How to Save Money at Costco in 2025
Costco is one of the best places in America to save money on groceries — and also one of the easiest places to overspend. The warehouse model means incredible per-unit prices on the right items, but buying 5 pounds of something you won't finish is just waste with extra steps. This guide breaks down exactly what to buy, what to skip, and how to make your $65/year membership pay for itself many times over.
Costco Membership Options
Gold Star
Standard membership. Access to all Costco warehouses and the Costco website. Best for most households.
Executive
Includes 2% cash back on all purchases (up to $1,000/year). Worth it if you spend $3,000+ at Costco annually.
What to Buy vs Skip at Costco
| Item | Buy at Costco? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Kirkland olive oil | ✅ Always | Premium quality at half the price of comparable brands |
| Nuts & trail mix | ✅ Always | Nuts are 40-60% cheaper per oz vs grocery stores |
| Kirkland coffee | ✅ Always | Roasted by Starbucks, sold at a fraction of the price |
| Rotisserie chicken | ✅ Always | $4.99 for a full chicken — Costco sells at a loss to drive traffic |
| Paper products | ✅ Always | Toilet paper, paper towels 30-40% cheaper per unit |
| Canned goods (bulk) | ✅ Always | Great for long shelf-life items you use regularly |
| Kirkland cheese | ✅ Always | High quality, significantly cheaper per pound |
| Salmon & seafood | ✅ Always | Wild-caught quality at 30-40% below grocery stores |
| Laundry detergent | ✅ Always | Cost per load is dramatically lower in bulk |
| Eggs | ✅ Usually | Price per egg is lower, but only if you use them quickly |
| Bread | ❌ Skip | Goes stale/moldy before you finish it unless you freeze half |
| Fresh produce (most) | ❌ Usually skip | Quantities too large for 1-2 person households |
| Spices | ❌ Skip | Quantities are far too large — spices lose potency over time |
| Condiments | ❌ Skip | Gallon of ketchup goes bad before you finish it |
| Fresh herbs | ❌ Skip | Almost impossible to use before they wilt |
8 Tips to Maximize Costco Savings
Always check the unit price, not the total price
A $15 item at Costco might be cheaper per unit than a $4 item at a regular grocery store. Always compare price per ounce or per unit — the Costco price tag shows this, so use it.
Use the Costco app before you go
The Costco app shows current deals, Costco Cash offers, and digital coupons. Member-only savings are updated monthly — check before each trip to plan around the best deals.
Freeze everything you won't use in 3 days
Bulk buying only saves money if you actually use the product. Portion and freeze meat, bread, and other perishables the same day you buy them. This single habit eliminates food waste from bulk shopping.
The rotisserie chicken is a loss leader — use it
Costco sells rotisserie chickens at $4.99 deliberately below cost to drive store traffic. Buy one every trip. Use it for dinner, then use the carcass to make chicken broth. It's one of the best food values in retail.
Split memberships and bulk purchases with a friend
Costco allows two household cards per membership. If you live alone or have a small household, split the membership cost and alternate shopping trips with a friend or neighbor. Split the bulk purchases too.
Shop the Kirkland Signature brand first
Kirkland is Costco's private label brand and is consistently high quality — much of it is made by name brand manufacturers under contract. Kirkland olive oil, coffee, nuts, and paper products are among the best values in any store.
Don't buy perishables in bulk for small households
If you live alone or with one other person, buying a 5lb bag of spinach or a flat of strawberries is a recipe for waste. Stick to non-perishables, frozen items, and proteins you can freeze for bulk purchases.
Pay with a Visa card for extra cash back
Costco only accepts Visa credit cards. The Costco Anywhere Visa card gives 4% back on gas, 3% on restaurants, 2% on Costco purchases, and 1% everywhere else. Combined with an Executive membership, regular Costco shoppers can earn $200-400/year in rewards.
Is Costco Worth It for You?
Yes, if you have storage space, a household of 2+ people, and you regularly buy the items in the "Always Buy" column above. The membership pays for itself quickly and the savings compound over time.
Maybe not, if you live alone, have limited storage, or mostly buy fresh produce and perishables. In that case the bulk quantities will lead to waste that offsets your savings.
The bottom line: Focus your Costco spending on non-perishables, frozen items, Kirkland brand staples, paper products, and the $4.99 rotisserie chicken. Do that consistently and the $65 membership will return $500+ in savings every year.