Costco Shopping Tips You Shouldn’t Leave Home Without

Or maybe don’t leave home at all! 

Costco is likened to the grownup version of your parents finally buying you that pony… ok. Maybe that is a little exaggerated but adulting can be kind of boring until you discover places like Costco where you can not only save a little money but also get some pretty unique items that will change your whole pantry.

But what the heck do you buy at Costco? With so many brands unique to the store, we did the hard work for you. All you have to do is, well, go to Costco.

Here are some of our favorite Costco shopping tips to help you make the most of your trip…

What to Buy

So… there are loads of choices to think about when you hit the aisles in Costco, but it might be a little overwhelming on your first few trips. Here are a few of our favorite items that are kind of like Costco cult-classics…

1. Fresh, Hot, Pizza by the Slice

Sabatasso’s frozen pizza may not be delivered… but it tastes pretty darn close to a homemade pizza which is way better than anything you can have delivered to your door. If you are looking for the perfect pie to split over Netflix, this is the one. Buy a couple though because you will want another one the second you wake up the next day.

2. Costco Rotisserie Deli Chicken

Even Walmart cannot beat the price of Costco’s signature deli chicken. At 4.99, not only is it a real steal for a picnic or a fancy dinner you want to impress with… but it is delicious. We also love that it heats well the next day. That being said, if you are single with a cat, like us, you can have some for dinner the first night and then have the rest the next night… you know – with your cat.

3. Hot Dog and Soda Combo

Costco’s get-it-and-go meals are the best. Well, some of them and this one is our favorite. It reminds us of a ballpark meal… in a good way, not the stuck-in-a-bathroom way. Plus, you will spend less money if you don’t shop hungry.

How to Shop at Costco

There are a few ways to get into Costco. (That made it sound cool. Like a gang… but you know… the good kind, like in Westside Story. Did we just hear you dancing? Oh, just us. Ok.) Here’s how to “get in…”

1. Get an annual membership.

It will be worth it. Memberships start at $60 and for all the savings that you get through the year… you simply cannot put a price on it. Well, you can. But $60 is basically half of a grocery trip for small-sized families. For the cost of saving through the year – that’s not half bad.

2. Go with a friend.

Costco members can bring friends and family. Which makes it feel like you are getting away with something. Honestly, it is our favorite way to go because you cannot beat free. Free is your friend. And if you do not have a friend that has a Costco membership… now is kind of a good time to ask nice-looking strangers weird questions like, “Do you have a Costco membership?” and “Do you want a new friend because you got one?!”

3. Buy a cash card.

Members can buy these cash cards inside the store and basically they are gift cards for Costco. You show the card at the door and then you just go on in. Simple. Easy. Peasy.

When to Go to Costco

It is a weird time to shop anywhere with a global pandemic circling around. But at Costco knowing when to go can make the difference in how well your trip goes and what you find.

1. Call ahead to make sure what you need most is in stock.

Items in high demand get gone quicker at warehouse stores. It will save you time and frustration if you take the time to call.

2. Go when the doors open.

You have a better chance of getting what you want if you hit the door first thing. Sure it means getting up early but your cat won’t mind.

3. Buy online.

Instacart and other apps allow you to have your shopping done for you… we like it when other people do the work. Sorry – but we aren’t.

Costco has some of the best deals around town. No matter what tips you pick up, the best way to shop at Costco is really just to go do it. It will take time to figure out what you like, what time you like going, and what visiting style works best for you… but when you find your niche, you will be in for a long term relationship with one of the nation’s best-kept secrets.