I have not renewed my Costco membership since it expired at the end of 2005. I was thinking "there are only two of us we don't need big packages of stuff". Well I went with my Mom when I was visiting her and I was shocked and pleasantly surprised. The prices are THE SAME or just a little more than the regular grocery store (even WinCo) and you get two or ten or twenty or a hundred times as much product.

So I went there yesterday and bought the $100 membership where you get 2% back. If you spend $400 a month in one year (and who doesn't?) you get a check at the end of the year for $96 put that back in the next year membership is only $4. You go in earlier than everybody else too. With the regular $50 membership you get NOTHING back so I went for the 2%.

I cannot tell you how happy I am I went and kind of sad I have not been doing it for years. At Costco we can afford organic butter, tomato sauce, fruit and veggies etc. I could afford to buy filet mignon for my husband the price per lb is the same as cheap steak at the regular store. Milk, bread, eggs, etc are cheap as dirt.

And don't forget the batteries, TP, wine, beer, office supplies, you name it they have almost everything (tires, prescriptions, eyeglasses, travel agency, papers shredder, computers, tvs, need I go on?)

I highly suggest if you have not been there lately you take a look. It will be worth your while.

The quality of the meat, produce and baked goods is EXCELLENT! And the cheesecake is to die for. lol can't forget the cheesecake!


I bought our groceries for the month and some stuff will last a lot longer than a month. I am so excited I wish I would have taken a picture of my full cart so I could look at it.

I am silly I keep looking in my fridge, freezer, and pantry cupboards and I get a warm feeling inside.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I LOVE Costco! Since I don't shop WM, that also means no Sam's Club and we have 2 of those within 10 miles. I drive 1 hour to Costco and it's SO worth it. I have the business membership and get the Amex deal where I get 5% back on gas and 2% at Costco and 1% everywhere else (at least I think that's what it is). Anyway, besides stuff for home at great prices and the excellent customer service, I buy 3 items there that I resell for my business. A cool thing Costco does is that they automatically extend the warranty on electronics (like TVs) so it's like you are getting an extended warranty but not paying anymore for it. They have great Customer Service (at least the times I have used it).

Glad you like it. I wouldn't go without a membership there

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

I'm confused....You have to spend $400 a month for a year in order to get $96 back at the end of the year? I don't spend anywhere near $400 a month on items available there......

Most people spend that much on groceries per month. They also have cleaning supplies, personal hygiene, things like Prilosec, etc. If you don't think you will spend that much then get the basic $50 membership you still get to shop there you just don't get anything back.

I personally spend over $400 a month on groceries and other supplies but we are picky and eat the best of things.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I don't know about minimums...I go beyond what they would be. I spend roughly $400 a MONTH just on items for resale and then another $100 or so for personal home items. I always get artichokes (4 for $5 where they are $3 each at the grocery store), flour, sugar, roasted chicken, asian salad (it's my kids fave), canned and fresh green beans, canned corn, oil,....

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

>>>At Costco we can afford organic butter, tomato sauce, fruit and veggies etc.<<<

That's the biggest thing that sold me on Costco. They have organic stuff fresh, frozen, canned, and packaged goods, and the cost for those things is cheaper than at my local grocery stores or co-ops.

I don't think I spend $400/mo there, but am keeping track of my receipts for a year to see if it's worth the upgraded membership next year.

If you even get close enough to get most of the $50 back it would be worth it. And now I will be encouraged to look there for things first.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

We don't have one anywhere near close by. How does it compare to Sams Club?

They are also a very good employer......a friend of ours works there, makes around $20/hour, with benefits and ee discounts! I wish we had one close than 2 hours away!!

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"It's not about how much baggage you have, it's about whether or not you can carry your own baggage with grace and dignity."

I have both memberships a Sam's Club and Costco. I have had Costco since it was Price Club (?) years ago. The quality surpasses Sam's by far, in my opinion. There is such a variety and the Kirkland brand is wonderful. (Kirkland is the Costco name brand) Kirkland jeans similar to 501 Levis for 12 bucks or so.

I also have the 100 membership and that check pays for the membership each year so basically it is free.

I love their meat department and the bakery is wonderful. I always buy my cakes there. A half sheet cake for about 15 and it is filled with rasberry or creme filling. Yummy!

The customer service is the best as well. Each employee is helpful and knows their stuff. If I had to only have one I would choose Costco.

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GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

We don't have a Costco or a Sam's Club here.

We've always belonged to Sams. Sam's is probably 7-8 minutes away and Costco is probably 10. I'll have to check Costco out.

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

As explained to us with our Executive Membership, we will get a minimum of $50 back each year no matter how much we spend.

I agree that the kirlkland brand is great. I buy the big package of pre-cooked Kirkland bacon. They use Hormel bacon but it's sold under the Kirkland brand (but hormel is on the package). I hate cooking bacon...it's a fuss I like to avoid and messy to boot. I love the precooked bacon. It's lean and cooks up super fast and it's easy for a quick morning breakfast for the kids with some eggs or cereal...whatever. Oh, and the Kirkland bacon bits are yummy too. I don't buy bakery stuff so I can't say how that is. If it were closer, I would get my cakes there but 1 hour in the car sliding around....I doubt it would be very pretty LOL

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Don't forget strawberry season is upon us and the $50 membership is worth it just for the costco strawberries... We won't buy strawberries anywhere else now, because Costco strawberries are just so darn good!!! Plus people who shop at Costco are so much friendlier than anywhere else!

They even have Borghese makeup under the Kirkland name.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Hmm...I haven't been in a Costco for at least 15 years, but now I'm intrigued. We just moved back to WA, and there's one here in town, so I might have to check it out and see if it's worth it.

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Gina J.

Proud Army Wife and Coast Guard Mom

we love Costco here we always go and buy our milk,eggs,bread etc.. would not give that membership up for anything.

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Proud mom to 4 great boys Anthony20,Nicholas16,Michael4,Sean2

I joined Bj's for $45.00 for the year only because you can use manufacture coupons in the club. Say you have a coupon for .35 for tissues you can use it on the package and if you have more then 1 you can use them. Plus they mail out coupons every month. I look for the reduce racks as that is how I did my Christmas shopping last year. Bought a $199.99 sonicare tooth brush for $20.00, WII Super Glaxey game Orig.price $50.00 paid $5.00

Forgot to add if not satisfied even for 1 year you get your money back. And it is for 14 months right now.

I'm going there tomorrow....

Is there anything at Costco that is a SUPER deal that I shouldn't leave without?

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."

Tampax, Batteries, Bread, Milk, Eggs, Garlic already peeled in a big plastic jar (fill with olive oil when the garlic is done you will have delicious garlic flavored oil keep in fridge), toothpaste, toilet paper (Charmin I got), well the list goes on and on lol.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I need toilet paper and bread for sure....but, garlic...sadly my garlic days are over. Last year I married a man that is allergic to it. I could roast a whole clove and eat on on crusty bread as a snack before I met him.....now if I eat it, he can smell it on me and won't touch me for days!!!

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."

Strawberries!!! Okay, maybe not a SUPER deal, but Yummy!!! I just got 8 lbs today, and we ate them for dinner with our pizza, we have about 3 lbs left.

I love strawberries....I will check those out too.

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."

If you like ham, Costco has a killer spiral ham under the Kirkland brand name. They also have great roasted chicken (quick dinner). Toilet paper, plastic wrap (the restaurant size for last you forever!), ziploc bags...

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

I'm glad I asked...you guys are making my shopping list for me

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."

I'd second the spiral cut ham. Oh they might also have a few of the corned beef briskets left too from St Patricks day - I mention it because they come with the spice packet outside the meat meaning you can make them without garlic. My dad's allergic to garlic also and my mom always buys one of them and then just uses pickling spices to make the corned beef. Everywhere else sells them with spices in the brine.

Other things to get - flowers are cheap, check out the 2 dozen roses prices. They had a really yummy chicken salad premade there recently - Cape Cod or something. It had pecans and cranberries in it - it was the hit of our recent community potluck. Their shrimp platters are yummy - $9.99 for 1lb cooked and peeled and placed on a tray - $37.99 for 4lbs. The croissant sandwches are good, they had great deals on Dubliner brand cheese recently. And the huge apple pies they sell are wonderful. I always get them for our community potluck dinners and they just vanish off the dessert table.

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Meddle ye not in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crispy, and taste good with Ketchup!

The coupon mailers are the ones that seal it for me. They make things cheaper than in our grocery store with double coupons. Those coupons more than pay for my membership.

cmmcmm

We don't have a Costco here and I have no idea where the nearest one would be. But from all that has been said here I sure do wish we did have one.

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Barb


My GOD Bless our Country and our Troops, and rid the World of terroists.

Yeah, those Costco coupons are great. I've tried several things there I never woulda considered, but their coupons made it worth it. Love their Kirkland brands of h&B stuff. Their Kirkland coffee is actually roasted by Starbucks (too bad I don't like Starbucks coffee ;-)

Well, I went....and I got quite a few things. Thanks for the suggestions!

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."

I love the four bean salad in the jar. And last night we had Pasta Pesto. In the "regular" store is it between $4-$6 for a small 6-8 oz Pesto sauce. At Costco it's $7.xx for a 22 oz of DELICIOUS not too oily like the store Pesto sauce.

Also the Tillamook Cheddar sliced is cheaper than the fake cheese slices at WinCo.

This thread is making me hungry!

Did you go to the bakery? When you order a cake for a special occasion you can request Cheesecake for the middle layer instead of frosting. That alone should make us all run there right now lol.
And those big muffins that my husband's work friends pay $1.50 or more for? The big giant fresh ones are at Costco mix n match two six packs for $6.49--that is 54 cents a muffin and the stay fresh in a Tupperware for a whole week.

I could go on and on but I need to go pick what I am having for dinner tonight. Tuna steaks? Salmon burgers? Pasta Pesto? Which veggies? Sugar snap peas? Broccoli? Stir fry mix?

These pretzels are making me thirsty.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.