Reddit’s Best Costco Tips For First-Time Shoppers

If you’re new to Costco, first of all, welcome! The gigantic chain is more than pleased you’ve decided to join the millions of other shoppers who love perusing the enormous selection of products throughout the seemingly endless amount of aisles. It feels exciting to finally decide to join the Costco fan club and get that membership card tucked away in your wallet. If you’ve been looking for the perfect place to buy bulk goods for your family, you’re taking a big step in the right direction.

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However, walking into Costco for your first time completely blind might be a big mistake. As we mentioned above, the place is absolutely huge, and there are some insider tips and tricks you wouldn’t know right away. Costco isn’t just another chain. It’s a full-blown experience. It’s a lifestyle. And it’s a total vibe. Luckily, we’ve compiled some of the best tips and tricks for first-time shoppers so when you finally do stroll through the front doors, you can hold your head up high like you’ve been there a thousand times before.

Go Often, Spend Less

We know how easy it is to start throwing all sorts of items into your cart all willy-nilly as you stroll down all the Costco aisles. As a first-time shopper, the adventure can feel exciting, and it should! However, the longer you stay in the store, the larger that end bill is, and your wallet isn’t going to be pleased with you. But, according to several Reddit users, visiting the store frequently helps cut that bill down. If you only visit every once in a while, it’s tempting to load up stuff, and often you buy more than you actually need. But, taking frequent trips encourages getting only what you absolutely need.

Split The Bill With Others

Costco is a fantastic place to buy items in bulk, but not everyone has a large family in need of 15 watermelons at a time. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t crafty ways to still get the great price deals for those flying solo in their apartments. One Reddit user said they split the groceries with their neighbor, seeing as they themselves are just a single person. “Less likely to go bad, get lost in the mix, take up too much space in my very small apartment,” they wrote. Another user said, “Small household here. I frequently send stuff to my mother-in-law.” So, if you want the benefits of Costco without the item overload, finding someone to split the bill with can work wonders.

Storage Tips To Prevent Spoilage

Now, if you are a small household that can’t find someone else to split the Costco bill with (per the tip above), Reddit has a solid idea to prevent your bulk items from spoiling before you get to enjoy them. Keep in mind you need to spend a bit more money, but over time it’s worth the splurge. Buying yourself a vacuum sealer and/or a chest freezer prevents all that extra food from going bad while it sits in the fridge. Now you can finally keep 25 lamb chops and 15 lobster tails in your kitchen without worrying about them turning into an E. coli factory.

Rotisserie Chicken Trick

One of Costco’s most popular items is the mighty rotisserie chicken for just five bucks. Now, instead of scooping one up and placing it into your cart like most customers, one Redditor had a pro tip to keep it hot while you shop. When you grab a cart, you’ll notice little metal hooks on the back panels of the toddler seat. Hang the chicken from there to prevent any cold food from affecting the temperature of the chicken, and vice versa. Now you have a hot and steamy chicken ready and waiting when you pull into your driveway.

Be Aware Of Price Asterisks

There’s a lot to pay attention to at Costco, but one thing first-time customers absolutely need to look for is asterisks located on the price tags. Nicknamed “death stars,” the asterisks mean the item is almost out of stock and the store isn’t sure when the next batch is coming in. In some cases, this could also mean Costco never offers the product again. So, if you see something you like and it has a “death star” attached, stock up on it now. It may very well be the last time you see it on shelves.