Like many Americans, you probably find yourself wandering the wide aisles of your local Costco it might seem that prices are better but perhaps not a slam dunk.
After all, you often have to buy five pounds of a spice when you might need a small container or pick up eight steaks at a time but might have just two living at home.
But there are some items that are nearly automatic deals, if you spot them and take advantage. Here are five:
Seasonal Items
If you are patient and can wait for prices to fall then you can take advantage of big discounts. Such as summer beach-themed items, beach chairs, umbrellas, coolers, kayaks, and paddleboards.
One item I took advantage of was the Body Glove Tandem 15′ Inflatable 2 Person Paddleboard. It retails for $1,499.00. It started with a Costco discounted price of $999.00 and recently you could purchase this inflatable paddleboard for $599.
Fruits and vegetables
In regular grocery stores, certain fruits and vegetables can be pricey. Costco usually has larger cartons for a fraction of the price.
Bananas at my local store are around $0.69 per pound, I can purchase a bunch of bananas at Costco for $1.69.
Rotisserie chickens
While the rotisserie chickens you might find at a supermarket weigh around two pounds, Costco’s rotisserie chicken is three pounds, making the $5 price point an even bigger bargain and a great meal for the family. For Costco this is a typical “loss leader” to get you into the store, much like the famously cheap $1.50 hot dog and soda deal at the snack counter.
Paper products
Things such as bath tissue, facial tissue, napkins, and paper towels are a great Costco buy! Sure, you’ll have to lug them home with you, but you’ll get a lot more from your money buying these products in bulk.
Electronics
Buying electronics at Costco is a solid way to save. The section is regularly filled with discounts that include hundreds of dollars off brand name goods. I frequently see huge savings on TVs, cameras, and laptops.
One great example was the Samsung 60” TV I recently purchased. Its advertised price was $599.00. However, one day when I happen to be walking in the store they had the same set marked down to $399.
It wasn’t the holidays, it wasn’t an open box … it just happened to be a special going on. You never know when a flash sale or special price is going to happen, so when inside the store, pass by items you are interested in and see if they are priced right.