3 Things You Shouldn’t Buy at Costco, Despite the Big Savings

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There’s a reason so many people love shopping at Costco. The store’s bulk discounts and low prices make it easy to save money in the course of stocking your pantry, fridge, and home.Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. And if you use the right credit card at Costco, you can amplify your savings even more. Click here for a list of the best credit cards offering rewards for Costco shoppers.But there are certain items at Costco that shouldn’t have a place in your shopping cart. Here are a few you’re best off avoiding.1. Spices you don’t use oftenCostco carries a number of commonly used and less commonly used spices in bulk. If your local Costco has a great price on a spice you use weekly, then it pays to take advantage. But steer clear of bulk spices you only use on occasion.Believe it or not, spices can go bad over time in the form of losing their oomph. And since the point of spices is, well, to season your food, that kind of defeats the purpose.For example, the online price for Kirkland crushed red pepper is $4.79 for 10 ounces, or about $0.48 per ounce. And you should know that Costco’s in-store prices are commonly lower than its online prices (though they also vary by store and geographic location).Meanwhile, you might pay almost four times that much per ounce at a regular supermarket. Stop and Shop’s price for crushed red pepper in Boston is $2.79 for a 1.5-ounce container. So Costco has the better deal on a per-ounce basis.But if you only use crushed red pepper for the occasional recipe, then you should buy the smaller bottle for $2 less, even if that means paying more per ounce. If you spend $2 more at Costco but throw out three-quarters of the jar, you’re not going to end up coming out ahead.2. Produce you don’t eat almost dailyProduce commonly has a limited shelf life. So while it’s okay to buy produce at Costco that you eat almost every day, you shouldn’t buy fruits or vegetables you only eat a couple of times a week.It’s the same concept as the example above. You might pay less on a per-ounce basis when you buy your produce at Costco. But if you only eat a small serving of kale here and there, you shouldn’t buy a jumbo-sized bag.3. Anything you don’t actually needCostco’s low price points can be very enticing — especially now, given that the store is running a variety of holiday deals. But you should never buy anything at Costco — or any store, for that matter — for the express purpose of getting a deal.For example, right now, Costco is offering $100 off the KitchenAid 6 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer through Dec. 2. That takes the online price from $399.99 to $299.99. So if that’s an item you specifically want, then you should snag it while it’s on sale.But if you rarely bake, why spend $300 on a giant kitchen tool that’s only going to take up space in your cabinet or on your countertop? In that case, you didn’t really save $100 so much as spend $300 kind of needlessly.There are plenty of ways you can take advantage of Costco’s low prices. But be careful when buying spices and produce in bulk. And don’t let the lure of a sale drive you to make purchases at Costco you won’t actually get great value from.Top credit card to use at Costco (and everywhere else!)
We love versatile credit cards that offer huge rewards everywhere, including Costco! This card is a standout among America’s favorite credit cards because it offers perhaps the easiest $200 cash bonus you could ever earn and an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, even when you shop at Costco. Add on the competitive 0% interest period and it’s no wonder we awarded this card Best No Annual Fee Credit Card.
Click here to read our full review for free and apply before the $200 welcome bonus offer ends!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.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money 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.”}]] [[{“value”:”

There’s a reason so many people love shopping at Costco. The store’s bulk discounts and low prices make it easy to save money in the course of stocking your pantry, fridge, and home.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

And if you use the right credit card at Costco, you can amplify your savings even more. Click here for a list of the best credit cards offering rewards for Costco shoppers.

But there are certain items at Costco that shouldn’t have a place in your shopping cart. Here are a few you’re best off avoiding.

1. Spices you don’t use often

Costco carries a number of commonly used and less commonly used spices in bulk. If your local Costco has a great price on a spice you use weekly, then it pays to take advantage. But steer clear of bulk spices you only use on occasion.

Believe it or not, spices can go bad over time in the form of losing their oomph. And since the point of spices is, well, to season your food, that kind of defeats the purpose.

For example, the online price for Kirkland crushed red pepper is $4.79 for 10 ounces, or about $0.48 per ounce. And you should know that Costco’s in-store prices are commonly lower than its online prices (though they also vary by store and geographic location).

Meanwhile, you might pay almost four times that much per ounce at a regular supermarket. Stop and Shop’s price for crushed red pepper in Boston is $2.79 for a 1.5-ounce container. So Costco has the better deal on a per-ounce basis.

But if you only use crushed red pepper for the occasional recipe, then you should buy the smaller bottle for $2 less, even if that means paying more per ounce. If you spend $2 more at Costco but throw out three-quarters of the jar, you’re not going to end up coming out ahead.

2. Produce you don’t eat almost daily

Produce commonly has a limited shelf life. So while it’s okay to buy produce at Costco that you eat almost every day, you shouldn’t buy fruits or vegetables you only eat a couple of times a week.

It’s the same concept as the example above. You might pay less on a per-ounce basis when you buy your produce at Costco. But if you only eat a small serving of kale here and there, you shouldn’t buy a jumbo-sized bag.

3. Anything you don’t actually need

Costco’s low price points can be very enticing — especially now, given that the store is running a variety of holiday deals. But you should never buy anything at Costco — or any store, for that matter — for the express purpose of getting a deal.

For example, right now, Costco is offering $100 off the KitchenAid 6 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer through Dec. 2. That takes the online price from $399.99 to $299.99. So if that’s an item you specifically want, then you should snag it while it’s on sale.

But if you rarely bake, why spend $300 on a giant kitchen tool that’s only going to take up space in your cabinet or on your countertop? In that case, you didn’t really save $100 so much as spend $300 kind of needlessly.

There are plenty of ways you can take advantage of Costco’s low prices. But be careful when buying spices and produce in bulk. And don’t let the lure of a sale drive you to make purchases at Costco you won’t actually get great value from.

Top credit card to use at Costco (and everywhere else!)

We love versatile credit cards that offer huge rewards everywhere, including Costco! This card is a standout among America’s favorite credit cards because it offers perhaps the easiest $200 cash bonus you could ever earn and an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, even when you shop at Costco.

Add on the competitive 0% interest period and it’s no wonder we awarded this card Best No Annual Fee Credit Card.

Click here to read our full review for free and apply before the $200 welcome bonus offer ends!

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.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money 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.

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