Many of my friends are young married couples who aren’t planning to have kids any time soon. The typical image of a Costco shopper doesn’t fit well with them – isn’t Costco for large families with numerous kids? However, they seem to underestimate the cost-saving potential of strategic shopping at Costco.
Let’s begin with the membership. I highly advocate for the Executive Membership, even if its $100 annual fee might appear a bit steep initially. Considering the benefits, it generally compensates for its cost. For instance, it offers free towing service, which allowed me to cut around $90 from my annual auto insurance expenditure, which was previously dedicated for towing coverage. In addition, it offers 2% cash back on store purchases. So if you spend approximately $1500 per year (or just above $100 per month) on essential groceries, you could still get a $30 cashback, complementing the free towing service.
If the $100 annual fee still looks a bit too much, you could consider receiving it as a gift for your birthday or during a holiday. But how does Costco actually contribute to saving on your groceries?
Many small families of two or three people protest that they can’t consume such large quantities of food without wasting it. Here’s where smart bulk purchasing and efficient use of freezer space come into play. Even sharing food with another family isn’t out of bounds. Here are some strategies to make Costco shopping affordable.
Firstly, curb your intake of processed foods. Regardless of the store you shop in or your use of coupons, eliminating processed food can meaningfully slash your grocery bills. Even though Costco offers various boxed and processed foods, it’s ideal to avoid them if saving money is your goal. Instead, focus on buying ingredients and converting them into meals, side dishes, and snacks. You’ll be amazed at the extent of homemade dishes you can make without spending excessive time in the kitchen.
Next, space out your bulk purchases. While it’s good to gradually build up a stock of bulk rice, beans, and meats in your kitchen, you don’t need to do it all within a month. Distribute your purchases and use your freezer for storing bulk meats, cheese, and bread. Even fresh produce can be stored for later use.
Lastly, smart management of bulk fresh produce purchases at Costco can prevent waste. For example, potatoes and onions can stay good for one or two months, while apples and oranges can last 2-3 weeks if stored properly. Buy a moderate amount of produce and consume consistently, instead of purchasing all available fruits and vegetables at once. For instance, one week you may pick apples, cantaloupe, romaine lettuce, and tomatoes, and the next week, you might switch to oranges, avocados, spinach, and bell peppers. This approach helps in lowering the risk of over-purchasing and potential waste.
So, regardless of your family size, how can you utilize Costco or a similar store to economize?
Image Source: benzinga.com
