By Rosie Lu
By now, everyone knows that Costco’s massive success primarily depends on its effective leveraging of psychology. When we spot an unbelievable bulk deal, we also know it won’t be on the shelves forever—scarcity and loss aversion drive us scrambling for the goods. The maze-like layout that forces us to wander around in search of daily necessities also encourages us to pick up impulse purchases as we go. With such a confusing and enticing environment, it can be difficult to actually get your money’s worth at this wholesale institution—so here’s a brief breakdown of the highest value items at Costco.
- Gasoline: Costco gas prices best traditional stations (Exxon, Shell, Chevron) prices by at least twenty-five cents in high cost areas like California. Just make sure you aren’t spending more on gas driving all the way to Costco than you’re actually saving.
- Rotisserie Chicken: At just $4.99 per whole chicken, Costco’s rotisserie chicken is an egregiously affordable protein source. In fact, preparing and roasting a raw chicken at home can cost much more, at anywhere from $7 to $10. However, Costco’s extremely low price is a double-edged sword, meant to draw you in to buy other products, so beware of the “loss leader” marketing strategy.
- Toilet Paper/Paper Towels: Any paper product from the Kirkland Signature brand will beat name-brand quality and price per roll—COVID toilet paper hoarders, begone!
- Cheese: This one’s for my lactose intolerant friends. Parmigiano Reggiano, Kerrygold Dubliner, and fresh mozzarella are all around half price at Costco, a massive deal for the dairy lovers who can get through a whole block before it spoils.
- Over-the-Counter Meds: Standard drugstores charge fifty cents per pill or more for generic medications like pain relievers or daily supplements, while Costco prices start at around jaw-dropping three cents per pill.
- Clothes: Visit the clothing section for unbelievable markdowns on name-brand clothing—past deals include Columbia fleece half-zips, Levi’s denim, Banana Republic cardigans, and Nike athleisure. Frighteningly identical dupes of the Lululemon Scuba hoodies, Define jackets and leggings have all appeared at some point in the past few years, so keep an eye out as you browse through the massive stacks of apparel.
Now that you’ve got your minimalist Costco haul, treat yourself at the surprisingly affordable food court. The smoky, perfectly savory chicken bake, the gargantuan chewy cookie, the refreshing berry blend smoothie… most would agree, the undeniably best part of a multiple-hour-long grocery run.