7 Time Saving Tips For Shopping at Costco

Having a Costco membership is sure to save you money. But what about precious time? They say time is money, so here are 7 time-saving tips for the next time you go shopping at Costco.

Time Saving Tips For Shopping at Costco

I love shopping at Costco but it always takes much more time than I planned. After going to Costco with one of our Living Locurto team members, Naomi, I was shocked by how organized and quick she was! As a mom of three and apparently an expert Costco shopper, Naomi has a lot of great tricks and tips up her sleeve! I asked her to share a few time saving Costco shopping tips to help us out during this busy holiday season.

They say time is money, so here are 7 time-saving tips for the next time you go shopping at Costco.

7  Ideas to Save Time Shopping at Costco

We know life can be a struggle. It’s hard to get it all done, especially during the holidays. We hope these simple tips will help save you time and money the next time you shop at Costco. For more time saving tips, check out –> these great organization ideas here.

 

1. Know The Costco Parking Lot

Getting in and out of the parking lot can be a challenge. Avoid the traffic jams and find out if your Costco has a back driveway. Many Costco stores do! If your Costco has a back or lesser used driveway, treat it as your own personal road to retail bliss. It may sound crazy, but parking in the back of the parking lot will save you time just because of the ease of getting in and out of the parking lot.

 

2. Know The Store Layout

Knowing the store layout is just as important as knowing the parking lot. My favorite time-saving Costco tip is to take a list, stick to it, and know where exactly everything is in the store. If you need something from the back of the store, avoid going down the middle aisles. Stick to the side aisles and avoid the throngs of customers jockeying for position around the sample tables.

 

3. Avoid The Busiest Times

Playing bumper carts is no fun. Do a little research and find out when the best times to visit your Costco store are. Generally, Costco is busiest on the weekends, the day or two before a major holiday, or on the first day of a new coupon book.  One of the quietest times to shop at Costco are the days in between coupon books. If you aren’t buying anything on a coupon, go in between sales and enjoy the wide aisles all to yourself.

 

4. Stick To A List

It is so easy to be distracted by all the new shiny items Costco has on display. Stay strong! I’ve shopped so much at Costco that I have developed a master list of items I buy regularly. At home, I’ll review the list and mark which items I need to buy. Then when I arrive at Costco, I’m armed with my list and plan and it seriously saves me time AND money! Click here for cute free printable lists.

 

5. Skip The Samples

Ah, the samples. Everyone loves the Costco samples. Steer clear, as tasty as they may look! This is a time pitfall at Costco, with hordes of shoppers gathering around waiting for the toaster oven timer to ding. Be honest with yourself: You can live without the little morsel, but you’ll never get your precious time back…move along!

 

6. Look For A Fast Cashier

Sometimes the longest line is also the fastest line. Look for a cashier that is really moving customers through quickly. Head for a line with two Costco employees (one scanning and one loading the cart up). If you shop as much as I do at Costco, you may even find a favorite cashier that is always super fast and efficient.

 

7. Have Your Car Trunk Ready To Load

Make sure your trunk is empty so that loading your Costco purchases into your car will be a breeze. Costco doesn’t provide shopping bags, but don’t fall for the stiff cardboard boxes they offer to hold your groceries! Instead, bring your own shopping bags and load your purchases up yourself.

Make sure you have a good insulated bag ready for your frozen items. This may sound counter-intuitive to saving time, but once you arrive home, simply carrying the bags into your home will be so much easier. And you won’t have that stiff cardboard box to deal with.

 

What are your favorite Costco shopping tips? Let us know in the comments below.

 

Naomi Calle is a wife and mom of three who loves traveling, cooking, running, organizing and great at coming up with life hacks to keep up with her family.

Share the fun!