24 Of The Best And Worst Things To Buy At Costco

Worst: Things you don’t have room for

It might sound obvious, but you really shouldn’t buy too many items at Costco that you can’t store. According to Cheat Sheet, sometimes it’s not actually a better idea to buy in bulk. If you have to get super creative with how you’re storing the supplies in your house, it might make more sense to simply buy those items in a smaller size — at least for now.

Worst: Electronics

You might think buying electronics at Costco is a great idea, but you might be paying more for them than you realize. Howard Schaffer, the founder of Offers.com, told Kiplinger that you can often find better deals on electronics on bargain websites, plus stores (and websites) that sell electronics typically put those items on sale a couple of times a year. So if you keep an eye out, you might be able to get just what you’re looking for, for less.

Worst: Detergent

Detergent sounds like it would be the perfect thing to buy at a warehouse club like Costco, right? However, it might not be the best idea. According to Cheapism, laundry detergent starts to lose its effectiveness after about six months. You almost certainly won’t be able to use up a large container of laundry detergent if you’re only doing laundry for one or two people. For a large family, it might make sense, but for a single person or couple, it might be better to buy detergent in smaller quantities somewhere else.

Worst: Whole Grains

Whole grains are healthy, but you shouldn’t buy them in bulk at Costco. According to Eat This, Not That, since whole grains contain oils, they can go rancid. More refined grains will be more shelf-stable, which means rancidity is not as much of a concern. Buying whole grains from bulk bins at the grocery store, where you have more control over how much or little you’re buying, might be a better choice.

Worst: Conventional produce

Conventional produce (not organic) isn’t the best thing to buy when you’re at Costco. According to Rather Be Shopping, conventional produce is often very expensive at Costco, so your local grocery store might actually have a better price on the same kinds of fruits and vegetables. Additionally, buying at Costco means buying large amounts and produce can go bad if it’s not eaten quickly.

Worst: Cereal

Costco sells cereal in giant boxes, which makes it seem as though it’s a super-affordable option, but that’s not necessarily the case. According to Rather Be Shopping, if you break down the price of cereal per serving, you’ll probably be able to find the same cereals at your local discount grocery stores for less. Not only that, but grocery stores often offer sales, which can make your bargain-hunting even more effective.

Credits: mashed.com