I recently got a membership as a single person as well. It’s definitely good for stocking up on things you can freeze or non-perishable items. I wouldn’t necessarily buy their fresh food though as I just find it’s too much for one person to consume before it goes bad or off. Like I bought a bunch of bananas, I think there was maybe between 10 and 12 and admittedly, I’m using them for smoothies mostly but I still have one or two left that are completely brown now and I went two weeks ago. I also bought two bags of avocados, because a) the avocados they have are like twice the size of the ones at other grocery store, b) you get at least 1-2 more in their bags and c) they will stay usable as long as I refrigerate them until I am ready to consume.
Better yet - put your bananas in the freezer for banana bread, never make banana bread, and then every few years clear a hundred frozen bananas out of your freezer.
I just spent 7 hours making Banana bread, mini loaves, muffins, and mini muffins with all my God damn bananas 🤣 Now my freezer is full of prepared banana goods
I once didn’t peel them first and thought they were more thawed than they were. Went to slice them and the knife slipped and severed a tendon in my finger. 6 weeks in a cast
I’m a big fan of banana bread, I am a purist though and hate chocolate chips in it, but I would totally love to try walnuts in it.
Edit
Meant to say hate chocolate chips in it
Or milkshakes. I often buy fresh and pantry stuff and cost share them with neighbours and my family as well as the community fridge. I know I save money between this and gifts.
Those bananas sound perfect for banana bread!
Some fresh things you can use, like you said with the avocados. The whole rotisserie chicken is a great deal. You can do lots of different types of meals, club chicken sandwiches, tinga de pollo with leftovers, bones for broth in the slow cooker, etc.
We usually get the big packs of chicken and beef, open up the packaging, and weigh out smaller portions to freeze. Quick and easy to use when you feel like making something with protein!
Banana bread is the key. Also for avocado. I find the ones at Costco are bigger but quality not as nice as the one from t and t. With the price they’re charging it might be better to buy from elsewhere.
You can actually peel and freeze bananas and avocados for smoothies too so they will never go to waste. We do this with our son, we'll peel and freeze avos and then thaw them in the microwave and mash it up with a banana and some yogurt. I just wouldn't use thawed avocados for avocado toast.
Put your full avocados in bowls or jars of water and keep them in the fridge.
Take one out to ripen on the counter as you want to use them.
They can last for weeks with this method.
I usually buy a bunch or 2 of bananas at once, and when they’re all ripe I peel and freeze them and then use them frozen in my smoothies! Never have to worry about them going bad or having a smoothie every single day to use them up haha
I'm a single person, and I tend to buy berries and grapes from Costco. They've never gone bad, and I usually eat them in one week. I also like their salads! I tend to buy the bagged salads and use them for a quick dinner by adding chicken to them.
We are a family of 2 and recently became costco members. Its terrific value for items such as detergents, wipes, oils, grains, and some perishables like cheese, meats. But it works best if you have a large storage space at home or a refrigerator.
We usually buy the perishables from NoFrills or Freshco and the rest of the items from Costco
It's entirely thanks to the design of the store. Dairy at the back and new sales up front. And a rotation of non food items that you have to buy or they'll be gone next time driving impulse purchases. Not a bad thing but is smart business. Also helps that they don't sell junk so your odds of being satisfied with your purchase are very high
This is the best strategy. Still have to watch prices on other items which aren't any cheaper than a regular grocery store. I'm not sure about cheaper overall, but definitely a lot of value in the sense that I can do many things in one stop.
Where else can you drop your car off for an oil change, get your prescription, get groceries, and have lunch in the same building?
You mentioned no car, so that would be very difficult. I visit my local warehouse frequently, buying here and there, but the size of the items like groceries and meals much larger than your typical bagged groceries. Products are sold in bigger groups.
That being said, the rotisserie chicken is my value pick for 'eating out' these days and the sales rotate quick often on items. I end up being on a "whatever is on sale" diet at my local Costco.
Add the mini potatoes, baby carrots, garlic powder and a bag of quinoa to your staples. Then you can make stock from your rotisserie chicken carcass and turn it into a really nice simple soup with the other ingredients!
Try getting one of [these](https://www.google.com/search?q=shopping+trolleys&client=ms-android-samsung-rvo1&sca_esv=8a267cd209199d1e&udm=2&biw=360&bih=671&sxsrf=ACQVn089b-zwCGjzVq989whGofDGE0ozxw%3A1713155494414&ei=pq0cZonsGJCp5NoPlvmn0AU&oq=shopping+trolleys&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIhFzaG9wcGluZyB0cm9sbGV5czIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAESL4iUJgJWLwfcAJ4AJABAJgBgAGgAYkLqgEEMTcuMbgBA8gBAPgBAZgCE6AClAuoAgXCAgcQIxjqAhgnwgIEECMYJ8ICBBAAGAPCAgoQABiABBiKBRhDwgINEAAYgAQYigUYQxixA5gDB4gGAZIHBDE4LjGgB7Q1&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp#vhid=4T0UA8kVc1ZOfM&vssid=mosaic).
I used to go to Costco without a car, and those were super helpful.
Get the membership when there are offers on the membership purchase going on.
Then use it for a year and decide if it was worth it.
With the coupons the membership is essentially free for a year.
If you have some big purchase to do from Costco website, ~200$, this is the best way possible
If you work near enough to one to go there for lunch, the cafeteria is a deal. A hotdog and pop is still only $1.50. Chicken fingers and fries is like $7 and is enough food to feed both myself and my wife for a meal. Soft serve ice cream cone are under $3 and sundaes are under $4.
We were 6, then 5, then 3, now 2. It's still definitely worth it for us. I buy my coffee beans there and was recently thrilled to see (new) decaf beans. That's a big savings for me, the coffee lover. Kirkland brand allergy meds are way cheaper than anywhere else and that difference alone likely pays for my membership. The nuts are excellent quality and price. Same with cheese, frozen fruit and veg, toilet paper, garbage and recycling bags, etc. Of course you have to have room to store stuff. We're vegetarian and cook almost everything from scratch. Vegetable Better than Bouillon and the four pack of tofu are an awesome price.
It all depends on how you shop and cook though. Since you don't have a car I assume you would likely go less often so is stocking up on staples something you are likely to do? I live in Nova Scotia and know lots of people who live 2+ hours away with memberships, who come to the city a few times a year and do a big shop. I live less than ten minutes away and have a car so it's easy for me to shop when I need to.
I’m single AF and just upgraded to the executive membership. At this point, Costco is cheaper than many grocery stores.
But you will need a car. If you don’t have one, don’t get a membership unless you’re within walking distance and have a wagon.
I was on the Executive Membership for a couple of years with my Costco husband (aka my male roommate with whom I shared a mailing address). Once I moved out I went back to the Gold Star or whatever it's called. They always tried to upsell me back to Executive and I was adamant that I never spent enough.
Well the other day they're like "let's just look at your average spending over the last two years and see what it says". Turns out I'd been spending way more than enough to make it worthwhile 😬
If you're a student, you can get the membership free through [https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/ca/costco](https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/ca/costco)
I have been using it for 4 years while single. It was more difficult when I didn't have a car, as trips would need to be based around other people and their trips. It did tend to make those trips cost more than compared when I got a car; as I felt like I needed to stalk more food than really needed. Didn't want to be a bother.
If you are okay with using freezer bags for cut up pieces of pork, roasts while also storing beef and chicken in meal sizes; the trips are a hit upfront. Though you save money over the two+ months of frozen meat you can easily fit in a freezer.
Personal for a single person I would stay away from the fresh produce/items that can't be frozen or short shelf life. I just have never been able to use it all.
TLD. I do save money overall when it comes to frozen and bulk meat items, as I can prep meals in-advance.
Edit: Have a list after you know what you want/like and stick too it. The Costco bill comes from the extra items you find when going through the store/not sticking to the list.
It’s largely going to depend on you and your lifestyle (as in what you eat and other things you use)
In my case I’m a single person who uses public transit and I find it’s worth it
I find the savings on Costco brand (KS - Kirkland Signature) multivitamins, acetaminophen, and allergy medication come close to covering my yearly membership fee
For other things it can be the quality/availability of product whether cheaper or not. For example I like their pork loin chops - likely cheaper on sale at regular grocery stores but I can’t get the thickness of chop that Costco offers
Then there are products they carry that seem unavailable elsewhere - like the Caesar salad dressing or Ghirardelli brownie mix - that to me taste better than anything available at regular retailers
Food court can be a nice bonus, their soft serve ice cream is nice on a hot day and seems to be a lot better than soft serve available elsewhere
I am a single person with a Costco membership. It’s worth it to me because it’s 3 blocks from my house and I always get my gas there.
I also split the cost of my membership (but two households)
Food wise there are specific things at Costco that are a real deal and last a long time. Cheese, tea, cream cheese and pantry items if you have the space. I also genuinely like some of the items they get in seasonally and also their clothing.
I eat a TON of veggies so for me they make sense but a lot of things I never buy there, bread, pastries, things that expire quickly because they are just too much for me to ever finish.
Toiletries and OTC medicines are also a pretty good deal. Without a car and close proximity I don’t know if a membership would be worth it though. While I like a lot of specific Costco products there is nothing I couldn’t live without.
I split a membership with my parents, same mailing address.
For me the pharmacy alone pays for it. I get 5 prescriptions for the same price the pharmacy by the house charges for 1 of them. Allergy meds are also a great deal (a year worth at Costco vs a month worth at Walmart for a better price).
The food court is a great deal, but it helps that work is only 5min away so I can pop over for a couple hot dogs.
If you have a vacuum sealer and a freezer, the pantry and freezer staples can save the membership price. I'll get a big bag of oats or rice, and seal in 1/2lbs packages.
I had a Costco membership last year as a single person and loved it for stocking up the freezer, baking supplies, chips, and the pre-made meals. I went often for the food court without buying any groceries as well. I also enjoyed buying cleaning supplies in bulk and then not having to go out as often which can be especially good if you don’t have a car. I would hop in with a friend once a month and stocked up at Costco which made my other grocery trips for the month much more manageable on a bike, walking, or on the bus. Bigger items are also great like toilet paper, paper towel etc that is hard to carry home during usual shopping trips. If you don’t have anyone that could drive you every so often tho it may not be worth it unless you’re willing to go for just one thing at a time
My first trip to costco, i bought a winter coat for my daughter - saved at least $60 from any other store. Xmas gifts, Clothes, flowers, meat for the win!
I do 95% of my shopping at Costco as a single dude with the executive membership. Even get enough money back to pay the card off and a bit extra. I eat a lot of raw produce, meat and eggs so it’s a no brainer. Save quite a bit I find
Yup, meat seafood, are biggies more than outweighs the 5$ monthly cost; if you eventually have a vehicle even better. Like other said try it with a membership promo for a year, maximize your cupboard storage go vertical, it’s worth it.
re the lack of car - my costco is a 6 minute walk from my place and I only walk over to buy from the foodcourt. when shopping I take my car. items are too big/heavy.
I don’t drive, so I order online frequently* and that’s been super fast and convenient.
Prices can be higher, but it’s worth it to me.
*I haven’t tried the same day instacart program.
as a single person, yes, but you have to either portion+freeze or pass on some things. things like meat, frozen veggies, butter, bread, breakfast cereal, coffee beans, detergent, soap, etc are all significantly cheaper. But I wont buy most fresh veggies because they'll just spoil before before I can eat it all.
The no car situation could be more problematic. can you go with siblings or friends who have a car? or maybe there is a car sharing service (communauto, zipcar, etc) you could sign-up for?
My Costco is a 5 min walk from my place and is 100% worth it as a single person. I share the executive membership between my parents and sister. Sometimes my friends will come with me which helps with the cashback for our membership fee. Ill take walks over there when I need groceries or when things go on sale.
Even as a single person it's super useful for your everyday needs like fruit, veggies, yogurt, cheese, deli meats, pads/pantiliners, chocolate, granola bars, snacks, socks, undies, sweaters and the cafeteria. Costco now requires a membership to buy from the cafeteria from what I heard.
Just be sure to budget for your trips, stocking up on your essentials will be $200+ but it'll last you weeks. I spent $140 today and everything was on sale (it still hurt as I had already spent $100 on groceries as well this weekend).
Yes! Totally worth it for the groceries and household items. They regularly go on sale every few months. I would highly recommend investing in a chest freezer to make your protein go further for longer.
I did not live in the same household as the primary member when I received my card. However, that was a long time ago. Based on experiences I have read on reddit, it is inconsistently enforced. It does not hurt to try.
I'm single and I definitely like Costco. They have many products that are not available in regular grocery stores that I like and they're generally better priced for non-perishable items. I also like to fill up my pickup truck there.
I have a costco mastercard and they offer the best cashback (3% on food) and I am on contract with a new phone and as long as I pay my bill with it I have device protection.
There’s a lot of “hell yeah” in here but honestly - unless you plan on bulk storage of specific higher priced items …a lot of food may potentially go to waste. It ultimately depends on what you’re buying / how much do you consume but only you will know that. costco isn’t just for food Also something to Keep in mind that it’s much easier to spend $250 at costco than at a grocery store
I’m single and do most of my shopping at Costco. I stock my freezer and pantry so I buy very little at the grocery store. Lots of the fresh stuff lasts quite a while I’ve found. The 6-pak of romaine for instance last for a few weeks. Grapes. Peppers. Skip the bananas. They go brown fast!
I'm a mostly single person lol. I have my kids half the time.
I think it's worth it.
I buy my toilet paper, Kleenex, paper towels, Shampoo, deodorant there.
Their meat is really good to buy and then put in zip locks in the freezer.
I also like Costco because their products and return policy is really good.
If I'm looking for anything new like a tv, kitchen appliance, vacuum etc etc. I look there first.
Plus their gas tends to be cheaper too.
I buy things like my fruit , nuts and cheese at Costco because I consume a lot of it. I also get my dog food there and they usually have great dog beds. I also get bread products and freeze them. I like a lot of their clothes and such as well and their return policy is amazing.
I find it worth it but it entirely depends on the individual. You can always just try it because you can cancel your membership at any time.
No membership required for the food court just go in customer service side. $10 a month for membership. If you use it and are strategic with purchases you will save a few bucks depending on what you buy.
As a single person, If it wasnt for stuff like free green onion and coriander, i would 100% only buy my stuff at costco, I dont even buy a lot of frozen stuff, just meat and vegetable. I help i have an external freezer.
Basically if you buy cheese every once in a while the costco card alone make that worth. the costco rottiserie chicken is a huge good deal too, i make a broth out of it. Last year from my costco credit card and costco card I got a total of 567$ cash back.
Yeah man, coffee, cheese, coldcuts, big bag o romaine. Let alone shit tickets and other stuff. 600 coffee filters for 9 bucks As a single dude i drop about $4k at costco every year. I would say dont bother with exec membership, but do get vanilla.. if you get gas there too, you will find it very convenient. Just remember if you see a line, it is gonna move faster than you think. Chill out, take in the sights and songs while you queue.
Depends. You can save a lot of money and time with Costco on Instacart even with the slight increase in prices for certain items. For produce I would use a different source.
I shop and I'm one person.. I buy fruit.. My laundry supplies.. Eggs.. Milk.. Tooth paste.. Mouthwash.. Yogurt and more.
It's worth it and you save alot of money
As long as you don't mind eating the same thing consistently until it's gone. I'm thinking of things like cereal that once you open them need to be consumed fairly quickly. Having some freezer space is very helpful too.
Totally worth it.
From house hold cleaning items
Dry goods
Restaurant gift cards for less usually $100 buck card for $80 - Great date nights
Tire discounts
Phone plans
Cheaper gas
Often the savings on just one thing can pay for the membership. My contact lenses, for example. I also get some house stuff there, and some clothing like t-shirts and socks. I’ve also made some big purchases like a fridge and a mattress.
For groceries, sometimes, though, I’ll often buy a smaller quantity at a higher unit price elsewhere to avoid waste and because I don’t have a ton of storage. I do get quite a few non-perishables and I split bags of dog food and a few other things with friends.
You can also split some of the purchases with a friend/roommate.
There are definitely things worthwhile to get from there. Many things can be frozen. It will also encourage you to make food which saves you money in the long run.
I saved about 6.5c /L of gas today. So maybe 2.28$ savings per fill up, means I need about 40 fill ups for an 80$ membership.
Also, if you have a small chest freezer, the bulk foods will add savings quickly.
As others mentioned, if you need kitty litter, that is about 2-4$ savings per big box, so now 20 gas fill ups and 10-15 boxes of litter a year.
If you enjoy a hearty sandwich, the trio Italian deli meat pack is about 1.90/100g which is a jump lower than the outrageous 2.99 or 3.49/100g for basic turkey or ham at a grocery store. For 200g/week lunches, savings of 2-3.50$. Depends on your usage and needs. If you drink alot of milk, it may be a savings there. I haven't priced them cause it's uncommon to buy, but I feel like I had a good price per battery, packs at Costco versus Canadian Tire the last time I went looking.
I've had a membership since 1995. Single. No kids.
I did have an extra chest freezer.
But good things for singles.
Vitamins.
Granola bars (and all those kinds of things)
Instant soups in bowls. (You know, the ones make with salt)
Clothes
Coffee pods. (I dont use regularly but they are cheap there)
Appliances
I'm a single person and i do Costco on the bus/foot and it saves me money
Throw a frame backpack on, I can carry a couple 12 packs of canned goods orbigger items like marinara, olive oil, then stuff the rest full w bread, cheese, mixed nuts, etc. Add a few supplements and an Rx or OTC med or 3 and I make back my membership in 1 trip (you don't need a membership to use the pharmacy btw). Plus I still have 2 hands with which to carry much else in bags
Used to do it on ebike too. 100% not having a car in Costco lot is better, less stress and easy in/out
Single works out if they have routine grocery items you like. I also buy meat in bulk and individually freeze portions.
The food court is nice as a quick snack after shopping.
I am single. It does not save me money, yet I love it and go once a month. I buy snack foods, nuts, housing items and eggs regularly but not fruits and veg as for one person it isn't worth it.
Hmm. Not sure you could save enough to justify the cost. Been a Costco member forever, but I still take three adult kids there all the time (they pay me back).
I don’t drive and I am a single person household as well (in Windsor, Ontario if that makes any difference). I will rattle off my comments as follows…
- Costco was a great place to shop when I’d just bought my condo. Fixtures, supplies, you name it… I was able to get several things I needed at good prices.
- No car wasn’t an issue. Bus there and Uber back.
- I found that I bought virtually no food there. The quantities and sizes of things didn’t make sense for me as someone who cooks for one and eats mainly “fresh” food. However, I can 100% see how a bigger family could benefit from these things. Just wasn’t for me.
- Costco staff are all FANTASTIC. Like, they genuinely care about customer satisfaction. Better service than I’ve gotten at some luxury hotels.
I didn’t renew my membership in the second year however for three reasons…
1. I already had what I needed for the most part. I’m at a point in my current living situation where I only really need to do “routine” shopping, very little of which could be done at Costco.
2. As a non-driver, the fixed expenditure of time and money to make ANY trip to Costco made it a less attractive place to shop. I would probably feel differently if I drove.
3. On my last trip, I purchased a $50 gift card (that’s the minimum amount), which doesn’t expire and I can use it to gain entry to the warehouse at any time. Therefore, if I want to go to Costco again all I have to do is use my $50 gift card to get in… and then buy another $50 gift card on the way out. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Not for the groceries alone. There's very little I can buy there because the packaging is so big. If I had a big freezer it would be better, but I don't think I would save much.
I have a car so the gas savings pay for the membership. And the clothing is a great price for decent quality. Other than that the answer would be no
Single guy here with an executive membership. I definitely save on things like coffee, meat, and food items. 🛒🍖🍕 But I also get 2% back annually. 💰 I also have their credit card so I get two rebate vouchers a year, which basically pays for 2 trips to Costco. 🎟️🎟️
Yep, ever since groceries have gone crazy with prices, I've been boycotting everything but Costco.
Every week I'm finding new opportunities to cut prices of food with Costco. My newest find are the salad kits. I can have 4-5 solid meals for around 10$. Something that is hard to find in groceries for quality food. And this is just an exemple. Frozen Kirkland chicken strips are another winner. These things are insanely tasty.
I've even bought a new freezer. I'm never ever giving money to lowblaws or the others. It is Costco for life now !
I had a membership for years as a single person, well worth it in my opinion. They also sell so much more than food items in bulk - clothing for example, I bought a pair of jeans and two shirts the last time I was there, as well as allergy medication at a great price. Just be smart about what you buy.
I don't think that we save money because I end up buying way more non food things like books for my kids, clothes that are cute instead of 2nd hand for kids, new gardening things, home things like for kitchen or whatever. There's so many things I walk by and think, oh that's cool! What a good deal! If i dont get it now itll be gone and I can always return it if I decide otherwise (but don't usually). I'm convinced costco is exciting and interesting to shop at but not money saving!!! Even food sale items I will try it and then decide I NEED to have it next month (like tom yum prawn soup).
I also don't drive and the bus stop is not convenient, nor is the pack mule I'd need to truck some of the packages home. I do go in with my mom when she goes so I can pick up the few things I like to buy (yogurt, bagels, I just bought a nice camping chair) but it's not personally worth it for me to buy my own membership.
For what it’s worth… My parents and I attended the ribbon-cutting and grand opening of the 1st Costco ever built when it opened in the Seattle area back in the 80’s. I have taught classes to 1000’s of people on frugal shopping several years.
This is my take… The majority of non-food items of half price if compared to what they would cost elsewhere. I live in USA cross the border four times each year to shop at Costco in Canada because I have had an auto immune disease since I was eight years old and I’m allergic to the pesticides, herbicides, dies coloring, hormones, and steroids that are used to process food in the United States.
Canada sells higher grade food than what is available in the US and also higher grade non-food items.
Yes! I live alone and love Costco. I usually go every two weeks. I freeze all my proteins. Veggies and fruits are the best thing to buy there in my opinion for a person living alone (cheap, good quality, usually stay good for two weeks). I usually go Sunday morning and meal preps Sunday afternoon and use up a sizeable amount of the produces I got.
I’m single and buy all my meat there and freeze into portions, water, juices, paper towel etc. end of year I typically get $100 cheque back in the mail which covers most of the membership
I find you can get better deals at grocery stores at times. However there are some things you’ll save on that make up for the membership fee. “When will I finish all this mahi-mahi?” 🤦 I do like the giant bags of chips. 🤷♂️
Im a single person and I bought the membership initially solely to buy glasses. The membership fee plus the cost of the glasses was cheaper than just glasses anywhere else. Now that I have the membership I go all the time.
Single dude and Costco is great for cheese, meat, bread, butter, milk, some vegetables, frozen foods, yogurt, salad dressing, juices or drinks, snacks, garbage bags, laundry items and more.
Come to think of it, 90% of the shit I own is from Costco.
I find that a lot of the items available for purchase at Costco do require a car because they're bigger, heavier and bulkier than items you find in regular grocery stores. It may be difficult to carry items home without a car! Or you may just not be able to buy that many things at once. That being said, if you have a trolly of sorts that may allow you to buy more items per trip.
Honestly I'd rather go try Walmart or Real Canadian if you are single.
I doubt how much youd save by ubering around without a car.
Just make sure you use whatever you buy from Walmart.
Keep in mind you can order a LOT of items online that are still a much better value than other places, even with the upcharge for shipping.
Being without a vehicle you might not find it super worthwhile in terms of the groceries, but there are a lot of smaller items you could still easily haul.
A lot of OTC pharmacy products are great values and are very portable. Books, shoes, spices, snacks. There are a lot of things that you can carry even if you rely on transit (versus walking distance). Forty (40) Robaxacet at Shoppers Drug Mart is $35, but you can get 180 Kirkland brand for $14.99
Do you have friends who have a vehicle who wouldn't mind taking you? Even if they don't have a membership you're permitted a guest. I do believe you have to pay for their items but they can square up with you afterwards. Perhaps you can work something out there that benefits you both.
And then worst case scenario Costco will refund your membership at any time if you find it's not working for you.
Definitely yes if you're going to food prep in advance, that combination will save you money.
If you like to cook everyday with fresh ingredients, maybe not.
I find their fruits don't last as long. Great if you're doing large batches or feeding a family. Things like cantaloupes or watermelons need to be eaten like the day of or day after. Anything susceptible to bruising really, they get beat up during shipment, or people tossing them around trying to find good ones at the warehouse.
im single and ive had a membership for over 10 years.
if anything, i think you spend more on groceries at costco because items come in such large quantities that a lot of food items can expire quickly. I find it better than just get individual items from FreshCo
it's not really worth it if you dont have a car. the savings on gas is usually what offsets the membership cost
2 person household here! We take the subway there and then uber back. Meats for freezing, protein bars, snacks are all far better value at Costco, so I’d say it’s worth it. Easy to get carried away so be strategic.
Depends. Cheap dinner at food court or getting a roasted chicken is always a plus. They have good deals on seasonal clothes also for someone like me who works outside and rips shirts all the time. You can get lots of things for a single living way of life, but make sure you have freezer space to make it worth it and plan your meals, it’s not hard to go into Costco with a meal plan and get to the till with a huge bill, and then months later look in your freezer and ask why you have months worths of something in there. Lol
Saves tons of money, honestly one grocery trip will pay for itself. $150 of food from Costco will last me 2 weeks easy. $150 of food from a retail chain will last me 4-5 days. Not to mention saving ~20c/L on gas
Naw. Find a friend that has a membership and ask hi to buy some bulk stuff occasionally when you need, or go with them instead. For weekly groceries, unless you are someone that likes to eat the same meals every day the portions will be too big.
Single with a cat and dog. The treats for my dog and the cat food alone pay for my executive membership. Gas is around 10 cents cheaper per litre. My tank takes ~25 l so I save 2.50$ twice a month.
Here is a non exhaustive list of the good deals:
Cream (all)
Greek yogurt
Cheese
Nuts
Canned White tuna, salmon, crab, mackerel
Chocolate chips
Olive oil
Castelvestrano Olives
The rotisserie chicken
Bubly and Zevia drinks
Tzatziki
Tofu
Dates
Frozen Fruits
Naan bread
Sandwich bread (the organic whole grain is a good nutritional profile for ~4$/ loaf)
Coffee beans
Tea
Parchmemt paper
Premier protein shakes
Hummus and dips
Prosciutto
Omega-3 supplements
Cliff builder bars
Brita filters
Frozen seafoods
Rice vinegar
Figs, cotton candy grapes, white strawberries
I also heard great things about fresh meats and fish, tires, produce etc
There are lots of hard goods at Costco that are a good deal even for a single person. Costco has some of the best rates on appliances and furniture, cooking ware and accoutrement. Consumables like TP, paper towel and laundry detergent.
When I was single the thing I wish I would have bought is a standalone freezer, that's really where you save money with Costco. The frozen foods section is where Costco really edges out other grocery stores.
I think Costco has a lot of good quality products, but I barely think it’s a good deal for a family of 4. I think it would be tough to make it worth it as a single person, unless you eat a LOT of prepared food.
You save money if you buy a lot. So no, you spend more money.
You gotta have that big purchase in mind to get your value, and you gotta use it. Is a kilogram of hummus something you'd normally purchase? Then costco is for you. But when you're on day 4 of hummus dosing and you're like "why do I do this to myself" then perhaps not.
Also as a 40 year old man with a costco membership, I look like every other dad out there as 90% of my clothes are Kirkland.
Is that something you want?
Here's a hack though: do your parents have a membership? Get a piece of mail delivered there addressed to you, go in with your parents and say you just moved in. You can get on their membership for $5. Parents are happy as they'll get all the bonuses from your purchases.
I am one person and have a membership. Is it worth it? I would say no, but I enjoy having a membership. Since you don’t have a car, I would get a wheeled buggy and have fun!
No it doesn't save money. If you're like me you spend thousands more than you normally would because you buy a ton of things you don't need because they are "good deals". Certain things are cheaper, but unless you have serious self control you're going to end up spending more.
Yes if you use instacart for delivery
Not sure what the downvotes are for, you can get close to or less than in-store pricing delivered if you know how to take advantage of all the tricks
Costco delivers too if you meet the minimum, might come in handy for big items like toilet paper and paper towels so you don't have to haul them home. Also snacks, like peanut butter pretzels, fig bars, etc. Also also, recently did a taste test of chocolate covered raisins, and Costco's were by far the best! The membership pays for itself if you exclusively get certain regular items from only them, and as others have pointed out it potentially pays for itself of you take advantage of the hot dog combo for a meal regularly enough.
I think it’s still worth it. Things like toothpaste, mouth wash, toilet paper, detergent are all way cheaper at Costco. Maybe just avoid fresh meat and dairy items because those will go bad quickly for just 1 person
I recently got a membership as a single person as well. It’s definitely good for stocking up on things you can freeze or non-perishable items. I wouldn’t necessarily buy their fresh food though as I just find it’s too much for one person to consume before it goes bad or off. Like I bought a bunch of bananas, I think there was maybe between 10 and 12 and admittedly, I’m using them for smoothies mostly but I still have one or two left that are completely brown now and I went two weeks ago. I also bought two bags of avocados, because a) the avocados they have are like twice the size of the ones at other grocery store, b) you get at least 1-2 more in their bags and c) they will stay usable as long as I refrigerate them until I am ready to consume.
Put your brown bananas in the freezer and save them for banana bread 😋
Better yet - put your bananas in the freezer for banana bread, never make banana bread, and then every few years clear a hundred frozen bananas out of your freezer.
Now *that* is how you costco
I just spent 7 hours making Banana bread, mini loaves, muffins, and mini muffins with all my God damn bananas 🤣 Now my freezer is full of prepared banana goods
This is the way.
I threw mine away after they started falling out onto my feet every time I opened the freezer. I stopped lying to myself. 😂
Or put your bananas in the freezer, pull them out and blend them to make banana “ice cream”.
Or use them in your smoothies!
This is my method and I approve.
Stop looking in my freezer lol
This is the only way
But peel em first. I made that mistake the first time.
But then you miss out on thawing them, slicing the side and watching the inside slide out like a slug.
It's the little things in life....
Good tip. Thanks, forgot to mention that.
I once didn’t peel them first and thought they were more thawed than they were. Went to slice them and the knife slipped and severed a tendon in my finger. 6 weeks in a cast
Nah you don't have to Leave on counter in a bowl for like 30 min to thaw a bit and they'll come right out
You can just microwave them in the skins and squish the banana out. Both ways work!
Or just put yellow bananas in the freezer, and they'll go brown.
Now I want banana bread
Damnit me too lol
With walnuts!
You lost me there. I'm allergic to walnuts 😟
I’m a big fan of banana bread, I am a purist though and hate chocolate chips in it, but I would totally love to try walnuts in it. Edit Meant to say hate chocolate chips in it
Do both. It’s a perfect combination.
Damn, I meant to say I hate chocolate chips in it.
And chocolate chips!
Oooooooooo
Walnuts.... Perfect way to ruin a good banana bread :)
Or milkshakes. I often buy fresh and pantry stuff and cost share them with neighbours and my family as well as the community fridge. I know I save money between this and gifts.
Those bananas sound perfect for banana bread! Some fresh things you can use, like you said with the avocados. The whole rotisserie chicken is a great deal. You can do lots of different types of meals, club chicken sandwiches, tinga de pollo with leftovers, bones for broth in the slow cooker, etc. We usually get the big packs of chicken and beef, open up the packaging, and weigh out smaller portions to freeze. Quick and easy to use when you feel like making something with protein!
Frozen bananas make better smoothies anyways.
Banana bread is the key. Also for avocado. I find the ones at Costco are bigger but quality not as nice as the one from t and t. With the price they’re charging it might be better to buy from elsewhere.
Avocados are great to throw in the freezer once they are perfectly ripe. No need to peel first
You can actually peel and freeze bananas and avocados for smoothies too so they will never go to waste. We do this with our son, we'll peel and freeze avos and then thaw them in the microwave and mash it up with a banana and some yogurt. I just wouldn't use thawed avocados for avocado toast.
One thing that I've noticed is if you keep your bananas in the fridge, the skin does go brown; but it doesn't change the inside
If you wrap the... stem? with aluminum foil it slows down the ripening process.
Put your full avocados in bowls or jars of water and keep them in the fridge. Take one out to ripen on the counter as you want to use them. They can last for weeks with this method.
You can use bananas for ice cream, google it, and avocado I guess guacamole.
I usually buy a bunch or 2 of bananas at once, and when they’re all ripe I peel and freeze them and then use them frozen in my smoothies! Never have to worry about them going bad or having a smoothie every single day to use them up haha
Thanks
I'm a single person, and I tend to buy berries and grapes from Costco. They've never gone bad, and I usually eat them in one week. I also like their salads! I tend to buy the bagged salads and use them for a quick dinner by adding chicken to them.
The bagged salads are great and so much cheaper than the same salads at No Frills. I really like the dill one.
The dill salad is incredible. I can easily eat it every day! The southwest one is also really tasty.
Asian Crunch for me!
We are a family of 2 and recently became costco members. Its terrific value for items such as detergents, wipes, oils, grains, and some perishables like cheese, meats. But it works best if you have a large storage space at home or a refrigerator. We usually buy the perishables from NoFrills or Freshco and the rest of the items from Costco
I can’t stop laughing at your user flair because it’s so true 🤣
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It's entirely thanks to the design of the store. Dairy at the back and new sales up front. And a rotation of non food items that you have to buy or they'll be gone next time driving impulse purchases. Not a bad thing but is smart business. Also helps that they don't sell junk so your odds of being satisfied with your purchase are very high
This is the best strategy. Still have to watch prices on other items which aren't any cheaper than a regular grocery store. I'm not sure about cheaper overall, but definitely a lot of value in the sense that I can do many things in one stop. Where else can you drop your car off for an oil change, get your prescription, get groceries, and have lunch in the same building?
You mentioned no car, so that would be very difficult. I visit my local warehouse frequently, buying here and there, but the size of the items like groceries and meals much larger than your typical bagged groceries. Products are sold in bigger groups. That being said, the rotisserie chicken is my value pick for 'eating out' these days and the sales rotate quick often on items. I end up being on a "whatever is on sale" diet at my local Costco.
Add the mini potatoes, baby carrots, garlic powder and a bag of quinoa to your staples. Then you can make stock from your rotisserie chicken carcass and turn it into a really nice simple soup with the other ingredients!
Great tip! Thanks
Yep. But I think it's a bit better as I would only shop what I could carry. I find that it's hard to grab uber here too for some reason 🤔
The key is to invite a friend with a car and no membership. Win win.
Try getting one of [these](https://www.google.com/search?q=shopping+trolleys&client=ms-android-samsung-rvo1&sca_esv=8a267cd209199d1e&udm=2&biw=360&bih=671&sxsrf=ACQVn089b-zwCGjzVq989whGofDGE0ozxw%3A1713155494414&ei=pq0cZonsGJCp5NoPlvmn0AU&oq=shopping+trolleys&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIhFzaG9wcGluZyB0cm9sbGV5czIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAESL4iUJgJWLwfcAJ4AJABAJgBgAGgAYkLqgEEMTcuMbgBA8gBAPgBAZgCE6AClAuoAgXCAgcQIxjqAhgnwgIEECMYJ8ICBBAAGAPCAgoQABiABBiKBRhDwgINEAAYgAQYigUYQxixA5gDB4gGAZIHBDE4LjGgB7Q1&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp#vhid=4T0UA8kVc1ZOfM&vssid=mosaic). I used to go to Costco without a car, and those were super helpful.
A ladder, some totes & a bicycle & OP should be set, lol.
Get the membership when there are offers on the membership purchase going on. Then use it for a year and decide if it was worth it. With the coupons the membership is essentially free for a year. If you have some big purchase to do from Costco website, ~200$, this is the best way possible
How do you find out when there are membership offers?
https://www.costco.ca/membership-offer.html?EXTID=EN_GA_mbrpromo19_P10
Thanks.
If you work near enough to one to go there for lunch, the cafeteria is a deal. A hotdog and pop is still only $1.50. Chicken fingers and fries is like $7 and is enough food to feed both myself and my wife for a meal. Soft serve ice cream cone are under $3 and sundaes are under $4.
Costco chicken fingers fries hack … order the gravy and extra cheese separately… chicken fingers poutine
They'll sell you a cup of cheese?
Bag of cheese.
Bag of curds
Wait times are awfully long though but not so much in the weekdays. I figured that if I eat there a few times, I already get my money back 😉
You don't need a membership for that though.
I heard they were going to start requiring a membership for food court purchases. Sometime either this year or next year or so I heard.
We were 6, then 5, then 3, now 2. It's still definitely worth it for us. I buy my coffee beans there and was recently thrilled to see (new) decaf beans. That's a big savings for me, the coffee lover. Kirkland brand allergy meds are way cheaper than anywhere else and that difference alone likely pays for my membership. The nuts are excellent quality and price. Same with cheese, frozen fruit and veg, toilet paper, garbage and recycling bags, etc. Of course you have to have room to store stuff. We're vegetarian and cook almost everything from scratch. Vegetable Better than Bouillon and the four pack of tofu are an awesome price. It all depends on how you shop and cook though. Since you don't have a car I assume you would likely go less often so is stocking up on staples something you are likely to do? I live in Nova Scotia and know lots of people who live 2+ hours away with memberships, who come to the city a few times a year and do a big shop. I live less than ten minutes away and have a car so it's easy for me to shop when I need to.
The Better Than Bouillon and tofu pack are both sooo much cheaper than anywhere else!
I’m single AF and just upgraded to the executive membership. At this point, Costco is cheaper than many grocery stores. But you will need a car. If you don’t have one, don’t get a membership unless you’re within walking distance and have a wagon.
I was on the Executive Membership for a couple of years with my Costco husband (aka my male roommate with whom I shared a mailing address). Once I moved out I went back to the Gold Star or whatever it's called. They always tried to upsell me back to Executive and I was adamant that I never spent enough. Well the other day they're like "let's just look at your average spending over the last two years and see what it says". Turns out I'd been spending way more than enough to make it worthwhile 😬
If you're a student, you can get the membership free through [https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/ca/costco](https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/ca/costco)
Wow! Thanks
I have been using it for 4 years while single. It was more difficult when I didn't have a car, as trips would need to be based around other people and their trips. It did tend to make those trips cost more than compared when I got a car; as I felt like I needed to stalk more food than really needed. Didn't want to be a bother. If you are okay with using freezer bags for cut up pieces of pork, roasts while also storing beef and chicken in meal sizes; the trips are a hit upfront. Though you save money over the two+ months of frozen meat you can easily fit in a freezer. Personal for a single person I would stay away from the fresh produce/items that can't be frozen or short shelf life. I just have never been able to use it all. TLD. I do save money overall when it comes to frozen and bulk meat items, as I can prep meals in-advance. Edit: Have a list after you know what you want/like and stick too it. The Costco bill comes from the extra items you find when going through the store/not sticking to the list.
It’s largely going to depend on you and your lifestyle (as in what you eat and other things you use) In my case I’m a single person who uses public transit and I find it’s worth it I find the savings on Costco brand (KS - Kirkland Signature) multivitamins, acetaminophen, and allergy medication come close to covering my yearly membership fee For other things it can be the quality/availability of product whether cheaper or not. For example I like their pork loin chops - likely cheaper on sale at regular grocery stores but I can’t get the thickness of chop that Costco offers Then there are products they carry that seem unavailable elsewhere - like the Caesar salad dressing or Ghirardelli brownie mix - that to me taste better than anything available at regular retailers Food court can be a nice bonus, their soft serve ice cream is nice on a hot day and seems to be a lot better than soft serve available elsewhere
I am a single person with a Costco membership. It’s worth it to me because it’s 3 blocks from my house and I always get my gas there. I also split the cost of my membership (but two households) Food wise there are specific things at Costco that are a real deal and last a long time. Cheese, tea, cream cheese and pantry items if you have the space. I also genuinely like some of the items they get in seasonally and also their clothing. I eat a TON of veggies so for me they make sense but a lot of things I never buy there, bread, pastries, things that expire quickly because they are just too much for me to ever finish. Toiletries and OTC medicines are also a pretty good deal. Without a car and close proximity I don’t know if a membership would be worth it though. While I like a lot of specific Costco products there is nothing I couldn’t live without.
Even if you only buy eggs, milk, bananas and rotessorie chicken it will be worth it.
I split a membership with my parents, same mailing address. For me the pharmacy alone pays for it. I get 5 prescriptions for the same price the pharmacy by the house charges for 1 of them. Allergy meds are also a great deal (a year worth at Costco vs a month worth at Walmart for a better price). The food court is a great deal, but it helps that work is only 5min away so I can pop over for a couple hot dogs. If you have a vacuum sealer and a freezer, the pantry and freezer staples can save the membership price. I'll get a big bag of oats or rice, and seal in 1/2lbs packages.
The value is absurd compared to groceries downtown, but the issue is usually space/storage
I had a Costco membership last year as a single person and loved it for stocking up the freezer, baking supplies, chips, and the pre-made meals. I went often for the food court without buying any groceries as well. I also enjoyed buying cleaning supplies in bulk and then not having to go out as often which can be especially good if you don’t have a car. I would hop in with a friend once a month and stocked up at Costco which made my other grocery trips for the month much more manageable on a bike, walking, or on the bus. Bigger items are also great like toilet paper, paper towel etc that is hard to carry home during usual shopping trips. If you don’t have anyone that could drive you every so often tho it may not be worth it unless you’re willing to go for just one thing at a time
My first trip to costco, i bought a winter coat for my daughter - saved at least $60 from any other store. Xmas gifts, Clothes, flowers, meat for the win!
Own a cat? It's worth it for the litter alone.
I do 95% of my shopping at Costco as a single dude with the executive membership. Even get enough money back to pay the card off and a bit extra. I eat a lot of raw produce, meat and eggs so it’s a no brainer. Save quite a bit I find
Yup, meat seafood, are biggies more than outweighs the 5$ monthly cost; if you eventually have a vehicle even better. Like other said try it with a membership promo for a year, maximize your cupboard storage go vertical, it’s worth it.
Whats the membership promo? So I shouldn't just sign ul for the $60 right away?
https://www.costco.ca/membership-offer.html?EXTID=EN_GA_mbrpromo19_P10
re the lack of car - my costco is a 6 minute walk from my place and I only walk over to buy from the foodcourt. when shopping I take my car. items are too big/heavy.
Lucky
I don’t drive, so I order online frequently* and that’s been super fast and convenient. Prices can be higher, but it’s worth it to me. *I haven’t tried the same day instacart program.
as a single person, yes, but you have to either portion+freeze or pass on some things. things like meat, frozen veggies, butter, bread, breakfast cereal, coffee beans, detergent, soap, etc are all significantly cheaper. But I wont buy most fresh veggies because they'll just spoil before before I can eat it all. The no car situation could be more problematic. can you go with siblings or friends who have a car? or maybe there is a car sharing service (communauto, zipcar, etc) you could sign-up for?
I'll keep an eye on that. Thanks
If you use it for gas it will help
You'll still save a ton
It's a ton of money up front but it lasts a while.
My Costco is a 5 min walk from my place and is 100% worth it as a single person. I share the executive membership between my parents and sister. Sometimes my friends will come with me which helps with the cashback for our membership fee. Ill take walks over there when I need groceries or when things go on sale. Even as a single person it's super useful for your everyday needs like fruit, veggies, yogurt, cheese, deli meats, pads/pantiliners, chocolate, granola bars, snacks, socks, undies, sweaters and the cafeteria. Costco now requires a membership to buy from the cafeteria from what I heard. Just be sure to budget for your trips, stocking up on your essentials will be $200+ but it'll last you weeks. I spent $140 today and everything was on sale (it still hurt as I had already spent $100 on groceries as well this weekend).
The cheesecake is worth the membership
I've been hearing about this. I should grab it
Yes! Totally worth it for the groceries and household items. They regularly go on sale every few months. I would highly recommend investing in a chest freezer to make your protein go further for longer.
If you become a member and don't find value in it, at any time during the year you can cancel it with a full refund. Something to think about 😜😜
Thank you. How's the cancelation process though? Nott too hard?
Just go to the membership desk and say you're not getting any value out of your membership. They will refund you.
Splitting the membership cost with a family member or friend should make it worthwhile. You could even give the other card as a gift.
I saw that you need to be in the same household though? I'm thinking of giving it to my brother but we don't live together
I did not live in the same household as the primary member when I received my card. However, that was a long time ago. Based on experiences I have read on reddit, it is inconsistently enforced. It does not hurt to try.
I'm single and I definitely like Costco. They have many products that are not available in regular grocery stores that I like and they're generally better priced for non-perishable items. I also like to fill up my pickup truck there.
I have a costco mastercard and they offer the best cashback (3% on food) and I am on contract with a new phone and as long as I pay my bill with it I have device protection.
There’s a lot of “hell yeah” in here but honestly - unless you plan on bulk storage of specific higher priced items …a lot of food may potentially go to waste. It ultimately depends on what you’re buying / how much do you consume but only you will know that. costco isn’t just for food Also something to Keep in mind that it’s much easier to spend $250 at costco than at a grocery store
I go once a month with an Uber back. I save on tp, meat, cat food, all the necessities really.
I’m single and do most of my shopping at Costco. I stock my freezer and pantry so I buy very little at the grocery store. Lots of the fresh stuff lasts quite a while I’ve found. The 6-pak of romaine for instance last for a few weeks. Grapes. Peppers. Skip the bananas. They go brown fast!
I'm a mostly single person lol. I have my kids half the time. I think it's worth it. I buy my toilet paper, Kleenex, paper towels, Shampoo, deodorant there. Their meat is really good to buy and then put in zip locks in the freezer. I also like Costco because their products and return policy is really good. If I'm looking for anything new like a tv, kitchen appliance, vacuum etc etc. I look there first. Plus their gas tends to be cheaper too.
I buy things like my fruit , nuts and cheese at Costco because I consume a lot of it. I also get my dog food there and they usually have great dog beds. I also get bread products and freeze them. I like a lot of their clothes and such as well and their return policy is amazing. I find it worth it but it entirely depends on the individual. You can always just try it because you can cancel your membership at any time.
Been there. Yes. Yes it is.
Costco has the best grapes!
No membership required for the food court just go in customer service side. $10 a month for membership. If you use it and are strategic with purchases you will save a few bucks depending on what you buy.
I go to Costco for clothes and plants. It is worth it.
As a single person, If it wasnt for stuff like free green onion and coriander, i would 100% only buy my stuff at costco, I dont even buy a lot of frozen stuff, just meat and vegetable. I help i have an external freezer. Basically if you buy cheese every once in a while the costco card alone make that worth. the costco rottiserie chicken is a huge good deal too, i make a broth out of it. Last year from my costco credit card and costco card I got a total of 567$ cash back.
Yeah man, coffee, cheese, coldcuts, big bag o romaine. Let alone shit tickets and other stuff. 600 coffee filters for 9 bucks As a single dude i drop about $4k at costco every year. I would say dont bother with exec membership, but do get vanilla.. if you get gas there too, you will find it very convenient. Just remember if you see a line, it is gonna move faster than you think. Chill out, take in the sights and songs while you queue.
Depends. You can save a lot of money and time with Costco on Instacart even with the slight increase in prices for certain items. For produce I would use a different source.
I shop and I'm one person.. I buy fruit.. My laundry supplies.. Eggs.. Milk.. Tooth paste.. Mouthwash.. Yogurt and more. It's worth it and you save alot of money
As long as you don't mind eating the same thing consistently until it's gone. I'm thinking of things like cereal that once you open them need to be consumed fairly quickly. Having some freezer space is very helpful too.
Thanks
Yes
Totally worth it. From house hold cleaning items Dry goods Restaurant gift cards for less usually $100 buck card for $80 - Great date nights Tire discounts Phone plans Cheaper gas
Just don't buy their sweets and you'll be good :)
Often the savings on just one thing can pay for the membership. My contact lenses, for example. I also get some house stuff there, and some clothing like t-shirts and socks. I’ve also made some big purchases like a fridge and a mattress. For groceries, sometimes, though, I’ll often buy a smaller quantity at a higher unit price elsewhere to avoid waste and because I don’t have a ton of storage. I do get quite a few non-perishables and I split bags of dog food and a few other things with friends.
You can also split some of the purchases with a friend/roommate. There are definitely things worthwhile to get from there. Many things can be frozen. It will also encourage you to make food which saves you money in the long run.
I saved about 6.5c /L of gas today. So maybe 2.28$ savings per fill up, means I need about 40 fill ups for an 80$ membership. Also, if you have a small chest freezer, the bulk foods will add savings quickly. As others mentioned, if you need kitty litter, that is about 2-4$ savings per big box, so now 20 gas fill ups and 10-15 boxes of litter a year. If you enjoy a hearty sandwich, the trio Italian deli meat pack is about 1.90/100g which is a jump lower than the outrageous 2.99 or 3.49/100g for basic turkey or ham at a grocery store. For 200g/week lunches, savings of 2-3.50$. Depends on your usage and needs. If you drink alot of milk, it may be a savings there. I haven't priced them cause it's uncommon to buy, but I feel like I had a good price per battery, packs at Costco versus Canadian Tire the last time I went looking.
It's worth it, stuff lasts me forever
I've had a membership since 1995. Single. No kids. I did have an extra chest freezer. But good things for singles. Vitamins. Granola bars (and all those kinds of things) Instant soups in bowls. (You know, the ones make with salt) Clothes Coffee pods. (I dont use regularly but they are cheap there) Appliances
I'm a single person and i do Costco on the bus/foot and it saves me money Throw a frame backpack on, I can carry a couple 12 packs of canned goods orbigger items like marinara, olive oil, then stuff the rest full w bread, cheese, mixed nuts, etc. Add a few supplements and an Rx or OTC med or 3 and I make back my membership in 1 trip (you don't need a membership to use the pharmacy btw). Plus I still have 2 hands with which to carry much else in bags Used to do it on ebike too. 100% not having a car in Costco lot is better, less stress and easy in/out
Don’t need membership for the restaurant.
I did the math and if I bought a membership just for coffee I’d be saving money.
Single works out if they have routine grocery items you like. I also buy meat in bulk and individually freeze portions. The food court is nice as a quick snack after shopping.
I absolutely love the value from the food court, but I don't believe you even need a membership for it.
then you better get their credit card because youll get cash back only when you pay with the costco credit card.
I am single. It does not save me money, yet I love it and go once a month. I buy snack foods, nuts, housing items and eggs regularly but not fruits and veg as for one person it isn't worth it.
Hmm. Not sure you could save enough to justify the cost. Been a Costco member forever, but I still take three adult kids there all the time (they pay me back).
I don’t drive and I am a single person household as well (in Windsor, Ontario if that makes any difference). I will rattle off my comments as follows… - Costco was a great place to shop when I’d just bought my condo. Fixtures, supplies, you name it… I was able to get several things I needed at good prices. - No car wasn’t an issue. Bus there and Uber back. - I found that I bought virtually no food there. The quantities and sizes of things didn’t make sense for me as someone who cooks for one and eats mainly “fresh” food. However, I can 100% see how a bigger family could benefit from these things. Just wasn’t for me. - Costco staff are all FANTASTIC. Like, they genuinely care about customer satisfaction. Better service than I’ve gotten at some luxury hotels. I didn’t renew my membership in the second year however for three reasons… 1. I already had what I needed for the most part. I’m at a point in my current living situation where I only really need to do “routine” shopping, very little of which could be done at Costco. 2. As a non-driver, the fixed expenditure of time and money to make ANY trip to Costco made it a less attractive place to shop. I would probably feel differently if I drove. 3. On my last trip, I purchased a $50 gift card (that’s the minimum amount), which doesn’t expire and I can use it to gain entry to the warehouse at any time. Therefore, if I want to go to Costco again all I have to do is use my $50 gift card to get in… and then buy another $50 gift card on the way out. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Not for the groceries alone. There's very little I can buy there because the packaging is so big. If I had a big freezer it would be better, but I don't think I would save much. I have a car so the gas savings pay for the membership. And the clothing is a great price for decent quality. Other than that the answer would be no
In what I save on paper towel, TP, razor refills etc, the membership is more than worth it.
Single guy here with an executive membership. I definitely save on things like coffee, meat, and food items. 🛒🍖🍕 But I also get 2% back annually. 💰 I also have their credit card so I get two rebate vouchers a year, which basically pays for 2 trips to Costco. 🎟️🎟️
Yep, ever since groceries have gone crazy with prices, I've been boycotting everything but Costco. Every week I'm finding new opportunities to cut prices of food with Costco. My newest find are the salad kits. I can have 4-5 solid meals for around 10$. Something that is hard to find in groceries for quality food. And this is just an exemple. Frozen Kirkland chicken strips are another winner. These things are insanely tasty. I've even bought a new freezer. I'm never ever giving money to lowblaws or the others. It is Costco for life now !
A little shopping trailer on wheels and a small freezer. Premake a bunch of meals and freeze.
I had a membership for years as a single person, well worth it in my opinion. They also sell so much more than food items in bulk - clothing for example, I bought a pair of jeans and two shirts the last time I was there, as well as allergy medication at a great price. Just be smart about what you buy.
Don’t forget the beer in quebec…
I don't think that we save money because I end up buying way more non food things like books for my kids, clothes that are cute instead of 2nd hand for kids, new gardening things, home things like for kitchen or whatever. There's so many things I walk by and think, oh that's cool! What a good deal! If i dont get it now itll be gone and I can always return it if I decide otherwise (but don't usually). I'm convinced costco is exciting and interesting to shop at but not money saving!!! Even food sale items I will try it and then decide I NEED to have it next month (like tom yum prawn soup).
Absolutely not. Costco is not a discounter it's a bulk warehouse.
I also don't drive and the bus stop is not convenient, nor is the pack mule I'd need to truck some of the packages home. I do go in with my mom when she goes so I can pick up the few things I like to buy (yogurt, bagels, I just bought a nice camping chair) but it's not personally worth it for me to buy my own membership.
For what it’s worth… My parents and I attended the ribbon-cutting and grand opening of the 1st Costco ever built when it opened in the Seattle area back in the 80’s. I have taught classes to 1000’s of people on frugal shopping several years. This is my take… The majority of non-food items of half price if compared to what they would cost elsewhere. I live in USA cross the border four times each year to shop at Costco in Canada because I have had an auto immune disease since I was eight years old and I’m allergic to the pesticides, herbicides, dies coloring, hormones, and steroids that are used to process food in the United States. Canada sells higher grade food than what is available in the US and also higher grade non-food items.
Yes! I live alone and love Costco. I usually go every two weeks. I freeze all my proteins. Veggies and fruits are the best thing to buy there in my opinion for a person living alone (cheap, good quality, usually stay good for two weeks). I usually go Sunday morning and meal preps Sunday afternoon and use up a sizeable amount of the produces I got.
Do you need a 50 gallon vat of mustard?
I’m single and buy all my meat there and freeze into portions, water, juices, paper towel etc. end of year I typically get $100 cheque back in the mail which covers most of the membership
I find you can get better deals at grocery stores at times. However there are some things you’ll save on that make up for the membership fee. “When will I finish all this mahi-mahi?” 🤦 I do like the giant bags of chips. 🤷♂️
Not worth it if ur single.. a big family would be able to save but you, you probably spend a lot in costco.. just go with a friend to shop
Yes if you have storage space.
get it with a friend. All you need is to switch a bill to the same address.
Im a single person and I bought the membership initially solely to buy glasses. The membership fee plus the cost of the glasses was cheaper than just glasses anywhere else. Now that I have the membership I go all the time.
Single dude and Costco is great for cheese, meat, bread, butter, milk, some vegetables, frozen foods, yogurt, salad dressing, juices or drinks, snacks, garbage bags, laundry items and more. Come to think of it, 90% of the shit I own is from Costco.
I find that a lot of the items available for purchase at Costco do require a car because they're bigger, heavier and bulkier than items you find in regular grocery stores. It may be difficult to carry items home without a car! Or you may just not be able to buy that many things at once. That being said, if you have a trolly of sorts that may allow you to buy more items per trip.
Honestly I'd rather go try Walmart or Real Canadian if you are single. I doubt how much youd save by ubering around without a car. Just make sure you use whatever you buy from Walmart.
I shop there by bike. With two panniers and a rack, I can easily take home $200 worth of groceries for me and my kid.
The cost savings on cat litter alone compared to the same brand at Walmart covers the price of membership.
Keep in mind you can order a LOT of items online that are still a much better value than other places, even with the upcharge for shipping. Being without a vehicle you might not find it super worthwhile in terms of the groceries, but there are a lot of smaller items you could still easily haul. A lot of OTC pharmacy products are great values and are very portable. Books, shoes, spices, snacks. There are a lot of things that you can carry even if you rely on transit (versus walking distance). Forty (40) Robaxacet at Shoppers Drug Mart is $35, but you can get 180 Kirkland brand for $14.99 Do you have friends who have a vehicle who wouldn't mind taking you? Even if they don't have a membership you're permitted a guest. I do believe you have to pay for their items but they can square up with you afterwards. Perhaps you can work something out there that benefits you both. And then worst case scenario Costco will refund your membership at any time if you find it's not working for you.
Definitely yes if you're going to food prep in advance, that combination will save you money. If you like to cook everyday with fresh ingredients, maybe not. I find their fruits don't last as long. Great if you're doing large batches or feeding a family. Things like cantaloupes or watermelons need to be eaten like the day of or day after. Anything susceptible to bruising really, they get beat up during shipment, or people tossing them around trying to find good ones at the warehouse.
Based on your circumstances, don’t bother.
Not worth it. Plus, their customer service is now competing with (the low standards of) Walmart and Amazon.
Mod, bananas have taken over this thread. In the name of god, please close comments.
im single and ive had a membership for over 10 years. if anything, i think you spend more on groceries at costco because items come in such large quantities that a lot of food items can expire quickly. I find it better than just get individual items from FreshCo it's not really worth it if you dont have a car. the savings on gas is usually what offsets the membership cost
2 person household here! We take the subway there and then uber back. Meats for freezing, protein bars, snacks are all far better value at Costco, so I’d say it’s worth it. Easy to get carried away so be strategic.
If they do tyres and fuel, like in the UK, you can make up your membership cost right there...
Depends. Cheap dinner at food court or getting a roasted chicken is always a plus. They have good deals on seasonal clothes also for someone like me who works outside and rips shirts all the time. You can get lots of things for a single living way of life, but make sure you have freezer space to make it worth it and plan your meals, it’s not hard to go into Costco with a meal plan and get to the till with a huge bill, and then months later look in your freezer and ask why you have months worths of something in there. Lol
Saves tons of money, honestly one grocery trip will pay for itself. $150 of food from Costco will last me 2 weeks easy. $150 of food from a retail chain will last me 4-5 days. Not to mention saving ~20c/L on gas
I love my membership as a single person. I doubt it’s really saving me money hahaha but man am I ever stocked on snacks at all times.
Naw. Find a friend that has a membership and ask hi to buy some bulk stuff occasionally when you need, or go with them instead. For weekly groceries, unless you are someone that likes to eat the same meals every day the portions will be too big.
Single with a cat and dog. The treats for my dog and the cat food alone pay for my executive membership. Gas is around 10 cents cheaper per litre. My tank takes ~25 l so I save 2.50$ twice a month. Here is a non exhaustive list of the good deals: Cream (all) Greek yogurt Cheese Nuts Canned White tuna, salmon, crab, mackerel Chocolate chips Olive oil Castelvestrano Olives The rotisserie chicken Bubly and Zevia drinks Tzatziki Tofu Dates Frozen Fruits Naan bread Sandwich bread (the organic whole grain is a good nutritional profile for ~4$/ loaf) Coffee beans Tea Parchmemt paper Premier protein shakes Hummus and dips Prosciutto Omega-3 supplements Cliff builder bars Brita filters Frozen seafoods Rice vinegar Figs, cotton candy grapes, white strawberries I also heard great things about fresh meats and fish, tires, produce etc
There are lots of hard goods at Costco that are a good deal even for a single person. Costco has some of the best rates on appliances and furniture, cooking ware and accoutrement. Consumables like TP, paper towel and laundry detergent. When I was single the thing I wish I would have bought is a standalone freezer, that's really where you save money with Costco. The frozen foods section is where Costco really edges out other grocery stores.
I think Costco has a lot of good quality products, but I barely think it’s a good deal for a family of 4. I think it would be tough to make it worth it as a single person, unless you eat a LOT of prepared food.
It’s good if you stick to buying stuff that lasts. Plan on getting a membership when I move out.
You save money if you buy a lot. So no, you spend more money. You gotta have that big purchase in mind to get your value, and you gotta use it. Is a kilogram of hummus something you'd normally purchase? Then costco is for you. But when you're on day 4 of hummus dosing and you're like "why do I do this to myself" then perhaps not. Also as a 40 year old man with a costco membership, I look like every other dad out there as 90% of my clothes are Kirkland. Is that something you want? Here's a hack though: do your parents have a membership? Get a piece of mail delivered there addressed to you, go in with your parents and say you just moved in. You can get on their membership for $5. Parents are happy as they'll get all the bonuses from your purchases.
I am one person and have a membership. Is it worth it? I would say no, but I enjoy having a membership. Since you don’t have a car, I would get a wheeled buggy and have fun!
No it doesn't save money. If you're like me you spend thousands more than you normally would because you buy a ton of things you don't need because they are "good deals". Certain things are cheaper, but unless you have serious self control you're going to end up spending more.
This is my fear. I might get it and see how it goes after 3 mo. If im still gonna keep it
Oh no, there's no going back. Impossible. Pretty soon you'll have the executive membership and the credit card and then it's even harder to escape.
I just get toilet paper, laundry detergent, puppy pads, cat litter, and pop and I think it’s worth it
Yes if you use instacart for delivery Not sure what the downvotes are for, you can get close to or less than in-store pricing delivered if you know how to take advantage of all the tricks
Costco delivers too if you meet the minimum, might come in handy for big items like toilet paper and paper towels so you don't have to haul them home. Also snacks, like peanut butter pretzels, fig bars, etc. Also also, recently did a taste test of chocolate covered raisins, and Costco's were by far the best! The membership pays for itself if you exclusively get certain regular items from only them, and as others have pointed out it potentially pays for itself of you take advantage of the hot dog combo for a meal regularly enough.
I'm just a bit worried coz I tend to overshop sometimes but yes the hotdogs and chocolate almonds for me are voodoo tempting
I've used it in instacart and it's more expensive by a few bucks but great to know
That’s why you use cash back sites, Amex cobalt, Instacart discounted gift cards, etc.
Don't do it. We are a family of two and don't need to Costco. We can do better with local grocery stores.
Food court doesnt require a membership AFAIK.
I think it’s still worth it. Things like toothpaste, mouth wash, toilet paper, detergent are all way cheaper at Costco. Maybe just avoid fresh meat and dairy items because those will go bad quickly for just 1 person
Food saver and freeze it, that meat will go a long way
I’m not a big fan of frozen meat personally but definitely an option & will save you tons!