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MarilynW
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I am trying to figure out whether I can shop more efficiently at Costco. Ruth has done a great post here on how she shops at Costco.
I would love to know what you buy from there.
Thanks
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Marilyn
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JodieLyn
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we don't have a membership but dh's parents do and they seem to want to shop there whether or not it really saves money.. so.. we get
flour tortillas
butter
there a few times a year when we see them.. they'll bring it up to us or when we go down there.
But mostly I found when we had our own card (and now I'd have to factor in a full tank of gas for the round trip just to go there) that shopping the sales at regular grocery stores was meeting or beating their prices.
but those two items above I can not get anywhere near as cheaply.
so it will also depend on where else you shop and what things you buy.
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hylabrook1
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Recently (last 6 months?) we have had bad luck with milk from Costco. Several times the milk has gone bad in the refrigerator, even though it is still a full week before the "sell by" date. So, in theory, it could still be sold as fresh, but it is anything but  . Basic purchases are butter, OJ, the mini baguettes (which we freeze, 2 to a freezer bag; easy to pull out to eat with soup, make a French bread pizza, whatever),Tide, tp.
Peace,
Nancy
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Sarah M
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toilet paper
paper towels
diapers (well, not anymore-- ds is potty-trained!  )
baby wipes
grapes- seriously, the grapes at Costco are AWESOME
bananas
pesto sauce
chicken breasts (individually wrapped for me- love that)
ground beef
laundry detergent
handwashing dish soap
dryer sheets
computer paper
ink for the printer
wine (only once in a while- but they have a great selection)
coffee beans
baby soap
I think that's about it  . We LOVE Costco.
**edit: nope! that's not all! we get our photos printed there, too**
and their marinated pork tenderloins are delicious- but we can't eat them anymore b/c we're gluten-free.
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SuzanneG
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I keep a list on the inside of my cupboard of what we purchase there on a regular basis. So, when dh is ready to go, I take the running list off the fridge, and add to it by opening the cupboard door and going through the master list quickly to see if there is anything to add to it.
Things we buy on a regular basis:
tp, canned fruit, grahm crackers, peanut butter, raisins, dates, oatmeal, flour, oil, vinegar, choc chips, nuts, pasta, tomato paste, 10# tomatoes, refried beans, ground beef, bratwurst, tortillas, broccoli, bananas, milk, yogurt, cheese, eggs, butter, vitamins, coffee beans, beer, dishwasher soap, onions, potatoes, syrup.
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guitarnan
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Gasoline!
Perrier (I love fizzy mineral water)
Printer ink cartridges
Printer paper
Soda (sometimes)
Parmigiano (cheese - hands down best price)
Trash bags for the yard
Cat litter
Hummus (when we have guests)
Socks for dd
DVDs, on occasion - selection is limited
Bulk paper goods for big parties
Whole wheat pasta when price is good; it varies
Canned black olives (to marinate for parties)
Bear in mind that I shop at a military commissary (same driving distance as Costco) and I've carefully compared prices on the above items. I only buy things at Costco that are cheaper than anywhere else. Yes, I stand in the aisles and divide prices in my head! If we were not military I'd buy a lot more at Costco, I think.
I added up our monthly gas savings and it's enough to pay for our annual membership fee.
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sewcrazy
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milk
trash bags
black berries
frozen berries
oatmeal
baking soda
crackers
ground beef
frozen fish
soap
torillas
salsa
gator aide
black berry juice (our favorite juice!)
orange juice
nuts
flour
sugar
molasses
rice
beans
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LeeAnn
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St. Ann
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Snyder's pretzels
heavy whipping cream
butter
eggs
ground beef
sugar
brown sugar
chocolate chips
maple syrup
seasonal fruits
trash bags
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Stephanie
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gouda cheese
organic eggs
wild alaskan salmon (when they had it)
brut champagne
asti spumante (though it's the same price at other stores)
organic kirkland oatmeal
swiss miss hot chocolate (during the winter)
organic broccoli frozen
avocadoes - pack of 5
french brie
Canon printer - one time purchase
and we would have purchased our vacuum there (eureka smartvac) but we had let our membership lapse
chocolate chips
sugar
baking soda
socks for dh
Christmas dress for 7-yo
underwear for dd and me
film developing (we still had old disposable cameras to use up)
their pizza and churros!
spanakopita
martinelli sparkling cider
jack lalanne juicer (elizabeth's recommendation)
and i used to order canon ink from them before our printer died
oy, i forget now what else we had gotten there, but it's A LOT!
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CrunchyMom
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We get a lot of the things mentioned (tp, canned tomatoes, cheese for parties (great prices on brie, boursin, etc...), film development (even digital), prescriptions filled, lightbulbs, etc...
Plus, we've gotten good deals on car seats, vacuums, etc... We will often look there first when in the market for a larger purchase. I think we got our deep freezer there, too.
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crusermom
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Most of the above, plus
organic brown rice
Real maple syrup (from upstate ny - need the real stuff!)
rotisserie chicken
Pizzas from the food court
bacon
beer
toilet paper
paper towels
vitamins
tires
We live about 7 minutes from Costco, and my husband passes it on the way home. So, we probably shop there more than if it was out of the way.
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Mary
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juststartn
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Well, I live hours away from Sams... 
I went there for the first time since February 08, in Dec 08. I got flour, brown sugar, big bags of chocolate chips, nuts, salt, sugar, ribbon, 3 dvds (Christmas presents), pens (I LOOOOVE my Pilot V7s and V5s!), potatoes, onions (the big boxes of potatoes, and huge bag of onions), yeast, Pam cooking spray, olives...I'm trying to remember, since it's been a couple of months...
When we lived in NC, and were only 15 min from a Sams, I'd get my butter and some of my other dairy products there, as well as more fragile veggies, meat, etc.
Rachel
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Kyra
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FLOUR (about half the price of supermarket bags)
Butter
Eggs
Big bags of pasta
Chopped broccoli
Heavy cream and milk
Meat (although I've discovered a Chinese supermarket near us has lower prices, so I'll probably switch)
Garbage bags
Mac'c'cheese
Frozen tortellini and gnocchi
Diapers
Cereal (I wish they sold bulk oatmeal)
Frozen berries
Brown and white sugar
Canned tomatoes
olive oil
tortillas
cheddar
parmesan
Dried apricots
Laundry detergent
Nuts...
I do our primary shopping there, and fill in the corners at our local (much more expensive) stores. We got our vacuum cleaner (Dyson cannister) there. I like it. Our local stores are hideously expensive, so it's best to stock up and only pick up small purchases nearby. I also really like Costco's consistently good rating as a great company to work for- they pay well, and treat their employees better than other big box stores.
I'm probably forgetting stuff off our basic list. I tend to go every other week, or once every three weeks.
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chrisv664
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I get into trouble at Costco when I don't have a list. Since I tend to buy the same things each time, I made my "Costco Master List" in word and I just print it out each time I go, checking off the items I need. It keeps me from wandering, saves time and money! Here's what is on my list:
milk, butter,half and half, eggs, shredded cheddar, coffee, real maple syrup, honey, contac lens solution, soap, baby carrots, red potatoes, bacon, baking soda, vanilla, cinnamon, yeast, brown sugar, takeout coffe cups and lids, and kitchen garbage bags.
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Mary Chris
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Pretty much the same everyone else has listed. We also bought our TV there. I like to go visit the Le Crueset dutch oven I'm saving up for. Last year we did sign up for their program where you get a rebate based on how much you spend there. Last year it paid for our membership, this year I hope it puts a good dent in the Vita-mix blender I'm hoping to buy.
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Mackfam
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Mary Chris wrote:
| I like to go visit the Le Crueset dutch oven I'm saving up for. |
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Can I come visit your dutch oven???? My Costco doesn't have them anymore. Don't let it get away, Mary Chris! I suppose you know by now that you won't EVER beat that price on a LeCreuset? I keep hoping I'll stroll down that aisle and see them again!
Mary Chris wrote:
| Last year we did sign up for their program where you get a rebate based on how much you spend there. Last year it paid for our membership, this year I hope it puts a good dent in the Vita-mix blender I'm hoping to buy. |
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We signed up two years ago for this and our return has been huge!!!
I buy a lot at Costco. I keep a master list with my menu and grocery planning clipboard. I buy staples like paper towels and tissue and toilet paper when they have their coupons for those items. I love their Dubliner Cheese block and the Tilamook Cheddar (pre-sliced). My list would be ridiculously long if I listed it all here.... I love to stroll through their books! And, like Mary Chris, we check them first if we have a big ticket item we're considering.
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Elizabeth
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Marilyn,
Here's an old thread we did for Bridget when she was about to deliver last time.
Simple Costco Meal Plans
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Elizabeth
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..pressed post too soon:-). I love Costco and do the bulk of my shopping there, rounding out at Harris Teeter or Bloom and Trader Joe's. Looking over the lists here, I agree with everything and can't really think of anything to add except
FLOWERS!
costco has really affordable, absolutely beautiful flowers for vases.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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MarilynW
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Thanks everyone for the ideas.
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Marilyn
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MelissaClaire
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In addition to what's been mentioned, we love:
-croissants
-panko breaded tilapia
-marinated wild salmon (also frozen)
-take and bake pizza
-I print my digital scrapbook pages there
We also got our tires there, my camera I used for my photography business, our printer, the little house on the prairie box set, and most recently our wii and wii fit. And whenever we're near the costco with a gas station we always fill up there.
We love Costco! If you upgrade for the Executive membership and you don't get back enough in the refund to make up the cost in membership fees they will refund you the difference.
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Topic: What do you buy from Costco?
