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Gold buyer who invested $30,000 this year says Costco's bars and coins were his 'gateway drug'

23 April 2025 at 17:09
A one-ounce PAMP gold bar on display at a Costco warehouse
A 1-ounce PAMP gold bar on display at a Costco warehouse.

Dominick Reuter/Business Insider

  • The gold market is surging, briefly topping $3,500 an ounce on Tuesday.
  • Costco sells millions of dollars worth of bars and coins for some of the lowest markups around.
  • One buyer who's spent $30,000 on gold this year called Costco's offerings a "gateway drug."

With the gold market surging β€” briefly topping $3,500 an ounce on Tuesday β€” Costco is again a hot spot for precious metal collectors hoping to make a near-instant windfall.

The market for gold often rises in times of uncertainty, and the current price moves are driven by interest in the commodity itself as a safe-haven investment and by the depreciation of the US dollar.

One collector who has bought more than $30,000 worth of gold this year told Business Insider there's growing concern in the precious metals community about gold prices rising so quickly.

"To me, it is the measuring stick for how bad things are going to get," he said.

The person requested anonymity because of concerns about personal safety, but he provided BI with receipts from recent Costco purchases and documentation of his additional gold holdings.

He said he owned no gold until this year and only began collecting as the political and economic environment became more unpredictable.

Costco, which sells gold bars and coins online and in some of its stores, made it easy for him to get started.

"Costco was the gateway drug to gold investing," he said.

It's no secret that Costco sells hundreds of millions of dollars worth of bars and coins for some of the lowest markups around, but there are times when the market moves a little faster than the company's price adjustments.

In particular, several product listings on Tuesday β€” namely a 100-gram bar and a 1-ounce bar β€” were listed at prices so close to the spot market price that Costco Executive Members using the Costco Citi credit card could see a net reward of about 1% to 2% of the purchase price.

A 100-gram gold bar for sale on Costco's website.
A 100-gram gold bar for sale on Costco's website on Tuesday.

Costco

In other words, Costco is basically giving some members money to convert their dollars into gold (up to certain limits on individual and annual transactions, of course). Executive rewards are capped at $1,250 a year, but the company's credit card rewards on purchases are not limited.

Costco did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, but precious metals sales have been a key area of growth for the club's e-commerce business.

The company benefits from routing hundreds of millions of dollars in sales through Costco.com by simply buying a batch of gold and selling every ounce of it to members.

Other non-Costco credit card promos can make the math even more remarkable, as one gold flipper who bought more than $100,000 worth of gold last year attested to.

It's also important to note that Costco does not allow returns or price adjustments on gold purchases, and some buyers have found it unexpectedly difficult to quickly sell their bars and coins at a price that makes the flip worthwhile. Most collectors recommend building a relationship with a trusted local gold dealer to conduct transactions.

In general, the collectors BI spoke to are gold holders, not sellers, and the demand at Costco remains fairly steady.

"The price hasn't had much of an effect. The people who want it buy it," said one warehouse manager who requested anonymity because he's not authorized to speak to the media about sales.

The Costco manager said his location occasionally receives about 10 to 20 bars, which are usually sold within a week, and sometimes within a few days.

Costco executives have previously said that online sales can run through a batch of inventory "within a few hours."

As the price of gold dipped from Tuesday levels, Costco gold enthusiasts took to the Costco precious metals Reddit community on Wednesday to discuss the lag time between when the listed prices would be updated to reflect the market change.

"Costco doesn't real-time price like online bullion brokers," one Reddit user wrote. "Their pricing lags up to a day or two behind spot… which was great for customers buying when gold skyrocketed, sometimes Costco pricing was below spot BEFORE cash back… this is the other side of that coin."

Read the original article on Business Insider

I tried 13 desserts from Costco, and there are 9 I'd buy again

11 April 2025 at 20:29
Table full of Kirkland bakery desserts
Costco's bakery sections have tons of supersized desserts on rotation.

Paige Bennett

  • I'm trying to eat and review all of the desserts from Costco's bakeryΒ section.Β 
  • The Kirkland Signature cheesecake, tuxedo bar cake, and tiramisu cheesecake are amazing.Β 
  • I wasn't a fan of Costco's strawberries-and-cream or carrot-cake bar cakes.

From its $1.50 hot dog combo to the giant slices of pizza, Costco is known for having great deals on its own signature foods.

Outside of lunch, the wholesale retailer also has an impressive dessert selection full of great deals. But are the desserts actually any good?

Over the past few months, I've been visiting Costco's bakery section to try all the made-in-house desserts I could find.

Here's how they stacked up and which ones are actually worth buying.

Editor's Note: Product availability and cost may vary. The prices listed are what the author paid at the time the product was purchased.

Costco's classic cheesecake seems ready to be customized.
Kirkland Bakery cheesecake from Costco with slice out of it
Costco cheesecakes can be customized.

Paige Bennett

Costco's 12-inch cheesecake is a staple in the warehouse's cakes and pies section.

Although $19 is a good price for such a big cheesecake, it's one of the most expensive items I purchased.

The texture was so soft that my slice fell apart as I plated it.
Slice of Kirkland Bakery cheesecake from Costco
Costco's cheesecake would pair well with fresh fruit.

Paige Bennett

I liked that this cheesecake wasn't dense. Instead, it was incredibly fluffy with a texture that reminded me of a soufflΓ©.

It was so light that it started to fall apart when I pulled a slice onto my plate. The taste made up for the messy slice β€” this cheesecake was super creamy and not overly sweet, with a slight tanginess to balance its flavors.

I can't wait to try it again with fresh fruit.

I found the carrot bar cake around Easter.
Costco carrot bar cake
The carrot bar cake seemed promising.

Paige Bennett

During one shopping trip, I looked at desserts just a few weeks before the Easter holiday.

I found a pretty bar cake with layers of carrot cake and cream-cheese frosting, plus a smattering of toasted walnuts on top.

At $19 for a cake that's almost 3 pounds, it seemed like an affordable option to bring to a holiday gathering.

I had high hopes, but the carrot bar cake mostly just tasted like frosting to me.
Costco carrot bar cake next to slice of cake on plate
Costco's carrot bar cake had too much frosting, in my opinion.

Paige Bennett

I love carrot cake, but I wished this one had more flavor and moisture in the cake layers.

In my opinion, they were quite dry and tasted a bit bland. I wished the cake had a more spiced flavor.

For the most part, I could only taste the sweet, tangy frosting, which was nice but a little too much for the cake.

The chain's banana cream pie caught my eye with its caramel drizzle.
Kirkland Bakery banana cream pie from Costco
Costco's banana cream pie has a caramel drizzle.

Paige Bennett

The banana cream pie was about as big as the other cakes in this section, which are 10 inches, and cost $16.

This pie blew me away.
Slice of Kirkland Bakery banana cream pie from Costco
Costco's banana-cream pie was one of my favorite desserts.

Paige Bennett

The pie had a good balance of flavors and textures. The crunchy graham-cracker crust held together well and added a contrast to all the creamy layers.

I liked that the banana pudding had a natural taste, not an artificial one. The caramel on top added some depth in flavor, but it was subtle.

I wish there had been more caramel, and I think I'd slice some fresh banana on top for serving next time, but overall this was one of my favorite Costco desserts.

The chocolate-covered strawberries were available at a discount.
Chocolate-covered strawberries from Costco in plastic container
I managed to find some Costco desserts on sale.

Paige Bennett

The chocolate-covered strawberries were in their own little cooler toward the front of the bakery section, and they were marked down from $13 to $6.

On this trip, I went to Costco one day after Mother's Day, so I assumed these were leftovers from the holiday.

Some of the strawberries looked a little worse for wear, but I managed to find some that didn't look past their prime.

I couldn't taste much of the strawberries in these.
Single chocolate-covered strawberry on plate
I wouldn't buy chocolate-covered strawberries from Costco again.

Paige Bennett

The strawberries selected for this dessert were impressively big, yet they were no match for all of the chocolate they were dipped and drizzled in.

With each bite, I only tasted the rich, hardened chocolate, despite how ripe and juicy the berries were. I'd probably skip these in the future.

Costco's strawberries-and-cream bar cake has an impressive presentation.
Kirkland Bakery strawberries and cream bar cake from Costco
I thought the strawberries-and-cream bar cake sounded like a great spring and summer dessert.

Paige Bennett

Although this dessert was among the most expensive desserts I tried at $19, it was well worth that price based on presentation alone.

It has really pretty layers of strawberries, cream, and vanilla cake, plus striped white-chocolate decorations on top.

This cake seems to be a seasonal one that Costco sometimes brings back in the summer months.

The cake was just too sweet for my liking.
Slice of Kirkland Bakery strawberries and cream bar cake from Costco
I wish the cake had less strawberry filling.

Paige Bennett

I wished this one tasted as good as it looked. I expected it to be sweet β€” it is dessert, after all β€” but this cake was too overly sweet to me.

I think it would've had more balanced flavors if it had a little less strawberry filling and thicker layers of cream.

The tuxedo chocolate-mousse cake was another gorgeous dessert.
Kirkland Bakery tuxedo chocolate mousse bar cake from Costco
The tuxedo chocolate-mousse cake from Costco looked gorgeous.

Paige Bennett

Like the strawberries-and-cream cake, the tuxedo cake is a long, rectangular layer cake with a pretty design and white-chocolate decorations on top.

I loved the look of this $18 cake and thought it was the most attractive dessert I purchased.

The fudgy bits were my favorite part of the whole cake.
Kirkland Bakery tuxedo chocolate mousse bar cake from Costco
I'd buy Costco's tuxedo chocolate-mousse cake again.

Paige Bennett

This dessert is extremely rich and dense, with chocolate in mousse, ganache, and cake forms.

There were fudgy, brownie-like pieces between the layers of mousse and they ended up being my favorite part of the dessert.

I'd like more of the vanilla mousse filling to balance out all of the chocolate, and I'd probably serve this with some strawberries for a fresh element, but this is a tasty and impressive dessert I would buy again.

A bakery staple, the chocolate-chunk cookies come in a pack of 24.
Kirkland Bakery chocolate-chunk cookies in plastic package from Costco
The Kirkland Signature chocolate-chunk cookies seemed like a good value.

Paige Bennett

The chocolate-chunk cookies are a staple in the bakery section of Costco. I got 24 cookies for just $10, and I thought they'd be perfect to pick up for a potluck or other gathering.

They looked great, too β€” they seemed soft with some crispness on the edges.

The cookies had good flavor, but they need to be eaten with milk.
Kirkland Bakery chocolate-chunk cookies in plastic package next to plate with cookie on it
Costco's choocolate-chunk cookies had a good flavor.

Paige Bennett

Although I prefer baking my own cookies when my sweet tooth strikes, these were a fine alternative.

The cookie was soft without falling apart, and I liked that the chocolate had a strong, sharp flavor to cut through the sweetness of the cookie.

However, these cookies were a little dry, so if I bought them again, I'd also get milk to serve them with.

What I thought were cupcakes from afar were actually some very fudgy "mini cakes."
Kirkland Bakery fudgy mini cakes from Costco in plastic container
The Mini All-American Cakes at Costco cost me $9.

Paige Bennett

In the bakery section, I saw a pack of what looked like six cupcakes, but once I got closer, I realized they were pretty large cupcakes or "mini cakes."

The Mini All-American Cakes are seasonal, and a few packs were available during my shopping trip to Costco.

One cake in each pack had a red frosting heart. Most of the packs had the red frosting stuck to the container, but I did find one package with an unblemished frosting heart.

Every mini cake included a generous portion of super fudgy frosting on top, and the pack of six cost $9.

Despite the cute name, this was one intense dessert.
Kirkland Bakery fudgy mini cake from Costco on plate
The chocolate Mini All-American Cakes are incredibly rich.

Paige Bennett

I thought the tuxedo chocolate-mousse cake was chocolaty, but these mini cakes put that dessert to shame in terms of chocolate flavor.

It was so intense and rich I could only take one bite, and the chocolate flavor lingered for a long time in my mouth.

These mini cakes are best shared, and I'd need a lot of milk to finish even half of one. In the future, I'd skip these and instead grab a full-size chocolate cake.

The 10-inch chocolate cake was available in multiple different designs.
Chocolate cake from Costco decorated with tulip border
The Costco cake has marks where you can make 16 slices.

Paige Bennett

The 10-inch chocolate cake with chocolate mousse was available in a few different designs β€” no personalization needed.

There was a plain option, a birthday option, and a really cute springtime design with floral frosting decorations, which is what I ended up selecting.

This massive cake, which had light cutting guidelines for 16 slices in the frosting, was $16.

The mousse filling helped balance out the rich chocolate cake and frosting.
Slice of Chocolate cake from Costco on plate
The flower on top was a nice touch.

Paige Bennett

Although the chocolate cake and the mini cakes are similar, the chocolate mousse layer in the full-size cake added a much-needed lighter, creamy element to balance out the fudgy icing and rich cake.

Because of the added mousse, I'd be more likely to buy this cake again, even though I wasn't a huge fan of the mini cakes.

Costco's lemon-blueberry loaf looked great.
Kirkland Signature bakery lemon-blueberry loaf
The loaf has a pound-cake base.

Paige Bennett

I picked up Costco's 2-pound lemon-blueberry loaf in the spring.

The loaves looked incredible, with heaps of crumble topping and an icing drizzle all over. It also seemed like a good deal at $9.

This dessert offered bright flavors and a range of different textures.
Slice of Kirkland Signature bakery lemon-blueberry loaf
I was glad to see blueberries throughout the lemon-blueberry loaf from Costco.

Paige Bennett

I cut out a slice and was happy to see blueberries toward the top and middle of the loaf β€” they hadn't all sunk to the bottom.

The loaf itself was light and spongy with a good lemon flavor, which paired well with the chewy blueberries and crunchy crumble topping. I'd happily buy this dessert again, and I'd love to try it warmed with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.

Costco improves on classic vanilla cake by adding a cheesecake layer inside.
Costco vanilla cake with cheesecake layer
Costco has a lot of customizable desserts.

Paige Bennett

I love vanilla cake and cheesecake, so I was particularly intrigued by Costco's 10-inch white cake filled with vanilla-cheesecake mousse.

The entire cake seemed like a great deal, too, at $16. It had a wavy frosting design that could easily be personalized with a message.

This cake was one of the best desserts I tried.
Slice of Costco vanilla cake with cheesecake layer
The cheesecake layer was excellent.

Paige Bennett

This was an instant favorite of mine, and I knew right away I'd buy it again for any celebrations I have coming up.

The cake was so light it reminded me of angel-food cake, and the cheesecake was rich, a little dense, and creamy. The thin frosting layer on top was just the right amount to keep the cake from being overly sweet.

It would be even better with fresh fruit on top.

The apple-berry pie included a mix of fruits and a (mostly) golden crust.
Apple Berry pie in clear case from Costco
The apple-berry pie cost me $16.

Paige Bennett

I was intrigued by this springtime pie, which is filled with apples, strawberries, and raspberries. It had a lattice crust that looked perfectly golden along the edges, but it was a bit pale in the center.

At $16, the pie was one of the more affordable desserts, especially considering how large it was at nearly 5 pounds.

This pie was one of the sweetest desserts I tried.
Slcie of apple berry pie
The Kirkland-Signature apple-berry pie wasn't bad.

Paige Bennett

The Kirkland Signature apple-berry pie will certainly satisfy a sweet tooth.

I found the filling, which was very thick, gooey, and sticky, to be extremely sweet. Even just a couple of bites of this pie felt overwhelming to me.

The outer parts of the crust were perfectly crisp and buttery and melted in my mouth. However, the paler center pieces were soft and slightly soggy.

I could see pieces of strawberry and apple in the filling, but the raspberries seemed to have broken down entirely. I also noticed a lot of seeds in the filling; I didn't taste or feel them in my bites, but they didn't look the most appetizing.

Still, the pie was good, at least in small quantities.

The tiramisu cheesecake was the most expensive dessert I found at Costco.
Tiramisu Cheesecake in container at Costco
Costco's tiramisu cheesecake weighs nearly 5 pounds.

Paige Bennett

Costco's classic cheesecake was a hit for me, so I had high hopes for a tiramisu version of it.

This variety had a simple, but pretty, design with piped whipped cream around the top and a light dusting of cocoa powder to mimic tiramisu.

This was the most expensive dessert I tried at $24, but it seems like it could serve a pretty big crowd, given it's 4 Β½ pounds.

This was one of my favorite desserts of the bunch.
Slice of Costco tiramisu cheesecake on plate
Costco's tiramisu cheesecake really impressed me.

Paige Bennett

Costco's tiramisu cheesecake was certainly worth the price.

The cheesecake had a crunchy, chocolaty base with a thick layer of coffee-flavored cheesecake and a top layer of whipped cream.

Its combination of fluffy whipped cream, rich and tangy cheesecake, and crunchy chocolate worked both texturally and flavor-wise.

The only things that would improve this cheesecake would be a side of sliced strawberries and a mug of piping hot coffee.

Overall, this was one of my favorite desserts from Costco.

There are only a few Costco desserts I'd skip during my future shopping trips.
Aerial view of table full of Kirkland bakery desserts
Costco's bakery section has been pretty impressive.

Paige Bennett

All in all, I'd buy nine of these 13 desserts again.

There's a tie for my favorite between the banana cream pie and the white cake with vanilla-cheesecake mousse. Both the classic and tiramisu cheesecakes are also high on my list.

I'd skip the chocolate-covered strawberries, strawberries-and-cream bar cake, the carrot bar cake, and the Mini All-American Cakes.

Of course, regardless of which desserts I'd buy again, I'd make sure to get them when I plan to be with friends or family because most of them were massive.

This story was originally published on June 3, 2024, and most recently updated on April 11, 2025.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I've worked at Costco for 19 years. Here are 8 of the best things I'm seeing on shelves right now.

4 April 2025 at 14:02
A composite image of a woman's hand holding a package of Mission Hill Bistro sliced beef brisket; and boxes of cat trees next to the assembled item on display at Costco.
I think the Mission Hill Bistro beef brisket and Catry cat tree are two of the best things to get at Costco right now.

Veronica Thatcher

  • As a Costco employee of 19 years, I'm always looking for great new products at the store.
  • This month, Costco is carrying delicious food items like the Kirkland Signature extra-crispy fries.
  • I also think the Sunvilla outdoor chair is perfect for relaxing in the warmer weather.

I've been working at Costco for 19 years and am always on the hunt for exciting new products. This month, the warehouse is stocking its shelves with everything from tasty food items to chic home decor.

Here are eight products I recommend checking out at Costco this April.

Prices and product availability may vary by location.

I love making the Kirkland Signature extra-crispy fries in the air fryer.
A bag of Kirkland Signature extra crispy french fries in a shopping cart.
The Kirkland Signature extra-crispy french fries come in a 5-pound bag.

Veronica Thatcher

The new Kirkland Signature extra-crispy french fries can be made in the oven, on the stovetop, or, my favorite method, in the air fryer.

At $5.70 for a 5-pound bag, I recommend grabbing a package at Costco.

The Sunvilla outdoor chair is perfect for spring.
A Sunvilla wicker egg-shaped chair in a box.
The Sunvilla egg-style chair is made for outdoor use.

Veronica Thatcher

With warmer weather approaching, I think the Sunvilla egg-style chair would make the perfect addition to any patio.

The cushions are made for outdoor use and have a special fabric that resists fading, mildew, and stains. The wicker is also made to withstand the elements.

This chic chair is available for $500 at my Costco location.

Kevin's Parmesan-basil chicken bowls are popular at my store.
Boxes of Kevin's frozen Parmesan-basil chicken bowls.
Four meals come in each box of Kevin's Parmesan-basil chicken bowls.

Veronica Thatcher

When I started seeing more and more Kevin's Parmesan-basil chicken bowls in members' carts, I knew I had to try them.

The microwavable bowls contain chicken breast pieces in Parmesan sauce with broccoli and zucchini. It contains 34 grams of protein and keeps me full for a long time.

Each box comes with four single-serve bowls for $15.

Costco has Michelin wiper blades in a variety of sizes.
A display of Michelin windshield wipers in various sizes.
April is a great time to replace old wiper blades.

Veronica Thatcher

It's no secret that April can be rainy, so now is a great time to switch out your windshield wipers.

The Michelin wiper blades come in various sizes and are designed to last. These are available for $11 each at my store.

The Mission Hill Bistro sliced beef brisket makes dinner easy.
A woman's hand holding a package of Mission Hill Bistro smoked, sliced beef brisket.
The Mission Hill Bistro sliced beef brisket comes fully cooked.

Veronica Thatcher

I love the tasty, sliced beef Brisket from Mission Hill Bistro. The best part is that it comes fully cooked and can be ready after just five minutes in the microwave.

This item is sold by the pound, so the price varies by weight.

These Bose earbuds also come with a $50 gift card.
A hand holding a card that can be exchanged at the register for Bose earbuds.
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra earbuds can hold a charge for up to six hours.

Veronica Thatcher

The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra earbuds have noise-cancellation technology and can hold a charge for up to six hours. They even come with a $50 gift card that can be used at the Apple or Google Play stores.

My Costco sells these Bose earbuds for $300.

Red's carne asada breakfast burritos are the perfect way to start the morning.
Boxes of Red's carne asada breakfast burritos.
Red's carne asada breakfast burritos can be found in the freezer section.

Veronica Thatcher

If you're looking for a good, hearty meal, you may want to try Red's carne asada breakfast burritos.

Each box contains 10 delicious burritos stuffed with carne asada, poblano peppers, and eggs. These can be found in the freezer section at Costco for $18.

Treat your furry friends with the Catry cat tree.
Boxes of cat trees next to the assembled item on display at Costco.
The Catry cat tree has a cozy hammock at the bottom.

Veronica Thatcher

I recommend checking out the 5-foot Catry cat tree if you have cats at home. It has a cozy hammock, a washable bed, and toys to keep your cats happy. This item is available at my Costco for $90.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I finally get the Costco hype now that I moved from an apartment to a house. Here are 18 purchases I swear by.

3 April 2025 at 20:00
costco cart full of groceries
I shop at Costco about once a month now that I live in a house in California instead of an apartment in New York City.

Julia Gilban-Cohen

  • I grew up in tiny NYC apartments, so the thought of shopping at Costco was a distant luxury.
  • However, my partner and I recently moved into a house in Los Angeles and now love it there.
  • We get gas, protein bars, batteries, frozen fruit, and more at Costco each month.

I grew up in New York City and have always lived in small apartments without much storage space. It just never made sense for me to buy groceries in bulk.

However, my partner and I recently moved to Los Angeles, and now we have a whole house to ourselves. One of the best perks of our new life is taking monthly trips to Costco for all our favorite items.

Here are my favorite things to get there.

Gas is always at the top of our shopping list.
gas pump at costco
I probably fill my car up about once a week at Costco.

Julia Gilban-Cohen

We tend to have a Costco shopping trip at least once a month, and I also go there about once a week to fuel my car.

Gas is expensive, especially in Los Angeles, and Costco typically has unbeatable prices β€” particularly for premium, which is what my Mini Cooper takes.

The best part is I can easily check the rate on a daily basis when using the store's app, which helps me determine if Costco gas prices are better than competitors that day.

We often buy a five-pack of steaks to use for dinners throughout the week.
pack of five steaks at costco
We eat a lot of Kirkland Signature steak.

Julia Gilban-Cohen

My partner is a carnivore to the max. To him, nothing beats the five-pack of the Kirkland Signature boneless New York steaks.

They taste great on the grill or in a cast-iron pan and are often the star of a delicious weekday meal for us.

Ribs are also a must-buy.
bulk pack of ribs at costco
We can get a huge rack of ribs at Costco.

Julia Gilban-Cohen

We never skip out on buying Costco's ribs, especially since we can get over 9 pounds of meat for about $35.

The store also stocks pre-seasoned ribs, which are great when we're out of our homemade dry rub. We'll make these for ourselves or when having friends over for a barbecue.

Greek yogurt is a versatile staple.
tub of kirkland greek yogurt
I'm a fan of the Kirkland brand of Greek yogurt.

Julia Gilban-Cohen

I'm a huge fan of Kirkland Signature products, and I especially like the label's organic Greek yogurt.

It's perfect for making smoothies creamy or adding protein to granola.

I have plenty of room in my freezer for frozen fruit.
big bag of frozen strawberries at costco
On one trip, I got 4 pounds of strawberries for $10.

Julia Gilban-Cohen

Now that I live in a house, I have room in my freezer to buy staples in bulk, like frozen strawberries.

I'm usually pretty happy with the prices of frozen fruit at Costco, so I pick up mixed berries or strawberries there.

Recently, I got 4 pounds of Kirkland Signature organic strawberries for $10, which felt like a steal compared to prices I've seen at other local grocery stores.

Kirkland Signature paper towels feel like a steal.
stacks of paper towels at costco
I buy big bulk packs of paper towels at Costco now that I have storage space.

Julia Gilban-Cohen

Again, now that I have the space, I'm able to buy more household staples in bulk.

We often pick up big packs of the Kirkland Signature paper towels and store them in our shed to optimize kitchen space.

These affordable paper towels are thick and powerful. One 12-pack of rolls often lasts us over two months, especially since we supplement the use of them with microfiber cloths.

I also get my batteries in bulk.
bulk packs of batteries at costco
Kirkland Signature has batteries.

Julia Gilban-Cohen

Since we live in a house with a ton of random gadgets, we somehow always need batteries. I try to keep a few varieties on hand.

Fortunately, we've found Kirkland Signature batteries to be fairly affordable and easy to buy in bulk. They especially came in handy during the recent California wildfires, when we lost power and needed to use flashlights.

I'm so glad we've found sugar-free Liquid IV.
bulk packs of sugar free liquid IV
I can't find the sugar-free version of Liquid IV at most stores near me.

Julia Gilban-Cohen

Working from home, I get distracted and find myself not hydrating frequently or as much as I should. So, I like that I can use Liquid IV to boost the flavor and hydration power of my water with electrolytes and sugar-free flavoring.

I'm usually not able to find sugar-free Liquid IV at my local grocery stores, but Costco always seems to have some packs in stock.

We go through a lot of Kirkland Signature protein bars.
boxes of kirkland protein bars
I usually eat one Kirkland Signature protein bar a day.

Julia Gilban-Cohen

My partner and I typically each eat one Kirkland Signature protein bar a day.

I don't eat too much meat, so these bars help me easily get 21 grams of protein when I need a boost.

We usually buy the variety pack with 10 cookie-dough and 10 brownie bars. My partner likes the cookie-dough flavor, and I prefer the brownie one β€” a match made in heaven.

Dates are always in my cart.
bulk pack of dates at costco
I love dates.

Julia Gilban-Cohen

I'm a huge date girl. Dates really are nature's candy.

I love eating them raw on their own, making date bark with some peanut butter and chocolate chips, or incorporating them into a smoothie or yogurt bowl.

They're a great source of fiber, potassium, and magnesium too.

Costco has some of the best deals on vanilla extract I've seen.
bulk vanilla extract at costco
I like buying big bottles of vanilla extract.

Julia Gilban-Cohen

I love baking, but quality vanilla extract is a key ingredient in many recipes that can be expensive and hard to find in larger quantities.

At Costco, however, I can find 16 ounces of pure vanilla extract for under $12. To me, that's an amazing deal.

Nothing beats the Kirkland Signature three-pack of honey's flavor and price.
bulk honey bottles at costco
I've been happy with the quality of Kirkland Signature honey.

Julia Gilban-Cohen

Kirkland Signature honey is one of our pantry staples since I'm a huge tea fan and love adding it to my drinks. I also recently got my partner into peppermint tea, which can be enhanced with a dollop of honey.

This honey tastes high-quality β€” and getting three 24-ounce bottles of it for under $13 feels like a bargain.

Costco sells my favorite pimple patches.
hero mighty patch pimple patches at costco
My Costco sells Hero Mighty Patches.

Julia Gilban-Cohen

Yes, I still struggle with acne in my late 20s. I really like the pimple patches from Hero because they can hardly be seen when they're applied correctly.

I'll often wear one or two when I'm traveling on a plane, taking a between-Zoom-meeting stroll, or even having virtual calls.

The stickers help me avoid picking at my skin, and I'm a firm believer they make my pimples disappear much faster.

Having bulk containers of allergy meds has been a game changer.
bottle of bulk allergy medication at costco
I get bad seasonal allergies.

Julia Gilban-Cohen

As someone who deals with allergies, I always try to keep medication on hand that will help me deal with symptoms.

Name-brand options can get pricey, especially since I take tablets every day. So, I opt for Kirkland Signature allergy medicine.

The $5 bottle of 600 pills does my wallet a huge favor.

Big containers of ibuprofen can come in handy, too.
bulk bottles of ibprofen at costco
I stock up on ibuprofen at Costco.

Julia Gilban-Cohen

One of the first things we did when moving into our first place together was buy a first-aid kit. After that, we stocked up on some of our staple medications, like ibuprofen

I can get big tubs of CeraVe at the bulk retailer.
bulk pack of cerave moisturizer at costco
I love that I can grab my skincare alongside my groceries.

Julia Gilban-Cohen

Since moving to Los Angeles, my skin has struggled to adjust to the dry climate. So, I've been buying bulk packs of the CeraVe moisturizing cream and using it morning and night.

Hydrating and not greasy, the cream has been my hero as of late. Plus, it's fairly affordable at Costco at $25 for two 16-ounce tubs.

I like to peruse the clothing section while I'm shopping.
lounge wear sets at costco
Some of the lounge sets at Costco are comfy and pretty affordable.

Julia Gilban-Cohen

Perhaps one of the best things about Costco is that it's truly a one-stop shop. I always check the retailer's clothing section and often pick up a piece or two.

My latest favorite purchase is the $18 two-piece lounge set from Honeydew. It's so cozy and especially great on long car or plane rides.

I have to end every Costco run at the food court.
people in line at costco food court
Costco's hot dogs are good and cheap.

Julia Gilban-Cohen

Lastly, we end our shopping trip with celebratory Costco hot dogs, which cost just $1.50 each and come with a soft drink.

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