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Costco is a great store — but not for everyone. Read on for signs that it’s not the best place for you to shop.
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For many people, the $60 it costs to join Costco for a year is more than worth the money. That’s because that membership fee can more than pay for itself in the form of savings on groceries and household essentials.
But while a lot of people would agree that Costco is a fabulous store, that doesn’t mean it’s a great place for you to shop. Here are a few reasons you may want to steer clear of Costco — and not spring for a membership.
1. You’ve moved and your new home seriously lacks storage space
Maybe it made sense to maintain your Costco membership when you had a lot of closet space at home. But if you’ve recently downsized and your new home lacks storage in a serious way, then it’s harder to make the case for shopping at Costco.
Sure, you might snag a discount by purchasing your paper towels and household cleaners in bulk. But if you don’t have space in your closets to house those items, and you’re forced to leave them out for guests to see or members of your household to trip over, then it’s not really worth the savings.
2. Your schedule is so busy you rarely cook or eat at home
Buying your groceries at Costco could save you a lot of money — if you actually eat them. But it’s important to be honest with yourself about your cooking habits. If you have a very busy schedule that leaves you with little to no time to cook or prepare meals at home, then you may be better off doing minimal shopping at a regular grocery store and skipping those bulk grocery purchases.
Furthermore, let’s say your career is such that you’re often not home for meals — for example, you’re in sales, and so you’re out dining with clients a few nights a week. That, too, makes Costco a less appealing place to shop.
3. You’re not good at managing your grocery inventory at home
Buying groceries at Costco, as opposed to a regular supermarket, could indeed result in a lower credit card tab. But if you’re someone who struggles to manage their inventory at home, then you may want to steer clear of Costco to avoid ending up with too many of the same items — a habit that could lead to food waste and lost money.
Some people keep a tight inventory of the items they have in their pantry and fridge, whether by maintaining spreadsheets or using apps. But if you know you’re just plain not going to make that effort, then you may want to stick to regular grocery stores for buying food. That way, if you wind up purchasing waffles when you already have a box at home, you’ll end up with 16 or 20 waffles in total — not 72.
There are plenty of good reasons to shop at Costco on a regular basis. But if these signs apply to you, it could mean that Costco isn’t your optimal shopping destination at all.
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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.Maurie Backman 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.
