Costco may be perfect for larger families that go through bulk items quickly, but there are advantages to having a membership as a smaller household, too. There are plenty of great, high-quality items on Costco’s shelves, and these are eight shopping tips for smaller households to take advantage of every membership perk.
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8. Buy Produce
While Costco is known for its larger items, not all of the products come in big containers. For example, fresh fruit and vegetable packages are only slightly larger than those in supermarkets, and have a lower cost. These can usually be eaten in time before they get bad, but if not, you can always freeze any extras.
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7. Vacuum-Seal Your Foods
A great way to keep food fresh and save with bulk items is investing in a vacuum sealer and sealing some of your perishable items. A great food for this would be meat. Since Costco’s bulk sizes can be too much for a couple of servings, you can split up the packages and create smaller, more manageable ones for future meals.
6. Stock up on Vitamins/OTC Medicines
Medicine and vitamins can be pricey, especially if you need several different kinds. However, Costco has a wide variety of vitamins and over-the-counter medications that are perfect for stocking up on. The containers are often larger than regular grocery stores, and will also save lots of money over time. The best part? A lot of medications take years to expire, so you can stock up without worrying about wasting medication.
Check Out: 17 Things to Know About Costco Pharmacy
5. Take Things Out of Boxes
A great way for storing bigger bulk items is by taking them out of the box. Oftentimes, there’s lots of space in the box that isn’t filled by the product, so you can maximize your storage space by using other containers instead. This can be perfect for rice, olive oil, or other long-lasting pantry items.
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4. Store Things Outside
Not everything needs to be stored in the freezer, fridge, or pantry. Some bulk items like water, sports drinks, etc. can be stored in an outdoor storage space such as a garage, carport, small deck, or patio. While it might not be as useful in the warmer months, in the colder months they will stay chilled and ready to drink.
3. Freezers are Your Friend
It might be time to upgrade your freezer space. Even as a smaller household, there is a huge advantage to having that space to store bulk meats, vegetables, fruits, or other essential items you want to save for longer. At Costco, you can buy quality freezers for a great price, especially during holiday sales or other promotional events.
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2. Supplement with Non-Bulk Stores
While we all love Costco, sometimes brands or specific items are not available at the wholesaler, or we need smaller sizes. By supplementing your kitchen and other essentials with non-bulk items, you can save all your bigger purchases for Costco and still get all your favorite smaller items, too. This can also be cost-effective for items you need in small amounts.
Read More: How to Turn 6 Costco Frozen Foods Into Dinners for the Family
1. Do Spaced Out Trips
Similar to supplementing at non-bulk stores, it may be cost-effective to space out your trips to Costco. Since the bulk items are quite large, smaller households do not need to go to the wholesaler as often to stock up. Many dedicated Costco members will do monthly trips and grab essentials that will last them the whole month, such as paper products, meats, coffee, etc.
Don’t forget to keep checking back here at Costco97 for information on the best deals and hidden sales like .97 discounts. We talk about the best Costco bargains, secret hacks, and everything there is to know about the wholesaler and being a part of their membership. And be sure to stay in touch with the upcoming coupons, listed in our Costco Coupon Book (updated monthly).