SAVE a Fortune at Costco & Walmart

[Addy]

My wife goes in to down grade or cancel her costco card and keeps getting 3 months added. Think this has been going for close to year.

3 months added for free? Or three months and your wife pays for those months?

[Dana]

You actually don't need to pay for a Costco membership at all. If you know someone who has a membership and they are willing to purchase Costco gift cards for you, you can shop at Costco without a membership if you are using gift cards.

(I purchase Costco gift cards for my sister at Christmas - she doesn't have a membership - this scheme has worked for us as recently as Christmas 2009, but you may want to check and make sure Costco hasn't changed their policy before you go out and purchase a bunch of cards)

This can also be a good way to budget your spending at Costco to the amount you spend on gift cards.

Another benefit to using gift cards is that when you purchase them on-line via costco.ca you can pay by visa/mastercard - so if you collect points/miles from either visa/mastercard you can earn those points/miles and still shop at Costco.

[canabiz]

Bumping up an older thread as we have been shopping more and more at Costco and Walmart lately. Food prices have certainly been going up, across the board and as owners of a new home, we have been throwing many house-warming parties/get2gethers and there is no better way to feed a big crowd than to shop at Costco.

For smaller portions, I find Walmart price extremely competitive. I have been fighting a pretty nasty summer cold and was looking for some NeoCitran (sp?) tea, Shoppers has them for $11.99, Loblaws for $7.99 and Walmart? $7.67. I don't recall seeing that at Costco but if they do carry it, I wouldn't mind grabbing a box as you never know when you will need it

[andrewf]

Neocitran is just tylenol and lemon, no?

[canabiz]

Neocitran is just tylenol and lemon, no?

Possibly. I do know it has been working for me and I usually grab a few at Shoppers when it goes on sale. Great for trips as well.

[Plugging Along]

I used to buy everything at Costco. Wha I did learn when I decided to be really frugal is just like everywhere else you have to know your prices and shop around.

Costco definately has some of the best quality and stands behind the products. I find if I am looking for something and it's not on sale anywhere Costco is the best. However i Find that Superstore is pretty comparable but the qualit is not as good for perishables.

Produce can definately be found cheaper on sale.

[Square Root]

We get several times the membership fee back every year. We shop at Costco in Arizona using the same card and get credit for our purchases there as well. Incidently, Costco sells liquor, wine and beer in their Arizona stores. The prices are superb: I have bought Cliquot champagne at $36, La Crema Chard at $14! I wish I had some of their stock.

[andrewf]

I always wondered why people shop at Shoppers. They neocitran example is typical. They are often 50% higher than other competitors. You can easily spend $10-$20 more than you have to vs buying your personal care items at the grocery store. It's outrageous.

[canabiz]

I always wondered why people shop at Shoppers. They neocitran example is typical. They are often 50% higher than other competitors. You can easily spend $10-$20 more than you have to vs buying your personal care items at the grocery store. It's outrageous.

I could give 2 reasons:

1. Optimum points. I am not an Optimum junkie but I understand if you play it right e.g. shop on days with big promo, you can get good returns.

2. Selections. Shoppers carries quite a few items/brands that are simply not available anywhere else. I was looking for some Eucalyptus oil to treat my cold and I practically went all over town (Loblaws, Walmart, Zellers, Metro) and could not find one and grudgingly paid $6.99 for a tiny bottle which has helped tremendously so take your pick: saving $6.99 or getting over a cold?

I also use an after-shave balm that I have only found at Shoppers (search all over town and on-line as well). I have sensitive skin and again for $9.99/bottle that lasts me a few months or so (I don't grow a lot of facial hairs to begin with), it's a no-brainer, andrew.

[andrewf]

Optimum points: aren't you paying for them through the markup?

I can see odd things you want quickly, such as eucalyptus oil. I imagine health food stores would carry it, though. But for the majority of things you might buy: antiperspirant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, shaving, etc. the markup is significant and unnecessary. Plus it is another store to stop at, versus a minute or two detour when you're shopping for food.