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Post by melanieg on Feb 5, 2016 0:49:57 GMT
I am single and yes it is. For photo printing and books alone (although a few other things tend to jump in the cart now and then )
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Post by scrapperal on Feb 5, 2016 1:03:42 GMT
We are a family of two and it's worth it for us. We saved big money on glasses compared to the eye doctor's prices. Myhusband was quoted $300 after insurance at the doctor and ended up paying less than $200 for his regular glasses and sunglasses. My glasses were $200 less also. You don't need to have a Costco (or Sams Club) membership to get glasses or a prescription filled, at least in the US. Something about you can't require membership for health services (not sure how it works exactly).
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Feb 5, 2016 1:15:26 GMT
We are an empty nest couple and do not buy food/paper goods in bulk. That said, a Costco membership is worth the cost for us. I can pay for the card just with the savings on my contact lens. The main things I buy are the famous roasted chicken, nuts, crackers, some food, bottled water and paper towels. I no longer buy their toilet paper since they discontinued the Kirkland brand in the purple wrap. We all hate the one in the blue wrap and don't care for Charmin. So tp is purchased elsewhere now. They also have excellent prices on wine & spirits. My favorite printer paper is from Costco. A huge package is about $7 and will last me months and months. Because DH never goes to Costco without me, DD (28) has the second card. In addition to food, she buys her gas almost exclusively at Costco. They have the best prices in this area. As soon as they switch to taking Visa, I plan to use them for gas as well.
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Jili
Pearl Clutcher
SLPea
Posts: 4,363
Jun 26, 2014 1:26:48 GMT
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Post by Jili on Feb 5, 2016 1:23:17 GMT
We don't go there often, but it's totally worth the membership fee.
I bought my glasses there. My favorite pajamas and coat are from Costco. I buy refills for my Sonicare toothbrush there. Lots more, too.
We bought our car there. Ok, not there, but we used their auto purchase program and had an excellent experience.
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caangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,462
Location: So Cal
Jun 26, 2014 16:42:12 GMT
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Post by caangel on Feb 5, 2016 1:27:18 GMT
We are a family of two and it's worth it for us. We saved big money on glasses compared to the eye doctor's prices. Myhusband was quoted $300 after insurance at the doctor and ended up paying less than $200 for his regular glasses and sunglasses. My glasses were $200 less also. You don't need to have a Costco (or Sams Club) membership to get glasses or a prescription filled, at least in the US. Something about you can't require membership for health services (not sure how it works exactly). I don't think you need a membership to access the pharmacy nor the eye doctor, but I believe you do need one to purchase glasses or contacts. But do check!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 9:08:17 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2016 1:32:10 GMT
It's just DH, DS (7) and me, and the Costco membership is worth it to us. We don't even really buy that much there - but the things that we do save us enough to justify the membership cost.
Just the savings from the organic apples that our son eats probably covers our membership, honestly.
Oh, and the Kirkland Signature brand contact solution is a screamin' good deal, if anyone wears contacts.
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Post by dewryce on Feb 5, 2016 1:33:28 GMT
One thing that I love Costco for (also UK) is their photo processing. The paper and printing quality is superb, and really cheap, especially for enlargements. This is why I am considering joining.
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Julie W
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,209
Jun 27, 2014 22:11:06 GMT
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Post by Julie W on Feb 5, 2016 1:42:39 GMT
I thought the same for many years but got a membership for our family of two (me and DD9) last year. There isn't one close to us, so we have to plan for when we are near them and what we need, but yes I would say it is worth it for our family of two. If we lived closer the gas would seemingly make it worth it, but we don't get to gas up there often. We don't have a big house, only 1000 squsre feet with limited storage, so we don't go crazy. We are looking at new TVs and I would say yes there are some good deals on electronics. DD saw a steering sled there she wanted for Christmas, I saw it for $50 more on Amazon.
Some things we buy that make it worth it: *big string cheese packs, freeze some *big blocks of other cheese, freeze some *pork chop packs and freeze one per bag. We have them once per week and they are SO thick I can slice one in half (less thick) and it feeds both of us. *frozen edamame four small bags in one big bag, we steam edamame and then pan fry with soy sauce and half a bag makes us full. *DD9 is an artichoke freak, two big jars together and it lasts her a long time *A half-gallon of organic heavy whipping cream is $10. Sometimes you can pay $5 just for a pint. I use it in my iced coffee and for recipes, and even if it goes bad (though it lasts a long time before it expires) it's still worth it. I'm going to check into freezing it.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 9:08:17 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2016 1:55:22 GMT
Along with rotisserie chickens and pork chops, their fruit and avocados are great. I buy a few canned/jarred foods that come in 4-packs. Their OTC medications and vitamins have very good prices. I find a surprising number of workout and casual clothes there, and my husband likes their Italian wool pants. Oh and their socks, too. I don't buy books very often anymore, but their prices are very good. My sister has bought furniture, and been very happy with it. Sonicare refills, ticonderoga pencils, small appliances.
Plus the hot dog and a soda for $1.50 is the cheapest lunch in town.
I don't buy their gas because our Stop and Shop station matches their prices, and I can use points for even more of a discount.
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,430
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Feb 5, 2016 2:07:23 GMT
When it was just Dh and I, we upgraded or executive. TOTALLY worth it! We now have a 4yo and one on the way and it's soooo worth it! We go once a week usually and it's 45 min one way for us! Of course, we combine it with so,etching else we're doing most weekends. And we know where every Costco is within 200 miles of our house! (we live in the boonies). I work near the closest Costco and get all my gas there. Right now (I'm in California) it's $1.89/gallon for low. Everywhere else it's still right around $2/gallon and in the town I live in it's $2.56/gallon. AND now has no one mentioned the SAMPLES? ? OMG! Time it right and you don't have to eat lunch! It's been great to get our DD to try new foods. We discovered that she loves cheesecake and despises cranberry goat cheese. Lol.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,147
Jun 29, 2014 18:58:47 GMT
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Post by scrapnnana on Feb 5, 2016 2:08:46 GMT
We are a family of three now, but were down to two of us for a couple of years. We have the executive membership, and I buy most of my groceries, movies, sometimes electronics, bedding, laundry soap, dishwasher soap, ziplock bags, print photos there, and get DH's Muscle Milk there when they have it. We have a small home, no garage, and I sometimes have to get a bit creative in storing the big packs of paper towels and toilet paper, but it is worth it to me. I get a rebate back in March that pays for my Executive membership and about $60 or more that I can use to buy free groceries.
We expect to move in a few months, and the Costco will be farther away. All the more reason to buy in bulk, so I don't have to shop as often. I hate shopping, anyway. I will definitely be keeping my membership. Oh, and they have less expensive gas, too, so when I get to a Costco that has a gas station, I fill up.
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Post by Layce on Feb 5, 2016 2:12:43 GMT
I hated Sam's and BJ's, didn't renew. But COSTCO!! (Aka Cosko, heh) I love it, good quality across the board. I second that emotion on the rotiss chickens. I check couponmom.com the first of the month for the specials, I actually look forward to this flol, also picking up OJ, milk, huge container thingy of unsalted mixed nuts that we've apparently become addicted to, cheese and string cheese, frozen veg oh I could go on and on and that's just food. Hey, do you guys ever eat at the cafe? Somebody stop me.......
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 9:08:17 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2016 2:49:46 GMT
We dropped it. I spent way to much there. I now go to cash and carry for large meat purchases.
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Grom Pea
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,944
Jun 27, 2014 0:21:07 GMT
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Post by Grom Pea on Feb 5, 2016 2:50:34 GMT
If you have a dog they have high quality dog food that is reason reasonable, i know someone who pays for their membership in savings on high quality dog food. I love getting photos and photo cards at Christmas. 50 prints with envelopes for $14.99 add 25 prints for $5.49. I love shopping there, there's just something about Costco that makes me enjoy shopping vs the grocery store. Also salad and lettuce and spinach ate all super cheap, i usually buy spinach and use it for salads, sandwiches and cook the rest as it cooks down easy and you could freeze it if you needed to.
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Post by acd on Feb 5, 2016 3:01:34 GMT
We are down to three and a dog. Costco is 100% worth it. We make a trip once a week - at least! I'm a little disappointed about the AMEX to Visa change, but definitely won't drop my membership. I even read the magazine!
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,430
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Feb 5, 2016 3:02:04 GMT
If you have a dog they have high quality dog food that is reason reasonable, i know someone who pays for their membership in savings on high quality dog food. I love getting photos and photo cards at Christmas. 50 prints with envelopes for $14.99 add 25 prints for $5.49. I love shopping there, there's just something about Costco that makes me enjoy shopping vs the grocery store. Also salad and lettuce and spinach ate all super cheap, i usually buy spinach and use it for salads, sandwiches and cook the rest as it cooks down easy and you could freeze it if you needed to. This year, I bought the coupon for $9.99 for 50 cards and envelopes! Such a great deal! I hope they offer it next year!
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Post by crazy4scraps on Feb 5, 2016 3:21:14 GMT
we are only 2 and we have a executive membership. worth every penny for us. we shop there a lot and with the Costco/AMEX card, we get a heft rebate back each year from Costco and non-Costco purchases. There are only 3 in our family (5yo DD) and it's absolutely worth it for us to have the executive membership. We buy as much as we can there. We use their Amex too, pay it in full every month and cash in on both the annual Costco 2% rebate and the Amex rebate. There are lots of things there you can buy and freeze to use later (or buy frozen to begin with) if you can't use it all right away, so that's what we do. I try to get anything electronic through them because they automatically extend the warranty on all of that stuff, and they have one of the best return policies out there if you're ever not totally happy with something.
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Post by JustKim on Feb 5, 2016 4:37:40 GMT
Just the two of us now but Costco is my main shopping store. If you do get the membership and you find at the end of the year it is not worth it, I think they will compensate the cost back to you if you stop the membership. I know if you get the executive membership and find that you did not benefit from it they will compensate the difference.
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Post by crittsmom on Feb 5, 2016 5:35:05 GMT
We're a family of three, and it is well worth the cost. From car rental to dog food, from movie tickets to cheese snacks and I only buy the majority of our meat there. As someone posted above, the price of the rotisserie chicken is worth it alone. I also use it for gas, it is a safe place to get gas without worrying about your card getting hacked. Plus there aren't alot of crazy drivers there to get in my way. I buy lots of sweaters there. Two thumbs up !
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Post by katlady on Feb 5, 2016 5:40:53 GMT
Apparently we are not shopping at Costco the way it should be done! LOL! It is just not our main place to shop, so that is why I wrote earlier that I don't know if it is really worth it for us. We just like going there occasionally and looking around (and buying toilet paper).
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Post by Basket1lady on Feb 5, 2016 6:34:26 GMT
Just the two of us now but Costco is my main shopping store. If you do get the membership and you find at the end of the year it is not worth it, I think they will compensate the cost back to you if you stop the membership. I know if you get the executive membership and find that you did not benefit from it they will compensate the difference. This is what I was going to mention. If you aren't happy, they will prorate and refund you the remainder of your membership. And with the Executive Membership, you get money back. If the money back doesn't pay for your membership fee, you can request to drop down to the regular membership and get the difference back. You don't need to stop the membership. This is a big on the Big Brother side, but if during the year it turns out that you will save money upgrading, they will tell you at the checkout counter. Like others said, you can buy tires, batteries, tvs, etc there. Those big purchases add up. There is also a travel portion of Costco and more items online.
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Post by tlsmi on Feb 5, 2016 11:34:41 GMT
If you ever are in need of a rental car check into Costco travel. Unbelievable savings!
--- there are just the 2 of us but DH stops every other week and I go once a month. We entertain a lot in the Summer though and have storage space.
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Post by monklady123 on Feb 5, 2016 11:58:40 GMT
I haven't read any of the replies yet so I'm probably repeating. But... Both of my kids are in college now, and although they're home in the summer it's just me and dh for the rest of the time. They come home briefly for vacations and I usually give them a few things I've bought at Costco -- granola bars, jerky, things like that. But even for just the two of us it's well worth it. Some of my staples are: -- beer -- TP -- pizza -- salsa -- hummus in the individual servings (for lunches) -- crackers (it's a huge box but there are multiple sleeves inside so you're not opening a large box that might then go stale) -- cheese -- frozen burgers -- rotisserie chicken -- frozen salmon burgers -- coffee -- coffee creamer -- cleaning stuff -- vitamins -- socks -- gum -- beef jerky -- nuts -- dd's contacts -- books We have the $110/year membership. This is the one that gives you a percent rebate at the end of the year. Some years we get the entire $110 back. This year not quite -- I just got my rebate check, it's for $82. I think that's excellent.
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Post by papersilly on Feb 5, 2016 12:25:16 GMT
We even bought our Lexus through Costco. Excellent, no haggle price at a partner dealership near us.
We even booked a vacation through Costco. Great pricing, easy booking.
Like I said, worth every penny.
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raindancer
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,095
Jun 26, 2014 20:10:29 GMT
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Post by raindancer on Feb 5, 2016 12:50:56 GMT
I love my membership and I don't buy bulk toilet paper there etc. (I find it to be cheaper at Target almost always). The food there is amazing.I have an executive membership and we buy gas there, etc. It's worth it for us.
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Post by khaleesi on Feb 5, 2016 13:56:40 GMT
For us it is. We are just two and a dog now and we easily get the most out of our membership just in the amount of individually packaged hummus cups I buy. I can't get enough of those and have one every day with lunch. We do have space to store bulk products and a freezer for meats and other things. Our staples are: - Hummus - TP/PT - Dishwasher soap - Liquid hand soap (it lasts us at least a year) - Fabric sheets for the dryer - Beer and other alcohol (can't beat some of the deals on top shelf, especially if you like to entertain) - Meat (package it up and use the food saver to seal it up) - Kirkland brand Zyrtec (Allertec maybe?) - Prescription glasses and contact lenses Then there is the whatever else launches itself from the shelf into the cart
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Post by giatocj on Feb 5, 2016 13:59:30 GMT
We are a family of 3 and have one that our company pays for. However, because the closest one is about 40 minutes away, we rarely, if ever, find the time to go. The few times we have, we've loved it.
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Post by GamGam on Feb 5, 2016 14:11:33 GMT
Not for us either. DH bought his hearing aids there, but does not like the way they are performing. I never shop there. I don't like a huge store, and have limited store at at home.
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Post by karinms on Feb 5, 2016 14:15:24 GMT
There are two of us and the dog and it is well worth it for the dog food alone. That said, it's pretty much the only place I buy meat and the prices and quality are wonderful.
We just went last night actually (40 minutes each way). We stocked up on chicken, ground beef, yogurt, frozen fruit, bacon, our favourite ice cream (only available there and in the summer at a local burger place), scrubbing sponges, chocolate chips and underwear for my guy.
I watch prices there just like anywhere else though and there are things I buy that are periodically on sale so I stock up. Those include Tetley tea, a brand of individual chicken pot pies (my guy doesn't like stuff like that so no point buying or making a bigger one), cereal and more.
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Post by mikklynn on Feb 5, 2016 14:41:45 GMT
We love Costco and it's just the two of us! Not only for food items but household stuff, clothing, books, etc. And for cars. I save a ton over the dealer's guaranteed low price and my employer's X-Plan pricing. My DD saved $1000 over the dealer's guaranteed low cost on a used vehicle.
I save enough on Nutrigrain bars, over the Walmart price, to pay for my membership.
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