Frugal Americans did a price comparison, so you don’t have to. Avoid these expensive Costco items.
Even though inflation seems to be gradually dropping, you’ve probably noticed that the cost of your grocery bill is still extremely high.
And we all know that if you want to save more money, buying in bulk at warehouse clubs like Costco is the cash-conserving strategy you need. But it turns out that only some things at Costco are top quality, and not everything you see on the shelves is a great deal.
So the next time you’re shopping at Costco, take a second look at these 11 expensive Costco items and ask yourself: Am I really saving money shopping here?
Fruits and vegetables
Many frugal Costco shoppers agree with us that buying fresh produce from this warehouse club failed to result in savings. So even though that mega bag of broccoli, grapes, or lettuce looks like a good idea for your diet and your pocket.
But the truth is that if you don’t eat them all before they go stale, you’re throwing away your cash.
Also, keep in mind that many supermarkets tend to drop prices on produce that’s in season, while Costco may not do the same. That’s why fruits and veggies are one of our list’s most expensive Costco items.
Baked goods
One of the most popular items sold at Costco is their fresh baked goods like croissants, muffins, and cookies.
Many shoppers agree that because these are packaged in such large quantities, they generally go bad before you can eat them all, ultimately nullifying any potential savings.
And aside from just squandering money, some shoppers even say that they avoid Costco’s bakery department for health concerns.
Their these expensive Costco items are huge, and calorie counts are too absurd compared with other stores. For instance, their madeleines are 130 calories, while Trader Joe’s are 75 calories.
Meat and cold cuts
When deli meats like turkey and ham go on sale at your local grocery store, there’s a good chance they’ll be significantly more reasonable than at Costco. The same goes for meat, like beef and chicken. You just have to buy this expensive Costco item in smaller quantities.
The trick is finding what you need on sale. You may have to look at a few grocery stores in your area, but you can find similar products for $2 per pound less when on sale. So, make it a habit to comb through your local store’s sales flyers and watch for coupons, as well.
Taking a few extra minutes to read the flyer before you shop can save you big in the long run and you’ll avoid buying expensive Costco items.
Beans
Buying canned beans can help you whip up a high-protein meal quickly. But many shoppers agree that they can find better prices on thse expensive Costco items elsewhere. If you look around, you’ll find that they’re not cheaper than in other stores.
They came out to over $1 a can at Costco, and you can even find organic beans for less than that. In fact, we learned that many shoppers get their peas, dried beans, and lentils from the bulk food section at Winco or Aldi at a much more affordable price.
Prescriptions
Costco, indeed, has some of the most affordable meds around. For instance, a generic drug necessary for those with Bell’s palsy that normally costs about $200 can be found at Costco for less than $39. That’s a steal!
But, it would be best to look closely at your insurance plan before filling your prescription at their pharmacy to get those dirt-cheap prices.
Many shoppers choose Costco as their preferred pharmacy because it’s convenient without realizing there are other pharmacies where they can fill their prescriptions for less.
If your insurance plan has a network and Costco is not a preferred pharmacy, your medications will likely be more inexpensive elsewhere. You can also use an app like GoodRx.com to compare all the pharmacies in your vicinity and find the best deal.
Electronics
We love that Costco sells a wide range of electronics, including TVs, tablets, cameras, speakers, headphones, and much more. And we’ll admit that many of these products are sold at competitive prices.
But, you should do your due diligence before purchasing electronics at this warehouse club, according to some customers.
In most cases, the price you see on any electronics at Costco is what you pay. Yet that’s not necessarily the case at a specialty electronics store. You have a better chance of negotiating with a store specializing in electronics than Costco.
Frozen produce
Many shoppers have been complaining that they’ve overspent tons of cash on Costco’s frozen produce, as well. Something like frozen strawberries., for instance, costs half as much at Aldi.
Frozen mixed berries are another expensive Costco item that’s cheaper at Walmart when you calculate the per pound cost. The same goes for the frozen vegetables at the warehouse club.
On the other hand, we should point out that many other stores’ frozen produce isn’t organic. This may explain the price difference. So in this case, it’s up to you to decide what’s more important.
Eggs
Not only do other grocery stores and supermarkets frequently have a better deal on eggs, but this expensive Costco item is also a product that has a limited shelf life.
So, buying large quantities of eggs from a warehouse club just doesn’t make sense… unless you’re regularly cooking up huge batches.
Personal care products
We get it! That bulk package of Q-Tips or razor blades might seem like the deal of the century. But if it will take you a year or more to use all of them, you should probably pass on this expensive Costco item.
You shouldn’t have to move an entire warehouse into your home and tie up your funds for a year or more to reap some significant savings.
Canned goods
It might obviously seem like a no-brainer to pick up your favorite canned goods at Costco, especially since they’re non-perishable. But you should think again because this is another expensive Costco item that has made it on our list.
We found out that you can find better deals on Amazon and even your local supermarket, especially when you buy the store’s private label on sale.
Tires
Not all of the expensive Costco items on our list are food-related. We learned that some customers bought a Costco membership, hoping to save on car repairs. But they soon realized they couldn’t use those services when their vehicle needed most help.
For instance, maybe you got a membership because you realized the superstore sells tires. Well, we hate to break it to you, but they don’t have tires in stock. It takes 3 to 4 days for them to show up.
If you’re in a bind, you might be more inclined to shop somewhere else where you can get them the same day. The idea of Costco Tire is fine for wear-outs but not so great for blow-outs because of this.
Some customers even prefer Discount Tire because they have many locations and do price matching. The service isn’t bad either.
What has YOUR experience been like with these expensive Costco items? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below.
And if you found this article on expensive Costco items helpful, we highly recommend you also read about 12 Retirement Financial Mistakes to Avoid in Your Golden Years
