I'm a Costco Superfan -- but Here Are 3 Things I Won't Buy There

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Some people go to Costco once a month to load up on household essentials. But as a self-proclaimed superfan, I usually shop at Costco every week.

And I'm not talking about running in and grabbing a couple of items. When I hit Costco, I typically come out with a shopping cart full of groceries and supplies, from snack cases to tissues to laundry detergent (items we tend to use up quickly in my household).

But while I rely on Costco for many of my weekly purchases, there are certain items I won't buy there. Here are three I tend to avoid.

1. Kirkland paper towels

I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm at a stage of life where I'm picky about my paper towels. And because the Kirkland version isn't my favorite, I tend to avoid buying them despite the competitive price point.

If you buy Kirkland paper towels from Costco.com (which tends to be more expensive than the actual store), you're looking at paying $2.24 per 100 square feet. With Bounty, you're looking at paying $4.57 online per 100 square feet. So clearly, Kirkland is the much better deal. But I'm willing to pay more for Bounty paper towels because I feel they better serve my needs.

To be clear, I know people who love the Kirkland paper towels. In fact, a good friend and I recently engaged in a spirited paper towel debate where she defended Kirkland as the superior spill-tackler. But sometimes, it makes sense to pay a bit more for a product you know and love, which is why I tend to keep Kirkland paper towels off my shopping list.

2. Cream cheese

Costco sells the same Philadelphia brand cream cheese I commonly buy at the grocery store. But there's a reason I won't buy the Costco version: It's way too large.

Costco sells cream cheese in three-pound tubs. Not only am I unlikely to use up that much cream cheese before it goes bad, but I also tend to have a packed fridge. Having to find the space for such a large container isn't convenient.

Costco's price can't be beat. The cost for same-day delivery is just $0.26 per ounce, which means you're looking at a considerably lower price at the store. At my local supermarket, the same cream cheese costs $0.55 per ounce.

But if I have to throw the majority of the cream cheese away due to it spoiling, then I won't end up saving money . And since it's not a product we use every day in my house, it's not worth buying in bulk.

3. Condiments

Whether Costco has the best price on condiments like ketchup and mustard depends on whether my local supermarket is running a deal. If there's a sale at my local grocery store, I might find a better price there. But even when Costco has the best price, I tend to avoid buying condiments there for the same reason I won't stock up on cream cheese -- the bottles are just too large.

Granted, there's a much better chance of my family using up a giant bottle of ketchup before it goes bad than a giant tub of cream cheese. But condiments, by nature, are foods that tend to sit out for extended periods. And I'm not comfortable buying large bottles knowing that I sometimes leave them out for an hour or more while we're grilling outdoors.

There are plenty of items I buy at Costco on a regular basis, but these three don't make sense for me. And if you're someone who shops at Costco as often as I do, it may not hurt to think about the things you're buying and decide whether it pays to make some tweaks to your shopping list.

If there are items you don't need in bulk or brands you prefer that Costco doesn't carry, it could make sense to buy them at your local supermarket instead. For the latter, that could mean paying a bit more. But if you can afford to, there's something to be said for buying the items you're more comfortable with.

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