half the price of Costco or Sam’s. That goes with the tub of dishwasher pods they sell at cheaper the price of Costco. It’s the same story with trash bags.
I feel like people “sometimes” get stuck on the bulk/quantity of these type of stores. Does the bigger size/bulk not work because of the product or because of you??? Either is ok but I think worth mentioning.
Look to your food waste. Are you throwing away bad/uneaten fruit or vegetables? Maybe you are not storing them right or buying too many or maybe you need to plan your meals to include more of them. 
How does a 5 pound pack of hamburger or sausage or chicken go to waste if you store it right? Or do you not like separating out portions?
I love not having to buy canned stock frequently at another grocery store. With Costco and one level of shelf in the basement I can have these things on hand and ready to use at all times: coconut milk, green beans, chickpeas, chicken broth, diced tomatoes, baked beans, tomato paste, etc. In packs of 8-12 I am surely going to use them over the course of their shelf lives.
Just a couple examples. There are things I might not buy because there are just two of us. But it’s a matter of building your Costco groove and knowing where and when it pays off for you.
4 Likes
I totally agree, and I have to be very careful about buying frozen stuff because I have a “landlord refrigerator” and that’s it.
That said, I decided recently to try to avoid Trader Joe’s, Costco, and other chain retailers as much as possible. There are plenty of mom-and-pop stores in my neighborhood including two pretty-big supermarkets, a hardware store, and a 99-cent-plus store, plua fabulous non-chain or very-local-chain restaurants. Although it only costs $1.45 for a subway and/or bus ride (with a free transfer, i.e., I can take the subway one way and the bus home for one fare), I am going to try to stay local except when visiting friends a subway-ride away from home.
Bananas a trickiest for storage. Only I eat them, so even if I buy just a few I split between counter and refrigerator. I did buy a bunch at Sam’s last week - some are in the freezer, possibly to be used for smoothies (though I’m ok with the texture of a thawed banana in my cereal).
Had great success last week with a custom order birthday cake from Sam’s. Half sheet was $22. It served 17 at friends party plus more for a 2nd party for family. Plus leftovers.
We eat so much fresh fruit and berries that Costco membership is worth it to us empty nesters! Veggies, too.
5 Likes
Same with us. I go to Costco once or twice a week for produce. Blackberries are $2 for 12 oz at our Costco. They are $5 for 6 oz at our local grocery store.
5 Likes