Costco

Stuff I didn’t know I needed… until I went to Costco (May ’19 Edition)

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It’s time for another monthly installment of one of my most popular blog series, Stuff I didn’t know I needed… until I went to Costco! The concept behind this series is really simple: I just feature items that strike my fancy while wandering the aisles of Costco. Some of these are definitely good deals, but many are just things that catch my eye.

Without any further delay, here are the items I noticed during my trip today:

Sun Protection Hats, $13.99. They had both men and women’s styles.

Super cool camping chair for $29.99. This would be perfect for sitting ’round the fire!

And here’s the portable campfire you can use! Through June 7th only, it’s $73.99 after instant manufacturer rebate.

This is what really brought me into Costco today. It’s the American Chocolate Cake and it’s a complete steal at $16.99. The thing is huge I swear, it could feed 40-50 guests. It’s also the most delicious chocolate cake in the world. So naturally, my daughter wanted it for her birthday! 

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9 Tips for Shopping Costco Like a Pro

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After writing about Costco shopping for several years, and fielding comments and insights from readers, I’ve decided to compile a list of my very favorite pro tips for shopping Costco.

White Chicken Chili made with Costco chicken!

Tip #1: Don’t leave without a Rotisserie Chicken. 

I recently saw an article circulating on Facebook about why you should just make your own roast chicken at home, but I absolutely beg to differ. The roast chicken at Costco is huge, perfectly cooked and only $4.99. That chicken is easily one of the best deals in the store! While you can certainly eat it as is, it’s also a great base for many recipes, such as this White Chicken Chili.

Cart = more room for STUFF.

Tip #2: If you are on a mission to buy one or two items, skip the shopping cart. 

Costco can be a great place to find all kinds of stuff you didn’t know you needed. If you are trying to stick to a shopping list and a budget, leave the cart at the front door! Make a beeline for the item you came for (wearing horse blinders through the electronics and housewares may be helpful), grab your item(s) and head for checkout.

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Stuff I didn’t know I needed…until I went to Costco (April ’19 Edition)

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It’s time for another installment of Stuff I didn’t know I needed…until I went to Costco. If you’re new to these parts, let me give you a quick rundown about why I started this post. A few years ago, I noticed that a lot of people talk about all the money they save and good deals they get at Costco, while simultaneously leaving the store having spent hundreds of dollars and using a freight cart to transport their purchases to their car. So, what’s really going on here, I wondered?

My conclusion: people secretly go to Costco for the stuff. Or maybe they come for the deals and stay for the stuff. Whatever the case, chances are if you’re shopping at Costco, you’re leaving with stuff that wasn’t on your list. Stuff you didn’t know you needed… until you went to Costco.

In no particular order, here are some of these kinds of stuffs I noticed at my Federal Way store yesterday.

Baby Alive doll sets are just $9.99 right now on Instant Manufacturer rebate! I think this only goes through 4/15, but of course – I didn’t take a clear enough picture! (If you know, please leave a comment below.)

As much as I love putting together this post, my main reason for stopping in at Costco today was to put an order in for my son’s birthday cake! They ask for a 24-hour advance notice and they’ll decorate it and write a couple lines of text for no extra charge. It’s delicious cake, feeds 48 people, and is only $18.99 for either vanilla or chocolate! A good deal!

Kids’ beach coverup for $13.99. These are basically like robes that would also work well for home use, or at the swimming pool. 

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Stuff I didn’t know I needed… until I went to Costco (March ’19 Edition)

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It’s time again for another monthly installment of Stuff I didn’t know I needed…until I went to Costco. I recently was chatting with a new friend about Costco and she remarked, “what is it about Costco that makes it feel so FUN to shop at?”

I have to agree. Unlike other stores you may shop at, there’s always a sense of excitement when you walk into a Costco store. Even if you have your list at hand, you do wonder about the new treasures you might find. There’s a sense of anticipation, and yes – FUN.

Here are some of the items I spotted at the Federal Way store yesterday with my son. These items are being shared in no particular order.

Adidas backpack for $23.99 through April 7th.

Arlo Baby Monitor with Table Wall Stand for $139.99 after instant manufacturer’s rebate through April 7th. Isn’t it so sweet how it looks like a rabbit?!

Woah. Check out this fancy Bidet Luxury Seat for $299.99! It even comes with a remote control. Hmmmm.

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Stuff I didn’t know I needed…until I went to Costco (FEB ’19 Edition)

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Last night an errand took me to Covington so I decided to switch things up and visit a new-to-me Costco store for this month’s installment of Stuff I didn’t know I needed… until I went to Costco. And let me say – WOW. You guys in Covington have one beautiful Costco store! I called my husband and gushed to him on the phone how awesome it is… and that parking lot? Just WOW. If you don’t live in this area, I encourage you to make a trip!

Now, back to my post. In case you’re new to these parts, each month I make a trip to Costco and simply highlight the awesome things that stand out to me. Some of these are deals, yes, but many are just sparkly things that catch my eye. Because really, where else can you leave with a huge box of pancake mix, sweat pants, outdoor lighting, an Instant Pot cookbook and a recliner all in one trip?

OK, a couple months I go I put this movie on Netflix because I wanted to see what the hubbub was all about. Oh. My. Goodness. I was a huge ball of stress from start to finish. I don’t think I’ll be reading the book, but if you’d like to… Costco has it.

I ended up buying this 3-pack cotton stretch camisole for $9.99 only to find my package had been tampered with and there were only 2 inside. Grrrr. (Yes, I’ll be exchanging mine.)

I’ve been hearing everyone rave about these chicken taco kits and I finally found them! I was shocked to see they were only $5.59. Sounds like a great deal.

Two frogs on a bench, drinking coffee, ready to set out in the garden. $68.99.

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Stuff I didn’t know I needed…until I went to Costco (Feb ’19 Edition)

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It’s time for another installment of one of my favorite blog series (and I hope yours, too): Stuff I didn’t know I needed… until I went to Costco! In this blog series, I simply visit the popular warehouse-style store once a month and just report on the fun stuff that catches my eye

In no particular order, here are some of the items that popped out at me:

This limited-edition Kellogg’s Unicorn Cereal was just $3.99 after instant manufacturer’s rebate. Yes, I totally bought some. Yes, it’s good (but as you might have guessed… sugary!)

Huge frozen tiramisu for $5.97! My friend Susan bought this and said it was delicious!

I think Costco is such a good place to buy thermoses! This 2-pack of ThermoFlash Water Bottles was $19.99. They have a straw lid and each hold 24 ounces.

This seemed like a good deal – it’s a 3-pack of 32 oz Tart Cherry Juice for $9.99! You’d pay more for this in grocery store.

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Top 10 Costco Finds for 2018

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For the past three years, I’ve taken the time to go back through my monthly “Stuff I didn’t know I needed… until I went to Costco”  posts from the previous year to come up with a list of 10 – just 10 of my absolute favorite items.

You might wish to go back to read my reports from 2017, 2016, and 2015.

In no particular order, here are my top 10 favorite Costco items from 2018. Please do note that I cannot guarantee you’ll find these items at your store right now – or ever. We see items come and go, stick around, never come back. It can be hard to tell with this store!

#1: Snowshoes, $69.95 

This is one of those items that I don’t believe I actually featured on the blog this year (but should have!). My husband and I decided to buy snowshoes for the family this past Christmas. We’ve always seen the sets at Costco and decided to bite the bullet. They are $69.95 and include the poles and carrying bag. They come in three sizes. We took them out for the first time about a week ago and they were a ton of fun! We’re planning our next excursion very soon. (And yes, that’s me wearing the snowshoes after Christmas!)

#2: Insulated Thermoses, $9.99 

I am so glad my store managed to keep these in stock for most of the year, because I definitely hemmed and hawed at first. In the end, I bought them when they went on sale for $9.99 and am so glad that I did! At just $4.99 a pop, they are the perfect size for lunches and kids and keep your liquids perfectly cold!

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Stuff I didn’t know I needed…until I went to Costco (Dec ’18 Edition)

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I made what was likely my final Costco trip of the year today. I was nervous because I was going the Friday before Christmas. Surprisingly, it wasn’t too bad – probably because I went in the morning. Of course, I had to snap a bunch of pictures to make sure to share with you a bunch of stuff you didn’t know you needed… until now. As you might have guessed, this is a particularly dangerous time to shop at Costco. Tasty treats and nifty finds are found in every nook and cranny of the store. If you go, be prepared.

Without further ado, here are a few things I found during my Costco run today:

I found this beautiful barn door to the back of the store. It’s $249.99 and includes all the hardware you need to install it. I would really love this for my master bedroom as we have a doorway into the bathroom with no door. This is the charm of Costco: it reminds you of all those little house projects you forgot about.

This seems like a great price for a weight bench! A helpful Costco employee told us that these kind of items are only really sold around January (resolutions, right?) and then they don’t restock. Something to consider if you’re interested.

Two chairs and a small table for $199! Kind of a like an apartment in a box.

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Stuff I didn’t know I needed…until I went to Costco (Nov ’18 Edition)

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Yes it’s that time again. Time for another monthly installment of Stuff I didn’t know… until I went to Costco. This series loosely features deals, and heavily features just the random, fun, and neato things that strike my fancy while perusing the Costco aisles.

In no particular order, I’d like to share some of the things that I found during this morning’s trip. These were spotted at the Federal Way, Washington store. I’d love to know if you’ve found these items at your store too.

This is a good time to stock up on 32 Degrees layers! Women’s and men’s shirts and pants are just $6.99 each. I ended up buying two sets of kids’ layers for $6.99. Those include the tops and the pants!

Costco is selling American Girl dolls! In the past, I’ve seen them sell American Girl accessories or other dolls, but not the classic dolls like these. This seems like a good price: $119 for the doll, pajamas, accessories set, and a book. Thoughts?

Apline Spiced Apple Cider, 60 packets for $6.89. I just spent about $2.50 on a box of 8-ct the other day. This works out to just $0.11 per packet, so I totally picked one of these up!

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