How To Shop Smart At Costco
(Photo: iStock)
This past month, in honour of my birthday, Team Chatelaine went to the happiest place on Earth. No, not Disneyland, but Costco Warehouse, where bulk items meet low prices and the hot dogs are never more than $1.50. It was a blast.
I have a fondness for the wholesaler that spans decades. As a kid, I’d wake up bright and early once a month on a Saturday morning to do a Costco run with my mom, where we’d wait with throngs of other shoppers for the doors to open. Then we’d zip through the aisles, packing up our cart with deals on comically large amounts of basically anything you can think of—food, clothes, housewares, cleaning products. I didn’t become a Costco member myself until earlier this year, when I had my own child, and it was only then that I really understood the appeal. You mean I can buy toilet paper at a massive discount in a massive quantity, so that I save money and only have to buy one pack every two months? I’m sold.
Last week’s Costco trip also converted the non-members on Team Chats. But if you are not yet a parishioner at the Church of Costco, read on to learn more about the best ways to shop the retail giant.
Get there as early as possible
My mom was onto something when she’d yank me out of bed before nine if we had a Costco trip planned. If you’re there when the doors open, there are far less crowds of shoppers gazing into the myriad LED screens lining the entertainment section of the warehouse, blissfully unaware that their massive carts are entirely blocking the entrance to the store. The earlier you’re in, the earlier you’re out, too—and that means avoiding the typical mid-day cash-out lineups that snake through the warehouse floor. (Wednesday nights, I’m told, are usually the quietest.) And, if you can, try not to go at lunch—unless you’re there for your cheap hot dog. (Pro tip: The poutine is also stellar.)
Bring a list
…unless you have time to kill. Because, let’s face it: You could spend an entire day in Costco if you perused every single aisle. Even if you have a list, you will inevitably find yourself staring at a human-sized Lindt advent calendar, wondering how you wound up here and if it’s reasonable to spend $250 on 24 days’ worth of holiday chocolate.
Bring a cart, too
Unless you’re planning on buying a few cases of Diet Coke, skip the monster truck-esque carts that’ll slow you down and bring your own to zoom through the warehouse with the least amount of friction. Or, if you’re only buying a handful of items (from that handy list of yours!), just carry a tote bag to stow them.
Learn the Costco cheat codes
How a product is priced at Costco will tell you a lot about it—a tidbit SJC Vice-President of Content (and fellow Costco lover) Kyle Joe shared with me: any price ending in .97 is marked down, anything marked with an asterisk is priced to clear and will not return to the store, and anything highlighted is a temporary sale.
Related: The Ontario-Grown Lettuce We Love Is Now At Costco
Consult the Costco Apostles
The great thing about the internet is that for nearly everything, someone has probably already done the work for you. In the case of Costco, there are so many forums as well as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok accounts that seek out the best deals the wholesaler has to offer and send them right to your social feeds. Two great sources to get started: The Costco Canada Weekly Secret Sales Facebook page shares new deals every Monday and Friday for shoppers in Ontario, Quebec, B.C. and Saskatchewan, while @CostcoFindsCanada on TikTok highlights new products available across the country.
Shop Canada
While the wholesale retailer is an American company, Costco’s Canadian locations sell plenty of homegrown products. Costco house brand Kirkland’s maple syrup, honey, lasagna and even some cheeses are made in Canada, while other Canadian brands like MadeGood and Oikos are available at steep discounts.
Team Chatelaine’s Costco Must-Buys
Here are a few items Chatelaine editors always snag during a Costco run.
Gift cards
Most Costco stores feature a wall of gift cards to use for various fast-food franchises and restaurants, gaming subscriptions and even airlines. These cards are almost always discounted, so they cost less than their face value. The best deal I’ve personally seen? $450 for a $500 Porter Airlines gift card.
Cheese
Hosting a party for the holidays? Save a bundle on your charcuterie board and buy your cheese at Costco. Creative director Sun Ngo recently snagged a couple of wedges of espresso cheese on our birthday Costco jaunt, while deputy editor Chantal loves buying mozzarella and parmigiano in bulk when she makes and freezes lasagna.
Related: Found At Costco: Our Favourite Period Underwear
Beauty
When senior beauty editor Andréanne Dion visited Costco for the first time earlier in this year, she couldn’t believe how good the beauty aisle was.“I found a pack of 24 (!!!) of the TikTok-viral Biodance hydrogel masks, a jumbo jar of my favourite Cerave and I’ve been told you can even find ultra-luxe Aesop hand wash at a very, very good price,” she writes. “As tempting as it may be to buy it all, take stock of what you really need—and what you can conceivably use within a few months. Beauty products—especially once open—have expiry dates.”
Snacks
My favourite aisles at Costco are the snack aisles, usually located right beside the cash. If you’re packing school lunches, there is an abundance of lunchbox-sized snacks available in bulk. If you have a sweet tooth like me, there are supremely well-priced gummy candies on offer (my deskmate Andréanne and I have been slowly working through a $10 bag at the office). Or if you’re a gym rat, there are more protein products available than you could imagine. Our editor-in-chief Maureen loves RXBars, which are highly discounted from their usual price at $24 for 10 bars.
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