Being thrifty, I endlessly seek methods to save money, and many swear by the savings a Costco membership grants through bulk purchases.
However, one can hardly walk out of Costco without spending at least $100, often we found ourselves shelling out $200 to $300 per trip. Everything feels like a steal! But when I came to grips with the hundreds of dollars each Costco trip consumed, I had to question whether I was genuinely saving while shopping there. Here’s my discovery:
OVERBUYING
One of the pitfalls of Costco was succumbing to the urge to buy more than required. There is no opportunity for single-item purchases, one ends up loading up multi-year supplies of ketchup at once. Despite the irresistible price, I’d often forget about the large stash in the garage and fetch a small bottle from the local shop.
This scenario is a common occurrence for all non-perishables. They have a long lifespan, and although buying them feels like a saving scheme, upfront payment for massive quantities is compulsory.
PURCHASING UNNECESSARY GOODS
It’s almost impossible to leave Costco without falling for the temptation of buying at least one unnecessary item. As a busy working mom, I’ve often succumbed to their clothing offerings because of pure convenience. Whether it’s a shirt, some yoga pants or work clothes tagged as an “incredible deal”, I feel less guilt grabbing it. But would I have bought it under normal circumstances? Probably not.
This presents the classic Costco dilemma: how often do you splurge on items simply because of the attractive deal rather than the actual need for it?
BREACHING BUDGET
There was a time when I would frequent Costco once a week, or refel good doing it bi-weekly. It became my regular grocery shopping spot. In truth, Costco should not be your go-to grocery store. We had earmarked $500 for monthly groceries. A single Costco visit would claim half of it and visiting twice a month would obviously result in exceeding our budget.
DOES COSTCO REALLY LEAD TO SAVINGS?
For some time, I took a break from Costco. I let my membership lapse and although I missed the convenience and unbeatable prices, I discovered I was actually saving money!
Though it may sound counter-intuitive, I started saving more money through weekly grocery shopping at local stores. I shopped smartly within budget. This approach minimized wastage as I only bought what I legitimately needed.
I do recognize Costco has a devout fanbase, but for us, not being members permitted us to save more. We did return to Costco, albeit more cautiously, visiting every other month to replenish our essential supplies.
The trick to shopping at Costco is to thoughtfully consider whether your membership is truly a path to impactful savings. Do you frequent Costco?
