How to Costco

Breaking down the art of the warehouse + sharing our weekly staples

Costco is a religious experience in our house. It’s our Friday ritual. Every week, almost without fail, the three of us are in the car around 10am headed to stock up.

It started when we were deep in the throes of newborn life. Bennett was maybe a week old, we had probably 4 hours of sleep collectively, and we were desperate for groceries. My angel of a mother told us to run to Costco while she watched B. We were GIDDY. As giddy as sleep-deprived humans who had no clue what they were doing could possibly be.

We got out of the house, just the two of us, and it felt like a deep breath. It sounds ridiculous, but it was this little reminder that we were the same two humans we were before this baby. We go to Costco, we love each other, we depend on each other—even when we’re scared and exhausted.

Even once we were sleeping through the night, it stayed an outing. It checked something off the to-do list but also brought us joy (what baked good will we try to resist but then inevitably double back for?). I genuinely looked forward to it every week. As two very anxious new parents, we didn’t get out of the house a whole lot. But Costco became our little tradition —our weekly way of stretching our fresh little new-parent wings.

Is this actually just a love letter to Costco? I’m so sorry.

MY POINT IS we’ve spent a lot of time wandering the aisles, and we’ve found some ride-or-die meals, snacks, and treats. We’re definitely making healthier choices now than we were in those first few months of parenthood (read: we are not leaving with donuts every trip), and Costco makes it easy to do that on a budget.

Now listen. If you’re one of those, “I don’t have a big family, I don’t need a Costco membership” people—come closer. And if you’re one of those, “I just don’t have space for all that backstock” people—come even closer.

COSTCO IS STILL WORTH IT. Let’s talk.

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How to Costco for Two (or One!)

We didn’t start our weekly visits until Bennett came along, but we’ve been Costco members since way before then. And I’m here to tell you: you don’t need a big family to make it worth it. If it’s just you —or you and your partner— you can still totally Costco in a way that saves money and doesn't end with a fridge full of expired spinach.

Here’s how:

• Focus on the forever stuff. Think beyond groceries. Costco is gold for all the household things that don’t go bad: paper goods, trash bags, laundry detergent, dish soap, batteries. Stock up on the stuff you never want to run out of and always forget you need until you do.

• Buy snacks and drinks that won’t expire tomorrow. Granola bars, trail mix, sparkling water, coffee, peanut butter—easy wins. We always had a stash of grab-and-go snacks for work lunches or road trips, and they never went to waste.

• Check out the Alcohol. This won’t apply to everyone, but Costco’s wine selection is solid. The boxed cab? Stellar for a “weeknight wine”...and for $18.

• Make friends with your freezer. The freezer is where Costco shines. Meat is so much cheaper here, and you don’t have to use it all at once. Grab the big pack of chicken, and stash it away. That’s the move.

• Be intentional with fresh stuff. If you’re only cooking for one or two, it’s easy to get carried away and then feel guilty when produce goes bad. Ask yourself: Will I actually eat this many apples in a week? Meal planning helps here. Go in with a list that ties ingredients to actual meals so you’re way more likely to use everything up.

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How to Costco with a Small Space.

Living in a small space doesn’t have to mean skipping Costco. We had a membership while we were living in our tiny Chicago condo with maybe one cabinet to spare and a makeshift pantry. It just required a little strategy and self-control.

Here’s how we made it doable:

• Be selective. Stick to non-perishables and long shelf-life items. Choose things you KNOW you’ll use up. Even if you walk out with just six items—if those six things cost you less than they would elsewhere, it’s still a win.

• Prioritize compact items. You don’t have to grab the 30-roll toilet paper if you don’t have space for it. But laundry detergent? It barely takes up any more space than a normal bottle. Same with vitamins, toothpaste, trash bags, batteries—high savings, minimal space taken.

• Skip the “Costco impulse”. You know her. You go in for paper towels and walk out with a kayak, a sweater, and a 48-pack of trail mix you didn’t even really want. When you’re working with limited space, the key is knowing exactly what fits in your space before you go, and sticking to those things. Also, don’t go to Costco hungry. Rookie mistake.

• Think about what you really use. Only you know what items you go through, and what is worth the space. Be honest with yourself and think about what actually makes sense. If you drink at least a sparkling water a day (hi 🙋🏻‍♀️), you know that case won’t sit around forever.

• Split it up. If you’ve got a friend or neighbor who’s also team Small Household, consider doing a monthly Costco run together. Split that three-pack of salsa or those giant blocks of cheese. You still get the value without the commitment to a gallon of anything.

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Our Costco Staples

Now that we’ve talked the how, let's talk the what. Here’s what our family of three grabs regularly, broken down by category:

Home Essentials

• Kirkland Batteries.

• Feit Light Bulbs. (These are awesome because you can adjust the warmth on each individual bulb to fit your vibe.)

• Ecos Laundry Detergent.

• Hide-Free Chicken Dog Bones.

• Kirkland Diapers. (These have always been our favorite diapers.)

• Kirkland Diaper Wipes. (Ditto. They’re unscented, huge, and they don’t dry out.)

• Kirkland Trash Bags.

• Kirkland Dishwasher Pods

• Kirkland Paper towels. (I think the Kirkland brand is just as good as Bounty)

• Toilet paper. (Now here, I’m a snob. Charmin or bust.)

• Softsoap Hand Soap

• Scotch-Brite Sponges

• Scrub Daddy Sponges

Meats & Produce

• Chicken Breast

• Ground Beef

• Blueberries

• Strawberries

• Snack Cucumbers (My obsessive afternoon snack as of late has been a few of these sliced in a bowl with a splash of vinegar, salt, and Trader Joe’s ranch seasoning.)

• Pears

• Bananas

• Taylor Farms Salad Kits (The Sweet Kale is my favorite, but every one we’ve tried has been great. Add some chicken to it, you’ve got a full meal.)

  

Ready-to-Eat Foods

• Del Real Foods Carnitas (These are UNREAL. Holy grail Costco find for sure. We heat up on the stove and make tacos or bowls.)

• Amylu Chicken Meatballs (I air fry these for a quick lunch or pair with a veg for dinner.)

• Amylu Chicken Sausages (I use this for everything. Sheet pan dinners, adding to pasta or soups. I will always have a pack of these in the freezer.)

• Amylu Chicken Burgers (Great on the grill.)

• Any of the Kevin’s dinners

• Sukhi’s Chicken Tikka Masala (Over rice, pair with na’an, done.)

• Cheese Tortellini

  

Alcohol & Other Beverages

• Beer

• Boxed Cabernet Sauvignon (We’ve established. It’s surprisingly great.)

• Wine

• Coffee

• Organic Almond Milk

• Organic Oat Milk

• Kirkland Sparkling Water (I don’t mean to brag, but I’m sort of a sparkling water aficionado. I actually prefer these over La Croix.)

• Spindrift / Waterloo (I grab whatever flavors look better.)
  

Other Refrigerated Items

• Bitchin’ Sauce (This is another GOAT. Drizzle on tacos, dip your veggies, make a salad dressing. This stuff is so good.)

• Grillo’s Pickles (IYKYK.)

• Roasted Pine Nut Hummus

• Once Upon a Farm Pouches (These are an entire food group for Bennett.)

• Babybel

Frozen

• Premier Protein Pancakes (My friend Lindsey put me on these. I haven’t seen them in a few weeks so I’m terrified they aren’t coming back. But if you see them, they’re amazing. I drizzle some PBFit on top and add ¼ cup of frozen berries right on top. YUM.)

• Veggies Made Great Muffins (These make a great breakfast for Bennett.)

• Kirkland Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Chunks (Such an easy source of protein for lunches. I add these on top of salads a lot.)

• Chipotle Black Bean Burgers (These have been a staple for years. They’re such an easy dinner, add a bun and pair with sweet potato fries.)

• Mixed Berries

• Organic Mixed Veggies

Pantry & Dry Goods

• Ritka’s Organic Cilantro & Lime Rice (Microwave rice, say less. Perfect for our weekly taco nights.)

• Salt, Pepper, and other seasonings

• Ketchup & mustard

• Honey

• Maple Syrup

• Purely Elizabeth granola

• Rao’s (The best pasta sauce without question.)

• Banza Pasta

• Organic Olive Oil

• Organic Avocado Oil spray

• Vinegar

• Cholula Hot Sauce

• PBFit (Powdered peanut butter, it’s a great add to smoothies and makes a super great drizzle over fruit.)

• Goodles Mac and Cheese (Best boxed mac I’ve ever had. Bennett goes absolutely feral over this. He is the MOST picky eater, but this is a win every single time.)

Snacks

• Heavenly Hunks

• Chomps

• Perfect Bars

• Skinny Dipped Cups

• Nuts

• Keto Snack Mix

• TRUBar

• RXBar

• Gourmet Nut Power Up Trail Mix

• Yogurt Melts (Another thing Bennett goes NUTS for.)

• Kirkland Pouches (These don’t need to be refrigerated, unlike the OUAF ones, so are great for the diaper/out-to-eat bag.)

• Kirkland Apple Sauce

Health & Personal

• Cetaphil Cleanser

• Cetaphil Moisturizer

• Sensodyne Toothpaste

• Floss

• Ibuprofen

• Prenatal Vitamins

• Vitamin D

• Collagen Peptides

• Liquid IV

And that’s our Costco playbook! Whether you’re shopping for a soccer team or just yourself in a shoebox, Costco can totally make budgeting sense—if you go in with a plan, be realistic, and find your tried-and-true favorites.

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