24 Of The Best And Worst Things To Buy At Costco

Worst: Sunscreen

Though it might be tempting to pick up plenty of sunscreen at Costco before heading off on vacation or in preparation for long summer days, it’s just not a good idea. Jackie Warrick, Chief Savings Officer and President at Coupon Cabin, told TODAY that if you clip coupons and time your purchases right, you’ll save even more at other stores than you would at Costco. Not only that, but sunscreen loses its effectiveness the longer it sits around, meaning what you bought last summer probably won’t work well next summer.

Worst: Condiments

Condiments aren’t a good buy at stores like Costco and other warehouse clubs because you have to buy them in such large quantities. Warrick told TODAY that you probably won’t be able to use those giant containers before they go bad, meaning you’re really not saving much (if any) money. Instead, you’re probably better off clipping coupons or picking up smaller containers when they’re on sale.

Worst: Anything you haven’t tried before

If you’ve never tried something before, you probably shouldn’t start with a big, Costco-sized box. According to Cheat Sheet, it’s a better idea to try it in a smaller size from another store first to see if you like it or not. Then, if you do, you’ll be able to confidently buy the much larger amount the next time you’re at Costco.

Worst: Coffee

We get it. You love coffee and you’ll totally use up that giant pack. It still might not be a good idea. According to Eat This, Not That, because coffee can lose its flavor over time, it’s not worth stocking up on the kind you love just to have it be lackluster by the time you actually get around to drinking a cup. If you’re not buying it for a business, you probably won’t be able to go through it quickly enough.

Worst: Diapers

Diapers are expensive, for sure, but there are many places to buy them (relatively) affordable. According to Cheapism, the reason it’s not a good idea to buy diapers at Costco is that you have to buy them in such large quantities, which means that your little one might out-grow them before you’re able to use them all up. Not great.

Worst: Clothes

According to Kiplinger, you shouldn’t buy your clothes or shoes at Costco or any other warehouse clubs because they’re made with inexpensive materials so the companies can afford to sell them at such a low price. It can be super tempting to pick up what appears to be high-quality designer items for a great deal, but it might not be the best way to spend your money in the long run.