More Suggestions for Shopping at Costco

I really enjoy sharing Costco shopping tips on this blog. I often come across suggestions and write about them (Suggestions for Costco Shoppers). The different articles often contain “repeat” tips (i.e., ones about which I have already written) as well as new ones. This recent article had some new ones that I wanted to share and discuss, even though most do not benefit me.

1. Buy larger meat cuts

The article points out that many people seek out convenience foods (e.g., frozen dinners;  ready-made desserts; pre-made sandwiches). The preference for convenience may also apply to pre-cut produce and meat. However, there is a tradeoff to this convenience. Prepared foods  tend to be more expensive than buying whole items and doing the preparation work. Specifically, the article suggests buying whole roasts instead of pre-sliced steaks and saving up to $3/pound. 

I don’t buy the meat at Costco and wouldn’t even know how to cut a roast. However, for produce, I definitely cut my own. I know that for some people, the required preparation time is not worth the savings. However, for many, it is.

2. Order food-court items with checkout clerks

The author recommends saving time by ordering food from the food court while checking out and purchasing items. Not every Costco offers this option, and if it does, the cashier may even ask members if they want to place an order. However, if not asked, the article suggests asking to see if it is a possibility.

I don’t eat at the food court but recently learned about this option for those who do and I think it is a very helpful suggestion. 

3. Upgrade your Costco membership

The article discusses the difference between the Gold Star membership ($60/year) and the  Executive membership ($120/year). It points out that the former is good for members who don’t shop a lot at Costco. However, it suggests the latter for those who shop a lot. 

I have written about the different levels of membership in the past and the ways in which it can be beneficial to pay for the Executive Membership (Costco Executives); (Making the fee increase “worth it”)).

4. Properly secure your wine bottles

The author points out that, although the big shopping carts are good for the large items and large purchases at Costco, they are not ideal for buying wine.  The suggestion to keep the wine bottles intact is to place them in the top section of the cart, brace the bottoms of the bottles against the back of the top cart portion, and poke the bottles’ necks through the gaps in the front part of the shelf. 

I don’t buy alcohol at Costco but this is a good suggestion for the many members that do. This tip could also be used for other items such as sauces and dressings. 

5. Spruce up your Costco hot dog

Hot dogs at the food court are often eaten with ketchup and/or mustard. However, the article suggests options for people who are willing to wait to eat them when they get home from Costco. These ideas include splitting the hot dog open and filling it with cheese, crisping it up in the air fryer, or topping them with diced onions or relish. 

I don’t eat at the food court and have not had a hot dog in decades. However, for people who do buy food court hot dogs, it is a good reminder that they can buy the hot dog at Costco and then use it at home as though they had bought hot dogs at the store. 

6. Score discounts on rare wines and spirits

The author draws attention to the amount of rare, limited-edition wines and spirits that Costco sells for lower prices than at other stores.

I have mentioned the high quality of alcohol at Costco in the past (Alcohol at Costco (Part 1 of 2); (Alcohol at Costco (Part 2 of 2)).

7. Buy gift cards at Costco

Costco not only sells a wide range of gift cards (e.g., restaurants; e-commerce; travel) but also sell them at better prices than provided by the places themselves (e.g., four $25 Domino’s pizza gift cards for $79.99; two $50 Spafinder gift cards for $79.99). 

I have previously written about the benefits of buying gift cards at Costco (Good deals on gift cards).

8. Make broth from rotisserie chicken bones

The author encourages reducing waste as much as possible (e.g., recycling containers; bringing reusable bags to the store). One way to reduce food waste is to make stock from the Costco rotisserie chicken.

I don’t eat this chicken. However, it is a very popular item (Costco Questions); (How Costco Gets Members to Spend More); (An assortment of Costco facts (Part 1 of 2))). I have mentioned that there is a two-hour window in which the chickens can be sold (Costco Surprises). One use at Costco for the chickens not sold within this time period is to make chicken soup. 

9. Pay attention to price tags

The article urges members to understand the pricing system at Costco in order to take advantage of the savings. 

I have written about the meanings behind the different price endings and/or symbols at Costco (Price endings are not random).

10. Download the Costco app

The Costco app enables members to benefit from savings and items that are not offered in the store. It also offers a digital version of the membership card and a history of their purchases. 

I have mentioned the app in other posts (Changes Planned for Costco in 2024). I not used the app but I probably should at least explore it.

11. Make a cookie sundae

The article mentions the recent introduction of a large chocolate chip cookie to the good court in place of the churro. Apparently, some members have used this cookie to create a new dessert. They order a cookie and a sundae and crumble the cookie on top. 

If I ate at the food court, I could see trying this suggestion. I love plain ice cream but also very much enjoy it mixed with cake, brown, or cookies. My Costco does not sell sundaes but I actually think that cookie crumbs sound better on plain ice cream than on a sundae. 

12. Save on ground beef

The author points out that, although ground meat used to enable people to save money, it has recently increased in price. However, members can still save money if they buy the meat in large quantities. Specifically, members can save 50¢/pound if they purchase 10 pounds. The article recommends this strategy for saving money for people that regularly eat ground meat and have the freezer space to store large amounts.

Again, I don’t eat a lot of meat or buy it at Costco. However, this is a good tip for those that do. 

13. Freeze your cheese

The article mentions that Costco sells a variety of cheeses, often less expensive than at grocery stores. It suggests buying and freezing cheese to save money and not waste the food. An additional suggestion is to shred the cheese and then freeze it in smaller packages. 

Although I don’t buy the nonkosher cheese at Costco, I have written about it being a strong section at Costco (“Strong” and “weak” sections of Costco). However, of course it is sold in larger quantities than many people may be able to eat because of its relatively short shelf life. I don’t tend to think about freezing cheese but I guess it works!

14. Position barcodes facing out

Checkout lines can be long at Costco. One suggestion to speed up the process is to make sure the barcodes of large items face up, to give easy access to the cashiers without them having to put them onto the conveyor belt. 

This suggestion is consistent with a request of the cashiers for ease of check-out (Checkout Etiquette: Dos and Don’ts). 

15. Plan visits strategically

The author recommends that members with flexible schedules shop during the slowest times (between 1-4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday). Of course, many people work or attend school and unable to go to Costco during the day. However, if members can shop at slower times, they can benefit from less crowded aisles and shorter wait times. 

I have written before about the best times to shop to avoid crowds (Suggestions for Costco Shoppers).

16. Use the return policy

The article discusses the generous return policy at Costco. It also explains that members can return items bought before a sale and get the sale price (e.g., an item purchased one week can be returned the following week and repurchased for the sale price).

I tend to pay attention to when items are and will be on sale. However, this is a good tip for the times when I miss a sale.

Did you learn any new shopping suggestions from this list? Have you used these in the past?