Becoming a Costco member sounds incredible and very tempting, right? We know it well. Low prices, exclusive products, giant packs of everything you love, wow… But if you’re new and show up there without thinking too much, you might end up spending more than you expected, just because you got carried away! Especially if you go on the weekend. It’s not an exaggeration, but your wallet will thank you for reading this article.
What seems like a small, unimportant detail, like the day and time you go, can make the difference between a calm shopping trip and a total chaos that ends up draining your pocket. Saturday afternoon might be the worst possible idea. And we’re going to tell you why.
Weekends: a suicide mission
Weekends (Saturday and Sunday) are Costco’s battlefield. It’s packed with people who can only go on their day off. But of course, add to that the samples everywhere, entire families with carts full of stuff, and people moving like it’s the end of the world… and you have the perfect storm. Oh, how nice it is to shop on a Wednesday afternoon…
In the end, you end up grabbing the first thing you see because there’s no way to calmly compare prices or think clearly with so many people around
Quick shopping turns expensive
The pressure of people behind you, crowded aisles, and that little voice that says “since I’m here, might as well take advantage” makes you throw things in the cart you hadn’t even planned to buy. The free samples and those huge sale signs don’t help either. All of that makes you forget the list you brought, and that, in the end, means spending more and more on things you might not even need, but that caught your eye!
So, when should you go?
People who’ve been Costco members for a while know it well: weekdays, first thing in the morning. Right when they open, there won’t be any stressed-out people, no babies crying because they’re tired. You’ll have more parking, empty aisles, and you can compare prices without feeling like you’re in the middle of a marathon!
You’ll miss the samples? Yes, but the savings, and above all the peace of mind, are worth way more.
And what does Costco do to keep it from getting so crowded?
Well, they’ve tried to come up with solutions. For example, you can’t enter the food court area anymore if you’re not a member. That’s to free up the parking a bit and avoid the store getting packed just because of the hot dogs. But that doesn’t change the fact that, if you go during peak hours, the chaos is still the same…
Going with a plan: what makes the difference
Costco can be a savings paradise (in fact, it is), but only if you go in with a plan. Avoiding peak hours isn’t just about comfort, it helps you actually see what’s worth it, compare things, and not end up buying stuff you don’t need and that’ll just take up space in your cupboards!
If you make good use of your membership, the savings are huge. But that only happens if you shop calmly and not like it’s Black Friday every time you go in!
Plan before you go (your wallet will thank you)
Being a Costco member is a good decision, but you have to know how to use it. And that starts by not making the rookie mistake: going when everyone else goes. Picking the right time can save you money, stress, and even arguments in the frozen foods aisle. And above all, go with a list of what you need (or at least a spending budget), because we all know what happens at Costco and how we end up coming back loaded with stuff we didn’t need!