Top 10 Must-Have Costco Items I Never Leave Behind
I began shopping at Costco a decade ago because it was well-suited for our growing family. But I’ve stayed with Costco over the years (and increased our spending there) not just because of the unbeatable prices. In truth, it’s the quality.
My hubby has Crohn’s disease, and therefore, dietary issues. The variety of organic and specialty foods at Costco for outstanding prices is impressive. And it makes it our go-to store for much more than paper towels (though we buy that there too!)
Top 10 Costco Items To Buy Today
This ‘Top 10’ list highlights affordability and quality. I never leave the store without these items!
When buying in bulk, always consider products that have a good shelf life and things you use regularly.
*Comparison prices will vary.
1. General Mills Cheerios
| Why I Buy It | Costco | Grocery Story Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| I generally think cereal is overpriced for what it is. But my kids like cheerios and fruit as a breakfast option, so we do this cereal in bulk. | $6.89/2 lbs | $3.99/1 lb $7.98/2 lbs |
Costco Savings = $1.09 a box
2. Kirkland’s Canned Tuna
| Why I Buy It | Costco | Grocery Story Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| The cans are a bit bigger (perfect for my family), and we love the convenience of a quick tuna salad on crackers. | 15.59 for 8-7 oz cans (.278 per oz) | $1.59 per 5 oz can (.318 oz) |
Canned salmon is another great buy at Costco!
3. Organic Frozen Broccoli Florets
| Why I Buy It | Costco | Grocery Story Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Let me be clear: The Costco broccoli. IS. THE. BEST. I would drive to another state for it. Nothing else has compared to the taste and quality. | $8.99 4-1 lb bags ($2.248 per lb) | $2.99/10.8 oz (not organic) ($3.61 per lb) |
Costco Savings = $1.36 a lb cheaper than the non-organic option
4. Nuts
| Why I Buy It | Costco | Grocery Story Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Costco offers a diverse selection of nuts at unbeatable prices. I’m a big fan of throwing nuts in my homemade granola and trail mixes. | Almonds $8.99/48oz Pecans $10.99/32 oz Walnuts: $7.99/48oz | Pecans $5.49/6 oz (.92/oz) Walnuts: $4.49/6 oz (.75 per oz) |
Tip: Keep extra portions in an airtight container in the freezer to lengthen the shelf life.
5. Canned Beans (Black, Refried, Garbanzo…)
| Why I Buy It | Costco | Grocery Story Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Beans are a cheap and healthy food that go with tons of different meals. | Organic Black Beans $8.29/8-15 oz cans (.069 per oz) | Organic Black Beans $2.99/15 oz (.199 per oz) |
Costco Savings = $1.95 per can!
Related:
6. Blueberries (and other fruit)
| Why I Buy It | Costco | Grocery Story Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| My family of 5 eats through fruit at an alarming rate. It’s easier to buy it in larger quantities so I don’t have to buy many smaller packages. | $5.29/18 oz | $2.99/16 oz |
7. Kirkland’s Organic Peanut Butter
| Why I Buy It | Costco | Grocery Story Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| I’ve bought this peanut butter at Costco exclusively for years. It doesn’t contain added sugar. But I didn’t realize how hard it was to find a peanut butter like this until I went searching at our local grocery store. | Kirkland’s organic peanut butter $10.99 for 2-28 oz jars (.196 oz) | Smucker’s Natural Peanut Butter (not organic) $4.19/16 oz (.26 per oz) |
8. Banza Chickpea Pasta
| Why I Buy It | Costco | Grocery Story Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| When looking for a gluten-free option, we’ve found that this pasta is the closest in taste to regular pasta (plus has extra fiber). | $8.99/2.5 lbs or 40 oz | Chickapea $4.79/8 oz |
9. Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers
| Why I Buy It | Costco | Grocery Story Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| These crackers ARE SO EXPENSIVE everywhere else. But they taste good and don’t have that pesky gluten again. | $9.89/20 oz box (.495 oz) | $5.49/4.25oz ($1.29 per oz) |
Costco Savings = $.795 per ounce!
10. Old Fashioned Quaker Oats
| Why I Buy It | Costco | Grocery Story Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| We eat a lot of oatmeal and granola at my house, so oats are consumed in large quantities. | $9.99/2-80 oz bags | $7.49/42 oz |
More Helpful Items I Buy In Bulk at Costco
While the items above are my go-tos, the following things almost always make the list too:
- Meat (all kinds, organic and not)
- Trash bags
- Toilet Paper
- Paper Towels
- Parchment Paper
- Canned and jar olives
- Olive oil
- Avocado oil
- Eggs
- Butter
- Cheese
- Regularly used spices
- Batteries
- Frozen veggies
- Frozen fruit
- Maple syrup
- Snacks
- Socks and other clothing items
- Kleenex
Pro Tip: We have a phone “note” that my husband and I share. When we need something, we checkmark the item for the next grocery trip.
How To Determine a Good Buy at Costco
When browsing groceries at Costco, if you’re unsure about a purchase, consider:
- Is it a good buy? Costco puts the price per unit on every price sign. It’s easy to price compare.
- Is it shelf-stable or frozen? Or does your family eat enough of it to use it up?
- Do you have a plan for this ingredient or food?
If you answer ‘yes’ to these, it’s likely a smart buy.
Costco Membership Perks
A standard Costco membership costs $60 annually, providing one primary cardholder and a complimentary household member card. Alternatively, the Costco Executive Membership at $120 annually offers additional benefits like an annual 2% reward and service discounts.
Other great things to note:
- Costco sends out “coupons” once a month to show you anything that’s being knocked down in price for 30 days. We routinely use this ad to stock up when prices are lowest on our favorite things.
- As a Costco member, you can get a discount on gasoline by filling up at your local Costco.
- Costco offers membership discounts to teachers, students, military, medical professionals, and more.
- My husband has bought his tires at Costco for years. My dad just bought hearing aids there too. They have a wide variety of high-quality services and goods.
- They offer a credit card with great rewards on Costco, gas, and restaurant spending.
- Store pickup on eligible items: This makes the bulk shopping experience less stressful.
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