We’ve all experienced walking into the grocery store with a list and walking out with double the food you planned on getting. When you shop at Costco, that phenomenon is amplified to its highest degree. You go in for toilet paper and a rotisserie chicken, and you come out with $300 in snacks, fancy bathroom soap, and a kayak you didn’t know you needed.
It’s turned into a running joke among Costco members, but when you’re on a budget, those impulse buys really can be a problem. Does everyone else really buy as much (or as little) as you do? How much are people actually spending at Costco on an average trip? That’s what one curious Costco member on Reddit wanted to know, and posed the question to his fellow shoppers.
The Problem
“Just came back from Costco to get some paper towels,” said u/Street_Buddy_6430. “I ended up spending over $200 on miscellaneous stuff I just ‘had to have’. I swear, Costco is the expert at getting its members to pick up things they never planned on buying. What about you? How much do you spend in a typical Costco errand run?”
“$250-$300 a week usually,” said u/Minute-Joke9758. “I have two horses though, I mean teenage boys, and a third smaller one.”
“$100 per person in your household,” commented u/waloshin, which seems like a nice round target to aim for, honestly.
Those who shop less often tend to have larger bills. “We usually go once a month and I can’t remember the last time it was under $400. Usually the bill is $4-500,” said u/AdSpiritual838. “That is typically just buying normal grocery, household, baby items.”
There are some very disciplined folks that actually stick to their lists, and we’re in awe. “$80-100, I keep to my list,” bragged u/bace3333.
As expected, most people had similar stories of overspending at Costco — so if you’re in that boat (or that stupid kayak you bought), you’re not alone. Our absolute favorite example? “I went yesterday to pickup some wine and came home with a tabletop MsPacMan.”
The Solution?
Some Redditors offered tips on how to avoid the overspending problem, though we’re not so sure they’re advice as much as jokes.
“I started going in without a cart to limit my purchases,” said u/Fractals88. “I just have stronger arms now.” (We’ve all seen those people juggling giant peanut butters and armfuls of bananas on the way to the checkout.)
Many people suggest leaving your family at home in order to stick to your list. “By myself and only going off of my list, usually $200 – $250,” said u/brianandrobyn. “If I take the family, easily $400.”
A number of people did have some practical advice we never thought of before: Do your Costco shopping on Instacart in order to avoid every temptation of being in the store.
“Ordering via Instacart is pricier per item but I don’t buy random stuff,” explained u/afinebalance. “The last time I went in I spent $230 more than what I would have spent using instacart. I added everything to my instacart cart before entering the store to compare. I love Costco too much and I have no control once I step foot into that store.”
Same, fellow Costco member, same.
More Costco content:
- Grab These 10 Early Christmas Finds at Costco Before They Sell Out — The retailer has stocked holiday hits that will most likely disappear from shelves before Thanksgiving.
- 15 Costco Hot Dog Facts That Define a Food-Court Classic — We take an in-depth look at the dish that has kept fans coming back to Costco’s food court for decades.
- The Worst Costco Locations in America According to Annoyed Customers — We rank the worst Costco locations in the United States, focusing on the stores that earn the lowest marks from shoppers for crowding, parking issues, poor layouts, and restocking problems.
