Is Costco really cheaper?

[FireHiker]

You don't need to get allergy shots forever though.  After a few years you just stop having allergies.  Cost aside, it's way better for your health than pumping yourself full of antihistamines day after day.

Really? Is that how allergy shots work? My best friend has been getting allergy shots for probably 20 years and if she is late to get them, still, then she's in really rough shape. It could be she's an extreme case, I don't know.

I don't actually take the (generic) Zyrtec every day; I tend to take it when I've had an allergy flare-up, which is seasonal or when I've been outside a lot. Same is true for my husband. I don't have severe enough allergies that I've ever even considered a monthly shot, which would cost much more than an annual supply of generic-Zyrtec since my co-pay for an office visit is $57 each time for any reason until we meet out giant deductible (but, we qualify for an HSA which we have maxed out so...). I'll stick with my $15 every couple years for a bottle of Costco brand Zyrtec.

[OtherJen]

You don't need to get allergy shots forever though.  After a few years you just stop having allergies.  Cost aside, it's way better for your health than pumping yourself full of antihistamines day after day.

Allergy shots aren't a good alternative for me right now. 

I did allergy shots as a kid.  If they helped, I didn't notice it.  They've probably improved, but my lifestyle involves major international moves every few years, and I've been told that shots that are effective in one place might not be effective in a new place with different allergens.

This is true, depending on the type of allergy. If it’s to something environmental, you’d need to receive shots containing an epitope (i.e., amino acid sequence recognized by your lymphocytes as an allergen) that is present in the local environment. If it’s food-borne, that seems less of a concern (e.g., casein is casein) but it seems to be more difficult to induce tolerance to food-borne allergens anyway. Anti-histamines don’t actually treat the allergy but rather moderate the symptoms (block histamines released by white blood cells in response to allergen), which is why they aren’t particularly useful for severe allergies.

(Disclaimer: I have a PhD in immunology but am not a medical professional. Do what your allergy/atopy specialist or other trusted physician tells you.)

[ROF Expat]

You don't need to get allergy shots forever though.  After a few years you just stop having allergies.  Cost aside, it's way better for your health than pumping yourself full of antihistamines day after day.

Allergy shots aren't a good alternative for me right now. 

I did allergy shots as a kid.  If they helped, I didn't notice it.  They've probably improved, but my lifestyle involves major international moves every few years, and I've been told that shots that are effective in one place might not be effective in a new place with different allergens.

This is true, depending on the type of allergy. If it’s to something environmental, you’d need to receive shots containing an epitope (i.e., amino acid sequence recognized by your lymphocytes as an allergen) that is present in the local environment. If it’s food-borne, that seems less of a concern (e.g., casein is casein) but it seems to be more difficult to induce tolerance to food-borne allergens anyway. Anti-histamines don’t actually treat the allergy but rather moderate the symptoms (block histamines released by white blood cells in response to allergen), which is why they aren’t particularly useful for severe allergies.

(Disclaimer: I have a PhD in immunology but am not a medical professional. Do what your allergy/atopy specialist or other trusted physician tells you.)

OtherJen,  Thanks for the clarification.  It makes sense to me.  I have been told the same thing applies to flu shots, so I should get them locally.  The formulation made for the US is aimed at flu strains prevalent there.  It may or may not be effective against other strains in other parts of the world. 

[LifePhaseTwo]

DH and I love Costco. Along with the Kirkland brands of many household items, we also buy most of our food there, gasoline, and probably half the clothes we own. We also bought our sofa and TV there and both our wedding rings. We’re in northern Canada, but whenever we travel to the US we make a point of checking out the local Costco, and usually find something that’s a good deal to pick up even with tax and our unfavorable exchange rate on the dollar.

[Cranky]

You don't need to get allergy shots forever though.  After a few years you just stop having allergies.  Cost aside, it's way better for your health than pumping yourself full of antihistamines day after day.

No, you don't. You need a monthly maintenance dose, because you don't actually stop being a person with allergies.

I actually have been taking antihistamines for the last 50 years, and the only thing it's done to my health is that I don't sneeze a lot. But beyond that, antihistamines are cheap and allergy shots aren't.

[GuitarStv]

You don't need to get allergy shots forever though.  After a few years you just stop having allergies.  Cost aside, it's way better for your health than pumping yourself full of antihistamines day after day.

No, you don't. You need a monthly maintenance dose, because you don't actually stop being a person with allergies.

I actually have been taking antihistamines for the last 50 years, and the only thing it's done to my health is that I don't sneeze a lot. But beyond that, antihistamines are cheap and allergy shots aren't.

My experience (and the experience of the four members of my family who have done allergy shots) is that there's a bunch of shots up front for about half a year, then they're spaced further and further apart.  Eventually you're getting them monthly for a few years, and then you don't need the shots any more.  My symptoms went from having at least a month and a half each year of debilitating runny eyes and nose to not having any noticeable allergy for the past decade.

YMMV and all that, but for us yeah . . . you do stop being someone with allergies after shots.

(This is specifically for hayfever type symptoms caused by airborne allergens (mold, ragweed, golden rod, etc.) I've got no idea if they work at all for food type stuff.)

I have no idea if the currently used antihistamines are safe for long term use.  The older, first generation antihistamines have been linked in increased prevalence of delirium/dementia later in life though (particularly the anticholinergic ones).  In general, my policy is that it's best to try and avoid medication when possible.

[Cranky]

YMMV. Both my sister and my dh had allergy shots throughout their teens and are now as allergic as ever. They didn't stop being allergic people, though they stopped being reactive to some things. And then they moved and became reactive to new things.

The pesky allergy I had to orange blossom pollen as a kid doesn't bother me at all these days in NE Ohio, but I've found plenty of new things to make me sneeze.

However, my original point is that allergy shots are, at least in the US, no bargain. Most years, my dd has been the only family member who fills her deductible - thanks, allergy shots! The price of generic antihistamines at Sams/Costco *is* a real bargain in comparison.

[NorthernBlitz]

You don't need to get allergy shots forever though.  After a few years you just stop having allergies.  Cost aside, it's way better for your health than pumping yourself full of antihistamines day after day.

No, you don't. You need a monthly maintenance dose, because you don't actually stop being a person with allergies.

I actually have been taking antihistamines for the last 50 years, and the only thing it's done to my health is that I don't sneeze a lot. But beyond that, antihistamines are cheap and allergy shots aren't.

My experience (and the experience of the four members of my family who have done allergy shots) is that there's a bunch of shots up front for about half a year, then they're spaced further and further apart.  Eventually you're getting them monthly for a few years, and then you don't need the shots any more.  My symptoms went from having at least a month and a half each year of debilitating runny eyes and nose to not having any noticeable allergy for the past decade.

YMMV and all that, but for us yeah . . . you do stop being someone with allergies after shots.

(This is specifically for hayfever type symptoms caused by airborne allergens (mold, ragweed, golden rod, etc.) I've got no idea if they work at all for food type stuff.)

I have no idea if the currently used antihistamines are safe for long term use.  The older, first generation antihistamines have been linked in increased prevalence of delirium/dementia later in life though (particularly the anticholinergic ones).  In general, my policy is that it's best to try and avoid medication when possible.

My understanding is that there are two types of allergy shot regimens.

1) ~ weekly shots during whatever allergy season you have
2) consistent shots over the time frame you are taking about here that gradually wean a person off.

I believe that type (1) shots means you get them forever and type (2) shots means you get lots up front but eventually don't need them any more.

As a kid I had type (1) shots. Now, I generally just deal with allergies for the grass pollen season. Although this year I've been trying Wim Hof breathing and it seems to have lessened my hay fever symptoms. Maybe it will lessen my grass symptoms next spring too.

[wbranch]

This summer we had a couple big purchases planned and bought a costco membership that paid for itself. We also buy some prepared/frozen foods for easy meals there to avoid eating out. My wife will likely want to renew next year, but I will fight it. It does save a few cents a gallon on gas as well. Winco still beats costco out on the majority of our grocery purchases. Winco is 2.5 miles away vs. costco's 1 mile.

[TomTX]

Headed to Hawaii in December with family and we are planning big Costco run for groceries

We shopped every Costco in Hawaii. The one on the Big Island was the most uptight. That's the first Costco that ever has stopped me walking in the exit side (restrooms are always after the cash registers. And I even had a 5 year old that needed to pee!)

[TomTX]

I buy bananas but I end up throwing some away almost every time.

Bananas that are getting over-ripe can easily be thrown in the freezer to use later in smoothies/banana bread/muffins.  I never throw away bananas...

Just remember to peel before freezing!

[Telecaster]

Headed to Hawaii in December with family and we are planning big Costco run for groceries

We shopped every Costco in Hawaii. The one on the Big Island was the most uptight. That's the first Costco that ever has stopped me walking in the exit side (restrooms are always after the cash registers. And I even had a 5 year old that needed to pee!)

I was on the Big Island last week.  Of course, every trip in Hawaii starts at Costco.  So, we drive from the airport straight to Costco.  And the parking lot is deserted!  And the windows are boarded up!  Costco is closed down!  How can this be?  It doesn't compute.  Our vacation plans are severely damaged.

We pieced it together later, and concluded that it was Labor Day, so Costco was normally closed, and it was boarded up because of the hurricane that had blown through days earlier.  Whew!  Costco and Hawaii are safe to visit. 

[cats]

I had a Costco gift card and we were running low on olive oil, so I went to Costco today.  I was interested to note that in the year or so since I've last stepped inside a Costco, they've gotten even MORE upscale.  They no longer sell 10-lb bags of carrots, which used to be a common purchase for me.  Onions are 60 cents/lb, vs. the standard 30-40 cents/lb at my local grocery.  Overall the produce section also seems a bit smaller.  Lots of pricey bagged salads.  The prepackaged meal selection seems to have expanded (you can get Munchery meals at Costco now).  Almonds slightly more expensive than our local Indian store. Plenty of premium ice cream and chocolate hazelnut spread.  Lots of energy bars.  A sizeable chunk of the store devoted to selling gift cards.  The food court now sells acai bowls.

I will grant that rolled oats were only 55 cents/lb, in contrast the best sale price our grocery store has offered in the past year is 69 cents/lb. 

But overall, it felt like a huge store that was 95% full of things that no serious mustachian really ought to be purchasing.

[Schaefer Light]

But overall, it felt like a huge store that was 95% full of things that no serious mustachian really ought to be purchasing.

That's probably true, but you can still get good deals on the other 5% of things in the store.  You have to do the math to see if the deals on these items are worth the cost of being a member.  You also have to ask yourself if you have the discipline to avoid purchasing from the other 95% of things in the store while you're there.

[NaN]

In my area, I have found a lot of those basic items are periodically cheaper at places like ]b]Sprouts, Smart & Final, the local Indian grocery[\b], or even Whole Foods at times, if you are willing to keep an eye out for sales

This. I find it hilarious how common it is for shoppers to justify their infatuation with Costco without actually going into the real prices you are willing to pay for an item. I find the price I'm willing to pay for fresh fruit, meat (Chicken, sausage, etc.), and cheese to be better at these other places mentioned, but only when it is on sale. A staple like oatmeal is $0.50/lb at Sprouts on sale. Last time I checked Costco wasn't better than that. But indeed you do have to have self-control and not buy items when they are not on sale - no matter how much you want/crave it. Like this: you want blueberries off season at $4.99/6oz at the typical supermarket? And it is only $3/6 oz at Costco? Wow. What a deal! I pay <$1 for 6 ozs of blueberries on sale in season. Frozen fruit? Why not buy it on sale and freeze it yourself? SO much cheaper.

Costco is a luxury. You are paying for the opportunity to shop there (not sure about this whole gift card loop hole but sounds like if it became widely used it would be shut down... neat though.). The membership pass is a consumer trick to get you to shop there and spend a little more on luxuries like organic food, wine, fancy stuff, etc (hint, Amazon, too.). The classic knee jerk reaction from most people, "Oh, I love Costco, it is the best - we love them!" is exactly what they want by having a membership. It is what Amazon wants as well. . When consumers are happy then typical regulatory violations meant to safeguard consumers are hard to bring forward. Buyer beware.

[I'm a red panda]

I know a lot of people who really save a ton on alcohol.  They have great prices on that.

Their meat is super expensive. We never buy meat at costco.

[mm1970]

In my area, I have found a lot of those basic items are periodically cheaper at places like ]b]Sprouts, Smart & Final, the local Indian grocery[\b], or even Whole Foods at times, if you are willing to keep an eye out for sales

This. I find it hilarious how common it is for shoppers to justify their infatuation with Costco without actually going into the real prices you are willing to pay for an item. I find the price I'm willing to pay for fresh fruit, meat (Chicken, sausage, etc.), and cheese to be better at these other places mentioned, but only when it is on sale. A staple like oatmeal is $0.50/lb at Sprouts on sale. Last time I checked Costco wasn't better than that. But indeed you do have to have self-control and not buy items when they are not on sale - no matter how much you want/crave it. Like this: you want blueberries off season at $4.99/6oz at the typical supermarket? And it is only $3/6 oz at Costco? Wow. What a deal! I pay <$1 for 6 ozs of blueberries on sale in season. Frozen fruit? Why not buy it on sale and freeze it yourself? SO much cheaper.

Costco is a luxury. You are paying for the opportunity to shop there (not sure about this whole gift card loop hole but sounds like if it became widely used it would be shut down... neat though.). The membership pass is a consumer trick to get you to shop there and spend a little more on luxuries like organic food, wine, fancy stuff, etc (hint, Amazon, too.). The classic knee jerk reaction from most people, "Oh, I love Costco, it is the best - we love them!" is exactly what they want by having a membership. It is what Amazon wants as well. . When consumers are happy then typical regulatory violations meant to safeguard consumers are hard to bring forward. Buyer beware.

YMMV but the sale price for oats at our Sprouts is 0.69/lb, higher than Costco.  Ask me how I know!  Because I'm almost out of oats, and I went to Sprouts.  I figured I'd buy "a little bit" if it wasn't on sale and "a lot" if it was.  But they were completely out!  Because it was on sale.  I bought "a little bit" of the instant oats instead (blech).

But cheese man - cheese in my area is never ever on sale for better than Costco price.  Never.
Same with the olive oil.  Assuming you want actual olive oil and not a mixture of oils labeled as olive oil.

Let's not pretend that we know everything, mmm kay?

A lot of Costco shoppers:
1.  Are like me and have done the math.  Costco is cheaper.  I mean, price book people
2.  Don't shop for price only, are looking for quality (aka, actual olive oil not a blend of oils).  Or are looking for business practices, like paying the employees a living wage.  (*cough* Wally World)
3.  Don't shop for price only, are looking for a certain amount of convenience.  Location (Costco is right next to work), sizes (if I buy 2 gal of milk, it's cheaper and I don't have to shop as often), convenience (prepping everything yourself from salad mix to frozen fruit to roasted chicken to) ... I mean, fuck all that.  I've got 2 kids and a full time job.  Yes, I wash all my own produce because I like local produce, and I want to reduce my use of single use plastic, and because bagged salad mixes don't agree with my digestion.  But sometimes, it fucking sucks, like now when everyone in my house is sick so I literally have to wash every bit of produce and then wash every damn dish and knife after.

I love blueberries, and I can go pick them at the source!  But they ain't cheap and even with a spare freezer, there's no fucking way I can get a year's worth of blueberries in my freezer.  So I balance that by eating "whatever is in season" and when I run out of my frozen blueberries - I buy them.

[OtherJen]

But cheese man - cheese in my area is never ever on sale for better than Costco price.  Never.
Same with the olive oil.  Assuming you want actual olive oil and not a mixture of oils labeled as olive oil.

Let's not pretend that we know everything, mmm kay?

A lot of Costco shoppers:
1.  Are like me and have done the math.  Costco is cheaper.  I mean, price book people
2.  Don't shop for price only, are looking for quality (aka, actual olive oil not a blend of oils).  Or are looking for business practices, like paying the employees a living wage.  (*cough* Wally World)
3.  Don't shop for price only, are looking for a certain amount of convenience. 

It's like some people can't comprehend that other people who live in different regions and have different circumstances may have actually done their own research to find out what works for them. Just like the OP should do.

[NaN]

YMMV but the sale price for oats at our Sprouts is 0.69/lb, higher than Costco. 

I've bought rolled oats, quick oats, and steel cut oats at $0.50/lb at Sprouts when it is on sale. I've bought 50 lbs of it at a time. Sometimes they are out in the bins but have bags of it in the back. I've bee quite successful with this at Sprouts. Plus if it is out get a rain check and come back the next week when they resupply. Last time I checked Costco wasn't better than that. What is it these days? Online it says $10 for 10lbs. That can't be right.

Cheese is $2.99/lb on sale at Sprouts, sometimes just $3.99/lb.

2. Don't shop for price only, are looking for quality (aka, actual olive oil not a blend of oils).  Or are looking for business practices, like paying the employees a living wage.  (*cough* Wally World)

This is not the point. Can you live on a blend of oils? Is that not okay just like choosing to buy generic at the grocery store? We survive just fine on those things. And if you want to make a charitable donation to Costco to support their practices  by paying more then that is again a luxury. I could just as easily support other causes.

3.  Don't shop for price only, are looking for a certain amount of convenience. 

Again - convenience is a common excuse. If Costco is 0.5 mile from your home and you can bike there then fine. If you pass three other perfectly good grocery stores on the way, then mmm, sure?

Let's not pretend that we know everything, mmm kay?

The whole point of this forum is to bring up points of our own knowledge. My response to Costco is what I know. If you just want people on here to agree with your way of thinking then just don't respond to people who challenge your own knowledge. Or are you saying you know everything?

[OtherJen]

This Sprouts store sounds amazing. I wish we had them in my state.

Although I buy very good cheddar at Costco for a regular price of $2.50/lb so I'm pretty happy with that.

[NaN]

This Sprouts store sounds amazing. I wish we had them in my state.

Although I buy very good cheddar at Costco for a regular price of $2.50/lb so I'm pretty happy with that.

Yes, and that's true. I think Kroger/Safeway brands occasionally have deals where it is $2.50/lb as well. Again - it is finding the sale. Or picking up the flier and determining what you want to eat that week based of the flier.

I get people's idea that the shop for quality/convenience. At some point the answer to the question "Is Costco really cheaper?" has to be answered with an objective in mind. If you want to consider all the permutations of taste/etc, then that's way to subjective. If you want to say, at the bottom, when you take it account sale prices and loss leaders everywhere else, is Costco cheaper? My math has always said no. Yes, some items are less expensive at Costco, but adding a membership is huge. What if I travel for a month or two? Now that membership cost has to be spread out of less months instead of a full year. It just never adds up for us when we consider it.

Add in fancy living and it may be better. Again, the saying "Your mileage will vary" is not the point here. It is like saying are bicycles cheaper than cars? Well, if you buy a $5,000 road bike and compare it to a $2,000 clunker, no. If you buy a $500 road bike and compare it to a $35k Tesla, the of course bikes are cheaper. Again, your mileage varies in this situation, too.

In answering this repeatedly asked question, "Is Costco really cheaper?", the answer, in my view, it is always no when you are wondering if it is possible to be cheaper than the glorious-consumer-eating Costco. All other answers based on individual tastes are irrelevant because they are just too subjective.

[NaN]

This Sprouts store sounds amazing. I wish we had them in my state.

Although I buy very good cheddar at Costco for a regular price of $2.50/lb so I'm pretty happy with that.

Fresh Thyme is the mid-West equivalent. They were started as a separate company by a former Sprouts executive. Their flyer is almost identical themed but not the same chain.

[OtherJen]

This Sprouts store sounds amazing. I wish we had them in my state.

Although I buy very good cheddar at Costco for a regular price of $2.50/lb so I'm pretty happy with that.

Fresh Thyme is the mid-West equivalent. They were started as a separate company by a former Sprouts executive. Their flyer is almost identical themed but not the same chain.

The nearest one of those is several miles further than Costco. Ditto for Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. We do have an excellent produce market about 5 miles away.

[NaN]

I found a weekly ad for Fresh Thyme in the metro Detroit area. Here.

Grapes $0.79/lb
Sweet corn $0.19 each
1 lb bag of carrots $0.50 for 1 lb
Ground beef 85% value pack - $2.89/lb
Green bell peppers - $0.50 each

I'd be curious to know what the same prices for those items would be at Costco today in metro Detroit.

[OtherJen]

I found a weekly ad for Fresh Thyme in the metro Detroit area. Here.

Grapes $0.79/lb
Sweet corn $0.19 each
1 lb bag of carrots $0.50 for 1 lb
Ground beef 85% value pack - $2.89/lb
Green bell peppers - $0.50 each

I'd be curious to know what the same prices for those items would be at Costco today in metro Detroit.

Thanks. I don't buy produce at Costco, and I'm not about to make a trip for a price check (husband has our car today, anyway). We're a 2-person household and it's more cost-effective to buy produce at the produce market. I choose to buy organic grass-fed ground beef, which we eat less than once per week.

The closest Fresh Thyme is 10 miles away in a high-traffic sprawl suburb that I don't think I've had a need to visit in at least a decade (i.e., would require a special car trip just to go to that store). I pass a Costco a couple of times per month.

We get local flyers weekly for Aldi (good prices on most things, although Costco definitely beats them on things like the granola bars that my husband likes, some types of nuts, good cheese, and coffee beans), an independent grocery store (not particularly well stocked), Kroger (occasionally screaming deals for which I will make a special trip; otherwise, generally higher prices), Meijer (big box store that disappointingly does not always have great prices), and Save-a-Lot (their sales are often for processed foods that we don't eat).

I promise you, I have done my research in this area. I've been the grocery shopper in my household for the last 16 years and have lived in the same area for 40 years. I'll afford you the respect of assuming that you've done the same.

[NaN]

It is not about whether 'you have done your homework' and that I respect that - don't make it to this. Occasionally Fresh Thyme will have killer deals on nuts. I often buy Walnuts at $3.99/lb. Trail mixes at $3.99 to even $2.99 on their mega-deals (extrapolating Fresh Thyme from Sprouts). Even granola can be $1.99/lb. All it takes is for one weekend sale and you are set for months. Isn't that the premise of Costco, too?

It is that I honestly have never seen the math work out for Costco and I think that is a perfectly okay response to this thread. When people add in thing like specialty meats, cheeses, and fancy nuts then we get into a whole different conversation. It goes from "Is Costco Really Cheaper" to "Is Costco Really Cheaper if I want this lifestyle". And I am not going to go down that rabbit hole. My bike analogy is perfect. Want a fancier bike? Want this fancy car? Want fancy olive oil? These are lifestyle choices.

Bare bone healthy living: eating healthy, fruits, vegetables, meats, nuts, oatmeal, granola, protein, cheese, eggs, milk, etc. can all be done at grocery stores cheaper than Costco. I rarely eat processed foods, by the way.

[OtherJen]

It is that I honestly have never seen the math work out for Costco and I think that is a perfectly okay response to this thread.

That's been my point all along. My posts today have largely been in response to this:

This. I find it hilarious how common it is for shoppers to justify their infatuation with Costco without actually going into the real prices you are willing to pay for an item.

Many of us have done this. The OP needs to figure out what works for him. Like you, Costco may not be a good deal for him, and that's totally fine. That's my whole point. I note that the OP said nothing about a bare-bones diet; in fact, he said that he was unwilling to compromise on types and quality of foods.

I admit that I had never looked at the Fresh Thyme sale flyer before. It isn't mailed to my house because of the distance, and my lifestyle doesn't involve a 20-mile round trip through suburban-sprawl hell to visit one store. Compared to that flyer, I do actually get better prices at Costco on butter, coffee beans, paper towels, deli meat, stew beef, avocados, and cheese slices. As noted elsewhere, none of these things are necessary. But if I'm going to buy them anyway, I may as well use the math that works in my situation.

[Cranky]

We don't have a Costco, a Whole Foods, a Trader Joe, or any Wild Thyme sort of store, either.

We've got a neighborhood IGA, which does have pretty good meat and they cut it in store and this time of year they carry 4H meat (because the fair was two weekends ago).

We've got Aldi and Save A Lot.

We've got a Farmers' Market during the summer, and it's quite expensive, but good.

We've got a local Italian Market which has a lot of nice specialty ingredients, but is otherwise pretty expensive, except the wine is pretty cheap.

We've got Giant Eagle which is a regional chain and pretty expensive, but they do have sales if you pay attention.

I don't drive and only the IGA is in walking distance, so we make *one* trip to Aldi/week, and then every other week I add an extra stop of some kind.

But *this* weekend we're going to Wisconsin and I'll run into Woodman's and stock up on my favorite very aged cheddar which is remarkably cheap there, plus a couple of bags of whole wheat flour from a regional brand that I like. This is not exactly a great savings because we have to drive to Wisconsin, but it's definitely worth the extra stop!

So, for me, Sam's/Costco *is* a savings, for the gas and the other stuff we buy there, especially OTC meds and coffee, but we have to be disciplined about not buying too much fun stuff in the process. However, I'm not much of a shopped, and "fun stuff" is general household stuff, really.

[NaN]

It is that I honestly have never seen the math work out for Costco and I think that is a perfectly okay response to this thread.

That's been my point all along. My posts today have largely been in response to this:

This. I find it hilarious how common it is for shoppers to justify their infatuation with Costco without actually going into the real prices you are willing to pay for an item.

Many of us have done this. The OP needs to figure out what works for him. Like you, Costco may not be a good deal for him, and that's totally fine. That's my whole point. I note that the OP said nothing about a bare-bones diet; in fact, he said that he was unwilling to compromise on types and quality of foods.

I admit that I had never looked at the Fresh Thyme sale flyer before. It isn't mailed to my house because of the distance, and my lifestyle doesn't involve a 20-mile round trip through suburban-sprawl hell to visit one store. Compared to that flyer, I do actually get better prices at Costco on butter, coffee beans, paper towels, deli meat, stew beef, avocados, and cheese slices. As noted elsewhere, none of these things are necessary. But if I'm going to buy them anyway, I may as well use the math that works in my situation.

Just because you have done it doesn't mean there are not way more that don't go into the price differences. I hear it all the time - you hear the average shopping cart value at Costco. And you kind of prove my point by not being aware of the Fresh Thyme flyer. One of the reasons for memberships like the one at Costco are to make you forget and not care about their competition. They exist to make you justify the membership by always going to them first.

[OtherJen]

It is that I honestly have never seen the math work out for Costco and I think that is a perfectly okay response to this thread.

That's been my point all along. My posts today have largely been in response to this:

This. I find it hilarious how common it is for shoppers to justify their infatuation with Costco without actually going into the real prices you are willing to pay for an item.

Many of us have done this. The OP needs to figure out what works for him. Like you, Costco may not be a good deal for him, and that's totally fine. That's my whole point. I note that the OP said nothing about a bare-bones diet; in fact, he said that he was unwilling to compromise on types and quality of foods.

I admit that I had never looked at the Fresh Thyme sale flyer before. It isn't mailed to my house because of the distance, and my lifestyle doesn't involve a 20-mile round trip through suburban-sprawl hell to visit one store. Compared to that flyer, I do actually get better prices at Costco on butter, coffee beans, paper towels, deli meat, stew beef, avocados, and cheese slices. As noted elsewhere, none of these things are necessary. But if I'm going to buy them anyway, I may as well use the math that works in my situation.

Just because you have done it doesn't mean there are not way more that don't go into the price differences. I hear it all the time - you hear the average shopping cart value at Costco. And you kind of prove my point by not being aware of the Fresh Thyme flyer. One of the reasons for memberships like the one at Costco are to make you forget and not care about their competition. They exist to make you justify the membership by always going to them first.

And yet, I feel like you're deliberately missing my point. I think I've written clearly. I've never argued that the OP or anyone else MUST have a Costco membership. People should optimize their own time and money budgets, including transportation time/money costs. (For example, that 10-mile drive to Fresh Thyme—which from that sale flyer doesn't look like it has great deals compared to a combination of the 5 local stores whose flyers I do receive regularly—would be on busy surface streets and would take about 35 minutes each way.) I'm pretty sure that's all I've ever argued on this thread, going back to my first post where I responded to the OP's question with "It depends."

I need to spend the rest of my afternoon on some client work, so I'm done. You're more than welcome to have the last word.

[Telecaster]

Just because you have done it doesn't mean there are not way more that don't go into the price differences. I hear it all the time - you hear the average shopping cart value at Costco. And you kind of prove my point by not being aware of the Fresh Thyme flyer. One of the reasons for memberships like the one at Costco are to make you forget and not care about their competition. They exist to make you justify the membership by always going to them first.

But if Costco costs more, then you can't justify the membership right?  Here's how to make Costco work:   Grocery stores don't make money on every day staple items like hamburger and milk.  They know consumers comparison shop on those items, so they keep prices rock bottom on staples, in order to upsell you on all the other stuff.   All that other stuff is where Costco is cheaper, and sometimes wildly cheaper.   Coffee beans, laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, nuts, butter, yeast, tofu, and spices are all consistently cheaper at Costco.    OTC medicines and vitamins, and cheese, are usually much cheaper.   Unusual cuts of meat like say, a brisket or rack of lamb are much cheaper than a typical grocery store.  It is pesto making season.  So I buy the peeled garlic and pine nuts for about 1/3 the grocery store price. 

Then there are oddball items.  I don't wear dress shirts much anymore, but back in the day I did.  The Kirkland men's dress shirts are equal or superior in quality to any designer brand and they cost less than $20, compare with $60-$100 in a department store.   Same with batteries, plastic wrap, paper products, etc.  And of course gasoline. 

I shop at Costco maybe four times a year.  But the savings are huge, and justifies the membership cost many times over. 

[mm1970]

YMMV but the sale price for oats at our Sprouts is 0.69/lb, higher than Costco. 

I've bought rolled oats, quick oats, and steel cut oats at $0.50/lb at Sprouts when it is on sale. I've bought 50 lbs of it at a time. Sometimes they are out in the bins but have bags of it in the back. I've bee quite successful with this at Sprouts. Plus if it is out get a rain check and come back the next week when they resupply. Last time I checked Costco wasn't better than that. What is it these days? Online it says $10 for 10lbs. That can't be right.

Cheese is $2.99/lb on sale at Sprouts, sometimes just $3.99/lb.

2. Don't shop for price only, are looking for quality (aka, actual olive oil not a blend of oils).  Or are looking for business practices, like paying the employees a living wage.  (*cough* Wally World)

This is not the point. Can you live on a blend of oils? Is that not okay just like choosing to buy generic at the grocery store? We survive just fine on those things. And if you want to make a charitable donation to Costco to support their practices  by paying more then that is again a luxury. I could just as easily support other causes.

3.  Don't shop for price only, are looking for a certain amount of convenience. 

Again - convenience is a common excuse. If Costco is 0.5 mile from your home and you can bike there then fine. If you pass three other perfectly good grocery stores on the way, then mmm, sure?

Let's not pretend that we know everything, mmm kay?

The whole point of this forum is to bring up points of our own knowledge. My response to Costco is what I know. If you just want people on here to agree with your way of thinking then just don't respond to people who challenge your own knowledge. Or are you saying you know everything?

Costco: 0.55/lb for oats.  Sprouts: 0.69/ lb is the sale price
Costco: $1.99 - $2.49/lb for cheese.  Sprouts: $3/lb lowest price I've ever seen, and that's the same for any other grocery store.  (This is sharp cheddar, by the way).

Olive oil: I've done too much research I guess.  I want actual olive oil, not a blend of oils.  If I wanted a random blend of oils, I'd buy them, and not expect to be paying a premium for actual olive oil.

As far as "knowing everything: - I'm specifically responding to people who talk about Costco being "ridiculously luxurious" and "obviously you are paying a premium compared to the grocery store" when...no.  I created my price book back in 2001.  I kept it faithfully updated for 10 years.  Like, on the computer.  Now I have it all in my head.  And I know, for sure, that Costco prices are cheaper on a large # of items that we buy regularly.  I know this because I check regularly.  I still look at the flyers.  Any time I'm in a store, I wander past the sections of interest and check current prices for unadvertised sales.  In the last 5 years we've gotten a host of new stores (including Sprouts, which I love) and I've checked them ALL out, even down to knowing that Sprouts has the best bulk price on oats (even though Costco is cheaper per lb, if I buy in the bulk bins I avoid generating new trash), but Smart and Final wins for dried beans and rice and lentils.  Whole foods, for some reason, has cheaper corn meal and the best price on tahini.

It's no different than people saying "obviously it's better to shop at Aldi" (no Aldi here) or "obviously you should shop at Walmart" (no Walmart either).  The point is that grocery prices are HEAVILY location dependent - they depend on the general cost of living in a particular area (overhead), the type of store, the specific location (cost of rent, cost of transportation to get the food there) and size of the store (pretty stores are going to be more expensive than the dingy 0.99 only store with no parking), competition (if you are the only store in miles, you can charge a premium).  I'm always shocked at the cheap prices at the Walmart when visiting the inlaws in upstate NY, and equally surprised that the prices are so much higher when visiting family in rural PA - but as most of the other stores went out of business when Walmart came to town - I guess it's not too surprising.

It's completely ridiculous for anyone to make gross generalizations about the cost of groceries in any area where they don't currently live.  Which is why you will OFTEN see suggestions to do a price comparison yourself, because it depends.  You will also see suggestions on "different types of stores" to check out.  A lot of people don't think beyond the typical grocery store.  You have to think about the Mexican, Asian stores.  The 99 cent stores.  Scratch and dent.  Day old bread.  Big box.  Food 4 less.  Trader Joe's.  Farm stands.  Farmer's markets.  Every area has their own "mix" of stores, etc, and you pretty much have to check them all out to find the best prices.  AND you have to decide what you are shopping for besides price.  Like I'm not willing to drive the 30-40 miles to Aldi, but I actually had a coworker years ago do that same drive to shop at Walmart, all so he could save money on canned vegetables and ramen.

By the way, the cheese and milk savings alone save me $130 a year.  I guess I could save more if we gave up dairy.

[NaN]

By the way, the cheese and milk savings alone save me $130 a year.  I guess I could save more if we gave up dairy.

Seems high but again lifestyle splurges is a point I am making here.

my first post where I responded to the OP's question with "It depends."

Anyone can of course say "It depends". If I had to drive 200 miles to work everyday, or 5-7 gallons a day, and Costco gas was $0.10 cheaper, then of course a Costco membership just to get gas will easily pay for the membership in a year.

One point I am trying to make people realize is that Costco's idea of a membership up front to have access to cheaper specific goods drives a kind of consumer behavior that is not consumer friendly. It drives people to buy more of something to make it seem like they are getting their money's worth.

So, that being said. I still firmly believe in any city in this country, a healthy balanced lifestyle can be achieved for less than what would be equivalently spent at Costco for the same goods (including the membership fees). If you want to splurge on any item, from dairy, meats, cheese, or gasoline for driving, then by all means have at it and figure out if it is cheaper. But that latter point is a completely separate topic. If that is the "It depends" or the "what works for me" item, then make sure that is clear in why it works for you. I am trying to give the general thread readers, both OP and other glancing readers, that someone here actually does not believe it is necessary to take advantage of the Costco cult and is living a healthy, fine life, for less.

[ixtap]

By the way, the cheese and milk savings alone save me $130 a year.  I guess I could save more if we gave up dairy.

Seems high but again lifestyle splurges is a point I am making here.

my first post where I responded to the OP's question with "It depends."

Anyone can of course say "It depends". If I had to drive 200 miles to work everyday, or 5-7 gallons a day, and Costco gas was $0.10 cheaper, then of course a Costco membership just to get gas will easily pay for the membership in a year.

One point I am trying to make people realize is that Costco's idea of a membership up front to have access to cheaper specific goods drives a kind of consumer behavior that is not consumer friendly. It drives people to buy more of something to make it seem like they are getting their money's worth.

So, that being said. I still firmly believe in any city in this country, a healthy balanced lifestyle can be achieved for less than what would be equivalently spent at Costco for the same goods (including the membership fees). If you want to splurge on any item, from dairy, meats, cheese, or gasoline for driving, then by all means have at it and figure out if it is cheaper. But that latter point is a completely separate topic. If that is the "It depends" or the "what works for me" item, then make sure that is clear in why it works for you. I am trying to give the general thread readers, both OP and other glancing readers, that someone here actually does not believe it is necessary to take advantage of the Costco cult and is living a healthy, fine life, for less.

So, no mustachian should ever get credit card rewards, because they are designed to.get you to spend more...

[englishteacheralex]

^^Actually, this IS what Dave Ramsey says about reward cards. Dave Ramsey is not the same as Mustachianism, though. I always feel a little guilty about my extensive reward card collection, because I started out with Dave and have a hard time breaking away.

[Dicey]

By the way, the cheese and milk savings alone save me $130 a year.  I guess I could save more if we gave up dairy.

Seems high but again lifestyle splurges is a point I am making here.

my first post where I responded to the OP's question with "It depends."

Anyone can of course say "It depends". If I had to drive 200 miles to work everyday, or 5-7 gallons a day, and Costco gas was $0.10 cheaper, then of course a Costco membership just to get gas will easily pay for the membership in a year.

One point I am trying to make people realize is that Costco's idea of a membership up front to have access to cheaper specific goods drives a kind of consumer behavior that is not consumer friendly. It drives people to buy more of something to make it seem like they are getting their money's worth.

So, that being said. I still firmly believe in any city in this country, a healthy balanced lifestyle can be achieved for less than what would be equivalently spent at Costco for the same goods (including the membership fees). If you want to splurge on any item, from dairy, meats, cheese, or gasoline for driving, then by all means have at it and figure out if it is cheaper. But that latter point is a completely separate topic. If that is the "It depends" or the "what works for me" item, then make sure that is clear in why it works for you. I am trying to give the general thread readers, both OP and other glancing readers, that someone here actually does not believe it is necessary to take advantage of the Costco cult and is living a healthy, fine life, for less.

Hey NaN, feel free to do whatever you want for yourself all day long, every day of your life. But what's best for you isn't what's best for me and I'll thank you very much for not trying to tell me I'm wrong because I don't see things exactly your way. Some of your comments are approaching Rule #1 violations, so please try to keep it civil. After all, what someone else decides to do has no impact on your life.

There are a million ways to FIRE. We can all chart different courses and still get to the finish line. Amazing!

[FrugalYCP]

YMMV but the sale price for oats at our Sprouts is 0.69/lb, higher than Costco. 

I've bought rolled oats, quick oats, and steel cut oats at $0.50/lb at Sprouts when it is on sale. I've bought 50 lbs of it at a time. Sometimes they are out in the bins but have bags of it in the back. I've bee quite successful with this at Sprouts. Plus if it is out get a rain check and come back the next week when they resupply. Last time I checked Costco wasn't better than that. What is it these days? Online it says $10 for 10lbs. That can't be right.

Cheese is $2.99/lb on sale at Sprouts, sometimes just $3.99/lb.

2. Don't shop for price only, are looking for quality (aka, actual olive oil not a blend of oils).  Or are looking for business practices, like paying the employees a living wage.  (*cough* Wally World)

This is not the point. Can you live on a blend of oils? Is that not okay just like choosing to buy generic at the grocery store? We survive just fine on those things. And if you want to make a charitable donation to Costco to support their practices  by paying more then that is again a luxury. I could just as easily support other causes.

3.  Don't shop for price only, are looking for a certain amount of convenience. 

Again - convenience is a common excuse. If Costco is 0.5 mile from your home and you can bike there then fine. If you pass three other perfectly good grocery stores on the way, then mmm, sure?

Let's not pretend that we know everything, mmm kay?

The whole point of this forum is to bring up points of our own knowledge. My response to Costco is what I know. If you just want people on here to agree with your way of thinking then just don't respond to people who challenge your own knowledge. Or are you saying you know everything?

It's no different than people saying "obviously it's better to shop at Aldi" (no Aldi here) or "obviously you should shop at Walmart" (no Walmart either).  The point is that grocery prices are HEAVILY location dependent - they depend on the general cost of living in a particular area (overhead), the type of store, the specific location (cost of rent, cost of transportation to get the food there) and size of the store (pretty stores are going to be more expensive than the dingy 0.99 only store with no parking), competition (if you are the only store in miles, you can charge a premium).  I'm always shocked at the cheap prices at the Walmart when visiting the inlaws in upstate NY, and equally surprised that the prices are so much higher when visiting family in rural PA - but as most of the other stores went out of business when Walmart came to town - I guess it's not too surprising.

It's completely ridiculous for anyone to make gross generalizations about the cost of groceries in any area where they don't currently live.  Which is why you will OFTEN see suggestions to do a price comparison yourself, because it depends.  You will also see suggestions on "different types of stores" to check out.  A lot of people don't think beyond the typical grocery store.  You have to think about the Mexican, Asian stores.  The 99 cent stores.  Scratch and dent.  Day old bread.  Big box.  Food 4 less.  Trader Joe's.  Farm stands.  Farmer's markets.  Every area has their own "mix" of stores, etc, and you pretty much have to check them all out to find the best prices.  AND you have to decide what you are shopping for besides price.  Like I'm not willing to drive the 30-40 miles to Aldi, but I actually had a coworker years ago do that same drive to shop at Walmart, all so he could save money on canned vegetables and ramen.

I couldn't agree more. I used to work in the pricing department for a regional grocery chain. Prices could vary as much as 25% within the same city depending their proximity to certain neighborhoods, competitors, nursing homes, etc. There is a great deal of analysis that goes into pricing each and every product on the shelves.

[NorthernBlitz]

Headed to Hawaii in December with family and we are planning big Costco run for groceries

We shopped every Costco in Hawaii. The one on the Big Island was the most uptight. That's the first Costco that ever has stopped me walking in the exit side (restrooms are always after the cash registers. And I even had a 5 year old that needed to pee!)

Our Costco membership just lapsed. We also got it for grocery shopping when we were on the Big Island.

We normally shop at BJ's Wholesale at home because it's closer to my work.

[ROF Expat]

But overall, it felt like a huge store that was 95% full of things that no serious mustachian really ought to be purchasing.

That's probably true, but you can still get good deals on the other 5% of things in the store.  You have to do the math to see if the deals on these items are worth the cost of being a member.  You also have to ask yourself if you have the discipline to avoid purchasing from the other 95% of things in the store while you're there.

Mustachians aren't supposed to eat premium ice cream?  I may have to rethink my commitment to Mustachianism...

[GuitarStv]

But overall, it felt like a huge store that was 95% full of things that no serious mustachian really ought to be purchasing.

That's probably true, but you can still get good deals on the other 5% of things in the store.  You have to do the math to see if the deals on these items are worth the cost of being a member.  You also have to ask yourself if you have the discipline to avoid purchasing from the other 95% of things in the store while you're there.

Mustachians aren't supposed to eat premium ice cream?  I may have to rethink my commitment to Mustachianism...

I've done my best to only eat premium ice cream the occasional times that I do eat ice cream.

[Dicey]

But overall, it felt like a huge store that was 95% full of things that no serious mustachian really ought to be purchasing.

That's probably true, but you can still get good deals on the other 5% of things in the store.  You have to do the math to see if the deals on these items are worth the cost of being a member.  You also have to ask yourself if you have the discipline to avoid purchasing from the other 95% of things in the store while you're there.

Mustachians aren't supposed to eat premium ice cream?  I may have to rethink my commitment to Mustachianism...

I've done my best to only eat premium ice cream the occasional times that I do eat ice cream.

At nearly six years FIRE, I am damn sure I'm a serious mustachian. I'm with GuitarStv on this one.

[pbkmaine]

I would like to point out that Pete, Mr. Money Mustache himself, eats premium foods. I believe he shops at Costco. His principle is NOT to spend the least amount of money on everything, but to get the most enjoyment out of every dollar.

[mm1970]

So, that being said. I still firmly believe in any city in this country, a healthy balanced lifestyle can be achieved for less than what would be equivalently spent at Costco for the same goods (including the membership fees). If you want to splurge on any item, from dairy, meats, cheese, or gasoline for driving, then by all means have at it and figure out if it is cheaper. But that latter point is a completely separate topic. If that is the "It depends" or the "what works for me" item, then make sure that is clear in why it works for you. I am trying to give the general thread readers, both OP and other glancing readers, that someone here actually does not believe it is necessary to take advantage of the Costco cult and is living a healthy, fine life, for less.

So...I mean, I guess a vegan would say that milk and cheese aren't necessary.

But, since when is it a "splurge"?  For decades, there's been the recommendation to drink 2-3 cups of milk per day, particularly for children. 

Also, we don't eat much meat, so we get a fair bit of our protein from cheese.

When you add up about 1 pound of cheese per week (for 4 people, comes to 2.25 ounces of cheese per day, total, or a little more than 0.5 ounce per person per day), and 1.5 gallons of milk (7 ounces per person per day) per week - you get $130 a year.

That was not a made up number - I calculated that.

So, since when is $1 pound of cheese and 1.5 gallons of milk a splurge?  For a family of 4?  It's not even premium cheese or organic milk.  It's the cheapest stuff they've got per pound.

As I already noted, I have priced out the sales prices for cheese and milk in this town, and they never ever beat the Costco price.  And I don't even live in Hawaii.  And our Costco doesn't have a gas station.  Quite literally, cheese and milk more than pay for our annual fee.

It's like you aren't even reading.

[Dicey]

So, that being said. I still firmly believe in any city in this country, a healthy balanced lifestyle can be achieved for less than what would be equivalently spent at Costco for the same goods (including the membership fees). If you want to splurge on any item, from dairy, meats, cheese, or gasoline for driving, then by all means have at it and figure out if it is cheaper. But that latter point is a completely separate topic. If that is the "It depends" or the "what works for me" item, then make sure that is clear in why it works for you. I am trying to give the general thread readers, both OP and other glancing readers, that someone here actually does not believe it is necessary to take advantage of the Costco cult and is living a healthy, fine life, for less.

So...I mean, I guess a vegan would say that milk and cheese aren't necessary.

But, since when is it a "splurge"?  For decades, there's been the recommendation to drink 2-3 cups of milk per day, particularly for children. 

Also, we don't eat much meat, so we get a fair bit of our protein from cheese.

When you add up about 1 pound of cheese per week (for 4 people, comes to 2.25 ounces of cheese per day, total, or a little more than 0.5 ounce per person per day), and 1.5 gallons of milk (7 ounces per person per day) per week - you get $130 a year.

That was not a made up number - I calculated that.

So, since when is $1 pound of cheese and 1.5 gallons of milk a splurge?  For a family of 4?  It's not even premium cheese or organic milk.  It's the cheapest stuff they've got per pound.

As I already noted, I have priced out the sales prices for cheese and milk in this town, and they never ever beat the Costco price.  And I don't even live in Hawaii.  And our Costco doesn't have a gas station.  Quite literally, cheese and milk more than pay for our annual fee.

It's like you aren't even reading.

We're reading, @mm1970. It appears that NaN is the primary vitriol slinger. I just looked. NaN registered in June, 2018 and has a whopping 17 posts. To me, that's troll territory, or simply someone with a lot to learn. Being nasty in these parts isn't conducive to learning much. Same with life in general, I guess.

[Goldielocks]

But overall, it felt like a huge store that was 95% full of things that no serious mustachian really ought to be purchasing.

That's probably true, but you can still get good deals on the other 5% of things in the store.  You have to do the math to see if the deals on these items are worth the cost of being a member.  You also have to ask yourself if you have the discipline to avoid purchasing from the other 95% of things in the store while you're there.

Mustachians aren't supposed to eat premium ice cream?  I may have to rethink my commitment to Mustachianism...

I've done my best to only eat premium ice cream the occasional times that I do eat ice cream.

At nearly six years FIRE, I am damn sure I'm a serious mustachian. I'm with GuitarStv on this one.

Ah, but a serious mustachian would sort it under "treats" not "groceries" and recognize it as a luxury to be savoured!   

LOL,  JK, that's what I do, but YMMV.  I honestly don't care how much I spend on luxury treats, as long as it does not exceed my monthly allowance / budget for treats.  I do care about the grocery bill, for some reason...

[cats]

But overall, it felt like a huge store that was 95% full of things that no serious mustachian really ought to be purchasing.

That's probably true, but you can still get good deals on the other 5% of things in the store.  You have to do the math to see if the deals on these items are worth the cost of being a member.  You also have to ask yourself if you have the discipline to avoid purchasing from the other 95% of things in the store while you're there.

Mustachians aren't supposed to eat premium ice cream?  I may have to rethink my commitment to Mustachianism...

I've done my best to only eat premium ice cream the occasional times that I do eat ice cream.

At nearly six years FIRE, I am damn sure I'm a serious mustachian. I'm with GuitarStv on this one.

Ah, but a serious mustachian would sort it under "treats" not "groceries" and recognize it as a luxury to be savoured!   

LOL,  JK, that's what I do, but YMMV.  I honestly don't care how much I spend on luxury treats, as long as it does not exceed my monthly allowance / budget for treats.  I do care about the grocery bill, for some reason...

Yeah, maybe I should have added the caveat "often enough to make a Costco membership worthwhile".  There's no shame in enjoying premium ice cream, just that it's another treat/luxury food (even at Costco prices).  My point was more of a "gee, now that I only step into Costco once a year or so, the trend towards high-end and away from basics is becoming more and more glaring".  It's a very different shopping experience than it was back when MMM first wrote his Costco love letter!

[frugalnacho]

I feel like every grocery store (or retailer) plays a game of "lets keep reasonable or low prices on a bunch of products, but lets see how much can we get away with charging for the rest of these items".   That's how they make their money, from the complacency of suckas.  Costo is great on a number of items, but absolutely terrible on others.  I buy strawberries from costco and occasionally bananas.  The rest of the produce is high way robbery.  $5/lb for asparagus when it's in season?  I'm sure it's high quality, but it's almost entirely profit for them at that price and they are making money off lazy consumer suckas that aren't aware the local grocery store has asparagus for $0.99-2.99 depending on the season.   Most of the produce never goes on sale either, it's just a set price year round.  Conversely my local kroger ALWAYS has some kind of in season fruit and vegetables on sale. 

The meat at my local costco is ridiculously high quality, much higher than the grocery stores.  You can go to high end super markets or a butcher and get comparable quality meat, but not for the same price as costco.   

Gas is usually slightly cheaper, but the lines are insane.  I purchase gas at costco approximately once a year when I happen to catch it empty.  Usually it's a 30 minute wait, to save like 50 cents off a full tank?  No thanks I'll pay the 50 cent premium and my 30 minutes of time to fill up at kroger.

They also have a lot of super delicious prepared meals that are super expensive. 

Things we regularly purchase at costco:

paper products
cleaning products
meat
cereal
spices
medications
clothing

[mm1970]

But overall, it felt like a huge store that was 95% full of things that no serious mustachian really ought to be purchasing.

That's probably true, but you can still get good deals on the other 5% of things in the store.  You have to do the math to see if the deals on these items are worth the cost of being a member.  You also have to ask yourself if you have the discipline to avoid purchasing from the other 95% of things in the store while you're there.

Mustachians aren't supposed to eat premium ice cream?  I may have to rethink my commitment to Mustachianism...

I've done my best to only eat premium ice cream the occasional times that I do eat ice cream.

At nearly six years FIRE, I am damn sure I'm a serious mustachian. I'm with GuitarStv on this one.

Ah, but a serious mustachian would sort it under "treats" not "groceries" and recognize it as a luxury to be savoured!   

LOL,  JK, that's what I do, but YMMV.  I honestly don't care how much I spend on luxury treats, as long as it does not exceed my monthly allowance / budget for treats.  I do care about the grocery bill, for some reason...

Sigh.

The only reason I rolled my last half marathon training program into another half marathon in six weeks' time is because I developed QUITE an ice cream habit.  And I'm not quite ready to go cold turkey.

On the other hand, there is currently ZERO ice cream in the freezer right now, but a whole bunch of Talenti ice cream containers with various nuts and seeds stored in them.

[ketchup]

I love Costco.  I haven't done the numbers recently on how much we save by getting certain things there, but it's more than enough to justify the membership.

I have a running "Costco staples" shopping list that I check against our current stock ahead of each trip.  It contains (laid out in the same order as my local Costco is arranged):

Code: [Select]

Onions
Carrots
Avocados
Bananas
Romaine

Chicken thighs
Chicken drumsticks

Manchengo cheese

Eggs
Heavy cream

Household:
Paper towels
Toilet paper
Garbage bags

Frozen Broccoli florets

bacon

Kerrygold butter
Cream cheese

Coffee

Olive oil
Coconut oil
Avocado oil

Apple cider vinegar
Balsamic vinegar
Canned coconut milk
Maple syrup

Tuna

Tomato paste
Tomato sauce

Salt
Pepper
Garlic
Oregano
Crushed red pepper
vanilla extract

Rice

Almond crackers

Gasoline
Once in a while I'll get something else there, but that's basically it.

^^Actually, this IS what Dave Ramsey says about reward cards. Dave Ramsey is not the same as Mustachianism, though. I always feel a little guilty about my extensive reward card collection, because I started out with Dave and have a hard time breaking away.

And I think we're smart enough around here to know that Mr. Ramsey is full of shit with regards to certain topics...

[Goldielocks]

The meat at my local costco is ridiculously high quality, much higher than the grocery stores.  You can go to high end super markets or a butcher and get comparable quality meat, but not for the same price as costco.   

I worked in the food production industry, in Canada, and this is one thing that SEVERELY pissed me off about Costco.

The primary reason* the  steaks and other meats at Costco were so "high quality" for the price was because they needled them.  The local high end grocer with full service counters would also needle some of the steaks, but they would then label them as such, and you could choose.   Costco did not.

https://www.chowhound.com/post/costco-needling-beef-dangerous-practice-1048309 -- the article says that "for the past year" they have been doing this, but I can assert that the practice has been in place for over 10 years at the stores I know of.

The problem is that needled meat should have a "cook to XX temperature" label / warning on it, just like hamburger.

Because Costco did not, and they needled their steaks on the same counters that they packaged their ground beef, the someone got ill with EColi from eating their rare steaks purchased at Costco.  Health authority did not know why whole cuts like steak were contaminated, it did not make sense from their investigation into the hamburger recall, so in the interest of public safety, and an attempt to reopen the border for other producers to ship  beef to the US, put an instant 100% recall on all meats from this producer, and shut them down for a while to investigate the plant.   In the end, the source was always the hamburger, and the recall should have been well contained / limited in scope.  But it wasn't because Costco needled their steaks, put them on the same counter as processed raw hamburger that was packaged in store, and they did not give the consumer a chance to decide if they wanted to risk eating under cooked meat or not.

End result was a massive "all cuts" recall for that processor, which resulted in their going bankrupt / selling their processing plant.

*  Okay, this was in Alberta, Canada, where pretty much ALL beef is very high quality to extremely high quality.  Needling makes sirloin taste a bit more like tenderloin.  I lived in the USA so I know that some retailers there have a 30% risk of "not great" quality meat randomly, and it can be a crap shoot what you will end up eating for the same price / package you thought you were buying....