<p>In fairness, I should note the one thing I DO NOT BUY at Costco: milk. Because it comes in those really awkard containers that are kind of square and flat on the top. Nobody in my house can pour it without spilling. I’d rather buy it at Kroger on sale every other week. I will actually pay extra for milk not to have that container.</p>
<p>Dog food
Dog chews
Dog biscuits
(Can you tell what pet we have??)</p>
<p>Especially with a coupon, it’s the cheapest I’ve ever found.</p>
<p>And coffee. Lots of coffee. And coffee filters too.</p>
<p>Two stores I’m addicted to: Costco and Trader Joes
I simply could not live without them. </p>
<p>My TJ list is longer but here goes for Costco:</p>
<p>Frozen Food:
Broccoli florets
Tortellini
Tilapia (really good)
Shrimp</p>
<p>Fresh:
Whole Wheat Bread (double pack)
Salmon (usually good but dissapointed with freshness a few times)
Rotisserie Chicken
Bluberries
Raspberries
Asparagus
Peppers</p>
<p>Other
Paper towels
Toilet Paper
Napkins
Batteries
Detergent
Vitamins and Fish Oils
Reading Glasses
Feminine Products
Advil
Bottled Water
Case of Pelligrino</p>
<p>Items as needed:
Blender
Microwave
Small Flat Panel
Slow Cooker
Toaster
Dog Bed
Sweatshirts, Tshirts, shorts
Camisoles
Socks
Sometimes sneakers!</p>
<p>We don’t have Costco , but Sams and BJ’s in our area. I buy everything grocery related
including food and supplies…so much cheaper than a grocery store.
About the only thing I cannot get there is gresh herbs.
It amazes me how much money I save shopping there than in a grocery store.
I do buy some extras too, like books, greeting cars and wrapping paper and candles in jars ( made by Yankee Candle, bearing another name ) also some clothing</p>
<p>My regular purchases from Costco are toilet paper, paper towel and contact solution. I do not understand how we go through so much. My son has his own home out of town, but when he is here we go to Costco for paper towels, toilet paper and contact solution. </p>
<p>Another big purchase is books. My daughter just bought 6 books today to take back to school to be read during spring break. She doesn’t seem to have time to read as much during the school year, but during holidays she reads one after another.</p>
<p>Other items I get with some regularity are razor blades, tylenol, advil, parmesan cheese, wine, electric tooth brush heads, towels, and snack foods. </p>
<p>Electronics are a great buy at Costco just due to the return policy. I have bought several cameras, tv’s, printers, flash drives, dvd players, and ipods at Costco. Before Costco changed their return policy to 90 days, my son exchanged his ipod 3 times. It turns out it wasn’t the ipod that was the problem, it was his head phones. Costco did not care and refunded his money each time. Actually, one time after the prices had dropped on ipod, he was able to get a larger GB for less money that his old smaller one!! Costco refunded his original price and he bought the new one and made money. </p>
<p>The best deal of them all is a hot dog and drink for $1.50; I can not avoid buying one even when I know I shouldn’t eat it!</p>
<p>I do think while I save money at Costco, I also spend on things I do not need. I see something I did not go in for and think it is such a good buy that I get it.</p>
<p>We buy almost all our food and household items at Costco and have for many years. I go to Costco almost every Saturday morning and am in and out in about 20 minutes. I go to a grocery store maybe a handful of times/year for some specific items. There seems to be some sort of myth about huge sizes and waste if you shop at Costco. I guess you would not want to go unless you had storage for a dozen rolls of paper towels or toilet paper. Big deal, these are $12 items so you don’t have a big investment. Actually, even for just the two of us, we hardly ever find items which are just too big to use. We did buy what must have been close to a gallon of mustard. It is going to take a very long time to use that. Fortunately even opened mustard keeps forever and can be stored at room temp. I also figured that the $3 price was about equivalent to two small containers from the grocery store. I also love Costco pies - both the quality and the price. I must have eaten a dozen pumpkin pies in the past few months and am looking forward to the return of cherry pies. </p>
<p>I also recommend Costco for photography processing. I thought I was just lucky with my local Costco but I have heard from others that they are good everywhere. My store is really fast. After I do an internet upload, I usually get a notice that processing will take 3 hours, but I check and find the processing usually finished within a few minutes.</p>
<p>I love Costco, but, sadly, here in Los Angeles a trip to Costco can involve a 30 minute check out line so one can only go with a long list. My favorite item is the fresh, wild salmon fillets–the least expensive and best I have found.</p>
<p>On the other hand, my sister, who lives in Kansas City, and my friend in Ann Arbor, pop in to Costco whenever they need something as it is as convenient as any other market or drug store.</p>
<p>HEARTBROKEN----i have the same issue with Costco (Im in Pasadena). Have you tried shopping at the new Fresh and Easy? I swear by that store.</p>
<p>Costco check out for me, has been much, much more efficient than Sam’s Club when I was a member there.</p>
<p>falafel (use some in pita with tomato/lettuce and a little sauce, dressing or hummous for a quick dinner, stick the rest in the freezer – makes a bunch of meals)
Pita bread (ditto)
Hummous
Morningstar Farms veggie sausage patties
Odwalla fresh OJ (gallon)
Advil
Bagels
Wine
Batteries
Olive oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Facial tissue
TP
shredded cheese
tortillas
canned beans, tomatoes, peaches
shampoo and conditioner
tampax
toothpaste
toothbrushes
fresh fruit
fresh French-style green beans
fresh campari tomatoes
fresh artichokes
romaine lettuce
cheeses
avocados
canned treetop apple juice for school lunches
chocolate covered mint cookies – bought twice in a row but have learned to avert my eyes and keep walking.
orchid – bought a white phaleanopsis in May 2007 and it has bloomed almost constantly. Right now it has five blossoms on one stem plus four new stems covered with buds and is sending up another new shoot. The most amazing investment ever!
(shelled) pecans and walnuts
pine nuts
socks
towels
sateen sheets
white “wash cloths” for use as dish rags
suitcase
microwave
hand warmers
winter gloves
clothes
slippers
cameras
memory cards
prescription glasses
electric toothbrush heads
ribbon
If I had an extra freezer I’d buy many other items.</p>
<p>US Prime meats
other foodstuffs
socks
undies
pants
shirts
candy
frozen foods
watches
stamps
hot dogs
tires
everything else</p>
<p>But never gas.</p>
<p>I heart Costco. I’m lucky to be near the Costco HQ and shop at the same store as their execs. They get all the good stuff first.</p>
<p>We have found that when gas prices are falling, Costo can lag behind, but usually they are the best.
Their roast chicken is bigger and cheaper than any of the local stores.
Electronics choices are limited but prices are great. Of course my H tried to convince me that the 50" plasma screen TVs came shrink-wrapped 2 together like everything else, but since I was standing there at the time I wasn’t fooled.
Actually that packaging is the only thing I don’t like. Buy something like Zip-loc bags, you not only have the 4 boxes but another corrugated cardboard box that hold the 4 together. Buy Cheerios, you have 2 boxes inside another box. Not very green, which buying in bulk should be.</p>
<p>Yes, barrons, I noticed that they sell stuff like big Coach bags for $170 and Ugg boots for $95 at that store. They never have them at our local Costco.</p>
<p>BunsenBurner, I have never seen the Coach bags or Ugg boots at our Costco either.</p>
<p>I love their fresh fruit, veges, salmon, chicken breasts, paper towels, soaps, body shampoo, cleaning agents, ready made ravioli ,and their Rottisseri chicken (which is $5!). I usually cut up the salmon and chicken, aliquot them in ziplock bags, and freeze them for use later.</p>
<p>Love their Washington apples!</p>
<p>Oh! If you can find a store near your workplace, go during lunch time. Lines are not that long at lunch time.</p>
<p>I mentioned on another thread that my daughter found a Michael Kors down jacket at Costco for $69.99. She had drooled over it at Macy’s when it was $299, and drooled even more when she saw it at Filene’s for $160.</p>
<p>barrons, which store is that?</p>
<p>The Phillips blue crab lump meat is very good and priced reasonably ( for what it is). I also like their veggies. I buy their broccoli florettes, baby green beans, lettuce, and brussels sprouts.</p>
<p>For the record, Costco frozen pizza is absolutely delicious! (Much better than Sam’s)</p>
<p>zipyourlips, it is either the original Kirkland store or the one in Issaquah, WA where they moved their headquarters a few years ago. Those two have fancy-schmancy goodies once in a while (yes, I got the same down jacket as teriwtt’s D at the Kirkland store, and our Macy’s here do not sell such good coats).</p>
<p>Our local Costco is close to the wine capital of the Western WA, and it often has a local vinery showcasing their wines. Too bad they do not allow wine tasting, but one can still have cheese and crackers.</p>