9 Costco Items Retirees Should Avoid That Don’t Actually Save You Money

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One of the main benefits of warehouse clubs is that they help you save money by purchasing items in bulk. Over time, those savings can easily offset the cost of membership — but only if you’re a regular customer who makes frequent visits. Consumers are especially drawn to Costco, which ranks as the biggest warehouse club in the country.

At the end of 2023, Costco had more than 870 locations globally – including about 600 stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, according to data from Bluebook, which covers the produce industry. No. 2 Sam’s Club (owned by Walmart) had roughly 600 total locations, while No. 3 BJ’s Wholesale Club had about 240 stores and 170 gas stations.

Because warehouse clubs offer savings when compared with grocery chains and other retailers, they are popular among retirees living on a fixed income. For example, Costco is a great place to shop if you want to save money on everything from maple syrup and Nutella to bath towels, multivitamins and coffee pods. But it’s not always the best place to find a bargain.

Here are nine Costco items retirees should avoid because they don’t always save you money.

Fresh Produce

Fresh fruits and vegetables are a staple of any healthy diet, and they’re especially important for seniors because of the vitamins and fiber they provide. But buying fresh produce in bulk at Costco is risky because of the short shelf life. As the Real Simple website noted, even when fruits and vegetables are properly stored they only stay fresh for a few days. Buying too much of it means you might end up throwing some of it out.

You can save money buying fresh produce in smaller portions elsewhere or buying frozen produce that can last for months.

Bagged Salad Kits

Bagged salad kits are both healthy and convenient – a big plus for retirees who would rather not make salads from scratch. But they’re not always cheaper at Costco, according to food writer Su-Jit Lin. In a recent blog for Eating Well, Lin wrote that super-sized kits at Costco often cost about $7 to $9, which is the same kind of per-serving price you’ll find at many grocery chains. At Costco, however, you could end up wasting food (and money) if you don’t finish the larger salad kits before they go bad.

Toilet Paper

There’s nothing wrong with loading up on toilet paper – it has an infinite shelf life, and buying in bulk is a major convenience for retirees who don’t have the means to visit the store very often. The problem, according to Real Simple, is that Costco-brand TP “isn’t ideal” in terms of qualify. This might cause you to use it up quicker than you want, which ends up costing you more money in the long run.

Raw Chicken

You can usually save money buying meat products such as salmon and stake at Costco, Lin wrote. But raw chicken is “always a pass” for her because you can get it cheaper by the pound at major supermarkets and discount retailers such as Walmart.

Over-the-Counter Medicine

Many seniors depend on over-the-counter medications to deal with various health conditions, so they’re an important budget item. But you could end up wasting money buying larger doses at Costco that eventually go past their expiration date. Real Simple recommends buying smaller doses as needed from your local pharmacy or grocery store.

Cereal

The trick here is to keep an eye out for which grocery stores offer discounts on major cereal brands like General Mills, Kellogg’s and Post. Because these brands are so competitive, they often roll out coupons and other discounts at grocery stores that you won’t find at Costco.

Sandwich Bread

As with cereal, you can usually find better bargains on sandwich bread at grocery chains than you can at Costco. Lin pointed to supermarkets such as Publix and Kroger, which often offer “buy one, get one” specials on premium brands like Pepperidge Farm, Sara Lee, Nature’s Own and Arnold.

Canned Goods

Your money will “go way further” if you buy canned goods from the supermarket, according to Real Simple. That’s because canned goods are among the few items that are generally cheaper at grocery stores than they are at Costco and other warehouse chains.

Milk

Milk is another important grocery item for seniors because of the calcium it provides, but you can save money if you buy it someplace other than Costco. According to Lin, a “quick comparison shows you can actually shave nearly half a dollar on a gallon of milk by getting it elsewhere.” She noted that while a gallon of milk is just less than $4 at Costco, it’s typically $3 or less at Lidl, Aldi or Target.

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