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Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Costco Staples

Costco is such a double edged sword with me. I have so many opportuities to save money but so many to spend money too.

Jeff went to Costco for me the other day and it was funny to see what things he picked up. He does not like shopping but this store he loves going to.
Last spring I started talking photos of things I buy there to remember what we like and don't like. And my friend after hearing me say how hard it was to take the girls shopping encouraged me to be creative and come up with a way to make it easier. My plan was to print the photos of the things I regularly buy, print them and then have them hunt for them. (on my to do list)

So I started a new gallery of "What happens when Jeff goes to Costco" He buys such fun food I would never get. (like the slim jim's, AK is in heaven)

These are a favorite of ours. My kids don't drink a whole juice box and these are half the size.

or favorite frozen pizza, remember the movie?

What are your staples at Costco or Sams? I would love to know.
You can see Jeff's items here.

22 comments:

Messimoo said...

I found your blog on a friends awhile back. It cracks me up! That is such a good idea for Costco. Love, love, love this store.

I don't have pictures of my staples but here are a few---the uncooked tortillas, Kirkland brand tortilla chips, and Huggies diapers....and many more....

Anonymous said...

i LOVE the movie Mystic Pizza!

Jill said...

I love that movie!

I know exactly what you mean about Costco being a double-edged sword. I cut myself with it badly last week ($339) and ended up going back the next day to return a bunch of stuff ($104) because I had buyer's remorse. Kind of funny. I had written a check so they wouldn't give me cash back so I ended up with a Costco gift card.

Anonymous said...

I buy the Kirklands Signature/Tyson frozen chicken breasts. I also buy the Dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets for my kids.

The hamburger that is lean that comes 12 round chubs per package. WW bread and Milk. Eggs. Kirkland Signature butter. Cheerios. Oranges in the box. The plain mini bagels.

Tillamook cheddar cheese in 2 pound chub. My husband takes the little cans of Dole Pineapple Juice in his lunch every day.

We buy most of our school lunch snacks for the kids there (like the chips or gushers). I LOVE to peruse their books. Sometimes I buy a magazine there.

I often times buy clothing there like the darling Pink Jona Michelle dress I got for my 4 year old or the Lucky Brand Jeans that I got for me (but had to return because they were too big and they didn't have my size)!

We buy batteries there and ink cartridges for our printer. We bought our phones there (which I told Jill about). We got our Carpet Cleaner there. We buy their jerky. Anyway, I could go on and on. But the things I mentioned first are the things we ALWAYS buy there!

Anonymous said...

With several teenagers in the house, that come home for lunch, we do a lot of "what can I warm up in ten minutes or less" stuff. Bagel bites, big pretzels, corn dogs, burritos. I love their pork chops. I also love their muffins. I always peruse the movies and the books, I love when they have old movies to buy. Salsa is cheaper there, and I buy their shredded cheese in the big bags instead of shredding it myself. I also buy candy bars there to use as bribes or rewards, what ever the case may need. That's probably not a good idea, but it's working for me! At any rate, I could drop a bundle at Costco every time I go in. I have to take my husband with me, because he has to have a definitive reason of why I am buying each item I have in the cart. Sometimes, it's just not worth the item.

everything pink! said...

kari. no tillamok here such a crime!

Anonymous said...

I have an embarrassing Costco story - one time I spent a wad of money there, and the man checking me out said, "Honey, that's probably as much as your mortgage payment. Are you sure you want all this stuff?" I was sooo embarrassed, but it was nowhere near my mortgage payment.

I love their mango/pineapple salsa. We also like their chicken/mozzarella raviolis. And they used to have these organic chocolate milks (yep, it's Oregon) in a juice box type container that my kids were crazy for in their lunch boxes. I haven't been able to find them for a long time. And then we just get the basic stuff there, too. I'm always sucked in by their fresh flowers -- so pretty!

Anonymous said...

You've reminded me that I have to send off our membership renewal! We shop at Costco only occasionally, but it's always an adventure. We seem to buy all our computer paper there (the basic white stuff and photographic paper). I should try their inks, actually...

Absolutely agree with Susan on the 'husband thing' and them having to sanction every purchase. My husband has an absolute distrust of all 'loyalty' cards too, but I LOVE to see all my points totting up week-by-week!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, different Costco's sometimes carry different stuff! Darn!!

Anonymous said...

That is just cute about keeping track of the buys. My hubs will run up the street to the market anytime for me (so lucky!) -he just has one criteria -a list.Yet, he adds his own goodies to the order! You always know when he did the shopping -cake,cookies,martinellis, weird stuff!But it's still nice not to go!-ciao

Anonymous said...

I'm going to have to give Costco another try. I changed from a Sam's membership to Costco last year but rarely go because it is a trek from my house. Now you've made me hungry!

They have the best granola with all kinds of nuts and fruit in the bakery.

Taking pictures of your list for the kids is a great idea!

Anonymous said...

We are fortunate to have both. Doug's parents pay for our Sam's and we do the Costco one. I shop at both for different things. Hands down Sam's photo is the best. Maybe because they know me, but I like their prints better. I like Sam's frozen chicken breasts, but really don't like Costco's frozen chicken. Weird I know.

I mainly go to Costco for their housebrand diapers. I LOVE THEM! And they are super cheap compared to the name brand ones. Costco also suckers me in when they send out coupons (like last month).

As for Sam's I mainly buy all my meat there with the exception of pork ribs (costco has the best). Oh, and how can you forget the great deals on clothes they have? Okay I have gone on too long. We love both stores!!

Anonymous said...

I love their non-cooked tortillas. It makes cheese quesadillas, burritos, tacos and enchiladas so yummy!

Anonymous said...

Love the photos. Thanks for the ideas. I love that salad too. I always get diapers, formula, pork ribs, Hawaiian rolls, bread, ravioli, refried beans.....

Anonymous said...

We don't have a Costco here in Columbus, but when I go home to Utah I have to go just to get a churro that they sale in their little restaurant area. I crave them often.

everything pink! said...

laura,, no costco!
oh but you have that great ice cream place my friend Stacy always tells me about.

Anonymous said...

I always get the frozen salmon filets and tropical twist trident gum. I've actually cut myself off of costco because I routinely spend much much more than I should. I'm a single girl, I don't need ANYTHING in bulk! Well except for my gum...I go through that stuff like it's going out of style!

Anonymous said...

That double edged sword thing is why we no longer have a Costco membership. THere are too many great deals that you just can't pass up for things you don't really need. BUt there are things that I really miss like the frozen chicken breasts, snacks for kids, garbage bags, fruit, etc. Love your pictures!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE Costco! I love it so much that I tried to get a job there once and they told me I was over qualified. I was upset. We don't have a Costco here in Abilene... I know.. I know.... ridiculous so I have to shop at Sam's and it's just not the same. Everytime we are in Dallas I have to stop by and at least look at all their great stuff. I purchased a set of 3 mixing bowls there probably 2 years ago amd I just love them.

michelle said...

I can't believe Jeff is the only one who likes the croissants! My kids think they've hit the jackpot when I bring those home.

My staples are their uncooked tortillas, butter, cheese, kids' vitamins, books, printer ink, Nutella, romaine lettuce, that salad you mentioned, diapers, razors for Marc, frozen salmon, juice boxes (we don't have the ones you get!), fruit snacks, nuts, chocolate chips...

We used to buy our Adams peanut butter there -- such a good deal! -- until they stopped carrying it. That's the only thing I don't like about Costco, you never know if they will continue to have the things you're hooked on.

oh and their return policy is the best ever!

Anonymous said...

We love Costco and spend WAY too much there. I can't figure out how I go there for apple juice and walk out $200 later. But here is a good tip: On their price tags, if there is a asterisk, it means it is going out and this is the last they will have. Unfortunately that means when I see it, I buy!

I buy: milk (so cheap!), movies, books, dino chicken nuggets (very yummy), magazines, binders and binder sleeves, clothes, Ling-ling eggrolls, non refrigerated chocolate milk in a juice box, light Laughing Cow spreadable cheese (how I lost weight), hummus, Honey Smoked Fish Co. Salmon (so good and I hate seafood!), Stacy's pita chips (any flavor but cinnamin & sugar is dangerous), and organic tomato soup in resealable cartons. Also they have a great 5 gallon Emergency Food bucket that acutally has good stuff in it. 275 servings and it lasts for 20 years. Not bad for Dallas where I have no basement!

annalisa said...

My Costco staples are: GoLean cereal (my fav!), Nature's three berries (frozen), creamies, sometimes mango salsa (yum) & ravioli, and then the boring: chicken, bread, milk, oatmeal, fruit, tuna, granola bars. Love Costco! I hardly ever go to the grocery store.