The $185 Costco Chicken Problem

Ayn-Monique Klahre
Ayn-Monique Klahre
Ayn-Monique is a lifestyle editor and writer who's worked for Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, FamilyFun and more. She loves lattes, jogging and hanging out at the playground with her husband and daughters.
updated May 1, 2019
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The rotisserie chicken is a well-documented loss-leader for Costco. At $4.99 for a three-pound bird, it’s an amazing solution for quick weeknight dinners. My family can get about two or three meals out of a single bird (think: tacos, chicken soup, chicken-topped salad, and actual chicken salad). So sometimes I go to Costco just for the chicken. The problem is, it’s hard to walk out of Costco with just the chicken. They know that and that’s totally the point!

Recently, I went in for chicken and walked out with $185 worth of goods of varying urgency. Yikes.

As part confession and part warning, here’s a list of all the things I’ve bought when I went in “just for chicken.” Not all at once, mind you, but over many trips. Sometimes they are smart purchases, and sometimes they’re impulse buys. Here they are, in no particular order. Please don’t judge me.

  1. OXO SoftWorks Set, $50 for 12 containers: Hey, I’d been planning to redo my pantry for a while!
  2. Organic Aussie Bites, $12 for 32: They’re delicious, healthy … and totally unnecessary.
  3. Speedo Ladies’ Swimsuit, $20: I’d been thinking of taking up swimming for fitness. (Note: I needed to join the Y first — but did, two months later.) Alas, this didn’t fit, so I re-gifted it.
  4. Nature Nate’s Natural Raw & Unfiltered Honey, $10 for 48 ounces: This stuff is delicious. No regrets!
  5. Seeds of Change Quinoa & Brown Rice with Garlic, $11 for six, 8.5-ounce boxes: This seemed like a smart thing to have; haven’t cracked open a single box yet.
  6. Kirkland Signature Organic Roasted Seaweed Snack, $9 for 10 packs: I do not regret this purchase, as my kids love these.
  7. GT’s Gingerade Kombucha, $15 for six, 16-ounce bottles: We do like to have these on hand, although they’re sort of an optional purchase.
  8. Kirkland Signature Organic Unsweetened Almond Non-Dairy Beverage, $8 for six, 32-ounce cartons: Also a good purchase, since they don’t go bad and I drink it every day.
  9. Charmin Ultra Soft Toilet Paper, $27 for 30 rolls: Fact: You can never have too much toilet paper.
  10. Le Delice de Bourgogne Cheese, $11: This stuff is ah-mazing. We had it as an appetizer one night and dinner on another!
  11. Trident White Gum, $7.50 for 12, 16-piece packs: My friends are grateful for this purchase, I’m sure.
  12. Wine (various prices & kinds): I mean … my in-laws were coming, so I had to stock up!

Do you have the same problem at Costco?

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