Costco--is it worth it?
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| Sat, 07-16-2005 - 4:16pm |
Within the last year our major newspaper published an article on the Costco phenomenon, so to speak: supposed to save money, but end up spending hundreds of dollars coming home with more than you could use in two years and with stuff you never knew you needed (but it was so cheap).
What are your thoughts/advice?
Here's my experience ...
Six or so years ago my dh and I let our membership lapse. For $45 a year we felt we didn't go often enough and when we did spent $300 on the above mentioned :-) items. I figured I "saved" as much by buying things on sale or buying the store brand, and occasionally using coupons at my local grocery store.
I went with a member/friend today to buy food for my dd's birthday party and the platter I bought was 1/3 the price of our grocery store. That's a specialty item, but I also bought paper products, a couple of "prepared food items," meat, two sets of kids pajamas (we have been looking for some for my dd), brooms (ours have gotten too old), household cleaning products and more. The one totally indulgent purchase was the new Harry Potter book (which I would have bought at Borders, anyway).
By the time I was done I had spent over $400 dollars! Geesh! Granted there were several one time purchases--like the platter for the party, and if I separated things out I would have bought them a different places (pajamas, brooms, book)--they weren't strictly grocery items.
Still, I feel like swearing off it again; thank goodness I was a guest. So, is it worth it to you?
Thanks!
Meg (a relative newby)

I have a BJ's Membership that I split with a friend, she has a card and I have a card. Its worth it too me. But then again, I can go and only buy paper towels, toilet paper, tooothpaste, feminine hygiene products and diapers. All of which I buy once every three months.
And I buy gas whenever I need it and am already in the area.
Hope this helps,
Shannon
Shannon
We're a family of four, me, husband, and 2 three year olds. We go once a month to Costco, to do our major shopping. We buy our meats, fruits, etc. there. I personally think it's worth it to us.
If we're having a barbeque, party, we'll buy paper good there.
MYM
It is to us. I just have to be VERY disciplined when I go in there and only get the things I need. It's very easy to go crazy if you let yourself.
I go to Costco about once a week and I buy my gas there. I have to put premium gas in my car so by going to Costco, I have saved up to 10 cents per gallon. The cakes are a great deal, some of the speciality foods are REALLY good and thier rotisserie chicken is great. I don't think its a great deal to buy TP or paper towel there. I think you can get it cheaper on sale at other stores. You just have to know your prices when you buy from there.
I'm thinking of splitting a Costco membership with a friend. It's not worth $45 to me, but the gas would be worth $23/year in savings. I also buy a few other items there, such as meat when it's not on sale anywhere else (and hasn't been for a long time), or outfits for a child (I'm a foster mom, so I don't have a lot of warning to buy everything I need early), and a few other things I can't remember right now.
~Denice
We figure we more than make up the cost of membership in what we save buying printer ink cartridges there.
All my best,
Danni
We have a BJs membership. DH (who is the family shopper) estimates that most items from BJs cost about the same as buying them on sale at Shop-Rite, though some are lower. The biggest advantage is being able to buy large quantities of the things we use all the time.
I can see the temptation to buy all kinds of things you wouldn't normally use, but that is not a problem DH has. He doesn't buy convenience food. Mostly he shops at BJs for things like toilet paper & other paper products, milk, bread, bananas that are so cheap we can let half of them go bad & it still costs less than Shop-Rite, steaks that are remarkably good, etc. He had one Kramer-like shopping trip 10 years ago, but that was the last one. ;)
Kelly