5 Things You Should Never Buy at Costco If You Live in an Apartment
A Costco membership can help shoppers save on everything from groceries to household essentials, but apartment living can change the math.
Limited storage space doesn’t mean bulk shopping is off the table. It does mean some purchases require more room than an apartment can offer.
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Before filling a cart with Costco-sized quantities, here are five things you should never buy at Costco if you live in an apartment.
1. Bulk Dairy
Buying bulk dairy can be a good value for a household that will use it.
In an apartment, the savings only work if the household can use the food before it spoils without giving up more refrigerator space than the purchase is worth.
“If you buy four pounds of shredded cheddar cheese, that’s going to be a lot to try to use up before it goes bad,” said Melanie Musson, a finance and budgeting expert with Quote.com. “If you don’t drink two gallons of milk a week, it’s probably not a good idea to buy milk at Costco.”
2. Giant Bags of Pantry Staples
Skip giant bags of flour, rice and other pantry staples unless you know you have room to store them properly.
The USDA Agricultural Research Service said Indian meal moths can infest flour, cereal, cornmeal, and other stored grains. The agency recommends keeping foods like flour in thick plastic or glass containers with airtight lids.
“Even though flour lasts a while, if you take more than a few months to use a 25-pound bag, you could end up dealing with wheat moths or other pests,” Musson said.
She explained, “If you think you’re going to put a 25-lb bag of flour in your coat closet, picture it in there. What will you do with your shoes? Or your winter hats and gloves?”
3. Large Containers of Cooking Oil
Cooking oil can be a great deal at Costco, especially when buying a larger container brings down the price per ounce.
But apartment shoppers have two things to consider. First, a large container needs somewhere to go, which can be difficult in a studio or small kitchen. Second, they need to think about how much oil they actually use in cooking.
“Oil is one of the most cost-effective things to buy at Costco, but if your oil goes rancid before you can use it, the purchase may not be worth it,” Musson said.
4. Oversized Appliances
One easy mistake is letting a great appliance deal outrun the size of the apartment.
Before buying appliances at Costco, shoppers should consider whether it deserves the cabinet or counter space it will take up, especially for studio apartments and tiny kitchens.
Consumer Reports recommends choosing appliances that earn their keep in a small kitchen while taking up as little space as possible.
“Costco often has great deals on appliances, but you can’t just buy the best oven they have because it may not fit in your limited space,” Musson said.
The same thinking applies to large storage pieces.
“Shelving units can help you organize, but if you don’t have much square footage, you may need to downsize instead of organizing,” she said.
5. Oversized Snacks and Breakfast Packs
Musson said a lower unit price on a large multipack can backfire if shoppers don’t use enough of it to justify the purchase.
“You can get a box of 52 instant oatmeal packets, but if you don’t use them, you’d be better off buying the box of 8 at the grocery store,” Musson said.
She explained that bulk purchases make more sense for food shoppers eat regularly than for items they rarely use.
“Prioritize what you use over the savings,” Musson said. “You could save 75% on something, but if you don’t use it, you'd be better off making space for something with 15% savings that you actually use.”
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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