Oh I wish this experiment was over already. There. I said it. Shopping exclusively at Costco for groceries {with one little hiccup} is really beginning to be a drag. And it’s killing my budget. BIG TIME.
3.75 pounds of baking powder? How long is it going to take me to go through it all? If ever.
1 dozen bagels for $5.49? I can get basically the same thing at the bakery outlet for $1-2. More of those stupid poppyseed muffins? I’m over it{okay, the kids wanted those, but still}.
Yes there is variety, yes, there are some items Costco sells that are fantastic deals, {furniture, clothing, electronics and the occasional food items} but after a while the free samples and their little game of let’s hide/move around the grocery items so the consumer will wander all over the store looking for them and BUY MORE gets a little tiring.
I never thought I’d say this in a million years… but I miss stopping by the grocery store for ONE ITEM in a REGULAR SIZE package. I miss buying particular items in bulk and being able to CHOOSE how much of a particular item I want/really need. 
I’m no quitter… but shopping exclusively at Costco for our groceries… it’s killing me. I like to do my own thing, make my own choices, buy pantry items WHEN THEY ARE ACTUALLY ON SALE and a good deal for our family.
The excitement of buying ready made food wore off a long time ago and though I know I am saving time and have gained a few hours by sticking to just one store, I am on pace to to spend an average of $175 a month on groceries for this year.
Gaaaa. What do you think I should I do?
~Mavis
Total Spent This Week $51.10
Total Spent Year to Date $1229.25
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Kim says
I think you should quit Costco shopping. Why stick it out for the year? The waste of money and bypassing specials is killing me . . . . . . and it isn’t even my money! None of your readers will think any less of you. Quit Costco is my vote!
Teckla says
I agree with Kim and all of the others. It’s time to quit. You’ve given it 6 months and you’ve already proved that for every aspect that makes it worth it, there are two that say it’s not working for your family, and many other families as well. Why would you want to go on spending extra money and buying huge quantities of food that will take forever to use up when you have already proved a point. I say, again, we need to have balance in our lives and do what works best for our personal situation. There is more shame in not changing course than in changing something that doesn’t work. Liberate your self! I think you will find the majority of your readers will support you!
Preppy Pink Crocodile says
I agree- stop the all Costco game. Point made. No need to suffer for our sake. Life is all about adapting. If it’s not working out, adapt, and move on to something else. If you are really set on this one store only experiment, why not switch to a totally different kind of store like Aldi or a big box store that sells groceries? Switch it up. Your blog, your rules. Actually, I think I’d find the comparison interesting. Or stick to one grocery store but limit yourself to only once a week? You can take this general experiment in a lot of directions that don’t include forcing yourself to buy a lifetime supply of baking soda each week.
KK @ Preppy Pink Crocodile
Preppy Pink Crocodile says
Or does your area have a food co-op? Gosh you must in Seattle. YOu probably have dozens. If you really want to do one store, I think it would be really cool to compare three or six months exclusively at a co-op.
Just an idea.
Also…I would not think any different of you if you decided to start grocery shopping, without coupons, every damn day. Seriously…you have to do what’s best for you and your family. You do you, as the saying goes. If it does or doesn’t invlove Costco or a coupon, no one will think differently of you. Promise.
KK @ Preppy Pink Crocodile
Katelyn says
I think you should stop. I think it would actually be interesting to do a comparison for the rest of this year – you’ve averaged $175 for the first 6 months shopping only at Costco, so how would you do the second 6 months shopping exclusively at the grocery store, no more Costco at all?
Kris from NH says
^^^ THIS ^^^
I’d love to see a comparison during the same fiscal year
Debbie says
That is a great idea and something I would love to see as well. 🙂
Kayla says
I really like this idea! This would be something interesting to compare.
Heidi P says
I like this idea a lot!
Tracie H says
I agree! What a great idea!
Shirley says
i agree with Kim. I say stop and adjust your experiment to a six month time period.
Mary Ann says
Mavis — you’ve gone over 6 months with this experiment and you’ve proven it’s failing for you, so just stop! Go back to shopping the way you want to, you don’t have to continue this just because you said you would do it for the whole year.
Honestly, I tried doing the bulk of my grocery shopping at Costco for the last 4-5 months and discovered the same thing — I was spending more than I would have been at the regular grocery store because of having to buy everything in such large sizes. I also discovered that our family simply can’t use those larger sizes up before they spoil, so not only is it NOT saving us money, it’s adding to the food waste problem in America!!!!! NOT good at all.
I’ve gone back to picking up some things at Costco because we like them and others at the grocery store (and most meat through Zaycon) and things are working out much better for us.
Give yourself a break and do what’s right for YOUR family!
Diana says
Experiment over. We’re talking about wasting a lot of money vs spending a little more time. And that time spent will get you variety, a change of scene and lots more interesting stuff. I like getting what I want when I want it as well. This isn’t the same as the 30 day challenge. You’re working on a full year of experimenting. Experiments of every kind end early when the results start to be disadvantageous (or dangerous, lol). I say you have the results early of this little experiment and call it a day..
Leanna says
Use your Amazon credit to get stuff. 🙂
star says
Stop. I didn’t say quit. You are not a quitter, that’s for sure. You shopped there for 7 months and have found out you are not saving the money you hoped. So stop! We won’t think any less of you!
Carla says
I think you should declare that for your family no you can’t save money and no additional time is needed to arrive at this conclusion and start buying things the wsy you want to.
AshleyAshley says
If you’re really unhappy change!
I think your grocery budget is reasonable thus far. But you might want to factor in the amount of money and time that goes in to your garden that helps supplement what others often purchase for a more accurate dollar amount.
Jennifer Jo says
I never could get on board with all-or-nothing stuff. I like my freedom.
Laine says
Quit already, it was an experiment, you did it for long enough to figure out it wasn’t working so just move on. No harm, no foul.
Polly says
Imagine that a loved one made a similar commitment. “I’m going to eat Paleo for a year.” “I’m going to get up before dawn every day this year, and run for an hour.” “I’m not going to date for a year, so that I can focus on my studies.” And you noticed that your loved ones were constipated, dead tired, and lonely/bored. They regretted their one-year commitments, but they stubbornly refused to budge, because they thought it showed character, as they became less and less happy. What would YOU recommend?
Leslie says
Not that anyone asked, but going pale (for the last three years) is one of the best things I ever did for my health. Just saying 🙂
Leslie says
Sweet typo… “paleo.” heheh
Rosaleen says
We belong to a different local “big box” store. When we bought our membership, the plan was to use it as we choose, not to shop there exclusively. This wholesale store has better-than–grocery store prices on eggs, milk, heads of iceberg lettuce, bread, and gasoline. We buy those there. Now that our kids have moved out, there are few of the large sizes that we can still use, so we avoid most of them. Big box stores should be used as a tool to get what you need, not be our masters. Only shop there for what works for you.
Melissa says
We are a family of 10, so our monthly grocery budget is much larger than yours (oh what I would give to pay only $175/ month!). I’ve been tracking my grocery receipts for almost 2 years now. Even though we are spending a couple of hundred dollars less per month than the USDA “thrifty” plan for a family of our size and composition, our grocery bill is our second largest bill, outside of our mortgage. And I’m working the deals. Price matching at Walmart, couponing, buying in bulk at Costco and Winco. It takes a lot of time and effort on my part to keep our family in food. I do enjoy the challenge, though. All that to say, sometimes your time is worth more than your money. As a fellow thrifty person, I feel your pain in only shopping at Costco, Mavis. But I think you’ve done a great job! So cut yourself some slack and talk over with the HH how you’d like to proceed from here.
Melissa says
P.S.–It only takes our family a few months to go through the Costco container of baking powder 🙂
Butterflyweed says
Yeah, throw in the towel on this one. It really won’t work for you when both kids sail off to college in the next couple of months. We all know how determined you are to stick to things. (Hello, a month on the emergency kit?!?!) Sometimes we all have to admit that something that looked good on paper just isn’t working out for us. No shame in that.
Mavis Butterfield says
You are a rebel at heart. And you belly dance.
Lana says
Ditch Costco! My daughter started out the year to do the same and she ditched them months ago for the same reasons. That business of moving merchandise around of why I stick with Sam’s and only shop there when I want to which is not real often. Hubby’s employer pays our membership so no guilt there.
Tina B says
I’m with the “you’ve done a great job, but it’s not working as you had hoped, so it’s okay to give it up” crowd. At least you weren’t spending like this at Costco! http://www.cheapism.com/blog/3702/costco-groceries
Tina
Tammy says
I would be totally interested to see how the remainder of the year would go, if you started shopping at grocery stores again.
janet says
You tried and at 6 months it isn’t saving you money, so stop. That’s not quitting it is stopping the study based on results.
cassy says
I vote for stopping. I don’t think this experiment is going very well… if you’ve proven something beyond a doubt, no point in pushing through any longer. 🙂
cathy harrell says
I’d make myself happy:)
Kim says
Costco works for me as I buy the bulk items yearly then supplement with specials from other stores, I save over $8000 per year shopping this way I’m on my fifth year
Jannette says
That’s what I was thinking too! Start the year out with and elaborate pantry stock-up/stockpile then add from garden in season and grocery shopping thru the year.
In my opinion, this would work. I live in an apartment and cannot store much, but my mom did this.
Aaltje says
Cut your losses and stop going to Costco. Keeping on doing the same thing and expecting different results is one of the definitions of insanity! lol Seriously, you have given it a good shot and it does not seem to be working for you. There is more than one way to do something and the one you select should work for the way you shop. Similar to genealogy and different filing systems – choose the one that works for the way you think – otherwise you will end up not using the system and are back again to pile of documents, etc. and can’t find anything. JMO Glad you are on the mend, being sick is no fun.
OneFamily says
Oh gosh – nothing wrong with stopping and changing course! You gave it a great effort and that’s all anyone can expect.
Carrie says
Ha I was super excited to find the baking powder! I’m surprised you don’t go through more with all your baking
Precious says
I think you should do what you need to do for yourself, your family and your budget. This experiment is obviously not working for you. The stress isn’t worth it! Shop the deals no matter what store they take you to. I will not judge you nor should anyone else.
Kristianna says
Quit torturing yourself! 🙂 If you want a years worth of data just base it on 6 months rather than a full year.
You need to feel happy about what you’re doing. I don’t see you being happy. LOL!
kristianna in nh
Joy says
Quit! Your one-year time limit was arbitrary, and half a year of data is enough! Even medical trials are halted early when there’s clear evidence of harmful outcome. Enough!
Ellen C. says
Agree with all the votes for quitting this particular experiment – you have already determined it costs you more to shop at Costco. I love Katelyn’s idea of using the rest of your allotted experiment time to conduct a comparison by shopping how you normally would.
I have a Costco membership but have not made many shopping trips because I feel so overwhelmed when I am there. Too much stuff! Too many people! The older I get the less I can tolerate large places with crowds. And I agree with your comments – especially about moving things around. And I am especially aggrieved when a favorite item is deleted from inventory forever. It has happened too many times.
Michelle Wright says
I think you have proven what you set out to prove so I would say stop. Point made.
So you can free yourself and get back to what you like and do it your way! It’s not quitting if you’ve solved the question and you most certainty have!
Marcia says
It appears that you are a bit excessive and don’t know when to stop. Like the food storage.
First of all, you made it 6 months, 6 months!! I think that’s a good amount. How about you wrap it up? You can write up a summary of your experience, and then compare it to the NEXT 6 months.
Then at the end of the year, you do a comparison – money, time, convenience, etc etc etc
I love Costco, and they have great deals on many food items. But I admit, I get my veggies at a CSA, and the remainder, I usually get at the 99c store. Which is cheaper than Costco. I admit though, that 90% of the Costco shopping is done by my husband, so he uses a list. And I don’t really trust him to shop the veggies, because he doesn’t know a good price.
Still I am totally impressed with your YTD spending. I know that it is offset some by your Zaycon credits. I’ve spent easily 2x that (and that has been WORK). Also, I had some Zaycon chicken in the freezer and some of a pig I bought with friends. I eat a metric-ton of produce a week though, and don’t garden.
Tracey says
Do what works for you. You tried it. You aren’t liking it. So go back to what works for you:)
bobbi dougherty says
I think you started out to see if it can be done. IF food prices and sales never changed, it probably could but with the competition out there and food prices going up all the time, it only makes sense to get the best buy no matter where it is. 🙂 Does that make any sense? lolol
Amanda says
The question was “Can Shopping at Costco Save You Money?” You’ve pretty definitively answered that, so you can definitely consider the question answered! And if you’re not enjoying it, then why continue?
Lucy says
Quit! We give you permission! : )
Nanci Fitschen says
I also vote for you to quit. As empty nesters you will need less and the money you can save by shopping in grocery stores may give you extra when you go to your vacation home. You have to eat there too. Love your blog Mavis.
Angela D. says
Mavis,
Glad you’re back! I was very interested to read your monthly food budget… As a family of five, we naturally spend a bit more, I would think, but I am currently shopping at only two grocery stores.
Not so long ago, you mentioned your annual gardening budget–$1200 if I remember correctly! Well,
I about fell out of my seat! But then, I realized my own gardening “budget” is only about $50.
You can deduce that I am buying all of our (very poor quality) produce at the grocery stores, and it has been so expensive! I spent a bit more on my gardening budget the past two years, but have harvested only small amounts, sometimes not even enough for a meal. I think I will give up on starting seeds in my home, but purchasing potted vegetables is even more expensive. And will established plants guarantee a decent harvest? I’m also considering purchasing produce at the local farmers market…again: not very economical.
As always, thanks for sharing your experience!
Leslie says
I vote you amend the challenge to Costco VS (one other store, or several other stores/markets) for the remainder of the year.
Like others have said, it’s already shown that Costco might save money for some families, but not for yours.
Candice C says
Stop Marvis. It is the reasonable and prudent thing to do. That would not make you a loser but make you a winner in your readers eyes as well as your family. After all, do you want to the role model to your children that shows stubborness in the face of what is obviously not good for your family. Or, do you want to be wise enough to change course and pull your budget out of this quadmire. You,ve done it for six months so just double it and you will see where you will be in a year. However, stop shopping wisely and you may just be under that budget and a happier person to boot. Now start scanning all those great deals you are missing.Chalk it up as an experiment well done and buy that regular size.
Brandie says
Your game your rules.. so as I see it you can change the rules anytime you want.
Gail Nowakowsky says
Stop already!! Shop at Costco when it makes sense -ie you need bulk items, and go to your regular sources when that makes sense. You’ve found it’s not working – quit flogging a dead horse!! However, I do admire your tenacity !!
Ranee says
I think you’ve done what you set out to do – it just didn’t take a whole year to show it. Doesn’t mean it still wouldn’t work for a much larger family, but as an only shop for most, too expensive and wasteful. I think you can show us how much better you can do when you go back to your regular shopping. You always give us a good representative of everything you do – call this one a success. (accomplished in record time!)
Laurie says
It’s time to hang it up! You can shop loss leaders and local stores, add your Zaycon meat and goodness from your garden would be a win in my book
Kathy says
I was recently unexpectedly diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. Although I feel good now, I could become too till to go shopping or other things that I enjoy doing soon. My personal opinion is that life is too short for these stupid experiments that you do that sound good starting out but turn out to be something that is not giving you joy in your life. Quit it and go shopping anywhere you want to. You don’t know when you may not be able to make that choice and I doubt you will be laying on your deathbed happy that you didn’t stop shopping at Costco even though you weren’t enjoying it!
Susan says
Kathy,
So sorry that you have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
As someone who is getting older, I realize life really is too short not to enjoy each moment.
Heidi P says
Very wise words of advice. Sorry for your diagnosis. Hopefully you will feel well for longer then expected.
Mavis Butterfield says
Kathy, I am very sorry to hear about your diagnoses and am wishing you all the best and like Heidi commented, I hope you feel well for longer than expected. You are right, life is too short to enjoy the things that bring us happiness. Thank you for spending a part of your day with me and the rest of us here at One Hundred Dollars a Month.
Kari says
I think Kathy’s comment sums it all up. Enjoy life to the fullest! If it doesn’t bring you happiness, ditch it.
Kathy, I wish you health and happiness. Thank you for your words of advice. Sometimes I need a reality check!
Laura says
Praying for you Kathy and sending you blessings and strength. Hoping that you find lots of joy in your life and are able to hold your loved ones close. Thank you for sharing your perspective. It is spot on and one we too often tend to forget!
Thank you!
Shari says
Mavis, I adore Costco, but even I don’t shop there exclusively. I pay more at Costco than I would at the grocery for their meats, but I have found their fresh and frozen seafood, beef and pork products to be superior. Chicken, on the other hand, is still a grocery item for me when I can find it on sale. And some things are just a better deal at the grocery when I can combine a sale and a coupon. Costco fruits and veggies I have found stay fresh longer even considering it takes longer to go through the larger quantities. I buy most of my eggs, cheese and dairy there too. I can’t speak to prepackaged foods since I rarely use them anyway, but their deli prepared meals are super yummy when you don’t have time to put a meal together and you can’t beat the prices on their roasted chickens and ready-to-bake pizzas! The Kirkland brands have never failed me. Their prices and extended warranty on electronics are outstanding. I could go on and on… At the end of the day, Costco suits our lifestyle. If it doesn’t suit yours, however, I think you should not feel like you need to stick to your resolution to shop there exclusively.
Sherle says
Why don’t you stop shopping exclusively at Costco and then track your spending for the remaining months of the year and compare them against each other. This way the experiment continues but with a twist. Oh yeah, you might have to avoid Costco for the remainder of the year, just to make the point.
Amelia V. says
I read treehugger.com’s article: “Change your shopping habits to reduce food waste,” by Katherine Martinko just the other day. It said that shopping at big box stores, like Costco, could end up costing you money because of the waste from excess food. I saw the article one hour after throwing away produce that had gone bad. While I was doing so, I was thinking that I should shop more often and buy only what I could use in the next few days.
When I had children at home, I shopped every other week with supplemental produce and milk runs. I know I actually spent less per person then than I have been lately. The reason was that there was very little waste then.
Wendi says
I think you have answered your own question. Draw a formal conclusion and move on. I’d love to see what you could do with shopping Aldi if you have them out there. I LOVE Aldi.
Lilypad says
I concur with the other votes for ending the Costco experiment. I only go there once every 3 months or so, for very specific things like 10 pounds of organic sugar. My membership ran out in April and we just renewed it a week ago because we finally had a need to go again. This time, they had “helpers” at the check-out area who were doing the hard sell on their executive membership. (I think that’s around $110/year instead of $55/year for the basic one, and you get cash back.) I told the guy there are only three of us in the family and we don’t go there that often, so don’t need an upgraded membership. He would not take “no” for an answer and at first it was funny and then it was downright insulting because he told another helper there that I didn’t want it because I just didn’t understand it and how it would save me money. So offensive! If it had been my first trip to Costco, I might have never gone back.
Laura says
Just so you know, you pay the $110 and, if your rebate check is less than that, they will refund the difference between the regular membership and the executive. In the meantime though, you get higher percentage rebates on purchases. So, it really is a no-lose proposition. Maybe that is what he was trying (and failed at) to get across.
I have gotten cash back for each of the last three years and I love it! Not sure what I will do when the drop AMEX because I love those rebate checks too. Sigh.
Stacey says
You wouldn’t be quitting to stop the experiment early. It was simply a more efficient method than you anticipated of finding out that it doesn’t save you money to shop at just one store. Now you know, and can go back to what works better without feeling bad about it.
Ashley O says
In my opinion since you already have the “results” of the experiment so there is no need to continue :-).
Walk – no RUN to the nearest grocery store!!
Mavis says
I’d be hard pressed to garner up the energy to even shuffle to the store at this point. Ha. But you are right. The results are in.
Pam says
I skimmed the comments and couldn’t find anyone who thinks you should keep going! Perhaps this will be the year of the lesson regarding arbitrary time length goals 😉
Mavis says
You have a point. Everyone seems to agree. Hmmm…
l bryant says
Quit the decision to only shop Costco. I would go back to the grocery store and compare the costs for the remaining part of the year to the costs associated with Costco. If your spending has been about the same at Costco monthly then you have adequate information to compare to the traditional grocery store. Good LUCK. I think your efforts will be rewarded in the long run.
Barbara says
Please stop, you are such an inspiration to so many. I agree with the others, continue on through the rest of the year comparison shopping at the grocery store! Follow Jane Austen through Mr. Darcy’s advice!!! Thanks for all the time you give to your site!!!! Love,love,love, it!!!!!
Jannette says
Got three words for you, Mavis. Elsa says it best…
http://media.giphy.com/media/igR5863TALcSk/giphy.gif