Stop Wasting Money on These 9 Costco Items
Walking into Costco feels like a treasure hunt. It’s easy to get swept up in the magic of store prices and throw everything into your oversized cart. But let me tell you from years of experience: A deal is not a contract if you end up throwing half of it in the trash.
When it comes to certain perishables and household items, buying in bulk is a trap. The math just doesn’t work for the average family, and you end up wasting money on things that expire before you use them.
Here are nine things you’re best off buying in bulk at your local supermarket or drugstore.
9 things to leave on the shelf
1. Purchased medicines: It’s tempting to grab that 1,000-count bottle of ibuprofen or allergy pills for what appear to be dose pens. But the US Food and Drug Administration warns that expired medicinal products may become ineffective or dangerous due to changes in chemical composition. Unless you’re using a clinic, you’ll probably hit that expiration date before you finish the bottle.
Related: See “5 Outdated Medicine Cabinet Basics You Need to Get Rid of Immediately: They’re Dangerous.”
2. More nuts and seeds: Because nuts are full of healthy, unsaturated fats, they are more prone to oxidation. According to Colorado State University Extension, nuts like walnuts and pecans have a short shelf life and will quickly develop a paint-like odor and a bitter taste when cooked. Buy small bags so your snacks taste fresh.
3. Sun protection: You might think you’re getting ahead of the summer by buying a three-pack of sunscreen. But those active ingredients degrade over time, especially if the bottles are exposed to heat in your car or at the beach. Once the bottle is opened, its effectiveness decreases. You don’t want to gamble with getting sunburned just to save a few bucks.
4. Books and movies: Costco’s entertainment table is in the center of the store for a reason: it’s a prime trap for mindless shopping. While the prices look decent, you can almost always find cheap wallpapers or DVDs online. Even better, you can borrow them for free from your local public library.
5. Cooking oil: Believe it or not, fat goes bad. Exposure to light, heat, and air causes cooking oils to oxidize and turn rancid. Buying a gallon of olive oil may seem smart, but if it takes you a year to go through it, you’ll be cooking with spoiled oil in the end. Stick to regular bottles that you can finish in a few months.
6. Beauty products and cosmetics: That vat of premium body lotion looks like a luxury steal. But every time you open a jar of cream or pump a bottle, you introduce air and bacteria. Over time, preservatives degrade, rendering the product ineffective or a breeding ground for bacteria.
7. Baking essentials: Things like baking powder and active dry yeast lose their effectiveness over time. If you buy a big brick of yeast, your bread may not rise properly six months down the line. Unless you bake regularly, buy these items in small quantities at a regular grocery store.
8. Makeup you use sparingly: Sure, a big double-pack of ketchup or mayonnaise looks like a steal. But once you break the seal, the clock is ticking. Unless you have a big family or neighborhood barbecues every weekend, you’ll probably end up throwing away half the bottle when it expires.
9. New product: Costco’s produce section is great, but buying three pounds of spinach or a dozen avocados at once is a rookie mistake. Most of us can’t eat that much fresh food before it turns to slime in the fridge. You’ll save money by buying exactly what you need for the week.
How to shop smart
Before you give your membership card at the register, take a second look at your cart. If you can’t get rid of something before it goes bad or loses its potency, put it back on the shelf. The actual cost of that item includes the part you end up throwing away.
Related: See “How to Buy in Bulk and Save Money Now” and “9 Shopping Mistakes to Avoid at Costco.”
