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By Lauren Ro, a senior writer at the Strategist covering home and parenting. She joined the Strategist as a writer in 2018. Previously, she was an associate editor at Curbed.
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Last summer, when we bought two Midea ACs plus our quarterly haul. There are two kids and two other adults in the car besides me, by the way. Photo: Lauren Ro
Growing up in Los Angeles, we were a Costco family. The five of us would go to the members-only warehouse almost every weekend, stocking up on everything from toilet paper to trays of succulent peaches. We even got our contact lenses there (and gas, photo prints, furniture, washing machines — anything you could imagine). I am now a proud, card-carrying member myself, and so are five other Strategist staffers. We may be far-flung — some here in New York City, others in Cleveland, Toronto, and Vermont — but we all agree that Costco’s deals on household goods, food, appliances, and even cars and vacations are among the best you can find. Plus, its customer service is legendary (as is the $1.50 hot-dog-and-soda meal at the food court). You can basically return anything at any time, even without a receipt (some exceptions apply, including a 90-day return window on electronics and major appliances, as outlined here).
A trip to Costco. Photo: Lauren Ro
If you’re Costco-curious but on the fence about committing to bulk shopping for a one- or two-person household (or a small city apartment), rest assured that three out of the six staffers who are members shop for two. (Strategist writer Brenley Goertzen confesses that she’s “Type A” and likes “having a back stock of stuff.” I’m the same way.) But Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang admits that it can feel intimidating at first. “For some things, it either took us a long time to try it or we still haven’t tried it because of the level of commitment entailed,” she says. “Like Kirkland garbage bags: We’re converts now, but it was really a leap of faith to get that 200-count box the first time.”
In other words, it’s all about knowing what to get. I asked our on-staff Costco converts about the stuff that makes their shopping list each time they go and came up with a cheat sheet of must-buy consensus picks to help you get started. I narrowed it down to items from the company’s in-house brand, Kirkland Signature, which, as everyone will tell you, is excellent. Plus it’s an open secret that Kirkland white-labels many brand-name products and sells them for significantly less. I personally love shopping at Costco because I don’t have to think twice about whether I’m getting the lowest price on something — and that’s worth the $65-a-year membership fee a hundred times over.
Trolio’s recent Costco haul. Photo: Jen Trolio
There are Costco influencers all over Instagram and TikTok who will tell you about all the hacks to wring the most out of your membership, but one of our favorite tips comes from Strategist writer Dominique Pariso, who has been buying fine jewelry at Costco for years. “If you’re trying to build out your collection, it can’t be beat when it comes to basics: hoop earrings, chains, even diamonds,” she says. Pariso noticed that the price of this 14-karat gold chain ($329.99) is actually cheaper than the scrap value of gold for 5.6 grams ($332.70). “I especially appreciate that Costco lists out the weight of each piece in grams so you know exactly how far your dollar is going.” Other non-obvious deals we’ve scored include savings on an Alaskan cruise vacation (me); hearing aids for Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio’s father-in-law; and a car for Yang through Costco’s Auto Program (“You pick the model and trim at a specific dealer, and it sets a binding price so you don’t have to do the whole negotiation thing,” she tells me).
Costco offers free two-day shipping on most dry goods, including huge items like toilet paper, but just be aware that the online prices are more expensive. (For example, the toilet paper is $24.99 online, but in store it’s $20.99.) You can also order same-day delivery (fresh food, etc.) through Instacart for a fee, even without a membership.
Membership starts at $65 for the basic tier and covers two people. The executive membership is $130 and gets you 2 percent back on purchases each year (up to $1,250) plus additional savings on select Costco services. If you happen to upgrade to the second tier but make back less than the upgrade fee, you can get the difference refunded. We’ve gotten the executive membership in the past but usually just get the basic tier.
Photo: Lauren Ro
Kirkland Signature’s toilet paper alone is worth the price of admission. I get two packages every time we go and don’t use anything else.
Most of us get the Kirkland paper towels, but I just bought the Bounty to test out. The pieces are bigger and thicker — maybe too much so, because I actually feel bad using it, which may be a net-good thing.
Kirkland’s Flex-Tech trash bags are universally loved, though Goertzen prefers the scented ones. “They’re my favorite. They have never ripped on us,” she says. I also buy the outdoor bags, clear recycling bags, and wastebasket liners.
Everyone loves a seaweed snack, but they are always moving this around to the most random spots in the store. I swear they do this on purpose. I feel like the quality has gone down over the years, but each pack contains so many sheets; the most I’ve ever seen, including brands I’ve tried from H Mart.
These used to come in plastic bins, which made them feel a bit fancier than the new plastic zip-top bags. Still, really good price for really good nuts.
Pariso, Trolio, Strategist senior writer Michael Zhao, and I all buy Kirkland’s peanut and almond butters.
This is a staple in my house, as it is for Trolio and Pariso. I always get at least two bags. Great for weeknight pastas.
Trolio and I both buy Kirkland’s unsalted butter. I stash it in the freezer and use as needed. A bunch of us buy the Kerrygold butter, too, which also freezes well.
Giant bags of frozen berries. Great for smoothies.
Trolio and I both get this. It lasts her a good 18 months and lasts me even longer.
Trolio, Yang, and I get this and don’t have to replace it for at least a year or two. (My mother, who cooks a lot for large groups, buys the 3,000-square-foot size and writes down the date of purchase to keep track of how long it lasts her.)
“This two-pack probably lasts me two years, easily,” says Trolio. Goertzen loves how wide it is. I bought some many years ago and still use it.
Trolio and I buy this and other variations of Kirkland’s olive oil. It’s admittedly a large bottle but it’s got an ergonomic body that makes it easy to pour. Sometimes I decant it into a smaller dispenser.
All the other (non-Kirland) stuff we buy in bulk
In addition to Kirkland Signature, we’re pretty sure that the deals you get on the hundreds of household brands at Costco are the best out there. Last summer, we bought two 12,000 BTU Midea U-shaped window air conditioners for $280 each. At Home Depot, it’s going for $449. Here’s everything else we buy at Costco.
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The Strategistis designed to surfaceuseful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whomyou can read abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
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