I’m Single and Have a Costco Membership — Here’s Why It’s Worth It
I can’t tell you how many online articles I’ve read about why buying in bulk doesn’t make sense for single households. If you live alone, the “advice” goes, you’ll end up spending too much money and wasting food. Well, I call nonsense! I’m single, I have a Costco Membership , and it’s absolutely worth it — for my budget, for my health, and for my shopping habits.
About a year and a half ago, I signed up for a basic gold membership. It’s only $60 per year, and I’d have to spend way more than my grocery budget allows to reap the benefits of an executive membership (which offers 2% cashback on your yearly purchases at Costco).
Since getting the membership, I’ve learned a lot about the right way to shop at Costco and discovered that you can absolutely buy in bulk, save money, and eat healthy as a household of one.
Here are the top three reasons I plan to renew my membership.
1. The frozen food department is amazing.
This is definitely my top reason for shopping at Costco and it alone makes my membership worth it. I buy as many items as I can fit in my freezer and can easily go 3-4 weeks without having to buy anything else frozen. Mostly, I stock up on frozen fruits and vegetables, which are just as healthy, if not healthier than fresh since they are often flash-frozen right after harvest. Most options only cost $7-$10 for a huge 4 or 5-pound bag and I don’t ever worry about food waste. If I had extra space, I’d buy an extra chest freezer so I could stock up even more frozen finds.
2. There are a ton of healthy shelf-stable items.
Costco carries some of the best-tasting, highest-quality healthy finds of all stores I shop at. I have a list of go-to shelf-stable items I always buy at Costco. Some of my favorites are: organic unsweetened almond milk, organic soy milk; organic raisins, organic figs, unsweetened applesauce, balsamic vinegar, raw natural almonds, dry rolled oats, chia seeds and flax seeds. They cost way less per ounce than other stores do.
3. Their organic produce offerings are extensive.
Costco’s organic offerings beat out all other stores when it comes to organic produce. As a single person, I try to be very choosy. The number one thing is not to buy all the things in this department! I select vegetables and fruits that last longer in the fridge, such as organic carrots, organic celery, organic apples, cucumbers, Medjool dates, lemons, and oranges. And I buy shelf-stable produce that last a while and aren’t sold in huge quantities (such as bananas, pineapple, and avocados). I only buy a few items that go bad quickly, such as fresh organic greens (which I freeze half of for smoothies). I’ve saved so much money the last year on fresh produce alone.
If you have a Costco membership, what are the top reasons that make your membership worth it?