3 Signs You Should Avoid Costco Shopping at All Costs

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Costco is a great warehouse club. You can get amazing deals that help keep more money in your bank account while allowing you to bring home products that have a passionate following. You can also enjoy free samples of tasty treats in the store, or dine on a $1.50 hot-dog-and-soda combo at the food court.But, while there are benefits to a Costco visit, there are certain situations where you absolutely are better off steering clear of the club. Here are three signs you should avoid shopping at Costco at all costs.1. You’re buying wants instead of needsIf you regularly end up with items in your Costco cart that you want but don’t really need, you should probably steer clear of the store.It’s tempting to give into impulse buying — especially when the products you are purchasing seem like a good deal because you’re getting them at a warehouse club. But, even if an item is on sale or priced great, it is not a deal if you don’t really need it. It’s a waste of money.There’s no reason to put yourself in the path of temptation if you find it hard to resist. Especially since the whole point of shopping at Costco is to save you money by scoring bargains with your membership, not to leave you with a huge credit card bill because you just can’t say no to its tasty treats or unique household items.You can avoid a Costco visit by shopping online for the things you really need, using grocery pickup, or simply shopping somewhere else where you aren’t as likely to find tempting products you don’t need.2. You aren’t using up all of the items you’re purchasingCostco provides customers with the chance to save by selling bulk items. But, if you buy something that is too large a portion for you to actually use, you end up wasting a ton of money by throwing a good amount of the product in the trash.If you can’t use an 18-pack of Ritz crackers before they get stale or a 10-pound case of Mahi Mahi before it goes bad, then avoid shopping at Costco and stick to a store with more manageable proportions.3. You’re going into credit card debt to shop thereFinally, if you find yourself with a big credit card balance because of your Costco shopping, you should stop going to the store cold turkey. With the average credit card interest rate at 20.68% as of July 10, 2023, carrying a balance on your credit cards is really expensive. The added interest you pay will negate any savings you get from buying at Costco instead of other stores.Ultimately, if you cannot shop responsibly at Costco by sticking to your budget and using all of the items you buy, then a membership may do you more harm than good. If this is your situation, avoid visiting the warehouse club at all costs and stick to stores where you don’t have as much potential to derail your financial goals.Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until nearly 2025If you’re using the wrong credit or debit card, it could be costing you serious money. Our experts love this top pick, which features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, an insane cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee. In fact, this card is so good that our experts even use it personally. Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. Read our free reviewWe’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Christy Bieber has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 

Costco is a great warehouse club. You can get amazing deals that help keep more money in your bank account while allowing you to bring home products that have a passionate following. You can also enjoy free samples of tasty treats in the store, or dine on a $1.50 hot-dog-and-soda combo at the food court.

But, while there are benefits to a Costco visit, there are certain situations where you absolutely are better off steering clear of the club. Here are three signs you should avoid shopping at Costco at all costs.

1. You’re buying wants instead of needs

If you regularly end up with items in your Costco cart that you want but don’t really need, you should probably steer clear of the store.

It’s tempting to give into impulse buying — especially when the products you are purchasing seem like a good deal because you’re getting them at a warehouse club. But, even if an item is on sale or priced great, it is not a deal if you don’t really need it. It’s a waste of money.

There’s no reason to put yourself in the path of temptation if you find it hard to resist. Especially since the whole point of shopping at Costco is to save you money by scoring bargains with your membership, not to leave you with a huge credit card bill because you just can’t say no to its tasty treats or unique household items.

You can avoid a Costco visit by shopping online for the things you really need, using grocery pickup, or simply shopping somewhere else where you aren’t as likely to find tempting products you don’t need.

2. You aren’t using up all of the items you’re purchasing

Costco provides customers with the chance to save by selling bulk items. But, if you buy something that is too large a portion for you to actually use, you end up wasting a ton of money by throwing a good amount of the product in the trash.

If you can’t use an 18-pack of Ritz crackers before they get stale or a 10-pound case of Mahi Mahi before it goes bad, then avoid shopping at Costco and stick to a store with more manageable proportions.

3. You’re going into credit card debt to shop there

Finally, if you find yourself with a big credit card balance because of your Costco shopping, you should stop going to the store cold turkey. With the average credit card interest rate at 20.68% as of July 10, 2023, carrying a balance on your credit cards is really expensive. The added interest you pay will negate any savings you get from buying at Costco instead of other stores.

Ultimately, if you cannot shop responsibly at Costco by sticking to your budget and using all of the items you buy, then a membership may do you more harm than good. If this is your situation, avoid visiting the warehouse club at all costs and stick to stores where you don’t have as much potential to derail your financial goals.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until nearly 2025

If you’re using the wrong credit or debit card, it could be costing you serious money. Our experts love this top pick, which features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, an insane cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee.

In fact, this card is so good that our experts even use it personally. Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

Read our free review

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Christy Bieber has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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