I've been going to Costco more this year because everything at the regular grocery store keeps getting pricier, but I keep wondering if I'm actually saving money or just spending more because the packs are huge. Some things are clearly cheaper per unit, but then half the produce goes bad before we finish it. Does anyone here actually track whether bulk buying saves them money, or do you just go by feel? What items are actually worth buying in bulk and what isn't?
Unit price is the honest test: compare the per-ounce or per-count price on the shelf tag with your regular store, not the total. Bulk usually wins on things that don't spoil — paper goods, detergent, rice, coffee, frozen vegetables, olive oil. Fresh produce, bread and big tubs of sauces are where the savings quietly end up in the trash unless you split them with another household or freeze portions right away. Also worth subtracting the membership fee from whatever you save.
One trick that helps with the produce problem: plan the week's meals before the trip and only buy bulk fresh stuff you'll actually cook in the next few days. Things like berries, spinach and bread freeze well if you portion them the same day. A simple check is to keep the receipt and compare five or six regular items with your usual store's prices once — after that you know which items are worth it and which aren't.
Totally agree with the unit-price point — that's the only way I've been able to tell. Paper goods, coffee, rice and frozen stuff are clear wins for us, but fresh produce is where it falls apart, exactly like Charlotte said. Carter's tip about freezing berries and spinach the same day has helped, though I still end up skipping a lot of the big fresh packs. Once you subtract the membership fee, I think we save a little, but not nearly as much as I assumed.
Costco pays off mostly for things that don't spoil: paper towels, detergent, rice, coffee, batteries. For fresh food it only works if you actually finish it or freeze part of it right away. A quick check is the unit price on the shelf tag versus your regular store — sometimes the supermarket sale beats the bulk pack.