You've Been Warned: Don't Make This Costco Shopping Mistake, It'll Cost You

It's easy to get caught up in the allure of bulk buying these days, especially at warehouse clubs like Costco, and Costco actually offers much more than super-sized packages of bulk items. (Costco gold bars, anyone?) But even the most frugal shopper can become convinced they need an entire pallet of canned black beans, especially if that pallet's already impressive unit price is further marked down with a secret Costco price tag code.

While buying in bulk does often net members hefty savings, it can also be a big Costco shopping mistake. Just like how people waste money at restaurants if they order too much or too impulsively, people can get in over their head with bulk purchases.

Though every household is different, considerations for bulk-item shelf life and space should be taken into account when shopping at Costco. Not to mention, the dangers of overshopping your own spending capacity, or falling victim to the ultimate wild card in bulk buying: sentimental reasons.

Nobody can eat 50 eggs. Well, except Cool Hand Luke and certain teenagers. Buying food in bulk that can't be consumed by its expiration date is a waste of precious grocery money. This is especially true if a bulk item requires cold storage. It might be obvious that buying a lot of deli cheese that can expire quickly in the fridge is a bad idea if you will only consume a bit before its best-by date, but over-purchasing frozen items in bulk is also a budget problem.

Unless you have a freezer dedicated to run-off frozen goods, the storage requirements for your Kirkland frozen pizzas and salmon patties will stack up more quickly than savings. The same goes, though, for pantry items with no temperature requirements. Sadly, not every home has the physical space to be stocked with all the bulk cereal, pasta, and canned goods sold for a song at Costco.

Your own pace and flavor preference must also be considered, however, when it comes to this particular Costco shopping mistake. If you can (and plan to) eat a can of tuna a day, that bulk item may actually be a steal for you. If you like all flavors of yogurt, a variety pack filling your fridge may be a blessing, rather than a pricey nuisance if you only like one. That said, be wary of the monotony bulk buys can bring. Feeling like your fridge is full of only one kind of food may make you spend big money on impulse dining, adding to what you already spent on food at home.

You don't have to be a doomsday prepper to find a sense of security in bulk buying at places like Costco. For some, the peace of mind (as well as the savings) gained from buying in bulk took hold during the COVID-19 lockdown era. The scarcity mindset is very real, and sometimes not just a mindset.

Pandemics aside, if you deal with financial hardship or simply lack nearby shopping options for shorter, smaller trips, it can feel a lot better and cheaper to buy in bulk. However, that great stocked- house feeling can be achieved for smarter savings with a little creativity and community. If you're tempted to bulk up on bulk items, identify friends and family (or even fellow Costco die-hards) who may want to team up with you. Highly perishable deli meat and cheese split up in a couple reusable containers across two or three others, along with a bill split multiple ways, can make an otherwise regrettable bulk purchase into a total steal for a small group. The same split-up method can be applied to any bulk item, from food to household supplies.

Meal prep or meal-club planning can also take the sting out of bulk buying while adding even more savings. Having a meal prep party with bulk supplies purchased from Costco can make many dinners out of items that would otherwise expire too quickly. Whatever items remain that can be frozen will stretch the savings even further.