8 Costco Buys That Waste Money If You Don't Use Them in 30 Days
Buying in bulk only saves money when you actually use what you buy. Certain Costco staples are famously affordable, but they can end up costing more if they spoil before you finish them.
“Produce, bread, baked goods and other perishable items may be a great deal, but only if you actually plan to use them up before they go off,” said Julie Ramhold, consumer savings expert with DealNews.com. “If you don’t have a plan for 3 pounds of fresh broccoli or enough people to eat 12 Danishes before they spoil, then you’re better off shopping elsewhere for these kinds of things.”
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Here are eight Costco purchases that may not be worth buying unless you're confident you'll use them within a month.
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Bagged Salad Kits
Price: $7.93
Large bagged salad kits can be a great value buy, but they aren't worth the cost if you can't eat them before they expire. Like this Taylor Farms avocado ranch bagged chopped salad kit, for example. Greens typically start wilting fairly quickly, so you may end up having to toss a lot out.
Fresh Berries
Price: $3.85
Strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are pricey at traditional grocery stores, so you may get tempted by the lower costs at Costco. However, they're often sold in large containers and berries can spoil within days. Their 12-ounce package of raspberries is a good example.
Baby Spinach and Spring Mix
Price: $5.66
Like bagged salad kits, these bags of leafy greens often spoil and get slimy before you can finish them. For example, this bag of organic spring mix is only $5.66, but can spoil easily. Stick to buying baby spinach and spring mix at your local grocery store.
Avocados
Price: $6.34
Costco is known to have low prices on avocados — like these hass avocados — but avocados can easily become overripe before you're able to get through them all. Throwing away several overripe avocados can erase the savings.
Family-Size Hummus and Dips
Price: $6.69
The large tubs of hummus and other dips at Costco are usually priced lower than typical stores on a per-ounce basis. However, many households struggle to finish them before freshness and texture start to decline. A good example is this 34-ounce tub of Kirkland Signature organic roasted pine nut hummus.
Prepared Meals
Price: $11.83
Large containers of prepared meals like pasta salads, chicken salads and refrigerated entrees can be convenient if you're hosting a party, but they're often too large for most households to finish before the quality declines. Take this package of Kirkland Signature stuffed bell peppers with ground beef and rice: it's only $11.83, but is so large that leftovers may spoil before finishing them.
Bakery Muffins and Pastries
Price: $9.07
The baked goods at Costco are crowd-pleasers — but you need to have a crowd to please to make buying bulk portions of muffins or pastries worth it. For instance, this package of Kirkland Signature caramel apple strudel bites comes with 12 strudels, which is a lot for the average family to finish before they spoil.
“Costco’s bakery section is known for its giant cakes and pastries. While they’re tempting, they’re often too large for the average household to finish before they go stale,” said Norah Clark, pastry chef and food editor at Boyd Hampers. “Unless you’re hosting a big gathering, consider the smaller options.”
Bulk Cheeses
Price: $6.34
Mold or drying can become an issue long before many households finish bulk packages of cheese, especially softer cheeses like this 32-ounce Galbani whole milk mozzarella cheese. Stick to hard cheeses with a longer shelf life if you do buy cheese in bulk.
Editor’s note: Prices and availability are subject to change.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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