There are just certain unwritten rules that you only pick up at Costco after wandering the unmarked, wall-to-wall aisles for years. But we can put you on the fast-track to Costco mastery with these 10 money- and time-saving life hacks, all of which come from warehouse veterans on Reddit.
Park Close to a Cart Return
The Costco parking lot is a nightmare, especially if you’re trying to nab a coveted spot near the entrance. It’s easier, one Redditor argues, to abandon that strategy entirely. “It’s all about parking as close to a cart return as I can for me,” they explain.
Bring Ikea Bags
Those giant blue and yellow Ikea bags are perfect for bulk Costco hauls. Arrange them in the back of your trunk, and then load ‘em up directly from your cart.
Graze on Costco Pizza All Week
Unless you live under a rock, you know that Costco is famous for its food court pizza. Yes, it’s a junk food pie, but it’s also just under $10 for a whole damn pizza. Instead of eating it in one setting (inadvisable), a Costco veteran says that they order one for dinner and then graze on the leftovers for lunch all week.
Buy Day-Old Rotisserie Chicken
OK, so you already know about Costco’s unbeatable $4.99 rotisserie chicken. But if you’re willing to buy a day-old bird, you can get an even better deal, Redditors say. Head to the deli counter, and you should see packages of chicken that include an extra, day-old rotisserie half for just $1 more. It’s the ultimate low-cost meal prep hack.
Related: 11 Easy Rotisserie Chicken Dinners Made With Only Costco Ingredients
Use Costco for Pit Stops
Forget sketchy gas stations and rest stops. If you’re road-tripping, plan to stop at Costcos along the way. “I know they’ll have the least expensive gas, a cheap meal, and usually a decent restroom,” a commenter writes.
For more Costco coverage, please sign up for our free newsletters.
Trending on Cheapism
Shop at Costco Business Center
If you want to do real bulk shopping — we’re talking 40-pound cases of chicken and 15-pound boxes of bacon — head to Costco Business Center. Unless you’ve got a literal army to feed, be sure you have a deep freezer to store your spoils.
Related: I Shopped at a Costco Business Center — Here’s What I Discovered
Rent Cars Through Costco Travel
One Redditor claims that “the cheapest car rentals” are through Costco Travel. The store’s in-house travel agency also offers vacation packages, earning high marks for stellar customer service.
Related: 11 Things to Know About Costco Car Rental
Make Your Own Root Beer Float
For a little over two dollars, you can assemble your own root beer float at the Costco food court. Unfortunately, however, some Redditors report that not all locations offer root beer.
Sign up for our newsletter
Order Caskets Through Costco
It’s a bit strange and morbid to bring up death alongside talk of root beer floats and rotisserie chicken, but consumers should know that Costco sells affordable coffins. One Redditor says Costco includes the delivery fee in the cost and that the discounted casket saved their family “quite a bit of money.”
Related: The Strangest Things You Can Buy at Costco
Grab a Box to Carry Your Food
If you need to get takeout at the Costco food courts — if it’s too crowded, for example — one Redditor says that “a shallow box to help carry” your order to your car is indispensable. You can get a free box from inside Costco, or “reuse the drink holder trays from fast food places.”
