Take Your House Back: cli.re/Take-Your-House-Back-Dawn JUST $84 right now through Monday! We'd love to help you declutter your house in the new year! Thank you for watching :) - Dawn
I need this. I was raised by wonderful parents… and my Mom saw value in e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g! So she made me feel guilty for getting rid of anything. That set me up for disaster as a new mom who feels weighed down and unable to manage that much inventory. Shockingly, we grew up in a very clean and orderly home… so while she was def a hoarder, a visitor would never know. I LOVE your content, and wish I could pay you to come over. My husband would happily rent a dumpster. And I’m working on it… I promise. My progress is just so Slow. 😢 if I wasn’t staying at home to raise our baby, I would take this course in a heartbeat. We’re just trying to budget ourselves, and so, hopefully, I can take your course next year. Merry Christmas Dawn, and thank you SO much for your content!!!!! It is super helpful! Hugs, Katie
I buy Kirkland baby wipes, paper towels, toilet paper, garbage bags and laundry pods. I also buy Premier protein drinks and I buy their vitamins when they are on sale. I buy their rotisserie chicken and I will buy their bananas.I probably go every 2 months; I hate crowds, traffic and busy parking lots!
Costco fits in perfect for minimalism for us because there’s less options and usually Costco carries quality items. Less decision fatigue and driving around. Frees up more time which is what I’m always after.
Yes I completely agree. I also wait to go to Costco so I can make the trip worth it and get everything there, instead of having to go to multiple stores. I feel when I do this I spend a lot less and make less impulse buys.
We go to Costco on average 2 times per week & also take advantage of their gasoline prices for members!!! We use so many of the food items, mostly organic (they have a FABULOUS selection of organic foods), toilet paper is purchased when on sale, most of our tech/TV products are purchased at Costco because they offer an extra year of warranty coverage after the manufacturer’s warranty ends, we purchase sooooo much from COSTCO! We also get cash back at least once or twice a year usually around $200 or more each time! We have the Executive Membership that I believe is around $125/year. Couldn’t do without COSTCO❤!😊
I agree, we go once per month and it helps cut down on trips elsewhere. There’s a little bit of everything but not too much of anything 😆 and the products in those middle isles change fairly often, so you do get variety too. I cant say the quality is there for everything, we’ve had some misses but at the same time you can usually trust the quality too.
Costco isn't necessarily less decision fatigue for me cause everything is AWESOME haha but decision fatigue is REAL for me online with SO MANY choices, price comparisons, and reviews 🤪
I joined Costco for a year and I'm a tiny woman. I hated it. It's overwhelming and I could never reach what I needed! I could barely push the cart when it was full. However I did really like the selection and prices. Pros and cons I suppose!
I go to Costco weekly & really like the small selection for things. Like if you want peanut butter, there's only one option. So much less decision fatigue! I've also gotten really good about going directly to my staples and blocking out the rest. If nothing else, the savings on gas alone pays for my membership.
As soon as she said, "Tell me what makes your membership worth it." I screamed, "THE GAS MA'AM!!!!" 🤣 easily $.50 to $.60 cheaper per gallon than any other station around.
@@darbymohon9048 Yes, absolutely! The savings on the gas is definitely worth paying for the membership!! My husband and I sometimes go to the nearest Costco JUST for the gas and never go into the store! I say I want/need a few things but let;s wait until another trip when I will really need more in the grocery area.
I drew a stovetop burners and faux knobs on the lid of a big plastic tub that I used to store the play food and kitchen items in. Took up way less space than a play kitchen and served as storage for the play kitchen items.
I like Costco as company because I appreciate their business model and how much they value their employees. We moved and go less often, but there are staples we get there. And I like the clothes there. 😁
This! I remember thinking once about not buying some of the things I could shop on sale elsewhere (like toothpaste) but realized I appreciate the company structure over something like Walmart/Sam’s or Amazon.
Yes, you're correct! I have several rolls that are double sided/reversible, so you get 2 styles with 1 roll. The rolls I've purchased from Costco over the years will last for 2-4 Christmas seasons so totally worth the $
I agree! But I also feel guiltily using it because I feel like I'm wasting really good paper just to later throw away. Even though DT paper can be a pain to wrap with since it is thin, at least it is less paper I'm throwing.😅
@@kevinanddeb8829 then toss it! Lol 10 bucks to wrap gifts for multiple years is amazing...but I'd spend $10 at least on walmart and dollar tree paper! It's the only roll I keep...so I don't mind keeping it
I dropped Costco years ago and have not looked back. Dawn, what you said about consuming things more quickly when you have a huge package of something is TOTALLY true, and I have never had lots of space for back -stock storage. And then I end up with way too much inventory! I have been living Lidl lately (similar to Aldi), and appreciate way lower prices but without the bulk aspect. Also, switching to only buying what we need for a week (without lots of stocking up when things are on sale) has helped bring down our grocery bill and stress!
Same here - well said to all of it! Plus none of the aisles are labeled so if you wanted to go back to the aisle to pick something up that you forgot, you can't remember which aisle it was in because they're not labeled. Costco just didn't work for us either.
we love the balance between aldi + costco. we also limit our trips there to 1x per month and only buy bulk of cleaning supplies, meat, & household consumables. I make one list & pick the items with a bigger savings & longer shelf life up at costco and then items i need less of or have a shorter shelf life up at aldi.
I am from central europe, and yes, we really eat these cookies! 😆 This kind of assorted cookie box is very popular and can be bought in every supermarket over here. 🍪🙋♀️
Those cookies went FAST in our household. We’re gonna get another tin for closer to Christmas bc otherwise they do not last long 😂 they are very authentic. I lived in France and they reminded me of Noel in Nantes ♥️
I feel it is very general to call them European cookies. Every country has their own unique baking style. I love it when English speakers say stroopwafels, it the ‘o’ from ocean and the w is a v.
Thank you, I was also curious. I have seen some videos from other countries that try and eat American food and I scratch my head in wonder because food in America is just as diverse as it is on your side of the pond. So I never know how accurate it is. I was raised on the West coast on a Kosher diet which is completely different than my husband who was brought up on a midwestern diet. I have always had a fascination about British/UK food and I feel sometimes even the quality of your processed/packaged foods is superior to some of the processed/packaged foods we have here.
I’m of Dutch heritage and I live in Canada. I’m loving having stroopwaffels at Costco up here too. We pronounce it strope-waffle (like stroke). They are lekker (Dutch for tasty) when you let them sit on top of your tea cup so it gets nice and warm and gooey!!
When I was an exchange student in The Netherlands many years ago, the first word my 12 year old “sister” taught me was “lekker”! 🙂 Would get warm-off-the-griddle stroopwafelen at the local outdoor market and still love them!
I don't tolerate gluten but have found that i can eat two of these cookies every once in a while with no issues. My doctor is from Ireland and since coming to Canada she cannot eat any gluten products. The cookies are a real treat.
My family learned about stroopwaffels--including the correct pronunciation--from my Dutch brother-in-law and have been fans ever since :) I know of several places around town where I can get them (I'm also in Canada).
We love stroopwaffels too, but I've found the ones at Costco to be of lesser quality than those coming from our local Dutch stores here in Ontario. The ones last year anyway, were unusually soft (syrup would drip out and get all over the packaging) and they were a little tasteless. The price was right though!
As a dutch person I can guarantee you that we love stroopwafels in Holland, they are like part of our national heritage. :) Amazing to see they have them in the US now. With regards to the 'European cookies', I only recognize one of those cookies... but I guess it differs a lot per European country what kind of cookies they sell.
Stroopwafels are delicious! I buy them at my local grocery store which has them imported from the Netherlands. 💙 Take care and cheers from Ontario Canada. ❄🎄
I’m in Australia and we can get Stroopwaffles in any supermarket now. Which we love because our kids fell in love when in Amsterdam. Warmed over a hot cup of something….yum!
I left a separate comment, but I’m replying to you because I’m just laughing over the stroopwafels! We’re American (we live only one state over from Dawn, actually) and only ever got them on international flights until recently. My hubby is an international pilot and is obsessed with them and has had them mail ordered for years. And then he hides them so we don’t eat them too fast!
You can't beat Costco prices especially on paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning products, eggs, butter, etc. You have to go in prepared with a list and stay focused if you don't want to impulse buy! The prepared foods are a really good alternative to eating out. I try to limit my trips to once a month and go when they first open before lines get long. I can be in and out in 15 min.
I will be sixty-three, and I get excited and enjoy watching your videos and shopping. I don't have much family where we live, so it's like going with family and close friends when you are on the road and sharing. My husband and I are from Minnesota, and we are headed back up north when my husband retires in a few years. Hearing your voice around my home is heartwarming and comforts me since I miss my family. I admit to keeping your videos playing during the day at times. I appreciate the wisdom about toys, ideas, and cautions for the grandkids. We don't have a Costco, so would you consider shopping at Sam's? We don't have an Aldi's either, but I find Big Lots is a great place to find unusual holiday items which are reasonably priced. God bless you, Dawn, and your ministry to help others.
When you miss your family, consider messaging your Minimal Mom family. I think many people would be here for you, including me! Make sure your notifications button says "All", then you know when someone writes you.
I have to admit that the giant squishmallows get more use in our house than the little ones! Costco has the best prices, and our kids use them for pillows, floor pillows, punching bags, pillow fights… they get pretty creative. I also appreciate that they [just barely] fit in the wash and wash up really well! They’ve held up over the last 2 years through all the abuse and are about the only stuffed things in our house that haven’t had to be re-sewed.
I totally agree. We have 7 kids and only 2 squishmallows. I find them all over the house being used for all sorts of things. And they wash up great as long as you have a big front load washer.
Thanks for taking us in the store to experience it. I think it would be so hard to talk to a video while going through a store, but I’m glad you do it for us. Thanks.
i have used costco gift wrap for years and LOVE it. I love that it is stronger paper (less likely to tear,) and is printed on both sides, so two for one, and there is a LOT of paper per roll. I have found it to be a great value! Also, the ribbon is beautiful, and an awesome value for what it is as well!
Dawn, I laughed so many times through this video. I have been a Costco member since 1984. I have not paid any membership dues since 2004. Because we have the executive membership and every year it pays us back over and above what the cost of the executive membership is. I’ll go probably once a week, maybe once every two weeks. And I love Costco so much! I’m sorry that you had a little bit of a tough time while you were there. Inflation has hit everywhere for sure. By the way bath bombs go for 5 to 8 dollars a piece when you’re buying them in a store so that mini bath bombs for $20 was actually a really good guy. Do you know if there is a cheaper place to get back bombs? I would love to hear it. I don’t use them myself because they’re so expensive, but I know several people that make them and sell them and they charge a tremendous amount of money per use. A possible solution to Tom using his Celsius drinks too quickly would be to simply put the box away in the basement and show him three bottles every week as you always have. Also, I don’t agree with Diana‘s assessment of the clothing from Costco. I think that in general their clothing is good quality. And excellent value. For about the first 25 years of our Costco membership I would religiously check reviews, price check with other stores and other models and 100% of the time Costco had The best price for the highest quality model of whatever it was we were shopping for. After 25 years, I just stopped comparison shopping because it was such a big waste of my time. And our family philosophy is if Costco carries it and it’s something we need just get it at Costco. Also because their return policy is the best return policy in the business you can’t go wrong, there’s no risk. You can use something up where it out and still return it. I just love you and your heart, and thank you for taking us along on your journey. I also believe you chose the right color longjohns for Tom! It’s so funny during the video I was calling out my opinions as you went through the store hoping you would make the same decisions I would so funny!😂🤣😅
Yes to all this!!! I resisted for a while too…. But it really has been worth it. It is a spendy trip every time but 🤷🏼♀️ we live far enough away from one that i don’t feel like I even can go each week- so once a month works for our family. 🥰🥰 best of luck to you!!
Yeah I would assume a carters outfit there is the same as every other carters baby outfit so the baby clothes for Cora should be fine. Also agree the cheapest bath bombs I see are at Dollar tree and when the lady I watch reviews them some don’t even fizz.
We have the executive membership also and our annual reward always exceeds the membership fee. I've shopped in Costco more over the past two years than ever before and the savings are significant. In the last year alone I've saved hundreds buying groceries and household items in bulk, particularly whole foods and meal ingredients.
It really pays to buy food there, especially if you are willing to repackage the meat and freeze it, and if you have plenty of freezer and pantry space. We rely on Costco for whatever groceries we can get there.
Minimal Mom is UNPACKING COSTCO! OMG! I am consistently mystified by COSTCO and what is actually worth it ... Dawn is saving our family once again!! You are so awesome, thank you so MUCH!
Unfortunately, she's talking about gifts, clothing and random seasonal items. The real savings in Costco are on standard grocery, pantry and household items. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about the Stroopwafels :) but Costco isn't the best place to shop for Christmas gifts.
My husband and I go to Costco probably once a week. We LOVE Costco! Like some others have said, we have the executive membership and don't have any dues. We spend enough to cover our membership and more. I love their produce, meats, rotisserie chicken, dog food, paper products, etc. Also, that street corn dip is BOMB, I highly recommend it! I think Costco has helped us keep it simple and stay with minimalist grocery shopping!
We have the executive membership ($120), but you get a cash-back check in the mail at the end of your membership year and we spend enough at Costco that it covers the renewal cost plus some, so it’s free! Our regular items that we buy consistently are diapers, wipes, toilet paper, paper towels, milk, eggs, cheese, maple syrup, chicken nuggets, spaghetti sauce, kid snacks and socks lol 😅 We love Costco, but we generally try and only go once a month, otherwise it blows the budget! Loved all your suggestions Dawn!
Yes the diapers and wipes are the best for their price! 👏Also the eggs and toilet paper and kids snacks( 3 kids under 5) are regulars for us too! Their organic maple syrup is the best. I love that they have so many organic options there too, Love Costco!
Are there any additional benefits you actually use other than the 2% Reward certificate? I just realized that if you spend $3000/year, you at least get the $60 Exec membership up-charge back in rewards. $6000/yr refunds the entire $120 Exec membership.
@@randerson458 ^like Sarah said, $6k per year refunds the entire $120 membership. But we also get fuel there; hands down .35c plus per gallon savings every single time. Even if you only fill up 1-2x per month we save $5 per tank & 5x12 is $72 saved filling up only 1x month straight into your pocket. then costco guarantees if you don't shop enough they refund you $60 min (which is the price dif between the regular & exec memberships). we also bulk buy items like toilet paper, toothpaste, etc because it's always cheaper and get most of our seafood & all our eggs there. if you're a big meal prepper as well, it can be really convenient to buy their party platters of veggies or fruits & just sub divide them into lunches. I can't explain how much you can save even if you just buy cleaning supplies, household reusables and meat there. we only purchase the above items there for a household of 2 & only shop there once a month and our rewards check always fully pays for our membership.
Painting your own dino etc is a gift I would think is just future clutter. It's going to occupy them for a few hours or maybe a day. It won't be any sort of masterpiece worth keeping and by Valentine's day it will be in the way or in the trash. Legos! Clay! Paper and gel pens, paint, sidewalk chalk. Your kids might also enjoy stuff to make their own gifts or snacks. Cake pops. Ice cream. Yogurt. Jello jigglers. Soap making, candle making are very similar processes and super minimal friendly. You can mix them in a pyrex bowl, get a few molds. The inventory is very manageable. Soap base, some colors, essential oils, and maybe a bit of glitter. It's a creative, quick activity. Easy learning curve and TH-cam directions (no lessons or guidebooks) The end product is consumable and dep on your choices the soaps can be better than drugstore soap. Aaaaand the kids can make and give their own gifts.
I also live in MN. We have a Costco membership, and I am there every week for sure, and sometimes more than that. I would say that 95% of our groceries come from Costco. We buy almost all of our meat and produce there and some smaller fill in type things from the regular grocery store. My husband and I are convinced we eat more food than the average couple though, lol. Those science kits look great! We also buy our protein bars there, but we buy the Fit Crunch brand. We also never actually pay for our membership. We have the executive membership, and always get rebate checks each year.
Hi Dawn, I understand the sticker shock on each trip, but for many things the cost per oz or serving is often quite low and the quality is high. Good prices on toilet paper, printer paper, rotisserie chicken, bread, butter, sprouted oats, baking goods, and spices. If you like Better Than Bouillon for cooking to save a ton of money and better flavor over box or canned broth, they usually have the large organic reduced sodium jars in beef and chicken flavors for not much more than I would pay for a small jar at Walmart. The Kirkland brand of organic salsa is very good and well priced for 2 large jars. Gas is equivalent to top tier. Prescription eyeglasses from Costco are high quality with good pricing. Just all depends on how you use the membership, but I think you can save a lot of money overall to make up for the membership fee. Also, Ikea usually has gingerbread house kits - just the gingerbread - for a low price. I then get frosting and decorations at Walmart or Target. Thank you for another helpful video!
Dawn, only put a certain amount of drinks out at a time for each week. That way they last as long as buying them each week at the grocery store and you save money, too.
I hide the occasional case of Coca Cola that I buy for my hubby. I put 2-3 cans in the fridge, and you are right... he will drink them every day till they are gone! I tell him we're out and I'll put pop on my shopping list... and a day or two (or 4) I'll put a couple more in the fridge again! This works until he finds my hiding place (which he has done several times). Yes, I have a Costco membership and it's easy to spend too much. I keep a separate list of certain things I only buy there (paper towels, face tissues, bath tissue, mushrooms, organic flour and sugar...) and I only go once a month or 6 weeks.
@@jonap5740 yes, they are a good price and while a container is a lot for 2 people, I chop and freeze them so they are all ready for recipes... just used some from my purchase 2 weeks ago in my spaghetti sauce last night, and I plan to use another bag from the freezer for a casserole tomorrow. And I still have more in the freezer!
I’m a once a month Costco shopper. I get all my paper goods, toiletries, some pantry things that we go through a lot of (PB, mac-n-cheese, maple syrup), love a lot of frozen foods, some produce and I like their clothes! If I can’t find it at a thrift store Costco has pretty good quality and decent prices!
Re: Costco. I am a single woman and have a Costco pretty close to my home. I renew my Costco membership annually for several reasons and items. Costco usually has the best price on tires and gas in my area. They also have specific food items that I like: rotisserie chicken, marinated artichoke hearts, and their albacore tuna. I only go bi-monthly to browse because that can be financially dangerous. I've trained myself to go straight to the items I need and not browse when it's the specific items I'm after. You taught me that. I think that your trip today was like being in DisneyLand with so many new things. I've been caught up in that before. I like Costco for other reasons also. I got my new car through one of their programs and my glasses. Even for an old-ish lady living alone it is worth the annual fee. You just need to get past the shock and awe.
And we just moved our auto insurance to Costco and saved several hundred dollars. Tire prices are the best there, as are their glasses and optical services.
@@gingerstrahan7464 There are so many reasons to shop Costco that it really kind of surprised me that Dawn doesn't shop there. Dawn taught me how to avoid impulse buying and that is what you need to do when shopping at Costco. I find some truly great quality adult clothing there, but haven't had any experience with the children's clothing. I hope she'll give it a chance and learn that while everything in there is not a great deal, there are a lot of great deals in there.
They taste great…the cookies. I am a sucker for the Danish ones, as well. Because I have lived close and shopped at Costco for many years, I am more comfortable there than at Walmart or any of the other super stores. Costco has limited selections, but alot of the items. I am now comfortable with the aisles and such, so know where and which way to go rather than wandering and searching. Aldi is new in our area and though much smaller, it still takes me a lot longer and I pay higher prices on essentials, and they don’t have much on household items. But, when in a hurry, Aldi is 7 minutes away, and Costco in our new area is half an hour on the toll road so we make a full list and go once or twice a month.
Hahaha! I love how Dawn gets more and more excited as the video goes on (until the end)! Also, I feel like the more you go the more comfortable you are in the store. You see what they have and you can beeline it to exactly what you need. Never go on a Saturday, it's way too busy. Tuesday or Wednesday mornings are best. The holiday season is always more crazy so don't judge it by that.
As an empty nester I don't go to Costco much anymore. During the winter months I used to treat myself to fresh cut flowers. Inexpensive, cheery and toss when done (they actually last a long time)
We have the gold membership and it’s totally worth it for us. I love their organic options and I’ve found most of the clothes to be good quality- especially the men’s clothes. Their return policy is FANTASTIC. we buy enough each year that the cash back we get pays for next year’s membership.
Love my Costco membership here in Canada. I go once a week for regular supplies. Your meal planning 'structure' has really helped me minimize my grocery shopping since I buy mostly the same things over and over. Costco does have better prices on the food items we buy, but right now, lettuce is non-existent. You do have to know your prices and not just assume it's cheaper in bulk! And the cash-back with the Excutive membership pays for itself with some extra. Gas prices are also cheaper than anywhere around me.
My husband and I have a costco membership, primarily for the gas prices. It isn't the cheapest everywhere, but it definitely is where we live. My best costco tip is go in without the shopping cart. If you are only going to look for a couple of things, you will be way less likely to pick up extra things without a cart to carry it. It also makes it easier for me to navigate through the crowds. I love your channel, Dawn. Thank you so much for showing us how to live with less and be happier in the process.
Overall, I find the clothing quality decent at Costco, but they take returns! So if something falls apart or pills badly after a few washes, you can absolutely get your money back, which is great! I LOVE Costco!! And they treat their employees well and pay them decently, too!
I have had several of their knit sweaters, and they pilled quickly. My neighbor got their fluffy fleece sweater, and the seatbelt in her car caused a lot of fluff to come off!
@@iriswelch3553 Have you found a place to get sweaters that don’t pill? I’d sure love to find one. So far, Costco is my best value since I feel I replace sweaters often because of pilling, and at least at Costco, I can afford to replace them, especially with their return policy.
Big squishmallow is actually very good present Dawn. My daughter (she’s got it for her 11th birthday last December) using it all the time as a pillow, bringing it with her to the car when travelling, comforting her on the sofa, etc. After a year of massive usage still very soft and looking new.
The slime sand is probably kinetic sand which is a winner in my house super fun and it doesn't ruin things like slime does. The pop it is perfect for sensory loving kiddos. I love the clothes at Costco and they are often high end brands and I can spend all day in the books. I try to limit it to once a month. My husband's whiskey is half the price it is anywhere else. Rotisserie chicken is cheaper than I can make it from scratch and the bakery is fantastic.
I love Costco and honestly would drive over an hour to go to our closest one monthly when we lived in Buffalo. Meat, clothing, buying our snack items etc….. I could go on and on. I know what we like go in grab a months worth and move on. It prevents me from having to go into other stores more than necessary. Your Costco looked calm ours is always a nuthouse!
We buy five things every couple of months, and I prefer the Costco rotisserie chicken to any other brand.. Primarily, our membership is for the gas prices. The Costco Citi card also gives us a good deal on the "Cash Back" feature. We buy Kirkland precooked bacon and salmon burgers. When there's a coupon deal, we buy Cascade dishwasher soap, Dawn dish liquid and Scotch scrubber sponges. They are many dollars cheaper at Costco.
Even though we have a Costco membership, I avoid it like the plague. My husband gets his propane there, new truck tires. It’s ALWAYS insane in there so I try to stay away. I am 65 and am blown away by the number of seniors who shop for groceries there. I understand it for large families but you have to be careful with pricing, bulk isn’t always cheaper.🇨🇦
Yeah, me too- I’m so surprised at the number of seniors I see there. It doesn’t see very elderly friendly. I can’t stand it and rush in and out for my husband’s prescriptions.
I agree, you have to know your prices. I buy very basic food items and organic is usually the best price there. I try to stay away from a lot of the overy packaged and over processed foods, treats, nuts etc as those tend to be way overpriced. I keep track of what we use and go through on a regular basis and patronize the places that give me the most bang for my buck.
The price on milk, eggs and bread you can beat right now. Some snack items and we love the fully cooked bacon package. The rest it really depends. Those are the staples that we get but we try to only go maybe once a month.
I go to Costco probably 2-3 times per week! It’s right down the road from my house. I know the prices like the back of my hand, so I usually never over spend. But the biggest factor is I NEVER go when it’s crowded, since we live so close. Usually a Monday evening around 7:00 is good 😊 I guess since I’m in there all the time it’s not overwhelming. We have the gold membership, but haven’t had to pay for it in 10 years b/c of the rewards.
Dawn, when I'm gift shopping at Costco, l often get out my phone to check reviews and prices on Amazon or other sites. So far I haven't gotten any strange looks from other shoppers.
We did buy the laser tag guns a few years ago and they are super fun! And don't forget that a great reason to shop at Costco is their awesome return policy in case something breaks or doesn't end up working out for you. :)
I’ve been shopping at Costco since 1987, and have been going weekly for almost as long. I usually do a Tuesday shopping day and start there, get their gas, groceries (organic) next for things Costco didn’t have, then to places like Kohls to return any Amazon items, or Target or Walgreens if necessary. It is a large circle that goes from what I need most, least expensive, and what needs to be filled in from my list with the other stops. We have moved quite a bit, and have lived a few blocks from Costco, to 45 minute drive away. Most of my, and my husbands clothes are from Costco. And shoes. And boots. And gifts. And housewares. And glasses. And hearing aides for my mom. And paper products. (I also help direct people if they look lost, and if they’re looking like they don’t know if what they are looking at is something they should get-and it’s something I’ve purchased and researched)
I have 5 kids and I go to Costco weekly for groceries. The membership is worth it for produce alone. Better prices than the grocery store plus it tends to be organic when you weren’t even looking for that. Plus I feel like quality just tends to be really good on everything, food, clothes, products. Costco doesn’t have a huge variety and I feel like they have vetted the items they do carry.
We live about 10 minutes from Costco and savings on gas alone makes it worth it. Then I eat a lot of paleo and organic foods. Buying them in bulk is so much cheaper. Sometimes a huge bag of Siete chips at Costco cost less than one two-serving bag at any grocery store. I go twice a month. I wish I could get it down to once but I always forget something 😅
I love my Costco membership. I shop around once a month and like that while everything isn't cheaper, the quality is better for most things. (We are plus size and no kids so we don't even look at the clothes). I buy the basic groceries that I always want on hand and toilet paper and paper towels are the best values. Also the gas is usually considerably cheaper at Costco than anywhere around.
I like to hit up Costco on rainy cold days in order to get in my steps 😁 Favorite food items from Costco: Big bag of Spinach, Pasture eggs, almond milk and Madra Lentils. Good electronics for teenager gifts. We also like their leggings. Finally, love their peppermint bark.
We got the Melissa & Doug doll house for our grandkids. My granddaughter played with it for hours every time she visited between the ages of 5-8. Now my 3 y/o grandson is playing with it a lot. I feel like it’s good quality and sustainable.
I've had a COSTCO membership for a number of years. I think my husband originally got it as a perk of his work. He and I would shop together monthly with a list. We'd split the list and go different directions to get done quicker. We'd go first thing when they opened on a week day (never a weekend). After his death, I found it hard to do on my own, so I started ordering from Instacart. It costs slightly more, but I don't have to go to the store, and they deliver to my door. Things I get regularly: Toilet paper, Paper towels, dishwasher soap, garbage bags, cereal, butter (I freeze the extra), Coffee creamer when they have it, Broccoli cheese soup (quick dinner on cold nights), Rotisserie chicken, snack items (nuts, crackers, fruit snacks).
Gas.....$2.99 instead of $3.49! And a cash back Citi Bank Costco card. That makes it worth it to me. We get some cheese there, some fish, some bread. And the vision center is worth the price of membership.
I love seeing you walk by all the toys explaining why you dont need/want them so many videos are the opposite trying to convince us why we need more and justifying so many purchases. It is so refreshing!
I shop at Costco every week and I have to breathe deeply and fight back tears every single time before I get out of the car. I love Costco. It is pretty much the only place I shop. That doesn't mean it isn't super stressful even after 20 years of shopping there.
I let my membership go YEARS ago and I don't ever plan on one again. I remember leaving Costco one day with all 3 of my Littles, a grocery cart full, completely frazzled, exhausted, road rage-y, and with a $500 receipt. I got in my car and said "that was absolutely miserable, and it cost me $500. I'm never going back". I found when we had bulk of groceries more went to waste. Because prices are "so good" I bought more than I needed and had too much inventory to manage. There are 3 things that I buy from Costco . My husband's socks, baby wiped for the car and camping (which I only buy once a year of each), and vitamin C chewable. I just let my sister or my mom know when I need them and they grab them for me when they are there.
I have had a Costco membership for about 5 years now! I have been going weekly during this season of our lives. With 4 kiddos 12 and under, we go through a lot of food! They have a lot of great organic food options as well as healthier food items that we enjoy for less than other stores. A couple of warnings…it is easy to stockpile. We recently had to tighten our budget quite a bit, and I realized that I kept stocking up on certain things each time I went. So, we used up most items before purchasing again and now only buy for the current week or so. For me, Costco can get overwhelming when I don’t have a list of specific items and just browse, AND during peak hours. 😅 Once we nailed down what we routinely use, it has been easier to shop. I have more brain space to look at new items when they come up. Costco is also great at including unit cost under the price on each of their items. That might help you feel better about prices! We also purchase Costco gas for our van as much as we can.
I save about $500.00 a year just on Allergy meds and Breath/nose strips for sleeping. Before Costco I was spending $22-25 a month just on allergy meds and another $23 for nose strips (that I couldnt sleep without) which I couldnt afford. When a friend took me to Costco I broke down in tears when I saw that I could get a six month supply for less than I had been paying for a MONTH at pharmacies. So it definaetly is worth it for me, but I do get in and out with a speciific list every six weeks or so. Thanks for the video it was a little funny and I am sure just about anyone who goes to Costco can relate to....oh wait...look over there, wow I didnt see that, hey this is a great deal lol
I get it Dawn, as I also get overwhelmed by the inventory in these stores. I really think Tom will like his flannel though. I love how you shared your thought processes regarding your shopping. I think it will help others to maybe rethink how they are spending their hard earned money. Great video!
That same $60 will get u a Citibank Visa PLUS the Costco membership and the Costco Citi Visa has great cashback categories like gas, travel& restaurants. I don’t pay annual fees for any other credit cards but this one bc the cash back more than pays for the membership every year.
I have a computerized list of items that we buy at Costco. (Cheese, specific meat, cream, milk) I follow a local Costco group where a lady shows the "sales" and new items twice a week. If something pops up in that group that I think my adult children would need I send a picture to my kids and they tell me if I should pick it up for them. I also buy my gas there weekly. I can get in and out in 35 mins because my list is set-up to how the store is laid out.
I’ve had a Costco membership for years and the executive level pays for itself. I shop there every 3-4 weeks. Their almond milk is way cheaper than my local grocery store as is the Raos pasta sauce, which we go through fast. I also buy protein powder, pants for work (I love the Hilary Radley brand!), socks, cereal, cooking spices, bath towels, bodywash, produce, butter…. I could go on but you get the idea. I think it works for my family because I like to have a well stocked house in case there’s a snowstorm or we just get busy. I also get teacher/neighbor/ hair dresser/ anyone gifts there. I usually buy candy or peppermint bark pretzels. They’re always appreciated and affordable for us to give. I can understand it may have been overwhelming though. I plan my trips and have a list so I stay on track. 😊 Edited to add-how can I forget toilet paper, dishwasher detergent, laundry detergent!!! All much better priced at Costco!! 😅
I’m bummed you didn’t enjoy your experience there. I do recall having a hard time getting over the final bill but have adapted. I shop there every 2-3 weeks and do a majority of my grocery shopping there. I love the selection of food items, they have new products often, and stand by their customers if you’re ever dissatisfied for any reason. They run sales often so I wait to stock up on pantry & freezer items. I feel their meat & dairy prices are really where you see savings. (Fun fact, they have some of the strictest meat pathogen testing in the nation). They have great warranties too for major appliances, especially coupled with their Costco credit card. I definitely fall prey to impulse buying there but have gotten better or have just learned to return it after i bring it home and have remorse.
We're the total opposite of most people. My kids get next to nothing from other family members, either due to lack of money, or just that they're not gift givers, so we buy quite a bit for our kids. They don't get much more than what they need throughout the year, so at Christmas, I try to get everything on their lists, within budget.
Costco has just been winning me over as of this year. I LOVE buying kids clothes there! I have 6 kids, plus we foster, and they hold up great! I just got 2 packs of kids pajamas for $5 to take on a Christmas missions trip!
Stroopwafels are the best! You should definately try them. And the European cookies do look a lot like a collection of cookies you can buy in every grocery store here (Germany).
I love going to Costco. Just not when it's busy. The best time is Tuesday morning for my local store. Yes it's big and a bit overwhelming but the more you go, the more it makes sense and less overwhelming it feels. I just really like the quality of their products and their sales are so good.
I have two boys and go through fruit so fast. I get all my fruit there. It seems to have the longest shelf life. They also have best price on gluten free bread and seltzer water. We also buy all our electronics/ computers there because they have a really good return policy.
I go in Costco with a repeated list every 4-6 weeks. Toilet paper, dog food etc. It never fails I walk out spending over $200 each time. You'll always see something that's a decent price that you need or could use. So limiting how often you go will keep you from spending more than your budget allows. Like you said "if I buy the 24 pack I'll probably drink it more often because it's there"
This is what we do. Once a month I go with a list of standard bulk food items my 5 kids burn through - bread, granola bars, tortilla chips, flour, etc.
Clothes are great IF YOU KNOW YOUR BRANDS ❤️ champion is champion. Carters is carter's etc...generic versions can be thinner...but the price reflect the it might not last as long option...
When we lived close to one it was weekly for meat, bread, water jugs. Monthly for dog food - you need to know your prices for food items and how often you eat everything
Hi Dawn. I love Costco. The gasoline and t.p. prices will pay for the membership. I go at least once a week so I'm sure I blow a lot of money, however. . . I get organic produce, bulk buys of expensive food items like olive oil , almond flour, coconut oil, that I use for our diets. I agree with another poster, the tires price and warranty is fantastic. Pajamas- I love the Kirkland brand organic cotton pajama 2 pack sets.( Kids) They are better sized and thicker than Carter's,old navy , etc they last and are so cute. I also found pajamas for my 6'5" husband a few years ago. The other cool thing is if it breaks you can return it to Costco, try that at Walmart, I returned an electric toothbrush twice! Thanks for the tour, I hope everyone loves their gifts.
I always order groceries to my house from regular grocery stores but I love Costco so my husband and I take a once a month date night there and we always love it! The only food store I can stand going into 😂 almost half of our monthly food budget is saved for our Costco trip too. We get gift cards to restaurants we like and use them for our other date nights which saves us 20% every time! Or 40% on cold stone if we want dessert 😋
You should have grabbed those stroopwafels! They are fantastic!! When you make a hot cup of tea... lay a stroopwafel across the top so the hot tea warms it up then take a bite! Trust me... you will NOT be disappointed!
We go to Costco 2-3 times a month, some months we skip - but the fuel prices are usually worth it for us for the membership. We don't browse the whole store everytime, and when we do it's more window shopping than buying 'off list'. We go for our staples, cheese, some produce, eggs sometimes, the rotisserie chicken is a meal saver. And the Costco pizza is a great meal solution for our family. We have our favorite items, it doesn't replace another store, just certain items.
We bought the Paw Patrol busy book for our 2 year old son for his birthday this summer. He loves it. We tossed the mat, but we’ve read the book many times and the figurines get played with regularly at home, as well as when we go out.
I don't know if the European cookies are European, but they are really good! On the topic of the Celsius drinks, hide them Dawn! Put three in the fridge and put the case under your bed. Next week pull out 3. I hope Tom isn't reading this. LOL
Agree about the dollhouse. My daughter hardly ever played with hers, but she was so excited about it at the time. I think she thought it would be more fun than it was.
We do keep a Costco membership.Items that we use it for include the rotisserie chicken, their brand sparkling water, some frozen foods, the gas from their gas station and the extended warranty that comes with using our Costco card to purchase electronics. They also have a generous return policy in case the item doesn’t work out. Thanks for taking us along! :)
Stroopwaffles are amazing!! We use your graham cracker method for gingerbread houses and my kids LOVE that tradition. We’ve even used your handout and kit ideas to give to neighbors.
I go to Costco about every two-three months, typically buying the large packs of chicken breasts, batteries, and kitchen items like vanilla, spices or baking soda. I usually grab a food or clothing item as a treat as it’s overwhelming for me as well, Dawn. Love your candor and brutal honesty. 😉
we quit with batteries. we spent a ton on reusables up front and very, very rarely purchase them anymore. usually it's just the odd set of batteries we don't keep on hand and it's been over 10 years at this point
I'm just a few miles from my local Costco, and I am in there at least a couple of times a month. I have always liked the quality of items, and I love that the choices are narrowed, making deciding easier, if it's something I'm interested in. Their fresh food items are the best!
My husband LOVES Costco so he is usually goes. Some things are a better value but I agree - do you consume more because it’s there? I like walking through, but I will only go at odd times - like Tuesday evening. The weekends are an absolute no for me. PS. We get gas there and it’s a lot cheaper.
Yes those are the sort of cookies (biscuits in the U.K.) we eat at Christmas or whenever we get the chance. Dutch stroopwaffles are delicious warmed up by balancing over your hot drink until the middle gets all melted 🤤
We have been Costco members for years and buy clothes every season. Very pleased with quality and if you’re not happy with quality they will take back without receipt no questions asked.
It's so nice hearing that you only do one gift for each of your kids. That's what we've always done. Sometimes two gifts each. And I have had a lot of guilt about that in the past
Great video Dawn. What a huge store,. No wonder you needed a hot dog and coffee at the end of that haul! The cookies look like the biscuits we have in England. I like Aldi for seasonal Christmas food xx
I was just at Costco looking for gifts for my grandkids. The nice thing about buying at Costco is their wonderful return policy! I buy clothes there all the time!
My brother is never to old to have star wars stuff. He recently received for his birthday a yoda book shelf stopper stand. He loves it!! Don't know where his stepdaughter got it from but it is awesome!!
I had a costco membership when my kids were going through milestone parties like 16ths, 18ths and 21st and Christmas celebrations. Now they have their own places and I haven't been to Costco at all for years, I think one of them has membership, as does my Brother, who is a next level consumer, his home is well overpacked. I have been very careful with bringing more things into the house because I have quite a bit of trouble parting with things, so it's better for me to just avoid those places.
As a family of 6, we go to Costco at least every 2 weeks. Best price around for gas! That alone, is worth the membership for us due to my husband's commute. We get the more expensive membership that gives cash back at the end of the year, and it's never not paid for itself and then some. Even when we only had two kids. Our favorite things to buy: -coffee beans (best price on Cameron's which is local outta Shakopee) -coconut milk -rice -oats -PB -frozen fruit -eggs -grassfed butter We've find the Kirkland brand is generally as good or better than the name brand. Happy shopping!
I love my Costco membership. I go twice a month or so, but it's about 6 min from my house, so it's an easy place to go. We get a lot of the sale items of food. Salt for our softener, gas, diapers, and most of my wardrobe. 🤣
Take Your House Back: cli.re/Take-Your-House-Back-Dawn JUST $84 right now through Monday! We'd love to help you declutter your house in the new year! Thank you for watching :) - Dawn
how many pennies do you find in your house every year
I need this. I was raised by wonderful parents… and my Mom saw value in e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g! So she made me feel guilty for getting rid of anything. That set me up for disaster as a new mom who feels weighed down and unable to manage that much inventory. Shockingly, we grew up in a very clean and orderly home… so while she was def a hoarder, a visitor would never know. I LOVE your content, and wish I could pay you to come over. My husband would happily rent a dumpster. And I’m working on it… I promise. My progress is just so Slow. 😢 if I wasn’t staying at home to raise our baby, I would take this course in a heartbeat. We’re just trying to budget ourselves, and so, hopefully, I can take your course next year. Merry Christmas Dawn, and thank you SO much for your content!!!!! It is super helpful! Hugs, Katie
Those box of "Biscuits" cookies are so good with coffee
I didn't know there was a Costco in that part of Eagan, because there's a Sam's really near there. I love Spindrift!
I buy Kirkland baby wipes, paper towels, toilet paper, garbage bags and laundry pods. I also buy Premier protein drinks and I buy their vitamins when they are on sale. I buy their rotisserie chicken and I will buy their bananas.I probably go every 2 months; I hate crowds, traffic and busy parking lots!
Costco fits in perfect for minimalism for us because there’s less options and usually Costco carries quality items. Less decision fatigue and driving around. Frees up more time which is what I’m always after.
Yes I completely agree. I also wait to go to Costco so I can make the trip worth it and get everything there, instead of having to go to multiple stores. I feel when I do this I spend a lot less and make less impulse buys.
We go to Costco on average 2 times per week & also take advantage of their gasoline prices for members!!! We use so many of the food items, mostly organic (they have a FABULOUS selection of organic foods), toilet paper is purchased when on sale, most of our tech/TV products are purchased at Costco because they offer an extra year of warranty coverage after the manufacturer’s warranty ends, we purchase sooooo much from COSTCO! We also get cash back at least once or twice a year usually around $200 or more each time! We have the Executive Membership that I believe is around $125/year. Couldn’t do without COSTCO❤!😊
I agree, we go once per month and it helps cut down on trips elsewhere. There’s a little bit of everything but not too much of anything 😆 and the products in those middle isles change fairly often, so you do get variety too.
I cant say the quality is there for everything, we’ve had some misses but at the same time you can usually trust the quality too.
Costco isn't necessarily less decision fatigue for me cause everything is AWESOME haha but decision fatigue is REAL for me online with SO MANY choices, price comparisons, and reviews 🤪
I joined Costco for a year and I'm a tiny woman. I hated it. It's overwhelming and I could never reach what I needed! I could barely push the cart when it was full. However I did really like the selection and prices. Pros and cons I suppose!
I go to Costco weekly & really like the small selection for things. Like if you want peanut butter, there's only one option. So much less decision fatigue! I've also gotten really good about going directly to my staples and blocking out the rest. If nothing else, the savings on gas alone pays for my membership.
As soon as she said, "Tell me what makes your membership worth it." I screamed, "THE GAS MA'AM!!!!" 🤣 easily $.50 to $.60 cheaper per gallon than any other station around.
@@darbymohon9048 Yes, absolutely! The savings on the gas is definitely worth paying for the membership!! My husband and I sometimes go to the nearest Costco JUST for the gas and never go into the store! I say I want/need a few things but let;s wait until another trip when I will really need more in the grocery area.
I drew a stovetop burners and faux knobs on the lid of a big plastic tub that I used to store the play food and kitchen items in. Took up way less space than a play kitchen and served as storage for the play kitchen items.
That is brilliant!
Brilliant idea! Good job, mom or dad!
Wow! I wish I had your ingenuity! That is an awesome idea!
Genius!
You are one of my tribe for sure! 😊
I like Costco as company because I appreciate their business model and how much they value their employees. We moved and go less often, but there are staples we get there. And I like the clothes there. 😁
This! I remember thinking once about not buying some of the things I could shop on sale elsewhere (like toothpaste) but realized I appreciate the company structure over something like Walmart/Sam’s or Amazon.
The gift wrap is 1,000% better than dollar tree... it's like four times as thick! Doesn't rip... etc
Yes, you're correct! I have several rolls that are double sided/reversible, so you get 2 styles with 1 roll. The rolls I've purchased from Costco over the years will last for 2-4 Christmas seasons so totally worth the $
I agree! But I also feel guiltily using it because I feel like I'm wasting really good paper just to later throw away. Even though DT paper can be a pain to wrap with since it is thin, at least it is less paper I'm throwing.😅
Also, wrapping paper cheaper at Walmart than the dollar store.
My only issue is it lasts for YEARS because the roll is so big.
@@kevinanddeb8829 then toss it! Lol 10 bucks to wrap gifts for multiple years is amazing...but I'd spend $10 at least on walmart and dollar tree paper! It's the only roll I keep...so I don't mind keeping it
I dropped Costco years ago and have not looked back. Dawn, what you said about consuming things more quickly when you have a huge package of something is TOTALLY true, and I have never had lots of space for back -stock storage. And then I end up with way too much inventory! I have been living Lidl lately (similar to Aldi), and appreciate way lower prices but without the bulk aspect. Also, switching to only buying what we need for a week (without lots of stocking up when things are on sale) has helped bring down our grocery bill and stress!
Same here - well said to all of it! Plus none of the aisles are labeled so if you wanted to go back to the aisle to pick something up that you forgot, you can't remember which aisle it was in because they're not labeled. Costco just didn't work for us either.
we love the balance between aldi + costco. we also limit our trips there to 1x per month and only buy bulk of cleaning supplies, meat, & household consumables. I make one list & pick the items with a bigger savings & longer shelf life up at costco and then items i need less of or have a shorter shelf life up at aldi.
I am from central europe, and yes, we really eat these cookies! 😆 This kind of assorted cookie box is very popular and can be bought in every supermarket over here. 🍪🙋♀️
I love those "European" cookies. Yum!
Those cookies went FAST in our household. We’re gonna get another tin for closer to Christmas bc otherwise they do not last long 😂 they are very authentic. I lived in France and they reminded me of Noel in Nantes ♥️
I feel it is very general to call them European cookies. Every country has their own unique baking style. I love it when English speakers say stroopwafels, it the ‘o’ from ocean and the w is a v.
Thank you, I was also curious. I have seen some videos from other countries that try and eat American food and I scratch my head in wonder because food in America is just as diverse as it is on your side of the pond. So I never know how accurate it is. I was raised on the West coast on a Kosher diet which is completely different than my husband who was brought up on a midwestern diet. I have always had a fascination about British/UK food and I feel sometimes even the quality of your processed/packaged foods is superior to some of the processed/packaged foods we have here.
I LOVE those cookies
I’m of Dutch heritage and I live in Canada. I’m loving having stroopwaffels at Costco up here too. We pronounce it strope-waffle (like stroke). They are lekker (Dutch for tasty) when you let them sit on top of your tea cup so it gets nice and warm and gooey!!
They tempt me every time! And yes, the pronunciation is appreciated. People always looking confused when I pronounce it correctly....
When I was an exchange student in The Netherlands many years ago, the first word my 12 year old “sister” taught me was “lekker”! 🙂 Would get warm-off-the-griddle stroopwafelen at the local outdoor market and still love them!
I don't tolerate gluten but have found that i can eat two of these cookies every once in a while with no issues. My doctor is from Ireland and since coming to Canada she cannot eat any gluten products. The cookies are a real treat.
My family learned about stroopwaffels--including the correct pronunciation--from my Dutch brother-in-law and have been fans ever since :) I know of several places around town where I can get them (I'm also in Canada).
We love stroopwaffels too, but I've found the ones at Costco to be of lesser quality than those coming from our local Dutch stores here in Ontario. The ones last year anyway, were unusually soft (syrup would drip out and get all over the packaging) and they were a little tasteless. The price was right though!
As a dutch person I can guarantee you that we love stroopwafels in Holland, they are like part of our national heritage. :) Amazing to see they have them in the US now. With regards to the 'European cookies', I only recognize one of those cookies... but I guess it differs a lot per European country what kind of cookies they sell.
Stroopwafels are delicious! I buy them at my local grocery store which has them imported from the Netherlands. 💙 Take care and cheers from Ontario Canada. ❄🎄
I’m in Australia and we can get Stroopwaffles in any supermarket now. Which we love because our kids fell in love when in Amsterdam. Warmed over a hot cup of something….yum!
Stroopwafels are AMAZING!!! 💗🇬🇧 It's been too long since I last visited your beautiful country (and the amazing bakeries and cheese shops!)😊
I left a separate comment, but I’m replying to you because I’m just laughing over the stroopwafels! We’re American (we live only one state over from Dawn, actually) and only ever got them on international flights until recently. My hubby is an international pilot and is obsessed with them and has had them mail ordered for years. And then he hides them so we don’t eat them too fast!
@@gorgo4910 LOL 🤭Too funny!🤗
You can't beat Costco prices especially on paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning products, eggs, butter, etc. You have to go in prepared with a list and stay focused if you don't want to impulse buy! The prepared foods are a really good alternative to eating out. I try to limit my trips to once a month and go when they first open before lines get long. I can be in and out in 15 min.
I will be sixty-three, and I get excited and enjoy watching your videos and shopping. I don't have much family where we live, so it's like going with family and close friends when you are on the road and sharing. My husband and I are from Minnesota, and we are headed back up north when my husband retires in a few years. Hearing your voice around my home is heartwarming and comforts me since I miss my family. I admit to keeping your videos playing during the day at times.
I appreciate the wisdom about toys, ideas, and cautions for the grandkids. We don't have a Costco, so would you consider shopping at Sam's? We don't have an Aldi's either, but I find Big Lots is a great place to find unusual holiday items which are reasonably priced. God bless you, Dawn, and your ministry to help others.
When you miss your family, consider messaging your Minimal Mom family. I think many people would be here for you, including me! Make sure your notifications button says "All", then you know when someone writes you.
@@jonap5740 what a sweet comment to a sweet woman.
I have to admit that the giant squishmallows get more use in our house than the little ones! Costco has the best prices, and our kids use them for pillows, floor pillows, punching bags, pillow fights… they get pretty creative. I also appreciate that they [just barely] fit in the wash and wash up really well! They’ve held up over the last 2 years through all the abuse and are about the only stuffed things in our house that haven’t had to be re-sewed.
I just was using my niece's as a floor pillow while we were playing dolls. I would recommend, think they are more fun than beanbags
I totally agree. We have 7 kids and only 2 squishmallows. I find them all over the house being used for all sorts of things. And they wash up great as long as you have a big front load washer.
I have never washed them before. We are getting quite a collection so that is good to know!
!! Never heard of them before! They sound very versatile.
I use them as pillows when I’m laying on the floor putting my kids to bed!
Thanks for taking us in the store to experience it. I think it would be so hard to talk to a video while going through a store, but I’m glad you do it for us. Thanks.
i have used costco gift wrap for years and LOVE it. I love that it is stronger paper (less likely to tear,) and is printed on both sides, so two for one, and there is a LOT of paper per roll. I have found it to be a great value! Also, the ribbon is beautiful, and an awesome value for what it is as well!
Dawn, I laughed so many times through this video. I have been a Costco member since 1984. I have not paid any membership dues since 2004. Because we have the executive membership and every year it pays us back over and above what the cost of the executive membership is. I’ll go probably once a week, maybe once every two weeks. And I love Costco so much! I’m sorry that you had a little bit of a tough time while you were there. Inflation has hit everywhere for sure. By the way bath bombs go for 5 to 8 dollars a piece when you’re buying them in a store so that mini bath bombs for $20 was actually a really good guy. Do you know if there is a cheaper place to get back bombs? I would love to hear it. I don’t use them myself because they’re so expensive, but I know several people that make them and sell them and they charge a tremendous amount of money per use. A possible solution to Tom using his Celsius drinks too quickly would be to simply put the box away in the basement and show him three bottles every week as you always have. Also, I don’t agree with Diana‘s assessment of the clothing from Costco. I think that in general their clothing is good quality. And excellent value. For about the first 25 years of our Costco membership I would religiously check reviews, price check with other stores and other models and 100% of the time Costco had The best price for the highest quality model of whatever it was we were shopping for. After 25 years, I just stopped comparison shopping because it was such a big waste of my time. And our family philosophy is if Costco carries it and it’s something we need just get it at Costco. Also because their return policy is the best return policy in the business you can’t go wrong, there’s no risk. You can use something up where it out and still return it. I just love you and your heart, and thank you for taking us along on your journey. I also believe you chose the right color longjohns for Tom! It’s so funny during the video I was calling out my opinions as you went through the store hoping you would make the same decisions I would so funny!😂🤣😅
Yes to all this!!! I resisted for a while too…. But it really has been worth it. It is a spendy trip every time but 🤷🏼♀️ we live far enough away from one that i don’t feel like I even can go each week- so once a month works for our family. 🥰🥰 best of luck to you!!
Same! We LOVE Costco and definitely great deals always and quality!
Yeah I would assume a carters outfit there is the same as every other carters baby outfit so the baby clothes for Cora should be fine. Also agree the cheapest bath bombs I see are at Dollar tree and when the lady I watch reviews them some don’t even fizz.
We have the executive membership also and our annual reward always exceeds the membership fee. I've shopped in Costco more over the past two years than ever before and the savings are significant. In the last year alone I've saved hundreds buying groceries and household items in bulk, particularly whole foods and meal ingredients.
It really pays to buy food there, especially if you are willing to repackage the meat and freeze it, and if you have plenty of freezer and pantry space. We rely on Costco for whatever groceries we can get there.
Minimal Mom is UNPACKING COSTCO! OMG! I am consistently mystified by COSTCO and what is actually worth it ... Dawn is saving our family once again!! You are so awesome, thank you so MUCH!
Unfortunately, she's talking about gifts, clothing and random seasonal items. The real savings in Costco are on standard grocery, pantry and household items. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about the Stroopwafels :) but Costco isn't the best place to shop for Christmas gifts.
My husband and I go to Costco probably once a week. We LOVE Costco! Like some others have said, we have the executive membership and don't have any dues. We spend enough to cover our membership and more. I love their produce, meats, rotisserie chicken, dog food, paper products, etc. Also, that street corn dip is BOMB, I highly recommend it! I think Costco has helped us keep it simple and stay with minimalist grocery shopping!
I love their paper products, too.
And don't forget the % back for purchases and fuel. Love that check when it arrives.
We have the executive membership ($120), but you get a cash-back check in the mail at the end of your membership year and we spend enough at Costco that it covers the renewal cost plus some, so it’s free! Our regular items that we buy consistently are diapers, wipes, toilet paper, paper towels, milk, eggs, cheese, maple syrup, chicken nuggets, spaghetti sauce, kid snacks and socks lol 😅 We love Costco, but we generally try and only go once a month, otherwise it blows the budget! Loved all your suggestions Dawn!
Yes the diapers and wipes are the best for their price! 👏Also the eggs and toilet paper and kids snacks( 3 kids under 5) are regulars for us too! Their organic maple syrup is the best. I love that they have so many organic options there too, Love Costco!
Are there any additional benefits you actually use other than the 2% Reward certificate?
I just realized that if you spend $3000/year, you at least get the $60 Exec membership up-charge back in rewards. $6000/yr refunds the entire $120 Exec membership.
If you don't mind me asking, how much do you need to spend per year to ensure your executive membership is covered by the rewards cheque?
@@randerson458 ^like Sarah said, $6k per year refunds the entire $120 membership. But we also get fuel there; hands down .35c plus per gallon savings every single time. Even if you only fill up 1-2x per month we save $5 per tank & 5x12 is $72 saved filling up only 1x month straight into your pocket. then costco guarantees if you don't shop enough they refund you $60 min (which is the price dif between the regular & exec memberships). we also bulk buy items like toilet paper, toothpaste, etc because it's always cheaper and get most of our seafood & all our eggs there. if you're a big meal prepper as well, it can be really convenient to buy their party platters of veggies or fruits & just sub divide them into lunches. I can't explain how much you can save even if you just buy cleaning supplies, household reusables and meat there. we only purchase the above items there for a household of 2 & only shop there once a month and our rewards check always fully pays for our membership.
Painting your own dino etc is a gift I would think is just future clutter. It's going to occupy them for a few hours or maybe a day. It won't be any sort of masterpiece worth keeping and by Valentine's day it will be in the way or in the trash. Legos! Clay! Paper and gel pens, paint, sidewalk chalk. Your kids might also enjoy stuff to make their own gifts or snacks. Cake pops. Ice cream. Yogurt. Jello jigglers. Soap making, candle making are very similar processes and super minimal friendly. You can mix them in a pyrex bowl, get a few molds. The inventory is very manageable. Soap base, some colors, essential oils, and maybe a bit of glitter. It's a creative, quick activity. Easy learning curve and TH-cam directions (no lessons or guidebooks) The end product is consumable and dep on your choices the soaps can be better than drugstore soap. Aaaaand the kids can make and give their own gifts.
I was with you until you said glitter! ;)
I also live in MN. We have a Costco membership, and I am there every week for sure, and sometimes more than that. I would say that 95% of our groceries come from Costco. We buy almost all of our meat and produce there and some smaller fill in type things from the regular grocery store. My husband and I are convinced we eat more food than the average couple though, lol. Those science kits look great! We also buy our protein bars there, but we buy the Fit Crunch brand. We also never actually pay for our membership. We have the executive membership, and always get rebate checks each year.
Hi Dawn, I understand the sticker shock on each trip, but for many things the cost per oz or serving is often quite low and the quality is high. Good prices on toilet paper, printer paper, rotisserie chicken, bread, butter, sprouted oats, baking goods, and spices. If you like Better Than Bouillon for cooking to save a ton of money and better flavor over box or canned broth, they usually have the large organic reduced sodium jars in beef and chicken flavors for not much more than I would pay for a small jar at Walmart. The Kirkland brand of organic salsa is very good and well priced for 2 large jars. Gas is equivalent to top tier. Prescription eyeglasses from Costco are high quality with good pricing. Just all depends on how you use the membership, but I think you can save a lot of money overall to make up for the membership fee. Also, Ikea usually has gingerbread house kits - just the gingerbread - for a low price. I then get frosting and decorations at Walmart or Target. Thank you for another helpful video!
Costco = date day. We've bought our eyeglasses & hearing aids & TV, food baskets, fresh produce, nuts, clothing, towels, bedding...even our dyson vacuum cleaner. Easy to return items as well.
Dawn, only put a certain amount of drinks out at a time for each week. That way they last as long as buying them each week at the grocery store and you save money, too.
Great idea
I hide the occasional case of Coca Cola that I buy for my hubby. I put 2-3 cans in the fridge, and you are right... he will drink them every day till they are gone! I tell him we're out and I'll put pop on my shopping list... and a day or two (or 4) I'll put a couple more in the fridge again! This works until he finds my hiding place (which he has done several times). Yes, I have a Costco membership and it's easy to spend too much. I keep a separate list of certain things I only buy there (paper towels, face tissues, bath tissue, mushrooms, organic flour and sugar...) and I only go once a month or 6 weeks.
@@afghanbunny1 Mushrooms?
@@jonap5740 yes! Their prices on mushrooms are amazing!
@@jonap5740 yes, they are a good price and while a container is a lot for 2 people, I chop and freeze them so they are all ready for recipes... just used some from my purchase 2 weeks ago in my spaghetti sauce last night, and I plan to use another bag from the freezer for a casserole tomorrow. And I still have more in the freezer!
I’m a once a month Costco shopper. I get all my paper goods, toiletries, some pantry things that we go through a lot of (PB, mac-n-cheese, maple syrup), love a lot of frozen foods, some produce and I like their clothes! If I can’t find it at a thrift store Costco has pretty good quality and decent prices!
Re: Costco. I am a single woman and have a Costco pretty close to my home. I renew my Costco membership annually for several reasons and items. Costco usually has the best price on tires and gas in my area. They also have specific food items that I like: rotisserie chicken, marinated artichoke hearts, and their albacore tuna. I only go bi-monthly to browse because that can be financially dangerous. I've trained myself to go straight to the items I need and not browse when it's the specific items I'm after. You taught me that. I think that your trip today was like being in DisneyLand with so many new things. I've been caught up in that before. I like Costco for other reasons also. I got my new car through one of their programs and my glasses. Even for an old-ish lady living alone it is worth the annual fee. You just need to get past the shock and awe.
The marinated artichoke hearts are amazing!!!
And we just moved our auto insurance to Costco and saved several hundred dollars. Tire prices are the best there, as are their glasses and optical services.
@@gingerstrahan7464 There are so many reasons to shop Costco that it really kind of surprised me that Dawn doesn't shop there. Dawn taught me how to avoid impulse buying and that is what you need to do when shopping at Costco. I find some truly great quality adult clothing there, but haven't had any experience with the children's clothing. I hope she'll give it a chance and learn that while everything in there is not a great deal, there are a lot of great deals in there.
The chicken is a killer price all by itself! Also, the gas. No brainer.
I’ve been shopping at Costco for years and always find good deals and good quality. Also- check out the gas prices!
We don’t call those cookies 🍪 We call them biscuits 🍪 ☕️ lovely with a cup of tea 😂 love from the UK 🇬🇧 ❤️
Yes, we use the word Cookie for American style cookies!
Well in Denmark we call them småkager 😉
British here too and love my biscuits but I don’t drink tea or coffee! 😮
They taste great…the cookies. I am a sucker for the Danish ones, as well.
Because I have lived close and shopped at Costco for many years, I am more comfortable there than at Walmart or any of the other super stores. Costco has limited selections, but alot of the items. I am now comfortable with the aisles and such, so know where and which way to go rather than wandering and searching. Aldi is new in our area and though much smaller, it still takes me a lot longer and I pay higher prices on essentials, and they don’t have much on household items. But, when in a hurry, Aldi is 7 minutes away, and Costco in our new area is half an hour on the toll road so we make a full list and go once or twice a month.
Biscuits with a cup of tea is such a lovely day ritual 🇦🇺
Hahaha! I love how Dawn gets more and more excited as the video goes on (until the end)!
Also, I feel like the more you go the more comfortable you are in the store. You see what they have and you can beeline it to exactly what you need. Never go on a Saturday, it's way too busy. Tuesday or Wednesday mornings are best. The holiday season is always more crazy so don't judge it by that.
All of this - totally agree!
As an empty nester I don't go to Costco much anymore. During the winter months I used to treat myself to fresh cut flowers. Inexpensive, cheery and toss when done (they actually last a long time)
We have the gold membership and it’s totally worth it for us. I love their organic options and I’ve found most of the clothes to be good quality- especially the men’s clothes. Their return policy is FANTASTIC. we buy enough each year that the cash back we get pays for next year’s membership.
Love my Costco membership here in Canada. I go once a week for regular supplies. Your meal planning 'structure' has really helped me minimize my grocery shopping since I buy mostly the same things over and over. Costco does have better prices on the food items we buy, but right now, lettuce is non-existent. You do have to know your prices and not just assume it's cheaper in bulk! And the cash-back with the Excutive membership pays for itself with some extra. Gas prices are also cheaper than anywhere around me.
My husband and I have a costco membership, primarily for the gas prices. It isn't the cheapest everywhere, but it definitely is where we live. My best costco tip is go in without the shopping cart. If you are only going to look for a couple of things, you will be way less likely to pick up extra things without a cart to carry it. It also makes it easier for me to navigate through the crowds.
I love your channel, Dawn. Thank you so much for showing us how to live with less and be happier in the process.
Great advice!!!
Overall, I find the clothing quality decent at Costco, but they take returns! So if something falls apart or pills badly after a few washes, you can absolutely get your money back, which is great! I LOVE Costco!! And they treat their employees well and pay them decently, too!
I have had several of their knit sweaters, and they pilled quickly. My neighbor got their fluffy fleece sweater, and the seatbelt in her
car caused a lot of fluff to come off!
same here
I concur. My son is a supervisor, and because he works there I haven’t had to pay membership fees since 2015! My card never expires!
They do have a great return policy!!
@@iriswelch3553 Have you found a place to get sweaters that don’t pill? I’d sure love to find one. So far, Costco is my best value since I feel I replace sweaters often because of pilling, and at least at Costco, I can afford to replace them, especially with their return policy.
Big squishmallow is actually very good present Dawn. My daughter (she’s got it for her 11th birthday last December) using it all the time as a pillow, bringing it with her to the car when travelling, comforting her on the sofa, etc. After a year of massive usage still very soft and looking new.
The slime sand is probably kinetic sand which is a winner in my house super fun and it doesn't ruin things like slime does. The pop it is perfect for sensory loving kiddos. I love the clothes at Costco and they are often high end brands and I can spend all day in the books. I try to limit it to once a month. My husband's whiskey is half the price it is anywhere else. Rotisserie chicken is cheaper than I can make it from scratch and the bakery is fantastic.
I love Costco and honestly would drive over an hour to go to our closest one monthly when we lived in Buffalo. Meat, clothing, buying our snack items etc….. I could go on and on. I know what we like go in grab a months worth and move on. It prevents me from having to go into other stores more than necessary. Your Costco looked calm ours is always a nuthouse!
Costco- otherwise known as the "$300 or more store"
Lol- love the dang place!!
We buy five things every couple of months, and I prefer the Costco rotisserie chicken to any other brand.. Primarily, our membership is for the gas prices. The Costco Citi card also gives us a good deal on the "Cash Back" feature. We buy Kirkland precooked bacon and salmon burgers. When there's a coupon deal, we buy Cascade dishwasher soap, Dawn dish liquid and Scotch scrubber sponges. They are many dollars cheaper at Costco.
Even though we have a Costco membership, I avoid it like the plague. My husband gets his propane there, new truck tires. It’s ALWAYS insane in there so I try to stay away. I am 65 and am blown away by the number of seniors who shop for groceries there. I understand it for large families but you have to be careful with pricing, bulk isn’t always cheaper.🇨🇦
Yeah, me too- I’m so surprised at the number of seniors I see there. It doesn’t see very elderly friendly. I can’t stand it and rush in and out for my husband’s prescriptions.
I agree, you have to know your prices. I buy very basic food items and organic is usually the best price there. I try to stay away from a lot of the overy packaged and over processed foods, treats, nuts etc as those tend to be way overpriced. I keep track of what we use and go through on a regular basis and patronize the places that give me the most bang for my buck.
The price on milk, eggs and bread you can beat right now. Some snack items and we love the fully cooked bacon package. The rest it really depends. Those are the staples that we get but we try to only go maybe once a month.
I go to Costco probably 2-3 times per week! It’s right down the road from my house. I know the prices like the back of my hand, so I usually never over spend. But the biggest factor is I NEVER go when it’s crowded, since we live so close. Usually a Monday evening around 7:00 is good 😊 I guess since I’m in there all the time it’s not overwhelming. We have the gold membership, but haven’t had to pay for it in 10 years b/c of the rewards.
Dawn, when I'm gift shopping at Costco, l often get out my phone to check reviews and prices on Amazon or other sites. So far I haven't gotten any strange looks from other shoppers.
I do that in any store! Works for us!!!
Same here
We did buy the laser tag guns a few years ago and they are super fun! And don't forget that a great reason to shop at Costco is their awesome return policy in case something breaks or doesn't end up working out for you. :)
I’ve been shopping at Costco since 1987, and have been going weekly for almost as long. I usually do a Tuesday shopping day and start there, get their gas, groceries (organic) next for things Costco didn’t have, then to places like Kohls to return any Amazon items, or Target or Walgreens if necessary. It is a large circle that goes from what I need most, least expensive, and what needs to be filled in from my list with the other stops. We have moved quite a bit, and have lived a few blocks from Costco, to 45 minute drive away. Most of my, and my husbands clothes are from Costco. And shoes. And boots. And gifts. And housewares. And glasses. And hearing aides for my mom. And paper products. (I also help direct people if they look lost, and if they’re looking like they don’t know if what they are looking at is something they should get-and it’s something I’ve purchased and researched)
I have 5 kids and I go to Costco weekly for groceries. The membership is worth it for produce alone. Better prices than the grocery store plus it tends to be organic when you weren’t even looking for that. Plus I feel like quality just tends to be really good on everything, food, clothes, products. Costco doesn’t have a huge variety and I feel like they have vetted the items they do carry.
We live about 10 minutes from Costco and savings on gas alone makes it worth it. Then I eat a lot of paleo and organic foods. Buying them in bulk is so much cheaper. Sometimes a huge bag of Siete chips at Costco cost less than one two-serving bag at any grocery store. I go twice a month. I wish I could get it down to once but I always forget something 😅
I love my Costco membership. I shop around once a month and like that while everything isn't cheaper, the quality is better for most things. (We are plus size and no kids so we don't even look at the clothes). I buy the basic groceries that I always want on hand and toilet paper and paper towels are the best values. Also the gas is usually considerably cheaper at Costco than anywhere around.
I like to hit up Costco on rainy cold days in order to get in my steps 😁
Favorite food items from Costco: Big bag of Spinach, Pasture eggs, almond milk and Madra Lentils.
Good electronics for teenager gifts. We also like their leggings.
Finally, love their peppermint bark.
I almost forgot about the great leggings I got there! "Tuff" brand!
Zebra popcorn is now on sale. The Celsius will be on sale starting on Nov 25.
That's such a good reason! haha
I love mondetta fleece leggings from there
Also bulk rice
We got the Melissa & Doug doll house for our grandkids. My granddaughter played with it for hours every time she visited between the ages of 5-8. Now my 3 y/o grandson is playing with it a lot. I feel like it’s good quality and sustainable.
I've had a COSTCO membership for a number of years. I think my husband originally got it as a perk of his work. He and I would shop together monthly with a list. We'd split the list and go different directions to get done quicker. We'd go first thing when they opened on a week day (never a weekend). After his death, I found it hard to do on my own, so I started ordering from Instacart. It costs slightly more, but I don't have to go to the store, and they deliver to my door.
Things I get regularly: Toilet paper, Paper towels, dishwasher soap, garbage bags, cereal, butter (I freeze the extra), Coffee creamer when they have it, Broccoli cheese soup (quick dinner on cold nights), Rotisserie chicken, snack items (nuts, crackers, fruit snacks).
Oh, and I buy the 25 lb. bags of cat food for our feral colony.
No way! That kid Kraft dollhouse gave my kids, friends, and neighbor kids years of enjoyment!
Gas.....$2.99 instead of $3.49! And a cash back Citi Bank Costco card. That makes it worth it to me. We get some cheese there, some fish, some bread. And the vision center is worth the price of membership.
I love seeing you walk by all the toys explaining why you dont need/want them so many videos are the opposite trying to convince us why we need more and justifying so many purchases. It is so refreshing!
I shop at Costco every week and I have to breathe deeply and fight back tears every single time before I get out of the car. I love Costco. It is pretty much the only place I shop. That doesn't mean it isn't super stressful even after 20 years of shopping there.
I let my membership go YEARS ago and I don't ever plan on one again. I remember leaving Costco one day with all 3 of my Littles, a grocery cart full, completely frazzled, exhausted, road rage-y, and with a $500 receipt. I got in my car and said "that was absolutely miserable, and it cost me $500. I'm never going back". I found when we had bulk of groceries more went to waste. Because prices are "so good" I bought more than I needed and had too much inventory to manage. There are 3 things that I buy from Costco . My husband's socks, baby wiped for the car and camping (which I only buy once a year of each), and vitamin C chewable. I just let my sister or my mom know when I need them and they grab them for me when they are there.
Over and over again you make me feel not so "weird". I appreciate you validating a different way of thinking
I love this so much, Dawn. You are just narrating exactly what my mind thinks every time I'm shopping now. LOL, I have learned a lot from you!
I have had a Costco membership for about 5 years now! I have been going weekly during this season of our lives. With 4 kiddos 12 and under, we go through a lot of food! They have a lot of great organic food options as well as healthier food items that we enjoy for less than other stores.
A couple of warnings…it is easy to stockpile. We recently had to tighten our budget quite a bit, and I realized that I kept stocking up on certain things each time I went. So, we used up most items before purchasing again and now only buy for the current week or so.
For me, Costco can get overwhelming when I don’t have a list of specific items and just browse, AND during peak hours. 😅 Once we nailed down what we routinely use, it has been easier to shop. I have more brain space to look at new items when they come up.
Costco is also great at including unit cost under the price on each of their items. That might help you feel better about prices!
We also purchase Costco gas for our van as much as we can.
I save about $500.00 a year just on Allergy meds and Breath/nose strips for sleeping. Before Costco I was spending $22-25 a month just on allergy meds and another $23 for nose strips (that I couldnt sleep without) which I couldnt afford. When a friend took me to Costco I broke down in tears when I saw that I could get a six month supply for less than I had been paying for a MONTH at pharmacies. So it definaetly is worth it for me, but I do get in and out with a speciific list every six weeks or so.
Thanks for the video it was a little funny and I am sure just about anyone who goes to Costco can relate to....oh wait...look over there, wow I didnt see that, hey this is a great deal lol
I get it Dawn, as I also get overwhelmed by the inventory in these stores. I really think Tom will like his flannel though. I love how you shared your thought processes regarding your shopping. I think it will help others to maybe rethink how they are spending their hard earned money. Great video!
When you ask us questions I am answering them out loud “yes” or “no”😂. I guess I feel like I am right there with you!
Same 😂
Me too! It’s like talking to a friend!…No wait! I AM talking to a friend.
That same $60 will get u a Citibank Visa PLUS the Costco membership and the Costco Citi Visa has great cashback categories like gas, travel& restaurants. I don’t pay annual fees for any other credit cards but this one bc the cash back more than pays for the membership every year.
I have a computerized list of items that we buy at Costco. (Cheese, specific meat, cream, milk) I follow a local Costco group where a lady shows the "sales" and new items twice a week. If something pops up in that group that I think my adult children would need I send a picture to my kids and they tell me if I should pick it up for them. I also buy my gas there weekly. I can get in and out in 35 mins because my list is set-up to how the store is laid out.
I’ve had a Costco membership for years and the executive level pays for itself. I shop there every 3-4 weeks. Their almond milk is way cheaper than my local grocery store as is the Raos pasta sauce, which we go through fast. I also buy protein powder, pants for work (I love the Hilary Radley brand!), socks, cereal, cooking spices, bath towels, bodywash, produce, butter…. I could go on but you get the idea. I think it works for my family because I like to have a well stocked house in case there’s a snowstorm or we just get busy. I also get teacher/neighbor/ hair dresser/ anyone gifts there. I usually buy candy or peppermint bark pretzels. They’re always appreciated and affordable for us to give. I can understand it may have been overwhelming though. I plan my trips and have a list so I stay on track. 😊
Edited to add-how can I forget toilet paper, dishwasher detergent, laundry detergent!!! All much better priced at Costco!! 😅
I’m bummed you didn’t enjoy your experience there. I do recall having a hard time getting over the final bill but have adapted. I shop there every 2-3 weeks and do a majority of my grocery shopping there. I love the selection of food items, they have new products often, and stand by their customers if you’re ever dissatisfied for any reason. They run sales often so I wait to stock up on pantry & freezer items. I feel their meat & dairy prices are really where you see savings. (Fun fact, they have some of the strictest meat pathogen testing in the nation). They have great warranties too for major appliances, especially coupled with their Costco credit card. I definitely fall prey to impulse buying there but have gotten better or have just learned to return it after i bring it home and have remorse.
We're the total opposite of most people. My kids get next to nothing from other family members, either due to lack of money, or just that they're not gift givers, so we buy quite a bit for our kids. They don't get much more than what they need throughout the year, so at Christmas, I try to get everything on their lists, within budget.
Costco has just been winning me over as of this year. I LOVE buying kids clothes there! I have 6 kids, plus we foster, and they hold up great! I just got 2 packs of kids pajamas for $5 to take on a Christmas missions trip!
Stroopwafels are the best! You should definately try them. And the European cookies do look a lot like a collection of cookies you can buy in every grocery store here (Germany).
I love going to Costco. Just not when it's busy. The best time is Tuesday morning for my local store. Yes it's big and a bit overwhelming but the more you go, the more it makes sense and less overwhelming it feels. I just really like the quality of their products and their sales are so good.
I have two boys and go through fruit so fast. I get all my fruit there. It seems to have the longest shelf life. They also have best price on gluten free bread and seltzer water. We also buy all our electronics/ computers there because they have a really good return policy.
I go in Costco with a repeated list every 4-6 weeks. Toilet paper, dog food etc. It never fails I walk out spending over $200 each time. You'll always see something that's a decent price that you need or could use. So limiting how often you go will keep you from spending more than your budget allows. Like you said "if I buy the 24 pack I'll probably drink it more often because it's there"
This is what we do. Once a month I go with a list of standard bulk food items my 5 kids burn through - bread, granola bars, tortilla chips, flour, etc.
Also Kirkland organic salsa, the shelf stable kind, is amazing!
Clothes are great IF YOU KNOW YOUR BRANDS ❤️ champion is champion. Carters is carter's etc...generic versions can be thinner...but the price reflect the it might not last as long option...
When we lived close to one it was weekly for meat, bread, water jugs. Monthly for dog food - you need to know your prices for food items and how often you eat everything
My 13 year old daughter still loves to do the sticker face books.
Hi Dawn. I love Costco. The gasoline and t.p. prices will pay for the membership. I go at least once a week so I'm sure I blow a lot of money, however. . . I get organic produce, bulk buys of expensive food items like olive oil , almond flour, coconut oil, that I use for our diets. I agree with another poster, the tires price and warranty is fantastic. Pajamas- I love the Kirkland brand organic cotton pajama 2 pack sets.( Kids) They are better sized and thicker than Carter's,old navy , etc they last and are so cute. I also found pajamas for my 6'5" husband a few years ago.
The other cool thing is if it breaks you can return it to Costco, try that at Walmart, I returned an electric toothbrush twice! Thanks for the tour, I hope everyone loves their gifts.
I always order groceries to my house from regular grocery stores but I love Costco so my husband and I take a once a month date night there and we always love it! The only food store I can stand going into 😂 almost half of our monthly food budget is saved for our Costco trip too. We get gift cards to restaurants we like and use them for our other date nights which saves us 20% every time! Or 40% on cold stone if we want dessert 😋
You should have grabbed those stroopwafels! They are fantastic!! When you make a hot cup of tea... lay a stroopwafel across the top so the hot tea warms it up then take a bite! Trust me... you will NOT be disappointed!
We go to Costco 2-3 times a month, some months we skip - but the fuel prices are usually worth it for us for the membership. We don't browse the whole store everytime, and when we do it's more window shopping than buying 'off list'. We go for our staples, cheese, some produce, eggs sometimes, the rotisserie chicken is a meal saver. And the Costco pizza is a great meal solution for our family. We have our favorite items, it doesn't replace another store, just certain items.
We bought the Paw Patrol busy book for our 2 year old son for his birthday this summer. He loves it. We tossed the mat, but we’ve read the book many times and the figurines get played with regularly at home, as well as when we go out.
I don't know if the European cookies are European, but they are really good! On the topic of the Celsius drinks, hide them Dawn! Put three in the fridge and put the case under your bed. Next week pull out 3. I hope Tom isn't reading this. LOL
Agree about the dollhouse. My daughter hardly ever played with hers, but she was so excited about it at the time. I think she thought it would be more fun than it was.
We do keep a Costco membership.Items that we use it for include the rotisserie chicken, their brand sparkling water, some frozen foods, the gas from their gas station and the extended warranty that comes with using our Costco card to purchase electronics. They also have a generous return policy in case the item doesn’t work out.
Thanks for taking us along! :)
Stroopwaffles are amazing!! We use your graham cracker method for gingerbread houses and my kids LOVE that tradition. We’ve even used your handout and kit ideas to give to neighbors.
I go to Costco about every two-three months, typically buying the large packs of chicken breasts, batteries, and kitchen items like vanilla, spices or baking soda. I usually grab a food or clothing item as a treat as it’s overwhelming for me as well, Dawn. Love your candor and brutal honesty. 😉
we quit with batteries. we spent a ton on reusables up front and very, very rarely purchase them anymore. usually it's just the odd set of batteries we don't keep on hand and it's been over 10 years at this point
We LOVE Costco!! Had a membership for over 10 years. It pays for itself each year. And they have great service.
I'm just a few miles from my local Costco, and I am in there at least a couple of times a month. I have always liked the quality of items, and I love that the choices are narrowed, making deciding easier, if it's something I'm interested in. Their fresh food items are the best!
My husband LOVES Costco so he is usually goes. Some things are a better value but I agree - do you consume more because it’s there? I like walking through, but I will only go at odd times - like Tuesday evening. The weekends are an absolute no for me. PS. We get gas there and it’s a lot cheaper.
Yes those are the sort of cookies (biscuits in the U.K.) we eat at Christmas or whenever we get the chance. Dutch stroopwaffles are delicious warmed up by balancing over your hot drink until the middle gets all melted 🤤
That's what I do, until the middle is soft and stretches when you bite into it. Yummy.😁xx
We have been Costco members for years and buy clothes every season. Very pleased with quality and if you’re not happy with quality they will take back without receipt no questions asked.
It's so nice hearing that you only do one gift for each of your kids. That's what we've always done. Sometimes two gifts each. And I have had a lot of guilt about that in the past
Great video Dawn. What a huge store,. No wonder you needed a hot dog and coffee at the end of that haul! The cookies look like the biscuits we have in England. I like Aldi for seasonal Christmas food xx
I was just at Costco looking for gifts for my grandkids. The nice thing about buying at Costco is their wonderful return policy! I buy clothes there all the time!
My brother is never to old to have star wars stuff. He recently received for his birthday a yoda book shelf stopper stand. He loves it!! Don't know where his stepdaughter got it from but it is awesome!!
I had a costco membership when my kids were going through milestone parties like 16ths, 18ths and 21st and Christmas celebrations. Now they have their own places and I haven't been to Costco at all for years, I think one of them has membership, as does my Brother, who is a next level consumer, his home is well overpacked. I have been very careful with bringing more things into the house because I have quite a bit of trouble parting with things, so it's better for me to just avoid those places.
We got that exact laser tag gift from Costco for Christmas last year and the kids love it!
As a family of 6, we go to Costco at least every 2 weeks. Best price around for gas! That alone, is worth the membership for us due to my husband's commute. We get the more expensive membership that gives cash back at the end of the year, and it's never not paid for itself and then some. Even when we only had two kids.
Our favorite things to buy:
-coffee beans (best price on Cameron's which is local outta Shakopee)
-coconut milk
-rice
-oats
-PB
-frozen fruit
-eggs
-grassfed butter
We've find the Kirkland brand is generally as good or better than the name brand. Happy shopping!
I go to Costco 3-4 times a year for stock up shopping. However, the gas price bar, along with the 'rebates', covers the cost plus.
Stroopwafels from the Netherlands, they are super tasty ! We eat them here in SA too !
Costco has reviews on their website. I’m always checking even while I’m shopping.
I love my Costco membership. I go twice a month or so, but it's about 6 min from my house, so it's an easy place to go. We get a lot of the sale items of food. Salt for our softener, gas, diapers, and most of my wardrobe. 🤣