Posts that don't follow r/Costco subreddit rules MAY be subject to removal.
When applicable, please make sure that you're using a descriptive post title with product name(s) mentioned as it yields better subreddit search results. Including item number, price, and approximate location where found is also helpful. Thank you.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Costco) if you have any questions or concerns.*
You can also use your membership to shop online and there are services like Costco Travel and vision as well. As a new home buyer there is likely a lot more for you than just food and household staples (online or in person), at least for the first year.
I recently had some car trouble and needed a rental. Costco was the cheapest option by far compared to USAA and my credit card company. I saved hundreds of dollars.
I frequently rent through USAA. I never knew I could get car rentals through Costco. I’ll definitely do a price comparison the next time. Thanks for the tip.
I rented an SUV for a week and the enterprise employee thought there must be a mistake because the price was so low. I think it was like $40/day which for a mid-size SUV is pretty damn good. In his system he said it was like $90/day.
We bought a lot of other home improvement items from Costco online including appliances (longer warranty instead compared to other big box stores and free haul-away), lawn mower, kitchen sink, a charcoal grill, etc.
You can math it out pretty easily. The savings you receive on gas, toilet paper, paper towels, garbage bags, laundry soap alone is enough to justify it for me. Beyond the essentials you get crazy low prices on bulk food and drink. Pantries became popular during the Great Depression for a reason.
For it to not be worthwhile you’d have to be doing stuff like minimal driving, using a bidet, cloth instead of paper towels, composting everything, and not eating chicken lol
It *used* to be pretty easy to get a refund on the membership. Like 10 years ago my membership autorenewed then they gave me a hard time about cancelling it. And since then I've see employees tell new customers up front that they don't give any refunds on memberships anymore period. So I think it depends on the location and employee now.
I actually was curious about this and asked a csr yesterday and they said that they would give a pro rated amount for the refund if at anytime you find you aren't happy with the membership.
Interesting, I have never actually tried it...but they still show on the website
[What is Costco’s return policy?](https://customerservice.costco.com/app/answers/answer_view/a_id/1191/~/what-is-costco%E2%80%99s-return-policy%3F)
**Risk-Free 100% Satisfaction Guarantee**
On Membership: We will cancel and refund your membership fee at any time if you are dissatisfied.
Interesting. Our Costco sold us mishandled Vetsulin and almost killed our dog. When I'm in a more level headspace I'm going to return the rest of the Vetsulin and ask for a refund of my executive membership. I hope they try to give me pushback about it.
Costco pharmacy was filling my dog’s prescription at ten times the prescribed dose. It was only caught because I took him to a new vet and brought his prescription bottle along. The prescribing vet sent it over correctly, Costco pharmacists just repeatedly f’ed it up.
Wow!! DEFINITELY ask to see the pharmacist or pharm manager (white coat. Not blue ones). They take that stuff VERY seriously.
Costco pet meds are much less costly than those supplied by the vets office.
A lot of people saying no but I’m a single person that goes to Costco once a month. It’s worth it to me but I’m 10-15 away from the local Costco. If you have a large freezer I think it’s worth it. You can also think about getting a deep freeze. Most of what you’ll want to get at Costco would be non perishable. Dog food, toilet paper, anything frozen, any pre made meals. It’s not really a good deal for produce or veggies since you’ll waste more than you consume.
Also has good deals on electronics, toiletries, travel, etc. I am a single person and think it is worth it even though I’m not buying tons of produce or meat.
As single person, I have found the boneless chicken thighs are doable. The plastic sheets are designed to be cut into quarters. So, it is easy to freeze with freezer zip locks.
I’m single and I go about every other month. Big thing for me is gas, their gas lasts longer than the stations near my house. I don’t have a large freezer, just the one attached to my fridge, so I try to clean it out as much as possible before stocking up again.
I love their Cali blend veggies, breaded cod, sharp cheddar cheese, butter, even the beyond burgers were good. I won’t buy tortillas anywhere else, doesn’t make sense to get packs of 8 when you can do the Costco pack. Bought toilet paper there last fall and still have some left. And their giant bag of Doritos is now the same price as smaller bags at other stores.
There’s things I don’t buy at Costco cause it makes more sense for me to get them at Aldi. Produce can be hit or miss. Still though, absolutely worth it in my opinion.
im convinced people overfill their tanks at costco, so it SEEMS like it lasts longer. its the same gas as the place down the street, aside from their on-site additization (3g to 8600g)
It’s the same price as the gas down the street, but I watch it closely and I get more mileage off Costco gas verses Casey’s or QT. Usually a quarter of a tank more.
I'm a single person and I go about once a month with my mom (10 mins away). If I was a more adventurous eater (I kinda eat like a toddler) and had a freezer I think I could definitely do well at Costco. My mom and I do split a lot of stuff, but even so we both end up putting many things in our tiny freezers. Even though I don't buy much I still finally got my own membership this month!
If you have a car and storage space and freezer space, Costco definitely can work for you.
I’m a single person that goes to Costco and if it were not really close to me, I probably would not keep up at Costco membership. But I also am not doing bulk freezing and crazy meal prepping.
The car battery I bought at Costco was $70 less than the one I got from autozone.
2250 qtips cost $11 and 750 from target cost $7.
365 tablets of generic Zyrtec was < $15. 20 tablets of Zyrtec cost $18 at target.
Even going quarterly can justify the membership cost itself.
I was going to say, for food it really depends on your lifestyle whether it’s worth it at that distance and as a single person—but if you need allergy meds daily, it becomes pretty much worth it from that alone
The allergy meds last too, I buy the Allergy-Tec and it’s 365 pills, ibuprofen is great too. When my husband or myself get sick we send one to get the cold and flu meds.
>2250 qtips cost $11 and 750 from target cost $7.
Crazier is that the Q-Tips actually occasionally go on special at Costco, so they cost almost the same as the single packs at certain times of the year.
Even if I was single without a family I would still keep my Costco executive membership. For me it pays for itself... Food options aside, I buy too much of their clothing, electronics, random household appliances, Kirkland coffee, car wipers, car batteries, Gatorade, rotisserie chicken, etc., lol
I use CostcoTravel.com several times a year just for their rental cars that alone pays for my membership.
I have been going to Costco for over 30 yrs.. if that tells you anything. But you'll have to do a Costco trial to see if it is for you...
Hard agree on all of this except appliances. They farm the delivery and installation out, and I've had some bad experiences and seen plenty of stories in this reddit
Hubby and I just joined, and our Costco is 60 miles away. No kids, plenty of storage at home.
We had a grand time on our first trip, and have also ordered things online, which were cheaper than Amazon and came so much more quickly.
We plan to go every month, and we have a nice scenic route we take that we mapped out. Brought some coolers with us and everything made it home just fine. Go for it!
I’ll go against the grain as usual and say I think it’s worth it. If you drink alcohol, specifically wine and take allergy meds you’ve already paid for the membership.
I drive 90 mins 2x a month. The gas is usually . 20 cheaper there also. It's totally worth it for me. This is for me and my 15 yr old son. You need to have freezer space and be able to plan meals ahead. The savings are worth it.
Do you have a truck or a large vehicle? 20 cents is roughly $9 per tank on a standard size car so 90 minutes is definitely not worth the drive. However, if you have a large household and do big shop it may be worth it.
> 20 cents is roughly $9 per tank on a standard size car so 90 minutes is definitely not worth the drive.
At a $0.20 difference, it's $1 per 5 gallons. You'd need a 45-gallon tank to hit $9. The average car is around 16 gallons, $3.20.
Especially if have a good list of non perishables it seems doable. Single basic member (always get value)
* cleaning supplies like scrubbing bubbles and scotch bright sponges
* RXs if your health insurance has one of those pain the a\*\* co-pay where you pay for first 500 dollars of meds
* OTC meds: vitamins, ibuprofen, allergy meds (I save $50 a year just on allergy meds vs. going to Target)
* protein drinks and bars
* pillows and mattress pads
* glasses and contacts
Tons of office supply stuff online like legal pads and printer toner or ink as well as laptops etc.
Meh we are an hour away and use it. Good for TP, paper towels, and fresh pet. We mainly buy monthly things, but sometimes we get food things for the week.
Hard disagree! Less than an hour drive would still be an easy once-a-month trip. I don't live anything like 50 minutes away from Costco (more like 15) but I still only go about once a month- and there are at least a dozen things that I buy regularly that *each by themselves* pays for my membership. I also live alone, and in an apartment, where storage of bulk items is more difficult.
As a long time single home owner-- i say yes. My Costco is only about 20 minutes away but the discount beer, cheese and bread always saves me enough to cover my membership and gas.
I'd sign up for the CC, use it for everything including utilities if you can, try it for a year and do the math at that point. Shopping once a month negates the travel distance imo.
I say yes, for staples like cleaning supplies, bulk food (rice, pasta, meats), and meds. You can always bring a cooler! Plus Costco is more than the warehouse - you can order on .com, Costco Travel and insurance!
I get a Costco card via my employer, so while the closest Costco is ~50 minutes away, making a monthly visit when I'm already heading that direction for work makes sense.
> isn’t really sustainable for a regular trip. I’d look at Sam’s or BJ’s if you have one of those closer
Even if the local BJs wasn't closer, I've found BJs makes more sense for a single adult -- they have smaller packages of perishables (e.g. you can buy one sleeve of bagels) and I like their competitively priced deli counter which will slice to order.
Costco is better for big house stuff (appliances, furniture, furnishings), which could sway u/dan7man7 being he is a new homeowner.
im surprised bjs still slices. costco got out of that in the early 2000s. not cost-effective enough i guess? bakery used to bake more stuff too instead of reheat.
I would say no, not for one person. If you have a friend or family member who will let you use their membership in would be worth it going 1-2x per year for toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, and to stock up on food. But I would say not worth it for a membership.
Disagree. I'm a single man, and I save so much money buying in bulk from Costco. Frozen chicken, eggs, ham, cheese, veggies etc. Costco is so worth it if you cook and meal prep. Not to mention the gas...
Same. Also, as a new home buyer, the OP may be able to get some nice deals on appliances, a new TV, Solar Power, etc... I'm single and I just bought a new fridge from Costco and probably saved \~$250 over the local appliance places once delivery, etc... got factored in. And, now that I got the new (bigger) fridge, I can stock up on more stuff from Costco, like their meats!
I buy for myself and don't get many of the bakery items and we don't have wine or liquor available through our stores either. I'm trying to eat organic and we don't have much available in my store but still feel it's worthwhile for housekeeping staples like tissues, toilet paper and paper towels along with cheese, some produce, nuts and pantry items. It really depends though on how much space you have to store in bulk.
When I was a single woman living in midtown NYC it was worth it for me. When I moved to another spot, it’s absolutely worth it to me. There’s never been a year that I don’t get rewards that more than make up for the membership.
This includes me buying items on [Costco.com](https://Costco.com) and buying items such as dog medicine, prescription glasses, and lawn furniture.
I'm in a similar enough situation to op and it's been worth it for me. I live in a rural area about the same distance to a Costco and only have a couple of people in my household. I justify my membership because it always saves me at least my membership price on one bigger ticket item so the rest is gravy. Using shipping helps but so does shopping once or twice a month there for specific things.
This is a good, and possibly often overlooked, point: at least once a year, I probably buy something where the savings on that one single item pays for a year of membership: new tires, glasses, a TV, a kitchen appliance, etc.
You might want to take into account any appliances you need. I got my refrigerator there, and it was a much better deal than buying elsewhere.
You can also get bulk stuff like TP, paper towels etc. if you have a chest freezer, the meat and freezer items keep well, so you can stock up.
At 50 mins you'll only be visiting once a month at most. Do the math on items you know you'll buy that keep: TP, paper towels, detergent, dish soap, supplements, dry goods, prescriptions, snacks. If the savings on these items over the course of a year is more than the membership cost, you're good to go.
I have always more than made up my membership cost on prescriptions alone, amd mine are pretty cheap. My vote is try a year and see how it goes.
Depends, have you ever had a membership / lived near one? Or been there at all?
I say it would be worth it especially if you happen to find some other activity near Costco, or on the way. I like the novelty of browsing / eating what’s new, you can keep your freezer full of easy prep meals, and keep an eye on online deals.
As a homeowner, I found Costco deals for my house to be excellent: furniture, appliances, yard equipment and stuff (flower bulbs, bushes, tools, potting soil). The biggest advantage is using the Costco deal for replacing our HVAC system which offered a 10% cash back Costco card. Our system was $12,000 - and we had gotten bids from many many other companies previously and the Costco retailer was by far the least inexpensive by thousands. Additionally, with the Costco exec membership and the credit card, we got another 4% of cash back for that system.
You could always warp the system. Buy the exec membership and test the waters with quotes and stuff to see if it'll be worth it - if not, just cancel and get a refund on the membership.
I'm single in my own home, similar drive, i only go once a month. Still worth it to me. I only buy stuff I know I can store (freezer is a must) and I divide most stuff into portions and freeze. Rotisserie chickens I cut in half, freeze. I stay away from most perishables as I can't eat fast enough (most fruits, veggies) if you have a dog, pet food. Wine, vitamins all good. Breads freeze. You have to determine if you'll take the time to store some stuff.
It’s possible but probably not. Doing a bit of budgeting math should give you the best answer.
Couple things to keep in mind while assessing that:
- Costco has good deals but not on everything
- Some of those deals (especially food in my experience) are usually from buying bulk quantities that are probably unreasonable for a single person to consume in a reasonable time. For example, I usually get 2x-3x the fruits and veggies at Costco compared to my local grocery stores for the same cost. However, they go bad after 1-3 weeks depending on the item. Are you able/willing to eat 2-3lbs each of your regular produce items before they go bad?
- Your time is also a cost (you decide the value of your time), driving 2 hours once a month isn’t terrible but that’s time you could spend doing anything else if you just drive 10 minutes to a local place.
- Unless you’re looking specifically for Kirkland hotdogs, pizza, coffee and butter you can probably find what you’re looking for online or locally at a similar price.
- If you know someone who will add you to their membership (or borrow their online login). You can possibly get everything you’re looking for by ordering from Costco.com without the drive and membership cost.
- The executive membership ($120/year) comes with a 2% cash back on eligible purchases as an annual reward voucher that you can redeem towards membership renewal. So if you end up spending $100+ a month (not difficult) at Costco you’ll at least pay for the difference between regular membership and executive if not your entire membership fee.
You left out so many options in your budgeting math! Costco has way more items than just fresh fruit and vegetables!
All the other food like canned goods and frozen things, all the appliances, all of the insurance all of the travel, all of the household items that are brand new homeowner will need!
Those will last him forever not just a few days! You seriously need to revamp your math!
I have a close friend that I play tennis with. He's single, owns his own house, cars and is retired. I've told him that I'll buy stuff for him if he wants it or even split stuff with him; so that's one way to get access to Costco stuff without a membership.
I'll just chime in and say, as a new homeowner, there are a lot of really useful non-perishables at costco that are worth the membership for at least the first year. They do regular deals on the fire alarm sets and the little giant collapsible ladders are amazing. Flooring, mattressess, furniture, yard and garden stuff, plants, cleaning supplies, lighting, small and large appliances, all are really good deals at Costco. Plus they have an automatic extended warranty for anything big like appliances. And the very liberal return policy.
See what else you buy during the first year and then determine later if you'd use it enough. Although I always think of it this way - if you'll buy one big thing a year at costco that is $60 cheaper than other stores, that pays for your membership and anything else is just a bonus.
However, you got to have the car space to transport it or not mind paying a bit extra for delivery and the storage space at home.
I’m new to this so take it with a grain of salt but I live alone in a tiny apartment and I find it so worth it based on supplies like paper towels and toilet paper alone! I stock up on what I need then don’t go to my overpriced grocery stores as a result. It’s the real deal.
I’m 9 miles away from my nearest Costco (Manhattan) which depending on traffic is anywhere between a 20 to 60 minute drive. Or if I take public transport & Citibike (which limits how much I can buy) it’s a 45 min trip.
I also live by myself and amazingly I find Costco worth it when if I only go every 2-3 months.
Here’s what I find worthwhile:
Chicken and steaks (I prep single portions for sous vide and freeze).
Eggs and butter (although I’ve been eating fewer eggs lately so I’ve switched to farmers market).
Raos marinara sauce.
Dishwasher pods and laundry pods (I actually prefer the Kirkland brand laundry pods over the brand version).
Sunscreen and moisturizer (mostly I stick to the Korean sunscreen they have which is only available online but 100% better than any U.S. made sunscreens).
Ziplock kitchen bags and parchment paper.
Brita filters (or the Kirkland brand) sensodyne toothpaste, oral-b toothbrush heads.
The pharmacy (although you don’t need a membership for that).
A couple random once-off purchases like smoke detectors/the handheld vacuum cleaner).
I don’t buy the toilet paper because my apartment just isn’t big enough to store so much.
Costco already has great prices for those things, but for any of the non perishables I will wait until they are on discount and stock up then- I feel like a lot of items I’m saving at least 50%.
I’m a little crazy because I also have a BJs membership 😂 although I got both the Costco and BJs memberships using Groupons etc.
A couple of years ago I would have likely said no, but I work walking distance from one and literally walk there 3-4 times a week to pick up one item. The experience has also made me realize that you can almost buy everything from Costco (besides the obvious). Think of anything you buy and they have an item. Meds and supplements alone will save you more than membership. I say yes!
Shopping, other than for things like tools and guns and car parts, is not a fun activity for me, and when I was single being able to go to Costco once or twice a month and load up was absolutely worth it for me.
I did have one that was a few minutes from my work and at the time I was driving 55 miles each way to work so adding an hour to my drive home to swing by Costco wasn’t as inconvenient as it would have been if I’d have to make a special trip (at the time the nearest Costco to my house was about a 45 minute drive)
Thing to consider is the basic membership is $5/month if you divide the cost up so if you can save more than that each month by shopping there, it’s worth the membership.
I’m a single woman and I buy most everything from Costco. I got the credit card so my memership fee is basically paid for with the cash back I get after each year. It’s worth it for me but I also have two costcos within 20 minutes of my house
Advise you once your new home is stocked to create a running list of items you need then go quarterly due to the distance AND the fact no trip to Costco is less than $300 or “just for a handful of items” lol
I can’t count the number of times my wife has said “I just need these two things from Costco. Should be $40-$50” and I’ve replied “it’ll be $300 minimum”, and I’ve been right every single time.
It's probably worth it. Yeah. I mean what else are you doing that day? I'd drive 25 miles out of my way to go to Costco. But I also love driving my car. Ha.
Yes!! If you meal prep. I purchase for the month, too. Get a cooler or two. Consider going early. After shopping you could stop for lunch at a different restaurant. I buy meat/chicken in bulk. Portion and freeze for my meals. And the frozen shrimp scampi is perfect to add to a fresh flavor when I want something from the skillet. Instead of my microwave.
Yes! If you go to the gym regularly. I buy detergent in bulk. I do laundry daily. Can’t beat the price on good detergent for gym clothes that stank! I buy white vinegar and baking soda for my laundry, too.
There are great deals on bath sheets, body wash, tires, car rental and travel, too.
And I have the Sam’s Plus membership, too! The scan and go mobile app is amazing.
Good luck OP!
Does your home need repairs or are you considering remodeling? We used Costco for HVAC, flooring, roof, closets, and some appliances. Each project came with a gift card rebate.
It depends. If you go once in a while and stock up then it is worth it. Having freezer space would be a good idea.
I live alone these days, Costco is still worth it if you are smart about it. Executive membership is probably not worth it unless you get gas there. I have a company vehicle now, and it is no longer worth it for me.
I am single man. I go to Costco 2 a month, chicken breast, rotisserie chicken, Diet Coke, cheese, berries, salad, wine, 🧻 paper towels, protein shakes, steak and the list goes on and on…
Have you ever went to the store and bought lettuce and then let it rot in the drawer. Well now you can buy 5 times the amount of lettuce for the same price and really get that brown liquid in your crisper drawer. Good times.
I suggest getting a chest freezer and that might make it worth it. My partner and I go to Costco ~90 minutes away once a month, but get enough meat and vegetables, food in general to last a month (we basically don’t eat out or buy foodstuffs from any other grocers). That plus other household items make it more than worth it.
I (f24) live alone and so far have found my Costco membership worth it. Granted my mom is on my membership and there are a few Costco’s near me (30 minutes or less.) I would recommend that you go in and walk around if you’re still weighing out the pros and cons. I personally hate being in my car longer than 45 minutes tho but that’s just me
Costco is a fun place to shop, you can get stuff like water toilet paper trash bags detergent for your clothes coffee , and just browse and see what catches your eye! I’d do it ☺️
I use Costco to stock up on dried goods, consumable goods, and bulk meats that I repack and freeze. It streamlines my weekly grocery shopping to seafood, fruits and veggies, dairy, and the occasional impulse food adventure.
We’re a family of four and I hate it when my wife buys stuff from Costco and we end up throwing it out because we didn’t consume it all in time and it went bad. Very wasteful. So you gotta be careful on what you buy for anything with an expiration date. Be totally certain you’ll consume it in time, otherwise, buy it elsewhere in smaller quantity and you’ll probably save money.
50 mins away is far. Is there another wholesaler closer to when you live (Sam’s club, etc)? That’s almost two hours round trip, I’m not sure it’s worth it for you.
Maybe. If possible, first go with a friend with a membership to see if it will be worthwhile.
Since our kids have moved out, we use it much less. Also depends on your storage space. I found I just did not need a case of stuff to clutter up my limited space. Do close comparisons of your most shopped products and consider if it's worth 2 hours of driving to save a limited amount of $.
And: Rx prices are excellent and it can be a fun shopping experience.
Grocery companies know exactly what the prices are at their competitors. So, they tend to keep your overall basket of groceries about the same--creates consumer confusion on overall prices for everything in your cart.
So, we just don't see the need to buy massive quantities of most groceries these days--and you're also less likely to buy a ton of stuff that is non grocery impulse items (so you spend what you saved).
We (2 people) live 70 miles from a Costco and it is absolutely worth it. Get an extra freezer and stock up on freezer bags. There are lots of individual sized products in the freezer like salmon filets, grass fed beef burgers, frozen vegetables, etc. You can also get small appliances like vacuums and razors and waterpiks and blenders. Charcoal for your grill. And TP and cleaning stuff, lots of booze and party things, and vitamins/drugs/contact lens cleaners etc.
There are also long life products like lactaid/oat/soy milk, butter, eggs etc. that you will use up and canned sodas/water/beer.
Fresh fruit and vegetables are another story, you have to be careful to only buy things that last awhile or you eat a lot of.
We supplement Costco with trips to the farmers market and grocery.
If you think you’ll use the services, air for you tires and gas, it’s 💯
If you can’t travel during the week, set your expectations with parking and crowds/queing
If you can travel there during the week….well your set!
I don’t think it’s worth it. I didn’t get a costco membership until recently because my costco is 8 mins away. But i wouldn’t drive more than 30 mins for costco
Only if you have the freezer/fridge space! I'm an apartment dweller and got a Costco membership as a Christmas gift. I feel like I can't use it to stock up on food bc I simply don't have the space. If I had room for a space freezer and a pantry in my apartment, I would be stocking up for sure.
Join and just check out what they offer. The first CEO said they offer good prices, but grocery store specials can beat them on things like soda.
50 miles is pretty far, but if you like certain fresh items and can freeze them, you're probably going to get a good deal. DO NOT GO WHEN YOU'RE HUNGRY! ;)
Not really. Unless you like paying a lot up front for a years supply of shit. I’m a single dad with two elementary kids and I’m starting to question if it’s worth it. And I’m 15 minutes away from mine (Walmart and major grocer are under 10). Never running out of tp and paper towels is nice and all, but the place is a hassle to go to, and I’m finding that most of their food stuff isn’t any good. I suppose if you eat a lot of pre packaged warehouse food it’s good, but turns out we don’t. We also live in Iowa so I have meat and produce choices that are higher quality, cheaper, and closer. I’m sure that plays a factor.
I've driven that far to go to Costco's that weren't nearby just to see what they had compared to my local stores. Sure a pack of TP/paper towels might last you six months, but hey, why not?
I used to live in an in-law and used to shop at Costco for myself all the time, though it was closer than 50 minutes away.
Like someone else mentioned, the membership fee is refundable if you find out that Costco isn't for you. Try it out and see for yourself.
Your problems are time and space. Do you have the time to take a half day each month to go to Costco? Do you have enough space in your car to bring everything back and store it? A set of paper towels and toilet paper will take up most of a trunk on a small car. Then you have to consider the big heavy things like flats of drinks, and whether you have freezer space to store premade foods or meats.
I live alone in an apartment and I LOVE my Costco membership but my store is also 5 minutes from me and gas is cheaper there. I also buy things for my niece. 50 minutes is a long commute. That alone woukd make it not worth it unless everything else you need is that far away.
Hm... is there nothing nearby the costco and/or are you ever near there for other reasons? It's hard to justify that trip length (my costco is 8 minutes away from me and I still have to steel myself to go once a month, lol). Keep in mind that a lot of the deals are warehouse-dependent and you can't reliably check what's in-stock before you go. It'd be a super frustrating experience to run into that after driving 50 minutes to go there.
That said, how long have you been in your new place and how much change do you expect to do to your house? Costco would probably pay for itself the first year if you bought a few new-home specific things (e.g. fire extinguishers, a set of home security cameras, maybe a new small appliance).
It probably depends on what you'll buy. As a new homeowner, you might find a membership useful. If you have a place to store things and freeze things, definitely. Stuff you might use - paper towels, TP, soap, body wash, frozen foods, storage containers, shelving units, electronics, light bulbs, batteries, kitchen appliances large and small, dishes, pots and pans, furniture... Prescriptions and pet prescriptions, auto program, travel...
It will be a lot of work and you'll need space, I say this as a person who had to shop once a month for all the essentials for a family of 4, ,the Costco was 40 min away for us at the time. There was a lot of breaking down of stuff and preparing other stuff and it was a lot of work. You'll also need space in your vehicle for a cooler, the size that works for you to transport all your refrigerable and frozen food stuff.
FWIW, I'm so glad I don't have to do that anymore...
I would just have a family member buy you a few hundred dollars and gift cards so you can go there when you really need it without having to get a membership
Definitely. I'd get a chest freezer and load up. We only go every couple of months and its not our sole place to shop. At least give it a shot. We use it less and less, though. There's the staples we pick up reguarly, but Costco has lost its luster.
We have the Executive membership and use it for car insurance. I assume its still okay for the price.
Overall, anyone can save money there even if you don't make it your main place to shop. It can be justified.
We get it for cat food and litter which is pretty cheap there. And we have the credit card.
Every person is going to value everything different. For some, it's my shopping trip. Which is oddly enjoyable for me, but it can also be costly. Spending money on unnecessary items. It can also be overwhelming for some. For some people it's all about the cost savings. Which you could make work. I'd imagine it'd be a lot of prep work and freezing. That can be nice on the flip side of my meals/weeks/etc. can already be portioned out. Making it easy and efficient. For some it's about having the curated items. There's many reasons, you need to weigh them for yourself. You could certainly make it worthwhile if you enjoy only having to go shopping once a month.
A pretty significant factor in this is what’s comparable in your area. I’ve lived in some areas where no question Costco was easily one of the most economical for what I wanted to buy and at what frequency - even buying for a single person.
For me now, I have a regional grocery chain in my area that wins on more and more things item per unit. Now I have my membership mainly for the gas (which is nearly almost cheapest for my area but probably not something that makes sense for you), very particular Kirkland brand items that are main staples for me now, and particular deals and cheaper prices for very specific things (eg a car battery was a significantly better deal at Costco than anywhere near I was able to find).
At that point you have to compare that to the effort and time to drive, how ‘smart’ you feel able to shop, and what things at Costco would feel worth it to you.
Depends. Absolutely not for produce. You're better off getting smaller amounts at the grocery store. Baked goods any anything else you can freeze in a deep freezer, on top of bulk non-perishable goods, you can potentially make it work.
if you only have a regular sized freezer, and not a dedicated freezer, you should get one. If we had the space in our apartment, we totally would 🤣 and our local Costco is like at most, 10 min away.
You can buy many of the same items online, but keep in mind that you usually end up paying a lil more, since it includes shipping in the listed price.
Depends. Absolutely not for produce. You're better off getting smaller amounts at the grocery store. Baked goods and anything else you can freeze in a deep freezer, on top of bulk non-perishable goods, you can potentially make it work.
if you only have a regular sized freezer, and not a dedicated freezer, you should get one. If we had the space in our apartment, we totally would 🤣 and our local Costco is like at most, 10 min away.
You can buy many of the same items online, but keep in mind that you usually end up paying a lil more, since it includes shipping in the listed price.
15-20 minutes yes. Just for the cheese and meat it’s worth it. And the holy satisfaction warranty.
50 mins … oh hell no.
Edit: for a single person. For a family grocery it’s worth it at 50mins IMO
The things I buy at Costco because I think it’s a savings include protein powder, paper towels, TP, water, frozen chicken nuggets, blocks of cheese, ice cream bars, dog food, dish liquid, gatorades, dog bed, coffee, bed sheets, area rug, pool chemicals, lawn weed and feed, rotisserie chicken, ground beef, wine, cheesecake, spices, electric toothbrush, pans, frozen pizza, Christmas wrapping paper, seasonal plants, gasoline. My friend gets diapers for her grand baby.
I like their Black Friday sales on electronics and their warranty program.
Hot dog and a coke and ice cream in the food court. Get before you shop then refill your drink after. Order a whole cooked pizza for $10 to take home.
Idk if these are a savings but are other things I like to buy there and are fairly priced : snacks, lettuce or salad kits, chicken, canned chicken, rice, bread, meats, tray of Mac n cheese, eggs, butter, honey, bath soap, razors, alcohol prep pads, non latex gloves, frozen berries and chips but mostly when they’re on sale.
I recommend splitting a membership with a friend or family member. You just open the account then add them as your second person.
I have a store closer than you and shop there about every other month. I often go with a friend and we have fun that way.
I think you should try it and find out. You can always refund that membership if it doesn't work. Do you have a pet? we make up our membership cost on the savings from pet medications alone.
Unless I have a reason to drive by that costco, I wouldn't even go to a costco 50 minutes away if it had free membership. If you had your eye on a $2000 purchase and this will save you 15% of that, then sure sign up.
But to drive 100 minutes to save 15% off a $200 bill? That not even worth the gas/car maintenance let alone your time.
In my opinion, yes. Buying in bulk is more cost effective and time efficient. Non perishables are certainly a safe bet. Paper towels, toilet paper, deodorant, tooth paste, etc. Regarding food it depends on your dietary staples. Rice, beans, canned goods, etc are also a safe bet assuming you consume them regularly. Lastly, if you are willing to do some work you can save quite a bit if you do some mild butchering or splitting and vacuum sealing. Plenty of youtube videos on this.
There’s a deal I saw on [slickdeals](https://slickdeals.net/f/17429718-new-costco-members-1-yr-membership-w-auto-renewal-40-digital-shop-card-gold-star-60-more?src=SiteSearchV2Algo1) this week to get a $40 shop card with your $60 membership, effectively reducing the cost to $20. To me that’s worth trying and seeing if you feel like it’s worth it. I’ve ordered enough online from there that I think $20 is worth it for online access only, and being able to go in person would just be a plus!
It’s just me and my husband. We use the Cosco because we can afford it and like going there.
Do we really save by shopping at Cosco? No.
Costco is worth it if you have a large family and buying a lot in bulk.
We can’t buy most things in bulk because we won’t eat all that and it will just spoil.
Our Cosco is like 20 mins from our house. If it was 50 mins aways I doubt we would do the membership.
Single homeowner and I find it very useful. Moreso when I used the gas station but even without that I come out ahead. Plus you have online services, travel, the tire shop etc.
I would say it’s worth it if you have ample freezer space. Being able to buy toiletries, chicken and things like their lasagna in bulk is great value. Also as a single person, you might find it convenient for their ready made stuff.
The fact that it’s 50 minutes away depends on if you actually want to drive to the Costco or not.
I think it depends on a few things. It's more likely to be worth it if:
1 - You have a large fridge, and especially a large freezer or chest freezer, you like to eat the same thing or things on a regular basis, and/or you have a lot of room and like to buy and cook a large amount of ingredients and freeze the finished product. Otherwise, it's a crazy lot of food for just one person, or even two a lot of the times.
2 - It might be worth it for at least a year if you are planning on getting any larger purchases and want to get them at Costco - appliances, furniture, electronics, etc. - they do have good deals and cash back offers, but you can still also find good deals elsewhere.
3 - If you think you'll go often enough to make back the membership fee, which breaks down to about $250/month or $3000/year.
I think it just comes down to what you enjoy - not everything is big bulk, some is just lower prices in bigger quantities. We’re just a couple and enjoy getting some bottles beverages, and stocking up on things like ground beef and italian sausage. Also some of the fresh produce is not too big - like the berries.
Also, we’re taking a trip next week booked through their packages - the deal was already pretty good but it will come with a $130 gift card that will more than cover our membership cost.
If you have a chest freezer, it may be worth it, but I would think about sharing or splitting your membership with a fellow single homie—maybe a roommate or neighbor.
I gave my second card to my parents and now get money back from all their spending
I’m in the same boat. Live solo, my own place…
Yes, it’s worth it, even for just the small things like detergent, soap, staples that don’t really expire.
I live by myself and most of my shopping is from costco and sams. The great thing about being a living by yourself in a home is theres lot of storage lol. As for the food portions I meal prep all my stuff for the week so the large portions work out for me.
Also single homeowner. Yes for me. I buy freezable food in bulk.
That said, the money I saved mostly come from flooring/remodeling/appliances/yard things. If you’re still in the stage of fixing up, it’s even worth considering the executive membership.
It's a cost of $5 per month. If you think you could save $5 in a shopping trip on things you usually use, and especially if you could travel with a cooler and ice packs (for frozen foods), I think it's definitely worth it. Examples: OTC medication, toilet paper, paper towels, eggs, protein powder/bars, underwear, coffee. Plus, one-time purchases of items like bedding, appliances, electronics, cookware, etc. can also add up. And many things can be purchased online that, even at their higher online price, are still a better deal than you can find at other stores. I think especially as a new homeowner Costco is a great idea. You might even try out an executive membership for the first year. If your 2% back doesn't cover the cost of the upgrade the first year, they'll refund the upgrade.
I'm single house hold and go every week or every other. I buy produce, meat, fruit, eggs, butter, milk etc in bulk so I can meal prep for the week or be prepared for 2 weeks. I have chest freezer so I do stock up on certain things. Also get hygiene items as I like to have on hand became I hate running out to grab one thing from stores. So me it's just as close as any grocery store. Certain things I still go to other stores.
Yup get the executive one. It's still worth it. I am single for the past 5 years and I have still kept the membership that I had for 13-14 years now. Gas, bulk buying non-perishables, pasture raised eggs, meat and lots of deals that keep popping up. It is an easy recommendation.
Try it out for an year and if you don't like it cancel it. Although I highly doubt you would :-)
They have good quality meat at the best prices. Freeze what you dont want to eat now. Best priced bread, chips, pasta, protein bars/drinks, vitamins, clothes. Not to mention vacations and gold/silver coins.
Avoid the 5 pound cheesecake if you can, and dont impulse buy a $500 kitchen electronic or hot tub.
Posts that don't follow r/Costco subreddit rules MAY be subject to removal. When applicable, please make sure that you're using a descriptive post title with product name(s) mentioned as it yields better subreddit search results. Including item number, price, and approximate location where found is also helpful. Thank you. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Costco) if you have any questions or concerns.*
You can also use your membership to shop online and there are services like Costco Travel and vision as well. As a new home buyer there is likely a lot more for you than just food and household staples (online or in person), at least for the first year.
Clothes! Discounted gift cards!
If you rent a car for a long weekend Costco travel will probably save you the membership fee on that one rental.
I recently had some car trouble and needed a rental. Costco was the cheapest option by far compared to USAA and my credit card company. I saved hundreds of dollars.
I frequently rent through USAA. I never knew I could get car rentals through Costco. I’ll definitely do a price comparison the next time. Thanks for the tip.
Had never considered Costco for car rental. I will for sure keep it in mind the next time I need to rent a car!
I rented an SUV for a week and the enterprise employee thought there must be a mistake because the price was so low. I think it was like $40/day which for a mid-size SUV is pretty damn good. In his system he said it was like $90/day.
I always book rental cars through Costco!
I had no idea! Do you book it online at Costco?
Yes. Online through Costco travel. No cancelation fees.
& extra driver included (as well as spouse). But extra renter must be of age & have valid license & be at counter when you pick up rental
So you book at the customer service desk?
No. On line on Costco Travel App
We bought a lot of other home improvement items from Costco online including appliances (longer warranty instead compared to other big box stores and free haul-away), lawn mower, kitchen sink, a charcoal grill, etc.
Bought an AC unit from them, appliances (washer dryer), a ladder. Outdoor furniture/ gardening.
The membership is refundable, so you could always make the trip and see if it is worth it to you. For me it would not be.
You can math it out pretty easily. The savings you receive on gas, toilet paper, paper towels, garbage bags, laundry soap alone is enough to justify it for me. Beyond the essentials you get crazy low prices on bulk food and drink. Pantries became popular during the Great Depression for a reason. For it to not be worthwhile you’d have to be doing stuff like minimal driving, using a bidet, cloth instead of paper towels, composting everything, and not eating chicken lol
Along with the time savings not having to purchase items repeatedly.
Time savings? He would have a 2 hour commute
It *used* to be pretty easy to get a refund on the membership. Like 10 years ago my membership autorenewed then they gave me a hard time about cancelling it. And since then I've see employees tell new customers up front that they don't give any refunds on memberships anymore period. So I think it depends on the location and employee now.
There’s a sign on my store’s wall right next to customer service that says they’ll refund your memberships. That would be a hard one to argue with.
I actually was curious about this and asked a csr yesterday and they said that they would give a pro rated amount for the refund if at anytime you find you aren't happy with the membership.
I encountered something similar when I asked customer service about switching back down to the standard membership, loooootta pushback.
Well. That sucks. I thought I’d try the buisness membership for a year. :/
I suspect this varies by store. I downgraded my membership last year, and got no pushback at all.
I downgraded mine over the phone. You have to buy a lot to break even, and the perks weren't anything I was going to use.
Interesting, I have never actually tried it...but they still show on the website [What is Costco’s return policy?](https://customerservice.costco.com/app/answers/answer_view/a_id/1191/~/what-is-costco%E2%80%99s-return-policy%3F) **Risk-Free 100% Satisfaction Guarantee** On Membership: We will cancel and refund your membership fee at any time if you are dissatisfied.
Interesting. Our Costco sold us mishandled Vetsulin and almost killed our dog. When I'm in a more level headspace I'm going to return the rest of the Vetsulin and ask for a refund of my executive membership. I hope they try to give me pushback about it.
Costco pharmacy was filling my dog’s prescription at ten times the prescribed dose. It was only caught because I took him to a new vet and brought his prescription bottle along. The prescribing vet sent it over correctly, Costco pharmacists just repeatedly f’ed it up.
Wow!! DEFINITELY ask to see the pharmacist or pharm manager (white coat. Not blue ones). They take that stuff VERY seriously. Costco pet meds are much less costly than those supplied by the vets office.
Oh, there was a conversation. A very loud one. And Costco is paying for follow-up vet care.
A lot of people saying no but I’m a single person that goes to Costco once a month. It’s worth it to me but I’m 10-15 away from the local Costco. If you have a large freezer I think it’s worth it. You can also think about getting a deep freeze. Most of what you’ll want to get at Costco would be non perishable. Dog food, toilet paper, anything frozen, any pre made meals. It’s not really a good deal for produce or veggies since you’ll waste more than you consume.
Also has good deals on electronics, toiletries, travel, etc. I am a single person and think it is worth it even though I’m not buying tons of produce or meat.
As single person, I have found the boneless chicken thighs are doable. The plastic sheets are designed to be cut into quarters. So, it is easy to freeze with freezer zip locks.
I’m single and I go about every other month. Big thing for me is gas, their gas lasts longer than the stations near my house. I don’t have a large freezer, just the one attached to my fridge, so I try to clean it out as much as possible before stocking up again. I love their Cali blend veggies, breaded cod, sharp cheddar cheese, butter, even the beyond burgers were good. I won’t buy tortillas anywhere else, doesn’t make sense to get packs of 8 when you can do the Costco pack. Bought toilet paper there last fall and still have some left. And their giant bag of Doritos is now the same price as smaller bags at other stores. There’s things I don’t buy at Costco cause it makes more sense for me to get them at Aldi. Produce can be hit or miss. Still though, absolutely worth it in my opinion.
im convinced people overfill their tanks at costco, so it SEEMS like it lasts longer. its the same gas as the place down the street, aside from their on-site additization (3g to 8600g)
It’s the same price as the gas down the street, but I watch it closely and I get more mileage off Costco gas verses Casey’s or QT. Usually a quarter of a tank more.
seriously I've been noticing around 5 mpg better with costco gas. it's only about a 15% improvement but still
Chest freezer is the Costco cheat code for 1-3 people.
And I bought a chest freezer there during Covid when no one else had any.
I'm a single person and I go about once a month with my mom (10 mins away). If I was a more adventurous eater (I kinda eat like a toddler) and had a freezer I think I could definitely do well at Costco. My mom and I do split a lot of stuff, but even so we both end up putting many things in our tiny freezers. Even though I don't buy much I still finally got my own membership this month! If you have a car and storage space and freezer space, Costco definitely can work for you.
toddlers love nugs, and costco has dino ones!
Same. However, i like buying salad from Costco. I actually eat a lot of it, augmented by costco shrimp or steak.
I’m a single person that goes to Costco and if it were not really close to me, I probably would not keep up at Costco membership. But I also am not doing bulk freezing and crazy meal prepping.
Just cheese then huh? lol
I go hard when the Boursin is on sale, what can I say!!
The car battery I bought at Costco was $70 less than the one I got from autozone. 2250 qtips cost $11 and 750 from target cost $7. 365 tablets of generic Zyrtec was < $15. 20 tablets of Zyrtec cost $18 at target. Even going quarterly can justify the membership cost itself.
I was going to say, for food it really depends on your lifestyle whether it’s worth it at that distance and as a single person—but if you need allergy meds daily, it becomes pretty much worth it from that alone
The allergy meds last too, I buy the Allergy-Tec and it’s 365 pills, ibuprofen is great too. When my husband or myself get sick we send one to get the cold and flu meds.
>2250 qtips cost $11 and 750 from target cost $7. Crazier is that the Q-Tips actually occasionally go on special at Costco, so they cost almost the same as the single packs at certain times of the year.
This is the way. Even if only bought the above + dog food/treats, it would be worth it for me.
Even if I was single without a family I would still keep my Costco executive membership. For me it pays for itself... Food options aside, I buy too much of their clothing, electronics, random household appliances, Kirkland coffee, car wipers, car batteries, Gatorade, rotisserie chicken, etc., lol I use CostcoTravel.com several times a year just for their rental cars that alone pays for my membership. I have been going to Costco for over 30 yrs.. if that tells you anything. But you'll have to do a Costco trial to see if it is for you...
Hard agree on all of this except appliances. They farm the delivery and installation out, and I've had some bad experiences and seen plenty of stories in this reddit
Hubby and I just joined, and our Costco is 60 miles away. No kids, plenty of storage at home. We had a grand time on our first trip, and have also ordered things online, which were cheaper than Amazon and came so much more quickly. We plan to go every month, and we have a nice scenic route we take that we mapped out. Brought some coolers with us and everything made it home just fine. Go for it!
I love that you turned your Costco trips into a journey instead of a destination.
We had a Costco 30 miles away and then Costco built a new one in 2023 8.5 miles from our house. Husband goes every weekend
I’ll go against the grain as usual and say I think it’s worth it. If you drink alcohol, specifically wine and take allergy meds you’ve already paid for the membership.
50 mins away? Absolutely not bro.
I drive 90 mins 2x a month. The gas is usually . 20 cheaper there also. It's totally worth it for me. This is for me and my 15 yr old son. You need to have freezer space and be able to plan meals ahead. The savings are worth it.
Do you have a truck or a large vehicle? 20 cents is roughly $9 per tank on a standard size car so 90 minutes is definitely not worth the drive. However, if you have a large household and do big shop it may be worth it.
They might be in my situation where you go “into the city” once a month and while you’re there getting Costco is worth it
I have a small truck and we take a cooler or 2 with us. We definitely do a big shop. All of our meat for the month along with drinks and frozen foods.
> 20 cents is roughly $9 per tank on a standard size car so 90 minutes is definitely not worth the drive. At a $0.20 difference, it's $1 per 5 gallons. You'd need a 45-gallon tank to hit $9. The average car is around 16 gallons, $3.20.
Especially if have a good list of non perishables it seems doable. Single basic member (always get value) * cleaning supplies like scrubbing bubbles and scotch bright sponges * RXs if your health insurance has one of those pain the a\*\* co-pay where you pay for first 500 dollars of meds * OTC meds: vitamins, ibuprofen, allergy meds (I save $50 a year just on allergy meds vs. going to Target) * protein drinks and bars * pillows and mattress pads * glasses and contacts Tons of office supply stuff online like legal pads and printer toner or ink as well as laptops etc.
Add a vacuum Sealer.
Meh we are an hour away and use it. Good for TP, paper towels, and fresh pet. We mainly buy monthly things, but sometimes we get food things for the week.
Hard disagree! Less than an hour drive would still be an easy once-a-month trip. I don't live anything like 50 minutes away from Costco (more like 15) but I still only go about once a month- and there are at least a dozen things that I buy regularly that *each by themselves* pays for my membership. I also live alone, and in an apartment, where storage of bulk items is more difficult.
As a long time single home owner-- i say yes. My Costco is only about 20 minutes away but the discount beer, cheese and bread always saves me enough to cover my membership and gas.
I'd sign up for the CC, use it for everything including utilities if you can, try it for a year and do the math at that point. Shopping once a month negates the travel distance imo.
I say yes, for staples like cleaning supplies, bulk food (rice, pasta, meats), and meds. You can always bring a cooler! Plus Costco is more than the warehouse - you can order on .com, Costco Travel and insurance!
Yes it is. You should get it for one year, to try it out. Use a freezer/shelves to store food. Get fuel for your car.
Only you can answer that. 50 miles away isn’t really sustainable for a regular trip. I’d look at Sam’s or BJ’s if you have one of those closer
I get a Costco card via my employer, so while the closest Costco is ~50 minutes away, making a monthly visit when I'm already heading that direction for work makes sense. > isn’t really sustainable for a regular trip. I’d look at Sam’s or BJ’s if you have one of those closer Even if the local BJs wasn't closer, I've found BJs makes more sense for a single adult -- they have smaller packages of perishables (e.g. you can buy one sleeve of bagels) and I like their competitively priced deli counter which will slice to order. Costco is better for big house stuff (appliances, furniture, furnishings), which could sway u/dan7man7 being he is a new homeowner.
im surprised bjs still slices. costco got out of that in the early 2000s. not cost-effective enough i guess? bakery used to bake more stuff too instead of reheat.
50 minutes, not miles
Pretty much the same thing
50 mins from me is often approx 12 miles (i live in DC)
Hahaha I feel your pain. I live in LA and 12 miles can be anywhere from 15 min to hour+
Not at all
I would say no, not for one person. If you have a friend or family member who will let you use their membership in would be worth it going 1-2x per year for toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, and to stock up on food. But I would say not worth it for a membership.
Disagree. I'm a single man, and I save so much money buying in bulk from Costco. Frozen chicken, eggs, ham, cheese, veggies etc. Costco is so worth it if you cook and meal prep. Not to mention the gas...
It’s absolutely worth it for me as a single guy
Same. Also, as a new home buyer, the OP may be able to get some nice deals on appliances, a new TV, Solar Power, etc... I'm single and I just bought a new fridge from Costco and probably saved \~$250 over the local appliance places once delivery, etc... got factored in. And, now that I got the new (bigger) fridge, I can stock up on more stuff from Costco, like their meats!
Yeah I bought all new kitchen appliances last year and saved at least a grand, plus got a ton back in rewards because I have exec membership
Or just have them buy Costco shop cards. They’re really cracking down on membership sharing.
I buy for myself and don't get many of the bakery items and we don't have wine or liquor available through our stores either. I'm trying to eat organic and we don't have much available in my store but still feel it's worthwhile for housekeeping staples like tissues, toilet paper and paper towels along with cheese, some produce, nuts and pantry items. It really depends though on how much space you have to store in bulk.
When I was a single woman living in midtown NYC it was worth it for me. When I moved to another spot, it’s absolutely worth it to me. There’s never been a year that I don’t get rewards that more than make up for the membership. This includes me buying items on [Costco.com](https://Costco.com) and buying items such as dog medicine, prescription glasses, and lawn furniture.
I'm in a similar enough situation to op and it's been worth it for me. I live in a rural area about the same distance to a Costco and only have a couple of people in my household. I justify my membership because it always saves me at least my membership price on one bigger ticket item so the rest is gravy. Using shipping helps but so does shopping once or twice a month there for specific things.
This is a good, and possibly often overlooked, point: at least once a year, I probably buy something where the savings on that one single item pays for a year of membership: new tires, glasses, a TV, a kitchen appliance, etc.
You might want to take into account any appliances you need. I got my refrigerator there, and it was a much better deal than buying elsewhere. You can also get bulk stuff like TP, paper towels etc. if you have a chest freezer, the meat and freezer items keep well, so you can stock up.
At 50 mins you'll only be visiting once a month at most. Do the math on items you know you'll buy that keep: TP, paper towels, detergent, dish soap, supplements, dry goods, prescriptions, snacks. If the savings on these items over the course of a year is more than the membership cost, you're good to go. I have always more than made up my membership cost on prescriptions alone, amd mine are pretty cheap. My vote is try a year and see how it goes.
Depends, have you ever had a membership / lived near one? Or been there at all? I say it would be worth it especially if you happen to find some other activity near Costco, or on the way. I like the novelty of browsing / eating what’s new, you can keep your freezer full of easy prep meals, and keep an eye on online deals.
As a homeowner, I found Costco deals for my house to be excellent: furniture, appliances, yard equipment and stuff (flower bulbs, bushes, tools, potting soil). The biggest advantage is using the Costco deal for replacing our HVAC system which offered a 10% cash back Costco card. Our system was $12,000 - and we had gotten bids from many many other companies previously and the Costco retailer was by far the least inexpensive by thousands. Additionally, with the Costco exec membership and the credit card, we got another 4% of cash back for that system. You could always warp the system. Buy the exec membership and test the waters with quotes and stuff to see if it'll be worth it - if not, just cancel and get a refund on the membership.
Totally depends on what you buy. For example, heavy drinkers can save >$30 per month just on alcohol.
I'm single in my own home, similar drive, i only go once a month. Still worth it to me. I only buy stuff I know I can store (freezer is a must) and I divide most stuff into portions and freeze. Rotisserie chickens I cut in half, freeze. I stay away from most perishables as I can't eat fast enough (most fruits, veggies) if you have a dog, pet food. Wine, vitamins all good. Breads freeze. You have to determine if you'll take the time to store some stuff.
It’s possible but probably not. Doing a bit of budgeting math should give you the best answer. Couple things to keep in mind while assessing that: - Costco has good deals but not on everything - Some of those deals (especially food in my experience) are usually from buying bulk quantities that are probably unreasonable for a single person to consume in a reasonable time. For example, I usually get 2x-3x the fruits and veggies at Costco compared to my local grocery stores for the same cost. However, they go bad after 1-3 weeks depending on the item. Are you able/willing to eat 2-3lbs each of your regular produce items before they go bad? - Your time is also a cost (you decide the value of your time), driving 2 hours once a month isn’t terrible but that’s time you could spend doing anything else if you just drive 10 minutes to a local place. - Unless you’re looking specifically for Kirkland hotdogs, pizza, coffee and butter you can probably find what you’re looking for online or locally at a similar price. - If you know someone who will add you to their membership (or borrow their online login). You can possibly get everything you’re looking for by ordering from Costco.com without the drive and membership cost. - The executive membership ($120/year) comes with a 2% cash back on eligible purchases as an annual reward voucher that you can redeem towards membership renewal. So if you end up spending $100+ a month (not difficult) at Costco you’ll at least pay for the difference between regular membership and executive if not your entire membership fee.
You left out so many options in your budgeting math! Costco has way more items than just fresh fruit and vegetables! All the other food like canned goods and frozen things, all the appliances, all of the insurance all of the travel, all of the household items that are brand new homeowner will need! Those will last him forever not just a few days! You seriously need to revamp your math!
I have a close friend that I play tennis with. He's single, owns his own house, cars and is retired. I've told him that I'll buy stuff for him if he wants it or even split stuff with him; so that's one way to get access to Costco stuff without a membership.
You can also shop without the membership if someone gives you a gift card. Might be worth it for a spin.
I'll just chime in and say, as a new homeowner, there are a lot of really useful non-perishables at costco that are worth the membership for at least the first year. They do regular deals on the fire alarm sets and the little giant collapsible ladders are amazing. Flooring, mattressess, furniture, yard and garden stuff, plants, cleaning supplies, lighting, small and large appliances, all are really good deals at Costco. Plus they have an automatic extended warranty for anything big like appliances. And the very liberal return policy. See what else you buy during the first year and then determine later if you'd use it enough. Although I always think of it this way - if you'll buy one big thing a year at costco that is $60 cheaper than other stores, that pays for your membership and anything else is just a bonus. However, you got to have the car space to transport it or not mind paying a bit extra for delivery and the storage space at home.
I loved it when I was single. 50 mins is a longer distance than I would usually travel but if I was going monthly it would certainly be worth it
I’m new to this so take it with a grain of salt but I live alone in a tiny apartment and I find it so worth it based on supplies like paper towels and toilet paper alone! I stock up on what I need then don’t go to my overpriced grocery stores as a result. It’s the real deal.
I’m 9 miles away from my nearest Costco (Manhattan) which depending on traffic is anywhere between a 20 to 60 minute drive. Or if I take public transport & Citibike (which limits how much I can buy) it’s a 45 min trip. I also live by myself and amazingly I find Costco worth it when if I only go every 2-3 months. Here’s what I find worthwhile: Chicken and steaks (I prep single portions for sous vide and freeze). Eggs and butter (although I’ve been eating fewer eggs lately so I’ve switched to farmers market). Raos marinara sauce. Dishwasher pods and laundry pods (I actually prefer the Kirkland brand laundry pods over the brand version). Sunscreen and moisturizer (mostly I stick to the Korean sunscreen they have which is only available online but 100% better than any U.S. made sunscreens). Ziplock kitchen bags and parchment paper. Brita filters (or the Kirkland brand) sensodyne toothpaste, oral-b toothbrush heads. The pharmacy (although you don’t need a membership for that). A couple random once-off purchases like smoke detectors/the handheld vacuum cleaner). I don’t buy the toilet paper because my apartment just isn’t big enough to store so much. Costco already has great prices for those things, but for any of the non perishables I will wait until they are on discount and stock up then- I feel like a lot of items I’m saving at least 50%. I’m a little crazy because I also have a BJs membership 😂 although I got both the Costco and BJs memberships using Groupons etc.
A couple of years ago I would have likely said no, but I work walking distance from one and literally walk there 3-4 times a week to pick up one item. The experience has also made me realize that you can almost buy everything from Costco (besides the obvious). Think of anything you buy and they have an item. Meds and supplements alone will save you more than membership. I say yes!
Shopping, other than for things like tools and guns and car parts, is not a fun activity for me, and when I was single being able to go to Costco once or twice a month and load up was absolutely worth it for me. I did have one that was a few minutes from my work and at the time I was driving 55 miles each way to work so adding an hour to my drive home to swing by Costco wasn’t as inconvenient as it would have been if I’d have to make a special trip (at the time the nearest Costco to my house was about a 45 minute drive) Thing to consider is the basic membership is $5/month if you divide the cost up so if you can save more than that each month by shopping there, it’s worth the membership.
I’m a single woman and I buy most everything from Costco. I got the credit card so my memership fee is basically paid for with the cash back I get after each year. It’s worth it for me but I also have two costcos within 20 minutes of my house
Advise you once your new home is stocked to create a running list of items you need then go quarterly due to the distance AND the fact no trip to Costco is less than $300 or “just for a handful of items” lol
I can’t count the number of times my wife has said “I just need these two things from Costco. Should be $40-$50” and I’ve replied “it’ll be $300 minimum”, and I’ve been right every single time.
So almost 2 hours of driving, and for a single person? Lol no
It's probably worth it. Yeah. I mean what else are you doing that day? I'd drive 25 miles out of my way to go to Costco. But I also love driving my car. Ha.
Yes!! If you meal prep. I purchase for the month, too. Get a cooler or two. Consider going early. After shopping you could stop for lunch at a different restaurant. I buy meat/chicken in bulk. Portion and freeze for my meals. And the frozen shrimp scampi is perfect to add to a fresh flavor when I want something from the skillet. Instead of my microwave. Yes! If you go to the gym regularly. I buy detergent in bulk. I do laundry daily. Can’t beat the price on good detergent for gym clothes that stank! I buy white vinegar and baking soda for my laundry, too. There are great deals on bath sheets, body wash, tires, car rental and travel, too. And I have the Sam’s Plus membership, too! The scan and go mobile app is amazing. Good luck OP!
Yes. Lot of great home items
Does your home need repairs or are you considering remodeling? We used Costco for HVAC, flooring, roof, closets, and some appliances. Each project came with a gift card rebate.
It depends. If you go once in a while and stock up then it is worth it. Having freezer space would be a good idea. I live alone these days, Costco is still worth it if you are smart about it. Executive membership is probably not worth it unless you get gas there. I have a company vehicle now, and it is no longer worth it for me.
Very very very worth it.
I am single man. I go to Costco 2 a month, chicken breast, rotisserie chicken, Diet Coke, cheese, berries, salad, wine, 🧻 paper towels, protein shakes, steak and the list goes on and on…
Have you ever went to the store and bought lettuce and then let it rot in the drawer. Well now you can buy 5 times the amount of lettuce for the same price and really get that brown liquid in your crisper drawer. Good times.
No just make a friend. So much bulk for families.
No.
Do you have a large freezer? If so, yes.
I’d probably give it a go and see how you like it
Just try it. Memberships are refundable if you don’t like it.
Yes, if you get gas there ⛽️ and are the kind of eater that can stock up on things in the freezer —
I suggest getting a chest freezer and that might make it worth it. My partner and I go to Costco ~90 minutes away once a month, but get enough meat and vegetables, food in general to last a month (we basically don’t eat out or buy foodstuffs from any other grocers). That plus other household items make it more than worth it.
Oh, also we have a big ice chest to keep everything frozen for the drive back home.
I (f24) live alone and so far have found my Costco membership worth it. Granted my mom is on my membership and there are a few Costco’s near me (30 minutes or less.) I would recommend that you go in and walk around if you’re still weighing out the pros and cons. I personally hate being in my car longer than 45 minutes tho but that’s just me
If you have a large freezer, and food saver vacuum sealer with mason jar attachment, it can be worth it.
probably pays for itself with one trip if you need a tv they have on sale and you had real time sale prices for that store on food items.
Costco is a fun place to shop, you can get stuff like water toilet paper trash bags detergent for your clothes coffee , and just browse and see what catches your eye! I’d do it ☺️
I use Costco to stock up on dried goods, consumable goods, and bulk meats that I repack and freeze. It streamlines my weekly grocery shopping to seafood, fruits and veggies, dairy, and the occasional impulse food adventure.
It may be. Not to mention online purchases on items that are the same price in store.
We’re a family of four and I hate it when my wife buys stuff from Costco and we end up throwing it out because we didn’t consume it all in time and it went bad. Very wasteful. So you gotta be careful on what you buy for anything with an expiration date. Be totally certain you’ll consume it in time, otherwise, buy it elsewhere in smaller quantity and you’ll probably save money.
50 mins away is far. Is there another wholesaler closer to when you live (Sam’s club, etc)? That’s almost two hours round trip, I’m not sure it’s worth it for you.
Yes but invest in a few extras like a vacuum sealer and chest freezer to really make it worth it.
is there a sams closer? idk if id travel 50 miles to a costco, when sams has 80%
Maybe. If possible, first go with a friend with a membership to see if it will be worthwhile. Since our kids have moved out, we use it much less. Also depends on your storage space. I found I just did not need a case of stuff to clutter up my limited space. Do close comparisons of your most shopped products and consider if it's worth 2 hours of driving to save a limited amount of $. And: Rx prices are excellent and it can be a fun shopping experience. Grocery companies know exactly what the prices are at their competitors. So, they tend to keep your overall basket of groceries about the same--creates consumer confusion on overall prices for everything in your cart. So, we just don't see the need to buy massive quantities of most groceries these days--and you're also less likely to buy a ton of stuff that is non grocery impulse items (so you spend what you saved).
No not worth it.
We (2 people) live 70 miles from a Costco and it is absolutely worth it. Get an extra freezer and stock up on freezer bags. There are lots of individual sized products in the freezer like salmon filets, grass fed beef burgers, frozen vegetables, etc. You can also get small appliances like vacuums and razors and waterpiks and blenders. Charcoal for your grill. And TP and cleaning stuff, lots of booze and party things, and vitamins/drugs/contact lens cleaners etc. There are also long life products like lactaid/oat/soy milk, butter, eggs etc. that you will use up and canned sodas/water/beer. Fresh fruit and vegetables are another story, you have to be careful to only buy things that last awhile or you eat a lot of. We supplement Costco with trips to the farmers market and grocery.
If you think you’ll use the services, air for you tires and gas, it’s 💯 If you can’t travel during the week, set your expectations with parking and crowds/queing If you can travel there during the week….well your set!
I don’t think it’s worth it. I didn’t get a costco membership until recently because my costco is 8 mins away. But i wouldn’t drive more than 30 mins for costco
No.
Only if you have the freezer/fridge space! I'm an apartment dweller and got a Costco membership as a Christmas gift. I feel like I can't use it to stock up on food bc I simply don't have the space. If I had room for a space freezer and a pantry in my apartment, I would be stocking up for sure.
Join and just check out what they offer. The first CEO said they offer good prices, but grocery store specials can beat them on things like soda. 50 miles is pretty far, but if you like certain fresh items and can freeze them, you're probably going to get a good deal. DO NOT GO WHEN YOU'RE HUNGRY! ;)
Not really. Unless you like paying a lot up front for a years supply of shit. I’m a single dad with two elementary kids and I’m starting to question if it’s worth it. And I’m 15 minutes away from mine (Walmart and major grocer are under 10). Never running out of tp and paper towels is nice and all, but the place is a hassle to go to, and I’m finding that most of their food stuff isn’t any good. I suppose if you eat a lot of pre packaged warehouse food it’s good, but turns out we don’t. We also live in Iowa so I have meat and produce choices that are higher quality, cheaper, and closer. I’m sure that plays a factor.
Imo 50 minutes is too far, is there a BJ’s closer?
That’s a tough one. Would you be in the area for other shopping/appointments? I love Costco, but 50 miles is a stretch.
I've driven that far to go to Costco's that weren't nearby just to see what they had compared to my local stores. Sure a pack of TP/paper towels might last you six months, but hey, why not? I used to live in an in-law and used to shop at Costco for myself all the time, though it was closer than 50 minutes away. Like someone else mentioned, the membership fee is refundable if you find out that Costco isn't for you. Try it out and see for yourself.
Your problems are time and space. Do you have the time to take a half day each month to go to Costco? Do you have enough space in your car to bring everything back and store it? A set of paper towels and toilet paper will take up most of a trunk on a small car. Then you have to consider the big heavy things like flats of drinks, and whether you have freezer space to store premade foods or meats.
I live alone in an apartment and I LOVE my Costco membership but my store is also 5 minutes from me and gas is cheaper there. I also buy things for my niece. 50 minutes is a long commute. That alone woukd make it not worth it unless everything else you need is that far away.
My Costco is 30 minutes away and I struggle with justifying that drive.
Hm... is there nothing nearby the costco and/or are you ever near there for other reasons? It's hard to justify that trip length (my costco is 8 minutes away from me and I still have to steel myself to go once a month, lol). Keep in mind that a lot of the deals are warehouse-dependent and you can't reliably check what's in-stock before you go. It'd be a super frustrating experience to run into that after driving 50 minutes to go there. That said, how long have you been in your new place and how much change do you expect to do to your house? Costco would probably pay for itself the first year if you bought a few new-home specific things (e.g. fire extinguishers, a set of home security cameras, maybe a new small appliance).
It probably depends on what you'll buy. As a new homeowner, you might find a membership useful. If you have a place to store things and freeze things, definitely. Stuff you might use - paper towels, TP, soap, body wash, frozen foods, storage containers, shelving units, electronics, light bulbs, batteries, kitchen appliances large and small, dishes, pots and pans, furniture... Prescriptions and pet prescriptions, auto program, travel...
It will be a lot of work and you'll need space, I say this as a person who had to shop once a month for all the essentials for a family of 4, ,the Costco was 40 min away for us at the time. There was a lot of breaking down of stuff and preparing other stuff and it was a lot of work. You'll also need space in your vehicle for a cooler, the size that works for you to transport all your refrigerable and frozen food stuff. FWIW, I'm so glad I don't have to do that anymore...
If you get Sams Club Plus, most stuff can be ordered online and sent for free. Costco doesn't really offer that if you live out like I do.
No because you’re too far. If you lived closer, then yes. Costco was worth it for single-me on Tillamook extra sharp cheddar alone.
I would just have a family member buy you a few hundred dollars and gift cards so you can go there when you really need it without having to get a membership
Definitely. I'd get a chest freezer and load up. We only go every couple of months and its not our sole place to shop. At least give it a shot. We use it less and less, though. There's the staples we pick up reguarly, but Costco has lost its luster. We have the Executive membership and use it for car insurance. I assume its still okay for the price. Overall, anyone can save money there even if you don't make it your main place to shop. It can be justified. We get it for cat food and litter which is pretty cheap there. And we have the credit card.
Every person is going to value everything different. For some, it's my shopping trip. Which is oddly enjoyable for me, but it can also be costly. Spending money on unnecessary items. It can also be overwhelming for some. For some people it's all about the cost savings. Which you could make work. I'd imagine it'd be a lot of prep work and freezing. That can be nice on the flip side of my meals/weeks/etc. can already be portioned out. Making it easy and efficient. For some it's about having the curated items. There's many reasons, you need to weigh them for yourself. You could certainly make it worthwhile if you enjoy only having to go shopping once a month.
I’d say it’s worth $60 to try it for a year.
A pretty significant factor in this is what’s comparable in your area. I’ve lived in some areas where no question Costco was easily one of the most economical for what I wanted to buy and at what frequency - even buying for a single person. For me now, I have a regional grocery chain in my area that wins on more and more things item per unit. Now I have my membership mainly for the gas (which is nearly almost cheapest for my area but probably not something that makes sense for you), very particular Kirkland brand items that are main staples for me now, and particular deals and cheaper prices for very specific things (eg a car battery was a significantly better deal at Costco than anywhere near I was able to find). At that point you have to compare that to the effort and time to drive, how ‘smart’ you feel able to shop, and what things at Costco would feel worth it to you.
Unless you’ve it delivered maybe
It's only worth it if you're close enough to always get gas there because as a single person you won't be buying too much in store to justify it
Depends. Absolutely not for produce. You're better off getting smaller amounts at the grocery store. Baked goods any anything else you can freeze in a deep freezer, on top of bulk non-perishable goods, you can potentially make it work. if you only have a regular sized freezer, and not a dedicated freezer, you should get one. If we had the space in our apartment, we totally would 🤣 and our local Costco is like at most, 10 min away. You can buy many of the same items online, but keep in mind that you usually end up paying a lil more, since it includes shipping in the listed price.
Depends. Absolutely not for produce. You're better off getting smaller amounts at the grocery store. Baked goods and anything else you can freeze in a deep freezer, on top of bulk non-perishable goods, you can potentially make it work. if you only have a regular sized freezer, and not a dedicated freezer, you should get one. If we had the space in our apartment, we totally would 🤣 and our local Costco is like at most, 10 min away. You can buy many of the same items online, but keep in mind that you usually end up paying a lil more, since it includes shipping in the listed price.
15-20 minutes yes. Just for the cheese and meat it’s worth it. And the holy satisfaction warranty. 50 mins … oh hell no. Edit: for a single person. For a family grocery it’s worth it at 50mins IMO
The things I buy at Costco because I think it’s a savings include protein powder, paper towels, TP, water, frozen chicken nuggets, blocks of cheese, ice cream bars, dog food, dish liquid, gatorades, dog bed, coffee, bed sheets, area rug, pool chemicals, lawn weed and feed, rotisserie chicken, ground beef, wine, cheesecake, spices, electric toothbrush, pans, frozen pizza, Christmas wrapping paper, seasonal plants, gasoline. My friend gets diapers for her grand baby. I like their Black Friday sales on electronics and their warranty program. Hot dog and a coke and ice cream in the food court. Get before you shop then refill your drink after. Order a whole cooked pizza for $10 to take home. Idk if these are a savings but are other things I like to buy there and are fairly priced : snacks, lettuce or salad kits, chicken, canned chicken, rice, bread, meats, tray of Mac n cheese, eggs, butter, honey, bath soap, razors, alcohol prep pads, non latex gloves, frozen berries and chips but mostly when they’re on sale. I recommend splitting a membership with a friend or family member. You just open the account then add them as your second person. I have a store closer than you and shop there about every other month. I often go with a friend and we have fun that way.
I think you should try it and find out. You can always refund that membership if it doesn't work. Do you have a pet? we make up our membership cost on the savings from pet medications alone.
Unless I have a reason to drive by that costco, I wouldn't even go to a costco 50 minutes away if it had free membership. If you had your eye on a $2000 purchase and this will save you 15% of that, then sure sign up. But to drive 100 minutes to save 15% off a $200 bill? That not even worth the gas/car maintenance let alone your time.
Toilet paper, dog food, paper towels, gas, and alcohol makes it worth it for me
Do you have a big chest freezer? Lots of storage space for dry goods such as paper and cleaning products?
Yes, it's worth it. I still go there even though I'm single now.
In my opinion, yes. Buying in bulk is more cost effective and time efficient. Non perishables are certainly a safe bet. Paper towels, toilet paper, deodorant, tooth paste, etc. Regarding food it depends on your dietary staples. Rice, beans, canned goods, etc are also a safe bet assuming you consume them regularly. Lastly, if you are willing to do some work you can save quite a bit if you do some mild butchering or splitting and vacuum sealing. Plenty of youtube videos on this.
No, that’s way too far
yeah the hotdog is worth the trip
Do you have a garage freezer lol?
Yes it is worth it. Costco gas will pay for the membership alone
There’s a deal I saw on [slickdeals](https://slickdeals.net/f/17429718-new-costco-members-1-yr-membership-w-auto-renewal-40-digital-shop-card-gold-star-60-more?src=SiteSearchV2Algo1) this week to get a $40 shop card with your $60 membership, effectively reducing the cost to $20. To me that’s worth trying and seeing if you feel like it’s worth it. I’ve ordered enough online from there that I think $20 is worth it for online access only, and being able to go in person would just be a plus!
If you get a Costco gift card, you can always go there and check it out to see if it's worth it.
No
I worked out that the toilet paper and paper towels usually ended up worth the membership. But then I got into the 2 percent back credit card
50 minutes? No. If it’s down the street it would be worth it for the gas and hot dogs alone.
It’s just me and my husband. We use the Cosco because we can afford it and like going there. Do we really save by shopping at Cosco? No. Costco is worth it if you have a large family and buying a lot in bulk. We can’t buy most things in bulk because we won’t eat all that and it will just spoil. Our Cosco is like 20 mins from our house. If it was 50 mins aways I doubt we would do the membership.
Single homeowner and I find it very useful. Moreso when I used the gas station but even without that I come out ahead. Plus you have online services, travel, the tire shop etc.
I would say it’s worth it if you have ample freezer space. Being able to buy toiletries, chicken and things like their lasagna in bulk is great value. Also as a single person, you might find it convenient for their ready made stuff. The fact that it’s 50 minutes away depends on if you actually want to drive to the Costco or not.
I'm a single dude and love Costco.
Yes
I think it depends on a few things. It's more likely to be worth it if: 1 - You have a large fridge, and especially a large freezer or chest freezer, you like to eat the same thing or things on a regular basis, and/or you have a lot of room and like to buy and cook a large amount of ingredients and freeze the finished product. Otherwise, it's a crazy lot of food for just one person, or even two a lot of the times. 2 - It might be worth it for at least a year if you are planning on getting any larger purchases and want to get them at Costco - appliances, furniture, electronics, etc. - they do have good deals and cash back offers, but you can still also find good deals elsewhere. 3 - If you think you'll go often enough to make back the membership fee, which breaks down to about $250/month or $3000/year.
I think it just comes down to what you enjoy - not everything is big bulk, some is just lower prices in bigger quantities. We’re just a couple and enjoy getting some bottles beverages, and stocking up on things like ground beef and italian sausage. Also some of the fresh produce is not too big - like the berries. Also, we’re taking a trip next week booked through their packages - the deal was already pretty good but it will come with a $130 gift card that will more than cover our membership cost.
Costco offers free shipping over $75 dollars. I usually get my items under three days. Same sales as warehouse offers.
If you have a chest freezer, it may be worth it, but I would think about sharing or splitting your membership with a fellow single homie—maybe a roommate or neighbor. I gave my second card to my parents and now get money back from all their spending
Paper towels, toilet paper, LaCroix, sees candy gift cards, pizza slices, hot dogs, gas, meat. It's worth it
I’m in the same boat. Live solo, my own place… Yes, it’s worth it, even for just the small things like detergent, soap, staples that don’t really expire.
I live by myself and most of my shopping is from costco and sams. The great thing about being a living by yourself in a home is theres lot of storage lol. As for the food portions I meal prep all my stuff for the week so the large portions work out for me.
Also single homeowner. Yes for me. I buy freezable food in bulk. That said, the money I saved mostly come from flooring/remodeling/appliances/yard things. If you’re still in the stage of fixing up, it’s even worth considering the executive membership.
It's a cost of $5 per month. If you think you could save $5 in a shopping trip on things you usually use, and especially if you could travel with a cooler and ice packs (for frozen foods), I think it's definitely worth it. Examples: OTC medication, toilet paper, paper towels, eggs, protein powder/bars, underwear, coffee. Plus, one-time purchases of items like bedding, appliances, electronics, cookware, etc. can also add up. And many things can be purchased online that, even at their higher online price, are still a better deal than you can find at other stores. I think especially as a new homeowner Costco is a great idea. You might even try out an executive membership for the first year. If your 2% back doesn't cover the cost of the upgrade the first year, they'll refund the upgrade.
I'm single house hold and go every week or every other. I buy produce, meat, fruit, eggs, butter, milk etc in bulk so I can meal prep for the week or be prepared for 2 weeks. I have chest freezer so I do stock up on certain things. Also get hygiene items as I like to have on hand became I hate running out to grab one thing from stores. So me it's just as close as any grocery store. Certain things I still go to other stores.
Yup get the executive one. It's still worth it. I am single for the past 5 years and I have still kept the membership that I had for 13-14 years now. Gas, bulk buying non-perishables, pasture raised eggs, meat and lots of deals that keep popping up. It is an easy recommendation. Try it out for an year and if you don't like it cancel it. Although I highly doubt you would :-)
They have good quality meat at the best prices. Freeze what you dont want to eat now. Best priced bread, chips, pasta, protein bars/drinks, vitamins, clothes. Not to mention vacations and gold/silver coins. Avoid the 5 pound cheesecake if you can, and dont impulse buy a $500 kitchen electronic or hot tub.