Ever since I began running my own household two years ago, I’d longed to have a Costco membership.
Buddies who belong raved about the gorgeous produce, unbeatable alcohol discounts and bargains on peanut butter and coffee. I drooled over Pinterest meal plans where people praised the perks of shopping at Costco.
Costco sounded like a food-lover’s dream. But because it was just my spouse and me, I couldn’t justify the $55 membership without knowing whether we’d truly make the most of it. Would the membership prove worthwhile even though we weren’t feeding a large family?
In January, my husband and I welcomed a dog into our home, and his foster mom suggested buying Costco dog food for its quality and value. That pushed us to finally get a membership.
Since joining, I’ve enjoyed shopping at Costco as much as I expected, though there’s been a bit of an adjustment period. I’ve saved roughly $50 a month on average — about $250 in total since I began shopping there.
Here’s what I’ve discovered about making Costco work for a household of two.
1. Choose Items with Long Shelf Lives
Costco stocks a fantastic variety of durable, pantry-stable goods like jams, canned drinks, coffee and spices.
Before you go, note the items you routinely use for cooking and compare their prices at Costco. My staples include chicken bouillon, olive oil, oatmeal, peanut butter and almond butter.
We now pay the same — or even less — for these items, while enjoying noticeably higher quality.
Plus, keeping these essentials on hand removes the constant worry of running out.
2. Embrace Minimalist Eating
Costco also has great bargains on perishables.
The catch? Those savings usually mean buying larger quantities than you would at a regular supermarket. I adore grapes, but can my husband and I realistically eat four pounds before they spoil?
Shopping at Costco nudged me toward a more minimalist food approach. Instead of planning weekly menus that require a long list of ingredients, we rely on a few excellent ingredients used in multiple ways.
Our typical fruits and vegetables for a week or two might be grapes, leafy greens, carrots and apples — high-quality, tasty and cost-saving.
3. Make Meal Prep Simpler
Costco has been invaluable as I simplified meal planning over the last six months.
I buy a month’s worth of meat in bulk, portion it at home in cooking-friendly servings and freeze it in my freezer.
I also pick up large cans at Costco and cook several meals at once — think spaghetti sauce or tomato soup — then freeze individual portions.
These habits reduce our food spending, keep us within budget and make weekly meal planning much easier.
4. Split Bulk Purchases with Another Couple
Costco allows you to bring a guest, but only the member can pay at checkout, so you’ll need to split costs afterward.
A friend and I recently shopped together, and we could buy a wider assortment of items without breaking our budgets.
We picked up a 10-pound bag of whole carrots, 16 ounces of blueberries and four pounds of grapes. That would’ve been too much for just my husband and me, and I didn’t want to spend $20-plus on produce alone.
Instead, we divided the fruits and vegetables at home, and enjoyed top-quality produce all week for about $10 apiece.
5. Grab a Rotisserie Chicken
I make a Costco run once or twice monthly, and I always pick up a rotisserie chicken. For about $5, we get two dinners plus leftovers and stock from the bones. You can’t beat it!
Sometimes I buy extra chickens to give one to a friend or debone and freeze the meat for later.
6. Shop Beyond Food
As I mentioned, we joined Costco partly so we could purchase food for our adopted dog.
We pay $28.99 for a bag of dog food, which matches grocery-store prices, but the foster who cared for our dog (our unofficial dog adviser!) told us this bag equals much pricier brands in quality.
Costco is also excellent for toiletries, household items and gasoline, and I’m eager to try their photo services and pharmacy. If you want tips on trimming expenses there, check out ways to save money at costco.
7. Weigh Deals Carefully
As the old adage goes, if you don’t plan, you plan to fail. That holds true for shopping at Costco on a tight budget. If you don’t evaluate purchases against your budget, you’ll overspend.
You can’t afford impulse buys at Costco just because something looks tempting or new. Stick to your reasons for being there and follow your shopping list.
I once bought five value-sized household items, including fabric softener, which totaled more than $50. Before dropping that kind of money, I needed to be certain I would use everything.
The softener was an excellent per-unit deal because I already knew I liked it and would use the whole container. If I’d merely wanted to try a new item, I’d have been better off buying a smaller amount at a regular store to test it before committing to the value pack.
For example, soon after I started shopping at Costco, I bought an economy-size box of panko breadcrumbs for a recipe that required less than a cup. Though the price per ounce was fantastic, I would have been better off buying a smaller box at the grocery store. The unit price would be higher, but the overall outlay would have been lower and I would have used it all. In the end, I gave the excess breadcrumbs to a friend who would use them.
Do Couples Shop at Costco?
Costco isn’t only for large families. It works well for couples who want to stick to a budget while still eating well.
With deliberate planning and mindful buying, Costco can be a fit for any household and any budget.
Your Turn: Have you ever shopped at a warehouse club for a small household? What strategies do you recommend?
Hannah Mercer is a food-and-agriculture writer. She enjoys covering everything food-related, from the farm to the pantry to the dinner table. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and their friendly yellow lab mix, Maple.
