These days, feeding my family is expensive — some months, my grocery bills come close to surpassing my mortgage payments. That’s why I’m grateful for my Costco membership.
While my Costco membership certainly isn’t free (I pay $130 a year for an Executive membership), the savings I enjoy during the year more than make up for it. But there’s a problem I tend to run into when shopping at Costco — being tempted to buy things I don’t need.
I know I’m not alone here. Costco’s massive inventory opens the door to temptation for a lot of people. And because Costco is constantly introducing new products, it can be hard to say no when you see one you’re inspired to own.
To make sure I’m sticking to a budget, I’ve come up with some tricks to avoid impulse purchases at Costco. Here are a few tactics that work for me — and they may work well for you, too.
1. Stick to a list and avoid aisles you don’t need to visit
Making a shopping list before I head to Costco helps me avoid forgetting the items I need. It also helps me avoid buying things I don’t need.
One of my Costco shopping rules is that once I have my list, I’m not allowed to go down any aisle that doesn’t contain an item on it. The way I see it, if I don’t enter those extra aisles, I won’t be tempted by their contents. In some cases, I may not even know what I’m missing out on.
2. Pass up the free samples
One big perk of a Costco membership is getting to sample different foods at the store. But if you want to steer clear of impulse purchases, say no to those samples.
If you’re shopping while hungry and eat a bite that’s tasty, it may trick your brain into thinking you need to bring home a large quantity of whatever it is. In reality, perhaps you’re just in need of a meal.
If you find that sampling food typically leads to extra purchases, just say no. It’ll also get you in and out of Costco faster.
3. Steer clear of the front of the store
The front of the store is where Costco tends to feature a mishmash of sale items. You might find everything from marked-down sunscreen to seasonal chocolates to throw blankets greeting you when you first walk in.
It’s impossible to stay away from the front of the store completely — you need to pass it to get inside. But what you can do is divert your eyes and tell yourself you’re not allowed to stop and look. This rule has saved me from many impulse purchases.
And if you are tempted to buy something you see on sale at the front of the store, don’t add it to your shopping cart right away. Instead, finish the rest of your shopping and go back for it if you still want the item in question 30 minutes later. Chances are, in that stretch of time, you’ll realize it’s not worth buying — or that there’s no more room in your cart for it, anyway.
4. Only shop with cash
Swiping the right credit card at Costco could help you enjoy even more savings during your shopping. Click here for a list of the best credit cards for Costco.
But shopping with a credit card could also open the door to impulse buys. If you can’t seem to break that habit, start limiting yourself to paying with cash instead.
Of course, shopping with cash is tricky. You’ll need to look at recent receipts to calculate the cost of your purchases, and you risk ending up short on cash if the price of some of your items is higher than expected.
For this reason, I only recommend shopping with cash as a last resort. But if all else fails, it could be the move that prevents you from overspending.
It’s not easy to say no to extra purchases at Costco. But following these tips could lead to lower spending on your part. And that could improve your financial situation in a very big way.