These 10 tips to save money on your next trip to Costco, while pretty straight forward, are often difficult to follow because Costco has spending traps set up all over the warehouse. But the good news is after you read this article you’ll know where they are located and the places where they try to get you to spend more of your money. Shop smart and save on your next shopping trip to Costco.

1. Avoid Center of Store

The center aisles of most Costco warehouses are chalked full of stuff you had no idea existed, but clearly cannot live without.

If you let your cart meander into these aisles you will easily end up spending an extra $50-$100 as this stuff is incredibly tempting.

I am speaking from experience on this one as my wife and I now own a lifetime supply of Snickers, a kids playhouse in the backyard that has become a spider habitat, and a darn-near life size nativity set that goes on the front lawn in December and scares away children and possible intruders.

Stay out of this danger zone, and if you end up overspending, don’t be afraid to take advantage of their generous return policy.

PRO TIP: MAKE A “SMART” COSTCO SHOPPING LIST

When making your shopping list, make it in the same order as products appear in your local Costco. This saves me so much time NOT having to figure out what products on my list are near where I’m currently standing. I just use my list as my guide to walk through Costco and I get in and out very quickly.

2. Buy Kirkland Brand When Possible

The generic Kirkland brand provides an excellent value and offers a very high quality alternative to the more expensive name brands.

Kirkland products that I absolutely swear by include the mac ‘n cheese, dog food (not to be confused with the mac ‘n cheese), batteries, toilet paper, baby wipes, coffee, and beer. Yes, I said beer.

Costco actually has an agreement with a small brewery in the San Francisco bay area to brew beer for them and it’s excellent.

It comes in a variety box of four different brews and it easily stands up to the more expensive imports.

PRO TIP: GRAB YOUR OWN BOXES IN PRODUCE SECTION

Depending on how big my list is, I always try to grab an empty box or 2 in the produce aisles and start putting my stuff in them. My favorite boxes are apple, bananas, and sometimes oranges. Then when I get to the checkout lane, the box person loves me and I don’t end up with small crappy boxes. This way I can always get my stuff into the house on one or two trips.

3. Shop at Costco With a Plan

Do NOT walk into Costco looking to shop for dinner. You’ll end up with 12 New York steaks and a 30 pound bag of potatoes that will go to waste.

Or worse yet, you’ll settle for their expensive already prepared meals.

Instead, have a Costco shopping list at home and don’t set foot into the warehouse until you have at least a dozen items on it.

Then when you enter the store maximize your time by only going after the items on your list.

Don’t get distracted by the bright and shiny electronics in the front of the store, or worse yet, the center aisles of doom. (See Tip #1)

See Also: How to Essentially Get a $60 Costco Membership for Free

PRO TIP: SHOP ON A WEEKDAY – 30 MINUTES BEFORE CLOSING

If you can, try shopping at Costco Monday through Thursday, 30 minutes before they close the store. The warehouse is eerily quiet and you’ll avoid impulse purchases as you hustle to get out before they shut the doors.

4. Stock-up on Household Items

Toilet paper, dish washing soap, laundry detergent, paper towels, diapers, batteries, light bulbs. Yes, yes, and yes.

These household items are a great buy at Costco, especially when buying for a family of 4 or more.

The reason? They don’t expire quickly and can be stored fairly easily.

Price per unit is almost always better than a grocery store and typically compares favorably to Walmart.

5. Buy Meat in Bulk

Costco meat is some of the best I have ever tasted. Tender, juicy and thick.

The best value on their meat comes in the bulk packaging.

Buy in bulk and freeze in smaller dinner sized freezer bags and enjoy for several months to come.

My family does this with their tri-tip and boneless chicken breasts and it’s a great way to save money on high quality beef and poultry.

PRO TIP: INVEST IN A FOOD SAVER

For about $95, get yourself a FoodSaver Vacuum Seal machine. It’s the absolute best way to buy in bulk at Costco and keep stuff fresh, especially if you’re going to be freezing meat, bread, and even produce. Stuff will keep in the freezer for a long time and won’t get freezer burnt over time.

6. Team Shop

Team up with a friend and split bulk items purchased from Costco.

This works great if you have limited storage space as you still get the savings from buying in bulk without the dilemma of where to store the 50 rolls of butt wipe. 25 rolls is a little more manageable.

This is a little harder to do with a 5 pound tub of Best Foods mayonnaise, but with some creative “tupperwaring” it could be done.

See Also: Costco Employees Told Me the BEST Day of the Week to Shop

7. Membership Upgrade

Look into upgrading your Costco membership. Often times this will get you added benefits like cash back.

A few years ago my wife and I upgraded our membership to an ‘Executive Membership’ which gives us 2% back on purchases.

Figure out what you’d need to spend to break even on the cost of the upgraded membership.

A man and wife with a couple rug-rats could easily cover the cost making a membership completely free.

Also, look into other benefits of the executive membership like medical insurance for small business owners and travel discounts.

Plus, your card may get you into the hottest new night club, just flash your ‘exec’ card and watch the bouncers escort you right in. Not.

8. Find Real Value

Sometimes the best values at Costco are right under your noise yet you walk right past them.

Here are a few ‘did you knows’:

• Olive Oil – Did you know the Kirkland brand extra virgin olive oil is half the price of the Bertolli brand and rates much higher according to those in the know?
• Laptops – Did you know that Costco offers a 2-year warranty (manufacturers typically offer 1 year) on all laptops that go out their orange doors? Also, did you know that Costco offers free technical support for members. Includes laptop set-up issues and trouble-shooting.
• Wines – Did you know that Costco has a team of highly competent wine buyers? Neither did I. The end result is only good wines end up on store floors.

The best news? They sell bottles at 15% to 25% less than the competition.

PRO TIP: GET PROPANE ON A THURSDAY

If your Costco sells propane, get it on a Thursday if at all possible. Friday and Saturdays are a mess as everyone and their uncle is trying to fill their propane tanks for their weekend barbeques.

9. Eat A Meal While You’re There

Ever had a Costco hot dog from the food court? Perhaps the best tube steak I have ever put in my pie hole.

Get the hot dog and 20oz. soda combo for a whopping $1.50. Incredibly, this price has been the same since 1985.

What about the pizza? Don’t get me started on the pizza.

You can get a ginormous pie for only $9.99 or a slice bigger than your head for less than $2.

Cheese, pepperoni, or combo are your choices.

Their pizzas are an excellent choice for kid’s birthday parties.

Easily feed an entire backyard full of rug-rats for a 50 spot. Also, don’t forget to fill up on the various tasty food samples around the warehouse. 🙂

PRO TIP: ORDER A PIZZA WHEN YOU WALK INTO COSTCO

My favorite time saving Costco hack is to order a pizza from the Food Court self-ordering kiosk when I first walk in the doors. Then I’ll go do my shopping and grab my pizza on the way out and completely avoid the long line.

See Also: The Costco Food Court Menu: Prices, Selection, and Fun Facts

10. Use Photo Services

The Costco photo department is incredibly efficient and quite cheap.

Try them out this Christmas when you are doing your family holiday card. I think you will find them cheaper than Shutterfly.com or Snapfish.com.

Just login to their online photo department, start uploading your pictures, place your order, and pick them up the next time you visit the warehouse.

Very easy and convenient.

Ask the Reader: Any other tips on how to save money at Costco? Looking forward to your comments.

By Kyle James

Kyle James( Owner/Founder )

I started Rather-Be-Shopping.com in 2000 and have become a consumer expert and advocate writing about out-of-the-box ways to save at stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Costco to name a few. I’ve been featured on FOX News, Good Morning America, and the NY Times talking about my savings tips. (Learn more)