I’m a Costco Superfan With a Family of 4: 13 Things I Only Need To Buy Once a Year
Written by
Laura Beck
Edited by
Levi Leidy
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Katie B. is a devoted Costco shopper who knows how to stretch a dollar. With two growing kids and a husband, she’s always on the lookout for smart ways to save. “I used to tag along with my mom to Costco so I could eat all the samples and go through the books,” Katie shared. “But now I’m there on serious business — getting deals.”
Here are 13 things Katie only buys once a year at Costco, and how much she estimates it saves her family.
Kirkland Signature Batteries
Katie makes sure to stock up on AA and AAA batteries during her annual Costco run. “One big pack covers all our remote controls, toys and gadgets for a full year,” she said. “We probably save around $30 this way, and it’s so convenient to always have batteries on hand when we need them.”
Laundry Detergent
“The Kirkland brand is just as good as the expensive stuff, maybe even better,” Katie remarked. “A few big boxes lasts us 12 months easily, even with how much laundry kids generate. We save maybe $40 over buying smaller bottles, and I love that I don’t have to lug heavy detergent home from the store every month.”
Kirkland Signature Trash Bags
Katie swears by these durable bags. “They’re so strong, we actually use fewer of them over the year,” she noted. “I’d say we save about $25 a year on trash bags, and we never have to deal with bag breaks or leaks. These suckers are strong!”
Dishwasher Detergent Pacs
“A few big tubs of these lasts us a whole year, even running the dishwasher pretty regularly,” Katie said. “It’s at least $20 cheaper than buying small boxes all the time, and, at the risk of sounding like a Costco commercial, they clean just as well as the name brands.”
Spices
“We pick up big containers of the spices we use most, like garlic powder and cinnamon,” Katie explained. “It’s way cheaper than small jars, and the quality is excellent. We probably save $40 on spices alone, and it’s nice to never run out in the middle of cooking.”
Printer Ink
Katie buys Costco’s refilled ink cartridges for their home office needs. “They work just as well as brand-name ones in our printer,” she stated. “We save at least $50 a year on ink, which really adds up over time.”
Vitamins
“The Kirkland vitamins are a great deal and just as good as the expensive brands,” Katie pointed out. “Buying a year’s supply saves us about $60 compared to drugstore brands. I’m always worried my kids aren’t getting the proper nutrients, so I kind of go wild in this aisle.”
Paper Towels
Katie grabs the Kirkland Signature create-a-size rolls. “One pack lasts us all year, which is pretty impressive with messy kids,” she said. “Although, to be fair, we really try to not use a lot of paper towels, so this one is more of a challenge to the whole family to be more environmentally conscious.”
Kirkland Signature Plastic Wrap and Aluminum Foil
“These last forever and work so well,” Katie said. “We save probably $20 a year compared to buying the small rolls, and it’s nice to never run out when you’re trying to wrap up leftovers.”
Kirkland Signature Fabric Softener Sheets
“A single box lasts us the entire year,” Katie shared. “They work great, and we save about $15 compared to buying name brands. It’s not a huge amount, but every bit helps.”
Kirkland Signature Coffee
“My husband and I aren’t big coffee drinkers, so we can’t go through more than one of the big containers in a year,” Katie said. “It tastes great and saves us at least $40 compared to buying smaller bags of premium coffee.”
Kirkland Signature Honey
“The big jug of honey lasts us all year, even with how much we use in tea and baking,” she said. “It’s pure and tastes great. We save about $25 compared to buying smaller bottles.”
Kirkland Signature Mixed Nuts
“These are my husband’s favorite snack,” Katie shared. “The big container lasts almost the whole year — well, a little less, but still! — and we save about $30 compared to buying smaller packs of name-brand nuts.
“All in all, I’d estimate we save at least $500 a year just on these items,” Katie said. “That’s why I’m such a Costco superfan. My mom would be proud!”
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