The 3 Items That Convinced Me to Become a Costco Member
If you have been on the fence about getting a Costco membership (like I was for a while), I have a feeling that all it will take is a few top-notch items to convince you that it’s worth joining — especially when you think about the long run.
That’s what happened to me, anyway. After eight months of using my family’s membership, I noticed that there were a couple of groceries that I was buying time and time again. They were consistent in terms of freshness, flavor, and price. I started realizing how much I used these things in my home and decided that I had to have my own membership so I could buy these on a regular basis. (Of course, since joining, I have come up with an even longer laundry list of items that help me save money on a budget.)
While these may be simple and available anywhere, here are the three items that sold me on a Costco membership and are always in my cart!
1. Kirkland Signature Frozen Strawberries, $10 for six pounds or four pounds (organic)
Available in both a six-pound bag of regular strawberries and an organic version in a four-pound bag, Costco’s Kirkland strawberries are some of the tastiest I’ve ever had and they’re a total steal! They’re the same price depending on which bag you buy. (If you won’t miss the two-pound difference, it may be worth going for organic, as strawberries are number one on the Dirty Dozen list pretty much every single year.)
What I love about these strawberries is that they come in at 30 to 50 percent less expensive than other stores per pound. And they never have added sugar but are super sweet and ultra fresh-tasting, so you know they were picked at peak harvest. Why is this so important? Because one of my pet peeves is buying frozen berries and having them taste like watered-down versions of themselves. Costco’s Kirkland brand strawberries are never lacking in the flavor department and make any smoothies, slushie, or baked good recipe so much more enjoyable! Sometimes, they even go right from the freezer to my mouth!
2. Quaker Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats, $8 for 10 pounds
My mom and I both love oatmeal, so we normally split these and it’s only $4 a person. While I may love to buy organic oats when I can, these old-fashioned oats are ones that never let me down and are just too good of a deal to pass up! I use this stuff to make hot oatmeal, overnight oats, oat milk, all sorts of baked recipes, homemade oat flour, and more. And my share still lasts me for about a year!
Tip: This big box comes with two big five-pound bags inside, so be prepared to store them. I like to use old protein powder containers that I’ve removed the label from. This way, they’ll stay fresh for up to a year and a half.
3. California Medjool Dates, $10 for two pounds
Fellow Medjool date-lovers, if you’re not buying your dates at Costco, it’s time to change that ASAP! These Medjool dates are the plumpest, juiciest dates you’ll find for the price. Look for them in the produce department and put them in the fridge when you get home. I like to keep mine in tall Mason jars in the fridge, which is not only prettier but also seems to help them keep longer too.
These work great as a natural sweetener in smoothies, baked goods, and make the absolute best no-bake snacks and raw treats. One of my favorite combinations is unsweetened shredded coconut, Medjool dates, and Dutch-process (dark) cocoa powder whizzed up in the food processor and rolled into balls before sprinkling them with some hemp seeds. So delicious!
Fellow Costco members, what are the items that convinced you to join the warehouse club?