Love shopping at Costco but are we really saving? Here are some tips to help you be a smarter Costco shopper.

The hot dog and soda combo is $1.50 in the states. I hope our Costco gets fries one day.

@tinasmith9998

4 жыл бұрын

They are the best part about going!

I love it that Dude likes Spam. I haven't bought it in awhile, but it brings back childhood memories.

Great review and help. I am always over budget at Costco. Here in the USA our dog and soda is 1.50 but no fries yet. Thanks for the tip on the pizza. Thank you for sharing.

Go in with a shopping list, buy what you need and leave. Pretty simple. Maybe every 4th trip you go, do a full lap around the store to check new items (maybe write those down and add them to your list for next time). If you go do a full lap every single time, you will always overspend.

You could also order your take home pizza when you arrive, do your shopping then on your way out pick it up! I also saw a KZread video that said you could pay for your food court items when you pay for your groceries, then avoid the line at the concessions stand.

Tip..when you get the Costco rebate check...always cash it out at the customer service desk instead of using it to pay for your purchase. That way you get to maximize the Costco credit card rebate on all purchases. If you have their visa branded card in the U.S. I'm not sure what master card rebate on Costco card for Canadians. Plus always pay off credit card each month to avoid interest charges.

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

🤯 It has never occurred to me to just cash it and use my card to pay to put more towards future rebate! Thanks for the tip!

@sarah.beauchamp3951

4 жыл бұрын

A K oh, thank you!

@happycook6737

2 жыл бұрын

They don't allow you to get cash anymore. I tried last year. Now they even print on the back of the certificate "Not redeemable for cash ". 😭

@EdwardChen0

2 жыл бұрын

You can still cash most of it out, just buy a small single item and they'll give the remainder back as cash.

@AK-qo6tx

2 жыл бұрын

@@happycook6737 They still let you cash out the rebate check . Just buy one low price item at the cashier and ask for the difference back in cash.

Amerifriends! Petition Costco to bring fries to your food courts ✊🏼

I love these ideas!! Don't have a Costco close enough to us, so when the Sam's Club closed near us, we went with a smaller warehouse club that we could get to without driving for hours. I think it's a good idea to find out these tips no matter the warehouse club because I believe they apply to all of them - it is just tweaking it to your particular club.

You are my favorite you tubers. I love your recipes and; your passion.

I had no idea that Costco offered those family meals... and excellent roasted chicken prices!

I miss shopping at the Costco in Vancouver. The poutine... oh the poutine. And the ice cream cone. We don't have leg quarters in the U.S just the whole chicken... for $4.99. Trade our cheap chicken for the poutine any day 😁.

Love your channel. I have worked at Costco for 30 years. Believe me we employees fall victim too just like our members do on all the items that show up. And when they add the instant off $$ makes it even worse. :)

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

I often notice the cashier checking out items as they scan and asking customers more about them. Can’t be too good on the wallet!

My favorite videos from this channel are the COSTCO videos. Anyone else?

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! They are super fun to do!

Save even more by getting cash for you rebate cheque, and put the purchase on credit card for points/cashback. Use the cash at places where credit cards are not accepted.

My husband was saying the other day that the vacuum sealer was the Best Buy from Costco!

I loved your video. Although I wish you had empathized with the many seniors who survive on Costco samples. The people you saw and laughed at may or may not be the ones I am mentioning, but, my heart goes out for those people.

Ugh! I wish our Costco had fries!!! We love Costco though. It’s a whole outing/day date for us 😂

Ok, rub in the fry thing to us yanks.🤣🤣.

@maryr.4757

3 жыл бұрын

Nanniej21 Jean I know we are so lucky to get those beautiful, golden, crunchy fries, however you always get them??? Every Time??? And a polish hotdog because it is such a good deal and tastes great and you can grab lunch on an hour lunch break...multitasking. Lunch and groceries and back to work!!! Love it..... RE. FRIES....... complain to Costco and tell them if it can be done here, why not everwhere??? Make us customers happy and make more money. Win win win. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻. TAKE YOUR FAMILY OUT TO DINNER FOR UNDER $10. Lolol

I do a bulk meat and some perishable purchase every month at Costco. Having a deep freezer helps lol. I also keep a log of what’s in the deep freezer so I’m not buying too much and what we don’t need. I have a family of 3.

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

A deep freezer definitely helps. We don’t have one of those and my freezer is already stuffed and I can’t find a thing. I need to keep a better log.

Coincidentally I’m off to Costco myself...wish me luck. My husband is coming too and we have a tendency to “enable” each other. This is usually to the tune of $300 to $400.

Sorry dude but I must disagree with you. Those Japanese toilet seats are wonderful. After I broke my hip and came home from the hospital 2 months later my husband had purchased one for me to use. Unless you are disabled you have no idea how hard life can be. I

To echo the story about seeing three Chinese ladies eating samples at CostCo. I once participated with a tour traveling from Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies. One evening before checking into our hotel room, the tour guide told us a story about one of his past tour. A family asked if the coffee inside the rooms are free. They were. The next morning, this family looked very tired. He asked them why. They told him that they drank all the coffee at night because they were free and so they could not sleep.

Thank you. I have my daughter son in law and baby living with me. A Costco card comes in very handy.

I’m going to Costco today. Thank you so much for these tips!

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

Happy shopping! Stick to the list! 😉

I love Costco mostly for their gas station. Gas in California is spendy because of all the "additives". It was $2.95 today which is 40 cents cheaper per gallon than my local gas station. The rotisserie chicken here is $4.99. I unfortunately don't like the brine they use. I love that they have inexpensive Asian foods. Like frozen Korean mandu, Chinese Har Gow (!!!), Ling Ling Potstickers and of course Lop Cheung! Added to my list now is organic fresh ginger and carrots! Ohhh you have to ask for sauerkraut at the counter for your hotdogs ;)

Love you both...thanks for the tips...ok now the hate hahaha..those fries grr have some compassion on us lol 😁

@dudelum

4 жыл бұрын

Richard Dixon-d'Ascanio we do have compassion on you guys. It's a tragedy that y'all don't have fries! 🍟

Costco is like an as needed stop for me .We have WinCo Foods here in WA, USA. Lots of your neighbors from Vancouver come down here to shop. I think there is a Charter bus service that offers a day trip. The closest WinCo to you would be Bellingham. Prices are about 30% cheaper than competitors. I have no idea how much cheaper than in CANADA. I'd forgotten about the astrics on closeout items . Thanks for the update .

@nurseattle

2 жыл бұрын

If I remember correctly, the Winco in Federal way had a crazy atmosphere… weird store, right?

Love Manchego, taste exactly like the Manchego we love in Spain. Yes, wish we had fries. My dad and I share groceries, for example I buy lemo s and give him half the bag and I put my half in the plastic bags found in the meat section. Makes it easier to quickly drop off his groceries etc.

I have a Costco here in Canberra, Australia. My must haves are the petrol (gasoline), shredded roast chicken, mixed salted nuts, and frozen berries. I have tried the cheeses but tend to avoid them now as I find them to be too expensive. We have the cheap hot dogs and pizzas here, too.

We don't have fries in Australia but we do have meat pies. I wish we had the electronic order system for food.

Thanks Flo! I may have to sign up for the rebate. They keep asking me! I wish we had fries 🍟 BTW, feeling much better!

I could tell you guys were fellow canadians, just by the humour and relaxed pace lol :)

In the U.S. we can order food court items when we check out after shopping. That saves even more time.

@nurseattle

2 жыл бұрын

I have never heard of that option in Seattle or Hawaii.

@GaryScott-pdx

2 жыл бұрын

@@nurseattle - Have you asked?

@nurseattle

2 жыл бұрын

@@GaryScott-pdx No I never even heard of it until now!

I was in line at Costco, and this smiling surprised man said “ Hey CONGRATULATIONS! “ I said Thank you and for what exactly 😃…He said “ you’ve only got 3 items I. You’re cart & paying less than $100 😃 at the $ 200 -+ store “ I laughed 😄, then thought my God he’s right, last 3 or 4 visit to $COSTco I’ve paid minimum of $300 and I was going for just 2 or 3 items … 🥺

Amerifriend here! Sad we don’t have those yummy looking fries! With gravy to!! Nice! ❤️💕

I wish we had some Costco stores here in Arkansas as I would be there to see if they are cheaper than Sam's Club which is their about like the Sam's Club we have here. Since I am a retiree from the military I can go to the area air base to shop in the commissary there which don't charge sales taxes on the food you can get there, but right now it is hard to get there due to the freeways in the region being worked on and many detours on them I end up going to the local Wal-Mart which is higher, but lower than some other stores in price.

So sorry I am late getting to this video. Y'all are always thinking so much about others. Love that about you! I am a super frugal shopper as well. I rarely ever impulse buy now. I think I did way more when I was much younger, but I've learned over the years that it's just not healthy to impulse buy. LOL Keeping y'all in my prayers for getting to a debt free life! Once you attain that goal then y'all could start to think about getting a place with a bit of land enough to grow your own food. 😉

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Paulla! How is your food growing venture going?

@PaullaWells

4 жыл бұрын

Flo Lum - Girl, it’s happening. Being patient is the hardest part. I’m no pro like y’all but I have been recording the experience. Click my name and you’ll be able to see. I saw three of the peperoncini peppers have germinated. Still so nervous but still hopeful.

Flo I call that Costco asterisk the Death Star!

One idea to save $$$ is to use a Debit.Gift Card. You would have a set amount to budget to spend, while having cash for the "Just in Case" items. Another thing is if you have a gift card you do not need to be a Member, just show the Gift card and you get in to shop.

We don't have fries in Texas but we have churros! We also don't have underground parking. It would be great here because it's so dang hot!

Whole chicken here is $7.99 as well .$4 cheaper than other supermarkets .

Smart shopping flow nd guy way to go .. I'm from nz and about 500 KS from nearest Costco store buggar ..

Omg food looks Bomb 💣

We do get fries in the US. I got them with gravy when I was in high school. Can't find them with gravy anywhere here in Oregon

Now I want Costco fries ! 😋

Simple, ordinary, and joyful.... that’s what my merch apron says.... that’s what I buy into. Those three words do not mean spartan, tasteless, and austere. Flo wants you to..... think! Think about how you live, think about what you eat, think about how you spend your money. It doesn’t matter whether you have a lot or a little, wasteful is wasteful. There’s no place for wastefulness.

Those chicken street taco kits are really good. I'm surprised those fries and gravy didn't contain cheese curds.

I usually don’t buy roasted chicken. They inject it with salt so it tastes so good.

I finally got around to watching this episode. Good info! I was surprised that the rotisserie chickens were $7.99 where you are. They are $4.99 at my Costco in North Carolina...but we don't have fries :-/

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

Everything is more expensive in Canada! 😩

@CassandraRidenhour

4 жыл бұрын

Flo Lum I realized you were in Canada after I wrote that. Costco is still awesome though!

@Purplecow233

2 жыл бұрын

The BBQ chickens are still a great deal. They are so much larger than the regular grocery store chickens. We can get 2-3 meals from 1 chicken and even make a soup with the carcass. I sometimes buy polish sausage without the bun. I hope they start giving coleslaw and onions for them again soon.

Gravy chips! Sooo jealous!!

The Chicken Bake at Costco Mexico is the best!!!

I live in a very small city in Montana. Costco is a weekly shopping destination. Shopping choices are very limited here. No Trader Joe's, Winco, Safeway, or a large Asian market. I stock up on specialty items when I get to Portland, Oregon every few months. On a side note. As you were walking back to your car. In the parking garage. What were those machine kiosks for? Do you have to pay for parking? I love to watch your KZread channel! Thank you.

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

Wow... I don't know how I would survive without smaller markets. Yes, they are parking kiosks. This Costco is located in downtown Vancouver but it is so much quieter than the other Costcos in the area which are CRAZY busy. My sanity is worth the $2.

About the rewards of Costco, I am thinking that should I redeem it at the customer service counter instead of cashier??? Can I do that ? Then pay with my credit card for the rewards of next year~

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

A couple of people commented about that. It never occurred to me. 🤯 So smart!

Costco sells great meat like the standing rib roast(PRIME RIB)!

Costco has great poutine and chicken wings 💕

Why cant. Dude have spam? 😀 I love that you still enjoy some junkie food like fries and gravy! 👍

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

He can’t buy Spam Every. Single. Time. We go to Costco. LOL I love fries and gravy!

@MsPeachesandcream

4 жыл бұрын

@@FloLum Spam is best browned in a pan (tastes like bacon to me) and best served with mac &cheese. Never been to a Costco but we have Sam's Club.

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

Oh I’ve tasted it every which way and it’s still 🤢 to me.

No costco by me- Sams club- but no chicken legs - thats great. Of course we have fries

I’m so grateful for your video!!!! Yes, the inflations are sky rocketing in every where… I’m pretty much watching what I’m buying like thing I don’t really needs…hope and pray that inflations will go away soon🙏 Eating right like fresh fruits & vegetables are the most expensive🥲😱

FYI our Whole Foods has an organic rotisserie chicken. Here’s the ingredient list: organic chicken. If you make instantpot bone broth, it’s really cheap.

Whenever I go to Costco I don't use a cart or else.....! Major overspending lol

@maryr.4757

3 жыл бұрын

iremember la Good hint. Thank you for sharing. I am a fill the cart kind of girl and always overspend, that's why I don't go as often now.....that's a good hint, slow down going there, go once a month...... my sister is addicted to Costco, seriously, she drives from an hour away and as often as possible for Costco.... so funny....her husband just told me she had 370,000 miles on her new car!!! That is so funny......addicted to Costco 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

We have no fries in Costco Australia too...😩

We pay $1.50 here in CA for hot dog & soda

The hot dog and drink is still a buck fifty......as for fries with the hot dog....no way! It would raise the price. The hot dog and drink being one of the lowest price food court items gets me into going to Costco.....of course so does my friend’s membership. And when I can’t go, well I watch a lot of videos and get my “Costco fix”

Is the French fries at CostCo considered Poutine? I only see gravy, I did not see cheese. Our Hawaii CostCo's lost leaders, of course, are the hot dogs at the food stand and rotisserie chicken inside the store. But most everything else are popular because we are in Hawaii. Finally, gasoline is cheaper than outside too. The Iwelei CostCo on Oahu where I usually go to is the busiest CostCo in the world. Costco estimates that 1 in 4 residents of the island are Costco members, and with Oahu having a population of over 950,000, it's easy to see why this location gets a lot of foot traffic.

Just FYI Flo, certain Costco in US do have the fries. One of them is near me so haha ~

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

Really?! You are the first to let us know. Where?

@natng533

4 жыл бұрын

Flo Lum the one near me is Montgomery, PA. The others are in VA.

Uh, American Costcos don’t have fries in the concession?? Whaaaaa. My favourite fries!

please where are you located?

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

Vancouver, Canada 🇨🇦

I’m not sure that I’m ready for a bidet but they are better from a hygiene and environmental perspective.

😭 you guys are so cute

Congrats on showing restraint with your Costco shopping. Are you opposed to frozen meat? i.e. buying in bulk, portion it out and vacuum sealing and freezing till you need it.

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

I am. Mainly because I have no room in my freezer and when I do freeze, I’ll often forget to defrost and end up buying more because I need to get dinner ready. To me, freezer meat is throwing away money. Also don’t have a deep freezer.

@lynardok6654

4 жыл бұрын

Flo Lum I think that is wise - it gets Lost in the chest freezer! I would also suggest if you did get one getting an upright freezer so you can organize and see things better. It holds a little less but is worth not losing half of what goes in!

@kenfoster3983

4 жыл бұрын

@@FloLum Understandable, and if it isn't working or saving money then it is a good tip.

In Québec, we have not only fries but we have poutine.

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

We have poutine too! I think it’s all across Canada.

Leg Quarters?? No, we don't get those.. I wish we did.. And you know I am a SLAVE to Costco. :D Our whole chickens cost $4.99. On our last visit to your Costco, we had the poutine and OMG, it was killer!! I don't know why we don't have fries..

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

Right?! Costco fries are pretty darn yum. BTW I tried those dried mushrooms and did not like them. 🙁

@SBakall2

4 жыл бұрын

@@FloLum Oh no... you didn't?? I'm so sorry to hear that. We finally got them here and they are flying out of the store. Every Asian walking thru the store has at least 2 bags in their cart.. Did you see the salty egg cookies? I am no longer taking responsibility for those bec everyone I have given them to, loves it and then goes back to buy a box. Also, Costco hotdogs are $1.50 EVERYWHERE. Costco sells their hotdogs for $1.50 in every country all over the world. The difference we cound was the hotdog in Taipei was made of beef instead of pork. Seoul has pork ones as does Tokyo. Still, Canada Costco are the only ones with fries!!

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

You weren’t the only one... lots of people were telling me how yummy those mushrooms are. My aunt just gave a bag to my mom and I’m like 🤢. I told my mom, if she opens it, she’ll be the only one eating them. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Maybe she’ll like them. LOL

@SBakall2

4 жыл бұрын

@@FloLum I bet you can add them to soup as you would regular shitake mushrooms for flavoring. I wonder if they will ever go back to the chewy mushroom state though since they have been dehydrated..

is that beef gravy on the fries?? We dont have Beef gravy in Toronto. If they did, their poutine would be A+!!!!

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

It’s brown. I always thought it was beef. If not... what is it?!?! Do I want to know?!

@kendallstone5819

4 жыл бұрын

@@FloLum i think it's chicken...(or i hope) . Ours is a much lighter colour. I always assumed the dark brown gravy was beef.

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

It’s tasty anyway. 😉

Nope Smart n Final superstore EXCELLENT rotisserie chicken :)

Oh Dude, u didn't hear we gave up on French fries 🍟 and now have Spam Fries!! Haha

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

😂

@dudelum

4 жыл бұрын

Lies!

Just make sure those berries are organic. I’m glad we don’t have fries here. It’s all unhealthy, so I’m good without it. Thanks for sharing.

No fries but our rotisserie chicken is $5

Hot dog same price as USA.It okay l can skip the fries.

And with gravy? 😭

Dude...Spam!!!??? 🤮 It’s a wonder you can taste Flo’s delicious cooking!! Those fries look deeelicious.

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

LOL! I know right?! I can’t stand the stuff but he and the kids love it. 🤮

@jennigee51

4 жыл бұрын

What can I say? Some people 🙄 There isn’t much canned food I like...processed peas to go with fish and chips, that’s about it. I forgot to ask why don’t Costco do chips (fries) in America?

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

I have no idea.

What are those hot dogs made of? 😳

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

I’m guessing the same as most... “you don’t want to know.”

Hot dog and soda is $1.50 USD. Rotisserie chicken is $4.99 USD so about the same as yours.

Love so much at Costco but I dont like how the mechanically tenderize their meat. Wont buy it.

But , for us roast chicken is only $ 4.99

I quit cosco for 2 people it makes no sense

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

Yep... for two, it would be a challenge.

@dvdru

4 жыл бұрын

@@FloLum It works for me and we are only two. I use my Costco credit card for all of my purchases everwhere and when we get the rebate it's always enough to pay the Costco membership fee and a little extra left over.

@dvdru

4 жыл бұрын

@@osakarose5612 As long as you know the prices, you can save. Not everything is cheaper at Costo, that's why you have to know the prices elsewhere before you shop there. We've saved a ton of money over the years.

Ever wonder why those rotisserie chickens are so meaty and fatty? Hormones.

Dude puts ketchup on his hot dog... unsubscribe...

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

😂

@dudelum

4 жыл бұрын

what do you put on your hot dog??

You are soooo bad , showing off your fries. Right , we don't have in US.

TOO MUCH PLASTIC!!!!! I’d avoid this place like the plague, actually 🧐 Regarding your Costco pizza & hot dog purchasesI’d support SMALL BUSINESS RATHER THAN HUGE CORPORATIONS LIKE COSTO ; finally why do you get BOUNTY TOWELS WHEN YOU SHOULD BE Buying 100% recycle paper???? I don’t get you guys...? Thanks

@pierrebeausoleil5885

4 жыл бұрын

SMALL BUSINESS ARE LIKE GANGSTER

I did my own survey, spent one month shopping at Costco, spent $500+, then spent the next month shopping at Asian food shops, spent just $135!. I keep going back to Costco, but not sure I am saving as much as I thought....

@FloLum

4 жыл бұрын

I think so long as we stick to the items we need... that’s the problem.

@maryr.4757

3 жыл бұрын

I know, I have been going since they opened 40 yrs ago? I never get out of there under $500 and I didn't want to spend that much.......I think we are being brain washed?? Self imposed?? My sister spends $2500 a month??? Guess I'm cheap...

@happycook6737

2 жыл бұрын

I agree Costco is a place to be very careful! For me the savings are nuts, trash bags, gas, cheese, bacon, spices, dogfood, honey, deodorant, frozen fish, and frozen fruit. Backpacks, lunch boxes, kid's costumes are cheaper too I used to love their hotdog but sine my gallbladder was removed I can't eat it. 🤭 Yes send us some french fries please. Poutine would be lovely. I still find loss leaders at grocery store are often cheaper.