Condiments Such As Mayo, Mustard, And Ketchup
Yes, common condiments such as mayo, mustard, and ketchup are all known to be shelf-stable. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t slowly going bad. A regular-sized bottle or even a family one gives you enough product to use up before it spoils. This is why experts will recommend purchasing your condiments from the grocery store instead of Costco.
The business-sized packs from the superstore are way more than the average family needs, even if you do use the condiments every single day. Ketchup loses much of its taste and color after the five-month mark, so do think twice about this investment.
Care Products Also Have An Expiration Date
Stocking up on various self-care items such as shampoos and lotions because they were on sale? Well, do think twice about doing so. The thing with these is that they begin to oxidize the moment you open them. Some people think that separating them in refillable bottles helps, but this isn’t the case. The contents are still going to go bad, once air hits the formula.
This is why buying a six-pack toothpaste is a good investment—you won’t open them all at the same time, so the product is preserved. So you should think twice before purchasing giant bottles of these products.
Only Buy What You Have Room For
Impulse buys are all too common when it comes to bulk stores like Costco. People get easily tempted by sales, purchasing items that they don’t really need or don’t have room for at home. Such is the case when it comes to paper towels or even water. Unless there’s a major emergency or you have a huge household, a cart-full of these items seems a bit much.
The general rule of thumb is to only purchase what you need. Unless you really need bottled water, why not opt for a Brita or a filter instead? These are great investments, financially and environmentally.
Laundry Detergent Loses Is Potency
Are you one of those people who thought laundry detergent can be kept for a year or more? Well, this might surprise you that its potency only lasts for a few months. It might still bubble up a bit and retain some of its scents, but a detergent’s cleaning powers are greatly reduced after the six-month mark. The same thing applies to bleach. Once you open them, the product begins to oxidize.
If you’re from a big family and you do laundry multiple times a day, then these bottles are definitely a great investment for you. Smaller households might fare better with retail-sized products, though.
Fresh Produce
There’s already an enormous issue when it comes to food waste, so the most an average household can do is avoid it from happening at home. One way of accomplishing this is by purchasing only what you need, especially when it comes to fresh produce. Whilst there are many tempting offers when it comes to fruits and vegetables in Costco, bulk buying can only result in losses for you.
Unless you live in a big household or plan on hosting a block party, then bulk produce isn’t a sound investment to make. You’ll only end up with a bin full of rotten produce.
Introduce More Variety To Your Canned Goods Stash
You might not realize this but purchasing a good variety of canned goods from your regular grocery store often comes out to the same price as a 10-pack of beans from Costco. The difference is you get more options, instead of settling for 10 cans of the same thing. Unless you’re a total aficionado, you will get tired of beans after a while.
Besides, there are typically daily deals and available coupons that would make grocery store canned goods even cheaper compared to the ones you can get from the bulk store. Always scope places out if you want better food investments.
Flowers At Costco Are Pricier
Little known fact: bouquets at the superstore are actually priced much steeper compared to other places. These can cost $30 or more at Costco but will cost about half of that if you get them from another grocery store. Your local florist might even have a similar arrangement for much less without compromising the quality.
Yes, getting the flowers in the same place you’re buying your groceries at is very convenient—but if you’re looking to lower your credit balance, the $10 to $20 savings you make is more important. Besides, a quick detour for more affordable flowers isn’t all that bad.
Do You Really Need All That Cheese?
No matter how much of a cheese lover you are, you’ll likely start feeling sick trying to finish the 50-gallon bags available at Costco. Even if you have it every single day and with every meal, it’ll expire long before you can finish it all off. Bigger households experience trouble with this as well. The last thing you want is needing to throw away half a bag of spoiled cheese—that’s wasted money and food.
Instead, opt for retail-sized products and simply get more once you have the need for it. Trust us, this is the better choice when it comes to your credit balance.
Five Pounds Of Butter?
The mere thought is already making us dizzy. Even if it’s the holidays and you’re on a baking spree to give out as gifts, five pounds of butter just seems a little bit much. There’s the fact that you likely won’t be able to use it up before expiration and also, where do you plan on keeping it? After all, the butter needs to be inside the fridge to prolong its shelf-life.
Avoid food waste and your money going right into the bin by buying just enough for what you need. Sure, it might cost a bit more but it’s the wiser investment.
Dried Pasta Is Often Cheaper Elsewhere
Sure, buying pasta in bulk will not push you into bankruptcy, but consider the fact that it is much cheaper in other places. Price comparisons between pasta from Costco, Walmart, and Trader Joe’s show that the chain stores often have lower prices for this particular pantry staple. It might mean that you’re making an extra trip, but it is worth the savings you’ll make.
This is especially so if you often stock up on these products. They are great for storing and won’t go bad easily, unlike other food items. Keep this in mind the next time you’re out shopping for your pantry essentials.