How might I save by shopping at Costco?

Since a membership would cost $65, I'm curious about how I might be able to save that much, which would mean breaking even. Of course, more would be better. For context, we don't have any major purchases planned, so I'm mainly thinking about food plus HBA.

When I look at the weekly Costco posts in the blog, I don't see obvious ways to save much, at least not enough to make me feel like the savings would easily add up to $65 or more. For most things I buy, it doesn't look like Costco is lower cost at all compared to shopping around for deals at my usual stores.

That said, there are things where the cost comparisons would be different if I could use regular tearpad and printed coupons. Does Costco take them?


addenda: The nearest Costco is about an 8-10 minute drive each way, so not super-convenient, but basically the same as the RCSS where I shop most often.

I didn't mention the new member offer of a voucher for $40 wus $100, mainly because it's not easy to estimate how much of the $40 would be actual savings compared to buying deals elsewhere.

Costco does not accept coupons. The vast majority of items are more expensive at Costco if you look for sales and use coupons at other stores.

We've never joined, even when our3 kids were at the height of their teenage eating years. There aren't any locations THAT close to us, burning gas to get there seemed wasteful. We're older now, family shrunk so the grocery shops have pared down considerably. I've always been insulted by Costco's expectation that we must pay them up front to shop there?

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Originally Posted by GeorgiaK

The vast majority of items are more expensive at Costco if you look for sales and use coupons at other stores.

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This has been my general impression for some time. What I have never done though is to look at whether the exceptions (i.e. those items that are better deals at Costco) would add up to at least the cost of membership.

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Originally Posted by GeorgiaK

Costco does not accept coupons. The vast majority of items are more expensive at Costco if you look for sales and use coupons at other stores.

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Originally Posted by Arjon

This has been my general impression for some time. What I have never done though is to look at whether the exceptions (i.e. those items that are better deals at Costco) would add up to at least the cost of membership.

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I did a personal comparison for some of my most purchased items (i.e. milk and fruit) and found the same; CostCo is not too bad, if you do not shop sales, but discounts and sales give much greater value in other stores.

Some of my findings include:

1.2kg Roast chicken is the best at CostCo, if you simply must have roast chicken. It works out to $3/lb. This deal is (much) better than RCSS, Walmart, Sav-On, and Sobeys. However, if you simply want 'meat', you can get better deals than $3/lb from discounts at other stores.

Toilet paper. I only did a perfunctory comparison. I did not do an in-depth check on length of a roll of Tp or thickness. I found that I can get a sale price of $0.15/roll for a 'standard roll' at Sobeys or Loblaws annual/semi-annual sales. This is even better than the CostCo price.

Hotdog. The $1.50 / (0.5pound) hotdog + drink is the cheapest meal anywhere in the city, for the weight of food; sale or no sale.

Cheerios: if you absolutely must have honey-nut Cheerios, the family bulk price at CostCo (when on $3 sale discount) is the best price for Cheerios. However, if any cereal will suffice, other stores have it cheaper at discount or clearance (if you can wait or bother to search for them.)

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Originally Posted by HermanH

I did a personal comparison for some of my most purchased items (i.e. milk and fruit) and found the same; CostCo is not too bad, if you do not shop sales, but discounts and sales give much greater value in other stores.

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THIS ^^. There are a couple of things that are better if they are on "sale" at Costco - protein bars, protein shakes, etc. But for household goods and basic groceries (except milk and bread) I prefer to look at sales, coupons and loyalty programs elsewhere.

My husband goes every week to get milk and bread for us but also goes to buy things for his mom who, due to age, cannot go out. Due to this, and him having an executive membership, we earn enough cashback to pay the membership. Also, people will tell you that the gas prices are better at Costco; however, I have found that not to always be true.

If you are having doubts about it, perhaps it may not be a good option for you.

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Originally Posted by GeorgiaK

Due to this, and him having an executive membership, we earn enough cashback to pay the membership. Also, people will tell you that the gas prices are better at Costco; however, I have found that not to always be true.

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Thanks for the reminder. If you drive a lot, gas purchases, alone, might be sufficient to justify a membership. In Edm, they are consistently first or second lowest price in the city. However, my closest location seems to have an interminable 20 minute+ wait. YMMV. :)

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Originally Posted by HermanH

Thanks for the reminder. If you drive a lot, gas purchases, alone, might be sufficient to justify a membership. In Edm, they are consistently first or second lowest price in the city. However, my closest location seems to have an interminable 20 minute+ wait. YMMV. :)

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For me at least, the key would be comparing net costs. For the past several months, I've almost always had an air miles deal at Shell that has averaged out around 10 cents a liter. So, I'd have to pay 10 cents less per liter at the pump just to break even.

Oops, I was reminded by the post below that we also get the CAA discount.

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Originally Posted by Arjon

For me at least, the key would be comparing net costs. For the past several months, I've almost always had an air miles deal at Shell that has averaged out around 10 cents a liter. So, I'd have to pay 10 cents less per liter at the pump just to break even.

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I love Costco but agree on the gas, with my Shell offers, 3 cents off with CAA and 2 cents from BMO MC Costco is rarely worth the hassle. Things that are cheaper would be propane, produce, and dairy if no sales are to be had elsewhere. We have done well with bigger ticket items like AirPods and iPads. We only buy at Costco. I just purchased all my new appliances there as they were the only place to deliver to my location in NS and they were less money for the same product else where.
If you have a friend with a membership you should ask to tag along, it’s hard to say if it makes sense for what you buy if you have never been there.

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Originally Posted by lilo0003

I love Costco but agree on the gas, with my Shell offers, 3 cents off with CAA and 2 cents from BMO MC Costco is rarely worth the hassle. Things that are cheaper would be propane, produce, and dairy if no sales are to be had elsewhere. We have done well with bigger ticket items like AirPods and iPads. We only buy at Costco. I just purchased all my new appliances there as they were the only place to deliver to my location in NS and they were less money for the same product else where.
If you have a friend with a membership you should ask to tag along, it’s hard to say if it makes sense for what you buy if you have never been there.

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I forgot about the CAA discount, and I also get 2% cashback from my no-fee credit card that I didn't mention because I don't know if it would be the same for Costco gas.

I have seen and heard reliable reports about saving on major purchases, but have none pending.
Unfortunately, it hasn't worked out the couple of times I've tried to arrange to go as a guest. I saw just in the past couple of days that membership is refundable if people are not satisfied. I'm thinking that if so, it might be more practical to sign up and see what I find to buy / how much I spend and save over the next while.

The best deal is the executive I make my money back every year and the cheqque pays for the membership
I don't buy meat there too expensive
I buy Kirkland toilet paper, cases of water, sugar, milk, eggs, butter, cheese, spices sometimes if on sale yogurt Olive oil, Kraft dinner, kraft Parm, (before tariffs)
They have decent prices on nuts, dried fruit
They fo not carry everything ie certain brands so I still need to shop elsewhere

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Oh and yes gas when I'm there

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Originally Posted by Anna Michele

The best deal is the executive I make my money back every year and the cheqque pays for the membership
I don't buy meat there too expensive
I buy Kirkland toilet paper, cases of water, sugar, milk, eggs, butter, cheese, spices sometimes if on sale yogurt Olive oil, Kraft dinner, kraft Parm, (before tariffs)
They have decent prices on nuts, dried fruit
They fo not carry everything ie certain brands so I still need to shop elsewhere

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While I have no doubt the exec membership works for some, it doesn't seem to be a likely fit for us. Our projected spend on the categories of items Costco sells is under $5000, so well below the >$6000 to get the fee back.

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Originally Posted by Anna Michele

Oh and yes gas when I'm there

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Typically, how much less per liter do you pay compared to the posted prices at regular gas stations?