Is Costo worth it?

[trigun500]

I just recently moved and I'm really really close to a Costco. I've never been to one (but I've been to a Sam's Club) and I was wondering if it's worth it for a guy living in a one bedroom apartment. I need to hit up the grocery store once a week for little things then maybe once a month I'll buy a whole lot of food to stock up. Any thoughts?

Thanks

 

[OCGuy]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2136967&highlight=costco

 

[Ns1]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2136967&highlight=costco
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2097352&highlight=costco
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=302424&highlight=costco
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=256553&highlight=costco

etc, etc, etc.

 

[dainthomas]

What's Costo?

 

[silverpig]

Worth it for the toilet paper alone.

 

[TallBill]

Walk around the store and see what you'd buy, compare to prices you're used to. I did that once and it just wasn't worth it to me.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

just walk around and feast.

ive gotten off work around 630 once to find myself ribs, sausages, pizza, tri tip, pop chips. wow. i had half a dinner at least. i finished it off with a slice of pizza from the actual food area and bam. dinner solved.

 

[Vette73]

Worth it for the toilet paper alone.

You a woman? :hmm:

 

[PClark99]

$1.50 for a 1/3 lb hotdog and soda with refills.

That alone makes it worth it.
Seriously, for a single guy its probably not as worth it as if you have to feed an army of kids.

That being said, you can walk into costco at any time and find something unexpected that you want or need that is a good deal and easily save the annual fee in one shot.

 

[EvilYoda]

I'd say it depends on exactly what it is that you buy at the grocery store...I lived on my own when I lived in Arizona and would hit Costco every week for fruit, vegetables, meat, a rotisserie chicken, milk, and whatever non-grocery items I needed at the time. Well worth the membership cost. Oh, and gas too.

 

[jessieqwert]

Things I have found that make it worthwhile:

Gasoline and propane
Spinach
Milk
Fage and Chobani yogurt

Lots of fake deals, but as long as you know your prices you will come out ahead

 

[TheNinja]

Things that really make a difference for a single person would probably be

Toilet paper
paper towels
cleaning products
veggies like spinach are 1/2 price - save nearly $3 a tub from my grocery store
fruits if you eat a ton...like blueberries and such
gasoline can get HUGE if you drive, it can be a pain to wait in line to get gas though

But the $50 easily pays for itself...however I always buy crap that I wouldn't normally buy b/c it's "such a good deal" so it might actually end up costing me money

 

[silverpig]

You a woman? :hmm:

No, but I live with one.

Back when it was me and a guy roommate, we could go for over a year on a single costco TP pack. As soon as girls started staying with us, the same amount got chewed up in <3 months.

 

[thegimp03]

You can find great deals on liquor too...I bought a 1.75L of Ketel One for $25 the other night.

 

[mizzou]

wow, these threads are surprisingly common!

 

[Vette73]

No, but I live with one.

Back when it was me and a guy roommate, we could go for over a year on a single costco TP pack. As soon as girls started staying with us, the same amount got chewed up in <3 months.

Yea a costco pack of TP would last as long as an apartment lease for me. Now married with my MiL in the house... not so long.

 

[TheNinja]

You can find great deals on liquor too...I bought a 1.75L of Ketel One for $25 the other night.

oh ya, if you drink a lot of booze, they have good prices on that too!

 

[QueBert]

Sams Club has better hot dogs in the food court + they offer Chili. Since I love Chili Dogs it's not a hard choice for me.

 

[Anonemous]

Costco pizzas are also a good deal 18" combos for 10$.