Food Theory: Costco DOESN’T Save You Money!

Amazing video Food Theorist Team! 😀Costco Hot Dog + Soda Combo Forever!!!

Matpat’s inner dad is on full display. Trying to be as cheap as possible with shopping like a true father.

When I lived in LA in a large, poor, family, my mother used her Costco membership exactly how you're suggesting. Every other dinner was Costco hotdogs, and it kept our family fed for years. We couldn't afford meals, so 3.00$ to feed 5 people was a great deal. My mother is an amazing and thrifty woman.

I have a Costco within a mile or two of my house. I probably make up my membership fee just from rotisserie chickens. I think I've become recognizable to the staff by repeatedly walking out with just a chicken. My 4-year-old knows that we have to look for the biggest chicken

As someone who worked there, they also move products around regularly to make you spend longer looking for things. Its not just the random placements, the placements change constantly.

Shrinkflation is also terrifying I work in a grocery store and noticed that a brand of pasta sauce had changed their Alfredo sauce to be like 100ml less. Noticeably smaller jar and same price

As the oldest of 7, Costco and Sam's Club are a lifesaver. When you have to buy 9 peoplesworth of things, you end up getting way more bang for your buck, you use everything, and it's way less individual items to handle when shopping. So while it's a mediocre deal for an average family, it works wonders for a large family like mine.

We did the math, back when we lived near a CostCo. The best deal was actually the gas--it typically ran about 10-25 cents a gallon below the nearest stations in any direction. That pretty much covered the cost of our basic membership over the course of a year.

Some really great points made. One thing to consider re bulk purchasing that first came to my mind is: bulk buy what doesn't expire. Ie toilet paper, kleenex, unwaxed floss, pasta, flour, dried legumes etc. Even toiletries and skincare can expire and you'd be surprised how quickly you get sick of the fragrance, or you skin decides to reject your favourite moisturiser you've been using for 10 years - or it's just not moisturising enough now that you've turned 27. Another thought that came to mind - you can really make some cost savings if you have growing sons, even more if they're athletic.

As someone who recently said to my husband "what if we got a costco membership and just ate hotdogs for every meal, that would save a lot of money right?!" I feel like this video is incredibly relevant to me personally.

I have the $120/yr membership, but I don't pay a dime for it. The 2% cash back they give on all of my purchases pays for the membership and usually leaves me $20-40 left over to pur toward my shopping bill. The main reason I keep shopping there is the quality of their produce. No store in the area can beat it. Family of 4.

Mom and I literally did the math on the costco membership and we figured that if we filled up on gas 8 times a year between the two of us, we'd be saving money with the membership. We barely shop there (maybe once a month on average) but the gas savings alone put us ahead. Might be different or not so different for you depending on exactly how much gas you need and how much the costco fuel savings are for you on average. These calculations were done assuming costco was charging 70 cents less than other gas stations for fuel which is roughly accurate to our area.

Back when I lived with my parents, brother, and grandparents, Costco was an ideal place for us to buy most of our groceries. When I moved out with my fiance, it became a LOT harder for us to justify Costco while living in a 1 bedroom apartment with very limited kitchen/refrigerator space.

As a Costco employee who works in the meat plant making the $1.50 hot dogs, I have a lot of pride in the products with make and will always grab a hot dog when I’m out shopping at Costco almost every time.

Honestly, the groceries I have access to, Sobeys, Save On, Safeway, Super Store, Coop, Freshco... none of them sell as fresh meat or Salmon in decent sized packs and the cost of meat is much better at Costco. Plus the salad packs are priced way better. I always just buy the same items I don't impulse buy.

The gas savings, diapers, wipes, and baby formula alone are all worth the membership for me. Also you can find great deals on good quality clothes, with great returns. Found my toddler a winter coat for 12 bucks, a similar one was 30 or 40 at target.

Another factor you didn't mention: as long as one person in a group is a member, a whole group can get in. A lot of families across multiple households will shop together to "share" a membership. Sometimes people three or four households will all go at once.

As a current worker for 5 years, This is all true. But as an employee, benefits, free membership, discounts, and food from the food court (btw you can make your own pizza at the end of the day) is worth it.

I already saved $100 at Costco in March (I bought a $200 electronic device for $100). What I mean is, I went shopping for an electronic item that I found as low as $200 at other stores, then found a BETTER one at Costco for $100 LESS. I have compared prices for things I buy at Costco vs every other grocery store in my area. Costco is better quality and less expensive. The vitamin suppliments are a great value as well. Buying ingredients in bulk does NOT mean that you have to eat the same boring meals every day. A 20lbs bag of rice can be turned into a LOT of different things. Great prices on large quantities of alcohol, which can be used to make extracts. Huge bags of chocolate chips for cookies, large jugs of whipping cream for desserts and you can't beat the 2 flats of 6 humbo muffins for $9.99. These are just things I can think of off the top of my head. Oh, and at my local Costco Business center, I saw whole lambs, just hanging in the refrigerator. I would not know what to do with a whole lamb, I'm just saying it's an ingredient and it's there. Costco is deffinetly my go-to for quality items at discout prices. If you lack self-control and impulse buy, this may not be the store for you but if you can control yourself and NOT buy everything you see, this is a great place to save money! And no, I do not make $100K, I am just frugal and know a good deal when I see it. ❤ Costco ❤ ❣️

Having enough discipline, I have more than made my money back on things we do not waste in our house. With my executive membership, I’ve also earned myself over a grand in rewards this year, so I’m happily pro-Costco haha