I don't do much shopping at Costco because I have no patience. (shocking, I know!) so my only opinion to give you is to avoid buying plastic leftover containers. you should never microwave in them (chemicals released into the food) so it means more dishes to wash (I'm lazy too! another shocker). watch for sales on the glass ones and slowly stock up. that doesn't mean I don't have oodles of plastic ones still, I just don't buy replacements for the ones that run away with the socks from the dryer!

I *heart* Costco and it is my husband's and my go-to date night. Walk around Costco, dream up reasons for the 47 person tent, the trike, a 14 pack of tennis shoes.... and of course get icecream and hotdogs (regretting it later of coure). It's a good time. We are usually pretty good and don't dream too much stuff into the cart, but last time a 100ft garden hose jumped into the cart. We buy diapers and tortillaland tortillas on a regular basis. I also get Tillamook cheese, chicken, corndogs (don't judge me, they are delicious!), and apples on occasion.

To piggyback on Ashlee's comment: I am also a (kind of) couponer and follow the Krazy Coupon Lady. Another couponing blog I follow, The Frugal Find has a GREAT Costco shopping guide to help you determine what is a value at Costco and what is not. What she will buy at Costco: http://thefrugalfind.com/items-i-will-buy-at-costco/ Items she will NEVER buy at Costco: http://thefrugalfind.com/items-i-would-never-buy-at-costco/ As for my little family (Husband and dog) we buy chicken breast (freeze it) coffee beans, dog food, paper plates, plastic cups, beer and sometimes wine at Costco. Occasionally we'll buy chips and dips if we have a large crowd to feed.

I have so many things to say.... 1) I am pretty sure I received my official mom card last Friday while balancing an armful of fussy baby, my wallet, hot dogs, soda cups, and ice cream. People were definitely staring, although I like to think half in awe and half in horror. 2) Brett and I used to be avid Costco shoppers, but have since cut back mostly because we were running out of space to buy things in bulk and I am too lazy to drive all the way out there. 3) When we DID go to Costco, I bought things that we seemed to be constantly running out of: toilet paper, laundry detergent, fabric softener, dishwasher detergent, trash bags, etc. The Costco version of those items lasted us 6-12 months! I also used to buy all of our meats there and separate them into individual freezer bags perfectly proportioned for dinners for two. This is back when I used to have more free time on my hands, obviously. 4) Ironically, today I happened to stumble upon a little show called Extreme Couponing (how have I never seen it?!) and was SHOCKED at these crazy people buying $1200 worth of groceries for $3.51. Naturally, my curiosity led me to the "Krazy Coupon Lady" website, where I came across this article; http://thekrazycouponlady.com/2010/10/03/reason-103-why-you-should-ditch-your-warehouse-club/ ....I just started using coupons this year (not like the crazy people, maybe 4 or 5 per shopping trip) and have noticed that you can score INSANE deals when you combine coupons with items on sale. That being said, I think Costco is definitely useful for certain big ticket items, but you might want to do a price comparison between "buying in bulk" at Costco and doing what the Krazy Couponers call "stockpiling". 5) Ask me sometime about my brilliant idea for a stockpiling co-op, which involves a handful of girlfriends becoming master couponers of specific items before we have trade parties. I am totally going to make it a thing. The end.

Big Costco fan: Our staples: the organic frozen 3-cheese ravioli in the green and black bag (delish!), dog beds, hanna andersson pj's for baby, produce, always grab a rotisserie chicken, I get their party platters for events and an insider tip: the Kirkland brand vodka is actually Grey Goose!

I went to Costco the other day for diapers and spinach (the bags are HUGE- perfect for freezing for green smoothies) and almost left with that darn toddler trike. The one with the push handle that converts into a trike when they are ready? Rainier is 5 months old for goodness sake, but I was this close! I told myself I'd wait until he's at least 6 months old ;) Seriously, though I'd keep my Costco membership if just for the diapers alone. Those suckers are amazing.

I've actually never been to a Costco (it's another one of those mystical american things that I haven't yet encountered) but I like your list idea! I'm a sucker for instant gratification in the form of shiny but highly unnecessary things. Sounds like a list might help curb that :)

We have a handful of things we consistently buy at Costco. Milk and eggs are generally cheaper, as are a four pack of the jars of applesauce we like and bread. We buy the big bags of Foster Farms chicken breasts. If you go into that frigid produce room they have a great deal on big bags of broccoli florets and on tubs of organic baby spinach. If you go through a lot of butter in stick form, it's a better deal there, too. We also buy the 2 lb. Kirkland block cheese, which is in a different spot than the Tillamook and is cheaper, just fyi. Kim, we had no idea they sold Adam's PB, but we're totally going to check it out, so thanks!

I buy at Costco for the best pricing: Butter (it's better for you :-), Bananas - oh so cheap, Flax chips, Adam's peanut butter, batteries, and sometimes a nice block of Goat Cheese.

We buy diapers and wipes, berries (because my kids are maniacs for berries and will eat them in large quantities), contact solution, all laundry and dish washing detergents, trash bags, paper wares including tissue, tp, and paper towels, I often get the kids pjs there (Carter's is super cheap and their organic cotton pjs are nice), kids snacks (freeze dried fruit, organic applesauce squeeze packs, gold fish crackers), coffee pods for the kuerig, organic real fruit popsicles, Greek yogurt and dill dip, fiber gummies for my kid who won't poop, and on and on. I am a total sucker for things not on my list and never walk out of there for under $150. I also frequently take the kids out to lunch at Costco. Pizza and hotdogs never tasted do good!!

I hear you, Lesley! Costco is one of those good/evil places for me. The blinders I attempt to wear don't always work very well... The things that I buy are almost all the things that are non-perishable: paper towels, toilet paper, Kleenex (is it called facial tissue generically?), napkins, laundry detergent, dish soap, dishwasher soap, contact lens cleanser, shampoo, conditioner, soap, razors. That's in my regular rotation. We also make a lot of pasta sauce in our home, so I buy the big boxes of tomato sauce and tomato paste. That's pretty much the only food I buy since I'm fearful of not using other stuff in time and then wasting money. Plus, like you, space is limited for storage options. All the other stuff they sell, I usually research and price compare before making the purchase. A lot of times I actually find that Costco is comparable to other places selling whatever item I'm looking at. One thing I've been thinking about Costco researching for prices is nuts. The mixed bags or just single type of nuts at Trader Joe's or other grocery stores is still pretty steep cost wise. I'm thinking about buying several types at Costco and then making my own mixed batches at home.

we get diapers at Costco. Primarily because "grandma" has the membership, we don't. So every time grandma comes up this way she offers to get diapers for the girls. PERFECT!

A must for me is the giant (it's Costco so I suppose the word giant is stating the obvious) can of Planter's Peanuts. Pop off the blue plastic top and voila, I am 5 knuckles deep in legumes. A quick slam dunk down the pie hole, and I am in instant snack heaven. No container or utensils needed, nothing to clean up, add a glass of milk if so inclined, result...life is good.