I love Costco. Costco has been my very good friend for many years. Raising a large Costco-sized family you can imagine the partnership I forged with the warehouse. Having to buy toilet paper, laundry detergent, cat food, and garbage bags, every four to six weeks instead of every week made my life much easier. Of course, they also have yummy things in the bakery, great meat, reasonably-priced jeans for my boys, pasta in bulk, and a very cheap lunch. Gradually my Costco trips became more frequent, and last year I was there almost every week.
On one occasion late last year a "helpful" employee thought I should get their Executive membership and showed me my total spending at their store for the year. My jaw dropped - I could have bought a used car with that amount of cash! This began a process of rethinking how I was spending our household money as I was still having to visit the grocery store to round out our grocery needs. For the year of 2009, I was going to end my love-in with Costco. This is probably the first New Year's resolution that I have even remotely kept. :D
Today is May 1 and I have gone to Costco twice in four months. Of course, I still need Costco, just not every week! Kirsten seems to have adjusted to our new shopping schedule and doesn't ask me if we're going there any more. Winco (the local low-price grocery) is getting more of my grocery budget and I'm thinking more about other purchases, not making spur-of-the-moment decisions because that item might not be there next week.
Now DH does drop in on Costco the same as always, mostly to purchase items for the business. So today I cheated just a tiny and had him shop for me. You see, I use a lot of honey baking bread and Costco has the best price. I asked him to pick some up for me the next time he went and he replied that he was going today, make him out a list. Well, I could have made him quite a list, but I held back and asked for three items: honey, toilet paper, and pesto. :D
Wasn't I showing great restraint?!
9 comments:
Oh, that IS good restraint Von. I haven't had a membership there since I went in for groceries and came home with a trampoline.
I did go again, with a friend, several years later and spent $700.00 on the spur of the moment.
That was a few years ago. I'm wondering if I can re-join and control myself. I'll have to think long and hard before I take the plunge.
Congrats on your great restraint!
Kathryn : )
That is very, very good restrait. There is something about that store that can really get you. Now my question - can you teach my husband that restraint? I've been there probably twice this year, but he has to go every weekend - he's like a junkie needing a fix. Can you teach him something? LOL I think the worst purchase he made was when he came home with a 52" TV. I almost killed him!
I love Costco but I really try not to go too often because I come out with stuff I really don't need and spend way too much money. Good for yoU!
We have that executive Costco card and gives the annual rebate check, and I have to say, it's come in handy! My husband loves Costco and believes we're saving money by shopping there; me not so much. You still need to be careful of the "bargains" and not let your food rot when you buy large amounts. And resist impulse buying...the only catch with getting the rebate is to never ever be late with payment to the Costco American Express card or you won't get it. It also words to get the rebate when you buy gas and college tuition...get a percentage back.
Wow, you're completely restrained. Good girl. It's a dangerous place for someone like me ... usually at home alone.
For many years, I only went to Costco once a year, for a charity event I do. Since the girls were born, we go about once a month. You can't beat their prices on diapers and formula. I try to go, as hubby comes home with a lot more spur of the moment items.
I'm so glad out Sam's Club is 30 minutes away, or we'd be spending too much there! However, when we do go, we stock up on meat, and freeze it in portion size pieces. It's saved us a lot of money over grocery store prices. Nonperishables like toilet paper and paper towels are a good buy for us as well.
Oh well done Von - my DH is a Costco addict too! Fortunately for me, there isn't a Costco in the town where we live and I work - the only one I know is close to DH's work and I'm rarely 'allowed' to go! LOL
LOL I go to Costco every week, and there's only two of us! But then I don't buy everything there... also its just down the street from work, very handy!
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