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I've been a Costco member for 20 years. During that time I've purchased almost every product imaginable there, from allergy medications to laptop computers to big screen TVs, not to mention hundreds of $1.50 hot dog combo meals.
But even though I'm a dedicated Costco superfan, there are some things at Costco that don't make me want to reach for my credit card . Some Costco aisles are worth avoiding, just based on my personal shopping style and what my family needs.
Here are a few ideas on how to get the most out of your Costco membership, by knowing which aisles to avoid.
1. Bulk ingredients aisle
There are a few aisles at Costco that contain bulk quantities of pantry staples, condiments, and ingredients like rice, tomato sauce, and canola oil. Some of these package sizes are better suited to a restaurant or institutional food service operation, and are not going to be practical for most shoppers.
There's no point in saving money on a massive jug of canola oil if you can't use it all up before it expires. Sometimes saving money on bulk quantities of food causes stress, waste, and added expenses in other ways, like having to buy extra storage containers, or a chest freezer.
2. Freezer section
Costco has a lot of tempting deals on prepared meals in the freezer section, like frozen pizza, lasagna, ravioli, and more. But here's the problem: my family can't eat most of those meals. If your family has any dietary restrictions, or if you have kids who are finicky and fickle about what they will choose to eat from one week to the next, Costco's massive portions of prepared meals might not fit in your fridge or freezer.
Even though Costco frozen meals look delicious on the packaging, I unfortunately have learned to avoid that section of the store. They're just not the right solution for my family's typical weeknight dinner needs.
3. Wine and liquor section
Costco has what appear to be pretty good deals on premium brands of wine and spirits, but I personally don't do a lot of drinking at home. I'm more of an out-of-the-house social drinker who occasionally meets friends at restaurants for happy hour or brunch.
And when I do buy alcohol to have at home, it's usually low-cost, unfussy boxed wine, or a six-pack of local craft beer. So the Costco wine and spirits aisle is not the best fit for how I drink.
However, along with name brand liquors and premium wines, Costco offers Kirkland Signature versions of popular liquors like vodka and tequila. So if you're hosting a big party or want to restock your home bar, the Costco wine and spirits aisle could be worth a look.
4. Pet food aisle
Costco sells a lot of pet products, including dog food. But my dog (like the rest of my family) has a particular diet, and his favorite brand of food is not sold at Costco. Kirkland Signature dog food might be a great deal, but unfortunately my dog can't eat it.
This is an example of a larger challenge of shopping for groceries at Costco. Costco tries to limit the number of different products on its shelves, and tries to promote its private label brand. So even if everything at Costco is a great deal, not all of your favorite brands and products are going to be there.
Bottom line
Costco is a great place to shop. But if you want to maximize the rewards of your Costco membership, you don't have to visit every warehouse aisle.
Some Costco products might not be the right fit for how you buy groceries, how you prepare dinner, or how you feed your pets -- and that's fine. There are still plenty of great deals at your local Costco warehouse and at Costco.com.
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