The Big Box Stores

I always used to think that the big box stores (Costco, Sam's Club, etc) were a total waste of money UNLESS you were shopping for a huge family on time constraints.

No huge family here. Well, unless you count the pets... then maybe....

Seriously, for the vast majority of folks, buying at the grocery store is really cheaper, especially when you are combining coupons with the sales.

So I'm still not entirely sure how I got roped into splitting a Costco membership with my brother. I think the cheaper gas hooked me in, and then staring at the giant boxes of stuff, well, I think I had a moment of insanity.

In all fairness, they did give me a booklet of coupons when we signed up that semi-covered the $25 I put into it (free chicken!). And with the few times DH has filled up for gas (my only complaint is that you have to use plastic to get gas) I'm sure we're even already, and we've only had the membership since April.

However, I never come out of there with much. Here's an example of my normal Costco shopping list:

*6pk of Romaine lettuce - $2.99 (best I can usually find is $1.99 for 3)

*1lb package of Organic Greens (for the bunnies) $3.99 ($2 cheaper than anywhere else, so this is a deal for us)

*2 pack of Velveeta cheese - $7.99 (which is the same price as Target, $3.99 each, so not really a savings here)

*6lb 5 oz can of Del Monte Green Beans - $2.79 (buying single cans on sale probably equals about the same, but there's weeks we tend to use a lot of green beans and with freezer space limited, I like to keep at least one giant can on hand)

*Mission Tortillas, burrito size, 40 per package - $4.99 (it's rare I can beat the price with coupons at the other stores)

I did purchase a new bed for our doggy at $17.99 that was a STEAL. Usually that size you are lucky to find for $50 at a pet store, so that definitely evened out the cost of the membership. And once I purchased the giant 2 pack of Nutella (my weakness!) It was gone faster than I care to admit. ;) We also tried their 40 lb jug of cat litter (the brand eludes me at the moment, I think it was Cat's Pride?) and that was a total waste. It only made the litter boxes worse. We'll stick to Tidy Cats.

So, really, for the little bit we save, it's kind of lost when you think we have a 15 minute drive to get to Costco. We've only averaged about a trip every 3 weeks or so, and for that little bit we buy... I won't be renewing.

Anyone found any deals at Costco that's been great for them?