Bulk Spices That’ll Go Stale Before You Can Use Them
Most folks love having a well-stocked spice rack, but those massive containers at Costco? That’s where good intentions go to die. Spices lose flavor and potency over time, especially if its ground. The longer you keep a spice in the pantry, the less flavorful it becomes. According to culinary experts, ground spices shouldn’t be kept for more than three months and whole spices should only be stored for up to eight to 10 months.
Unless you’re seasoning food for a small restaurant, the bulk size may be too big to get to the end of the bottle before they lose their taste or potency for seasoning chicken, steak, or fish. You’re better off buying smaller quantities from your regular grocery store. That way, you’ll actually use them while they still pack a punch.
Fresh Produce in Family-Sized Portions
Those giant clamshells of strawberries might look like a great deal, but here’s the reality check: Food waste destroys about 30% to 40% of the food supply in the U.S., according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Think about it: Are you really saving money on that bag of potatoes if you’re tossing out half of it later once they’ve sprouted eyes? Fresh fruits and vegetables spoil fast, and unless you’re feeding a large family or hosting a party, you’ll likely end up throwing money in the trash.
Fruits and veggies are a prime example of what not to buy at Costco. “Unless you’re buying them for an event or party, where they’ll get eaten immediately, be cautious about stocking up on them,” she advises. Instead, buy what you need from local grocery stores or farmers markets, where you can choose exactly the right amount.
Diapers That Don’t Actually Save You Money
Here’s something that might shock new parents: Costco isn’t always your cheapest diaper option. Across its range of sizes, Costco’s average price per diaper is $0.24. This is cheaper than Huggies, Pampers, or Amazon’s owned label, but Kroger, Walmart, and Target all offer cheaper store-label diapers with per-unit savings of at least 25%.
Plus, there’s the practical issue that shopping experts point out. “Is your rapidly growing baby really going to fit that diaper size for the amount of time it’ll take to reach the bottom of the box? Or how about formula?” notes Bodge. “You feel like you’re going through it like water until you realize that it’s time to introduce solid food or your baby decides that they no longer like the brand you bought a case of.” Babies grow fast, and you might end up stuck with the wrong size.
Over-the-Counter Medications With Long Shelf Lives
That giant bottle of ibuprofen might seem like a smart purchase, but think about how often you actually pop pain relievers. Unless you have a condition that requires you to take pain medication every day, you probably don’t want to buy those pills in bulk at Costco. Pain medication has a limited shelf life. Most people don’t need industrial-sized bottles of medicine.
The same goes for allergy medications, antacids, and other over-the-counter drugs. They expire, and you’re likely to end up throwing away unused medication that’s lost its effectiveness. Stick to regular-sized bottles from your pharmacy or grocery store unless you have a specific medical need for bulk quantities.
Beauty Products That Expire Before You Finish Them
Those enormous bottles of lotion and shampoo might look tempting, but here’s what beauty experts don’t want you to ignore: buying skincare products in bulk sizes at Costco might sound terrific, but this is only if you can use them in time. Those giant bottles of beauty products look great at first glance, but with an expiration date of less than a year, will you use a giant bottle of Aveeno daily moisturizing in time?
Most people vastly overestimate how quickly they’ll go through beauty products. Did you know that opened lotion should be tossed after six months? Lotion past its best-by date won’t moisturize or keep your skin hydrated as well. That’s why this is another item not to buy in bulk. You’ll end up with products that have lost their effectiveness sitting in your bathroom cabinet.
Perishable Baked Goods You Can’t Finish
Costco’s bakery section is legendary, but those two-packs of everything can be problematic for smaller households. Bread is another item McGrath discourages shoppers from purchasing in bulk unless they can eat it before the expiration date. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), commercially baked breads and rolls can be stored at room temperature for two to four days and in the refrigerator for seven to 14 days.
The same issue applies to muffins, croissants, and other baked goods. Sure, you can freeze some items, but most people don’t plan ahead that well. And since bread can go moldy, it’s definitely one of those foods you’ll want to toss after their expiration date. Unless you’re feeding a crowd, those bulk bakery items often become expensive food waste.
Condiments in Restaurant-Sized Containers
That massive jar of mayonnaise might seem like a bargain, but condiments have shorter shelf lives than most people realize. If you feel no dish is complete without a healthy squeeze of sauce, why not stock up with multiple bottles, jars or vats? Make sure you think that through before checking out at Costco. Most condiments should be used within a few months of opening for best quality and safety.
There’s also the practical storage issue to consider. Plus, will all those oversized containers fit in your fridge? Your refrigerator door probably wasn’t designed to hold industrial-sized ketchup bottles. Stick to regular sizes unless you’re running a restaurant or hosting frequent large gatherings.
Liquid Laundry Detergent That Degrades Over Time
Here’s something that might surprise you about that giant bottle of Tide: “Liquid detergents tend to degrade over time, so while that huge bottle of Tide is a great deal, you may be using an inferior product by the time you get to the bottom,” Bodge says. “Of course, if you are doing laundry for multiple family members, you should be OK.” The active ingredients in liquid detergents break down, making them less effective at cleaning your clothes.
If you’re doing laundry for just one or two people, you might not use up that massive container before it starts losing its cleaning power. Powder detergents tend to be more stable over time, but those liquid formulas that promise amazing stain-fighting abilities? They might not deliver by the time you reach the bottom of the bottle.
Bulk Cooking Oils That Go Rancid
Unless you’re deep-frying turkeys every weekend, those massive containers of cooking oil aren’t the bargain they appear to be. Unless you’re running a restaurant or deep-frying turkeys on weekends, those bulk sizes of cooking oil aren’t the bargain you think they are. Olive or vegetable oils can be kept unopened in the pantry for four months, according to the USDA. Once opened, oils have even shorter shelf lives and can develop an unpleasant rancid taste.
Rancid oil doesn’t just taste bad – it can actually be harmful to your health. Most home cooks simply don’t use enough oil to justify buying it in bulk. You’re better off buying smaller bottles that you’ll actually use while they’re still fresh and flavorful.
Products You’ve Never Tried Before
This might be the most important rule of Costco shopping: never commit to bulk quantities of something you haven’t tested first. Don’t buy anything new to you unless you know you and your family truly like it. If you’ve never tried cold brew coffee before but always wanted to, it is not a good idea to dive in and buy a 30-pack at Costco. That seems obvious, but Costco’s warehouse atmosphere can make even sensible shoppers throw caution to the wind.
Whether it’s a new brand of frozen meals, an unfamiliar type of protein bar, or a different style of toilet paper, try a small size first. Buy a single can or a four-pack at your local grocery store first. There’s nothing worse than being stuck with a massive package of something your family won’t eat or use. Test first, then commit to bulk buying once you know it’s a winner.
Shopping at Costco can definitely save you money, but only if you’re strategic about what goes in your cart. The key is being honest about your actual consumption habits rather than getting swept up in the excitement of bulk buying. Remember, a deal isn’t really a deal if half of it ends up in the trash. What seemed like the biggest money-saving mistake you almost made there?
Cleaning Supplies You’ll Never Finish
Here’s something that’ll shock you: those massive containers of cleaning products at Costco might actually cost you more in the long run. Sure, that gallon-sized bottle of dish soap looks like an incredible deal, but cleaning supplies have expiration dates too – and they lose effectiveness over time. Most households simply can’t use industrial-sized quantities of bleach, floor cleaner, or laundry detergent before they start breaking down. You’ll end up with a cluttered storage area and products that don’t work as well as they should. Instead of saving money, you’re basically paying premium prices for stuff that’ll sit around getting weaker by the month. Stick to regular-sized cleaning products unless you’re running a small hotel – your wallet and your storage space will thank you.
