[Cincinnatus]

After reading this thread I'm mad at myself for having not signed up years ago. Looks like big potential savings.

I also read a while back that compared to Wal-Mart and most chain stores they actually pay their employees pretty decently, too.

[Bad Hussar]

(08-28-2013 03:28 PM)MSW2007 Wrote:  

...

I also read a while back that compared to Wal-Mart and most chain stores they actually pay their employees pretty decently, too.

And it shows...

The Walmart stores I've been in look like a tornado has just passed through. They were awful. Whereas the Costco stores look like they just opened for the first time that very day.

It's as clear as daylight that the management style at Costco is leaps and bounds ahead of Walmart. And, although you have to buy in bulk, you get the same or better prices at Costco as you do at Walmart.

[Hencredible Casanova]

I went to Costco the other day. Great store. The savings are significant. I bought two dozen organic eggs for just $7. Produce, oats, and almonds are also much cheaper. It's great for items you know you will be buying over and over again. Better to buy it in bulk and save yourself some money.

[Teddykgb]

(08-28-2013 03:28 PM)MSW2007 Wrote:  

After reading this thread I'm mad at myself for having not signed up years ago. Looks like big potential savings.

I also read a while back that compared to Wal-Mart and most chain stores they actually pay their employees pretty decently, too.

Yeah I know a few people who have worked there and I think some of them were making in the low 20's range for being a cashier which is pretty decent especially compared to Wal Mart.

[emuelle1]

I got my Costco membership almost exclusively for beer. The Kirkland Handcrafted Ales and Lagers are about $18.99 a case and pretty good. Sam Adams, Blue Moon, and Flying Dog usually run about $28 a case, still a great value.

Other than that, since I'm going through a divorce and renting a basement, I keep most purchases simple. I buy microwaveable food, snacks, and toilet paper. Occasionally I'll splurge on something else, like the memory foam gel infused mattress topper and pillow I bought a few months ago.

Costco is a pretty good deal.

[Basil Ransom]

I've since stopped shopping at Costco for meat and produce, for the most part. I still go for eggs, pastured butter, some cheeses, shelf goods and frozen produce.

I tried the Kirkland marinara sauce, and it is easily the best marinara sauce I've bought from a store. You can taste all the spices, it uses extra virgin olive oil and it's <$8 for 3 32 oz jars. Highly recommend.

The 2L olive oil for $10 is also hard to beat, especially considering Costco does their homework when it comes to getting genuine extra virgin olive oil.

One of their blenders, the Kitchenaid Diamond, is about to go on sale with $25 off, I'll be getting that too. Costco is hands down the best place to buy appliances because you can return them very easily. I've returned stuff they couldn't even find in the system under my account.

There's also dark chocolate covered coconut candy, very good and not too high in sugar. Still, Costco is lacking a true extra dark chocolate (80%+). Would also love to see some xylitol gum and loose leaf teas on sale. And box wine.

[Suq Madiq]

Costco has great gift certificates.

If you don't have a gym membership, get one from Costco.

A few years ago, I got the two-year gym membership at 24 Hour Fitness for $299, about $12.45/month. Now it's $369.99 for two years at an All-Club Sport, about $15.42/month.

http://www.costco.com/24-Hour-Fitness-2-...70476.html

$16.99 for two movie tickets – both AMC and Regal

Sporting events (often includes food)

25% off and sometimes more on restaurants and coffee shops.

If you've never had their rotisserie chicken, get it. It's incredible, serves several meals, and it's about $5.

Full-time Costco employees can make around $60k/year – bonus checks ranging from $4k-$7k and they get OT pay (over $30/hour) on Sundays. They can cash out their unused sick pay or use it toward more vacation time and get like two months off paid.

[Basil Ransom]

Also, the Costco near me is one of the few places I consistently see cute Latina girls on staff . Pretty rare otherwise in retail. Way better than Chipotle's cows.

[SteveCR]

chicken thighs, de-boned
88% ground beef
frozen blueberries
oatmeal (both the individual flavored packets and the big tub of regular Quaker oats for my shakes)
raisin bran
butter
cheddar cheese
cat food

Plus all the regular household items, toiletries, etc.

[jamaicabound]

I love their romaine hearts cheap and like 6 to a bag. Often use them to make rollups or sanwhiches with feta and meat instead of bread.

Their frozen brockoli like 5 packs to a big bag is awesome i like it better than fresh broccoli stays fresh and crispy.

The lemonbutter cod is awesome great flavor and texture for frozeb fish.

Been wanting to try the salmon burgers but havnt yet. Im a big fab of the big bags of langostino lobster and sometimes shrimo when on sale

They have a great cereal coconut and chia seeds. Tasty and very filling like eating a bowl of oatmeal.

Also love their rotissiere chicken. Cheap pick up one or two at beginning of week. Pick them apart feed the scraps to the dogs and use the rest for tacos salads rollups etc

[Teddykgb]

When I was at the airport in Bohol Philippines I met this older filipino/american guy. He lived in Seattle but he still owned property in the Philippines and everytime he would fly back to the Philippines he had a huge list of things that he would buy at Costco and have shipped over because he just liked their stuff that much better. Everything from food to toiletries.

[puckerman]

I buy cases of tuna at Costco. At $55 per year, I have to wonder if it's really worth it. Maybe I should just look around more.

[Blunt]

(09-02-2013 12:37 PM)emuelle1 Wrote:  

I got my Costco membership almost exclusively for beer. The Kirkland Handcrafted Ales and Lagers are about $18.99 a case and pretty good. Sam Adams, Blue Moon, and Flying Dog usually run about $28 a case, still a great value.

Other than that, since I'm going through a divorce and renting a basement, I keep most purchases simple. I buy microwaveable food, snacks, and toilet paper. Occasionally I'll splurge on something else, like the memory foam gel infused mattress topper and pillow I bought a few months ago.

Costco is a pretty good deal.

I've heard that because of complicated state laws if you want to buy alcohol at Costco you don't need a membership and you can just tell the greeter you are buying booze.

[Teutatis]

Olive oil, coconut oil, butter, beef, chicken, fish, eggs, sardines, spices/salt/pepper, oats, potatoes, sweet potatoes, fruits (avocados, grapefruits, kiwi, etc), tomatoes, garlic, frozen vegetables, frozen berries. I pretty much live on what I buy at Costco. The only exceptions are liver, chicken hearts, which they don't have, and cucumbers, tomatoes and some vegetables, when I just need a small quantity.

[Basil Ransom]

My local Costco had some terrific short sleeve madras shirts. They are about as authentic as anything I've seen in a mainstream retail store - if you want the best madras you either have to pay high Polo prices or sift through thrift shops and get lucky. The brand is 'The New Ivy' which is supposedly sold under a different name ('Tailor Vintage') for Nordstrom's for five times the price. And most people don't know the difference between madras and generic plaids.

For some reason, the site doesn't have them online. They do have the long sleeves.




The sleeves are too long and the waist is too big, but I roll the sleeves a little and will probably get the waist taken in. $16. I picked up the second one from the right - unfortunately the one on the left is a little bland and the other ones are too busy and thus a little ugly. The one on the right would be nice if they left out the green and yellow.

[Oz.]

Costco is awesome although I find myself spending more since I started going there. I usually get the following;

Kirkland organic olive oil, Ezekiel bread, organic chicken breast, ground beef (grass fed), wild planet tuna, some type of cheese, packs of celery and carrots, blueberries, raspberries, mangos, organic cage free eggs, almonds, hemp seeds, brown rice, black sugar, chia seeds

There's a couple of other things that are good but can't remember at the moment.

[Sourcecode]

Official RVF Costco girl

[Vaun]

^^Clean up in aisle 3^^

The pizza and hotdogs are so good, something about shopping in that place makes me hungry.

The luggage is always a good deal if you need good cheap luggage. The meat and fish is always pretty good too.

[Basil Ransom]

(06-13-2015 10:37 PM)Sourcecode Wrote:  

Official RVF Costco girl

Lol she does look a little fat though, based on her upper left arm and big wide back.

I approve of warehouse sized asses though.

[LeeEnfield303]

What's the tat?

[Basil Ransom]

Fucking ridiculous, eggs at my Costco now are $5.19 for 18, thanks to avian flu fears and California regulations. Bye bye to eating eggs.

[Brian Shima]

@ Basil Ranson. Geez that is nearly twice what I pay. Eggs have always been the numero uno food item for me even in my college bum days. Stick with them even if your funds are low but work out in the gym. They are an excellent source of protein and mental clarity. Maybe try a local Mexican market?

[TheChef]

I joined Costco recently and after a few months am dumbfounded why I didn't join earlier.

In addition to BR's recommendations:

- Bedsheets. After one wash they're surprisingly comfy. Godbless the Kirkland brand
- Eggs, by the 60 pack
- Steaks in bulk. Be sure to put them into 2-3lb individual freezer bags the day you get them and store them in the freezer. I waited a bit too long and lost some good meat.
- Onions, Garlic and Potatoes. They last a long time in the pantry.
- La Brea Bakery Individual Ciabatta Rolls. Just like the steak, separate into groups of 4 in a freezer bag and store them in the freezer. When you want them, put them in the fridge the night before. They make delicious sandwiches with the tuna you're also buying bulk.
- Organic Coffee
- Roma Tomatoes, they last a surprising long time (1-2 weeks)
- Lemons, keep them extra in the fridge. Great for homemade lemonade

Be wary of:
- Avocados, they're only all ripe within a 2 day period. Only good if you're making guac in bulk

Plus I heard that Costco is really good to its employees. The prices are great because they only have a 2-3% markup on their goods. They make most of their money through their yearly memberships. Everyone wins.

[AneroidOcean]

(08-28-2013 03:13 PM)Basil Ransom Wrote:  

Was referring to the fact that you can put a second person on your account by claiming them as your spouse. i.e. split a membership.

This is no longer the case. You can add anyone as your "household member" if you have the 2nd card going to the same address. My friend and I both buy as much as we can from there for the 2% back and because most things are a decent deal and some are a great deal. Very well run operation and a very solid return policy/customer support. I buy with strong confidence.

I've had plenty of people say, "oh how can you spend so much money on Costco?" I break large quantities down where I can and supplement with my local farmer's market for fruits/veggies. I hate being out of common stuff and I have no qualms saving money in the long run buying what other people would consider "large quantities" of dish soap and other items.

Out of dish soap? No need to run to the store, I just refill from my gigantic container. Saves money AND time. Time you can't really buy.

[monster]

they sell cars now in costco. Costco is america's 2nd largest "dealership" moving 400,000 cars per year.