Costco Superfan: 7 Things You Only Need To Buy Once a Year for a 2-Person Household
Costco is the go-to place for bulk buys. For some superfans, though, the warehouse club is also the place to shop for items that will last a long time and only need to be purchased once a year.
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We spoke with a Costco superfan — Anna Prits, founder of BuzzVoice -- about which items she only buys yearly and how much money shopping like this saves her household.
Spices & Seasonings
Prits said one of her household’s top annual Costco buys is spices and seasonings.
“Every year, I replenish my spice rack with Costco’s Kirkland Signature spices. Their enormous containers of staples like black pepper, garlic powder and cinnamon are of excellent quality and last forever,” she said. “Considering the cost per ounce, this saves us about $35 a year compared to buying smaller bottles from grocery stores.”
Honey
Honey can be pricey, but you can save by buying it in bulk. And since it lasts a long time, even after being opened, it’s a great once-a-year purchase.
“The giant jars of Kirkland honey are perfect for our tea, baking and occasional sweet cravings,” said Prits. “By buying honey once a year from Costco, we save around $25 annually.”
Shampoo & Conditioner
A 33.8-ounce bottle of Kirkland shampoo costs $11.99. For two people, this can last a long time.
“Costco’s bulk-sized bottles of Kirkland Signature shampoo and conditioner last the entire year and are just as good as many premium brands,” said Prits. She estimated her household saves about $50 a year by getting these items at Costco.
Baking Ingredients
When stored correctly, essential ingredients like sugar and flour can last anywhere from six months to a year — sometimes longer. For avid baker Prits, Costco is the perfect place to shop for these items since they also come in bulk.
“I’m talking about that massive bag of flour, sugar and chocolate chips. I bake a lot, and these essentials are perfect for my yearly baking adventures,” she said, estimating she saves around $30 a year compared to if she were to get smaller packs elsewhere or more frequently.
Batteries
Prits said that batteries are also on her list of annual Costco purchases. “We stock up on Kirkland batteries, both AA and AAA. We use them for remotes, clocks, and various gadgets around the house,” she said. “I figure we save around $30 annually.”
One for one, the savings potential on batteries can be pretty substantial — depending on where you shop. For example, a 48-pack of Kirkland Signature AA batteries costs $16.99 at Costco. A mere 20-pack at Target costs roughly the same amount.
Laundry Detergent
Another thing Prits’ household generally buys just once a year from Costco is laundry detergent — specifically the Kirkland brand.
“A huge bottle of Kirkland laundry detergent lasts us the entire year,” she said. “This bulk buy is significantly cheaper than buying multiple smaller bottles.” A large container of Kirkland laundry detergent costs $21 and lasts for about 146 loads. That means you could do nearly three loads of laundry per week before you’d run out.
Paper Products
Last but not least, Costco’s paper products — like their paper towels and toilet paper — are great to buy in bulk. They last a long time and, depending on the brand, can be cheaper. “Similar to toilet paper, the Kirkland paper towels are a once-a-year purchase,” said Prits. “They’re durable, absorbent, and the bulk pack is much cheaper in the long run. We estimate a yearly savings of about $20 here.”
A 12-pack of Kirkland Signature paper towels costs $23.99, or around $0.50 per roll, and is often on sale for less. While Prits didn’t say how many paper towels they go through per week, stocking up on a few of these packs could easily get two people through a year. Likewise, 30 rolls of toilet paper from the same brand costs about the same amount, but it also tends to last much longer.
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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