I’ll be honest—I practically live at Costco. Between stocking up on family essentials, hunting for new food finds, and grabbing my favorite snacks before they disappear forever (I’m still not over losing the chocolate-covered mangoes), I’ve learned a thing or two about how to shop smarter at Costco.
If you love Costco as much as I do—or you just want to save some money and avoid rookie mistakes—these hacks will change your shopping game.
1. Know the Costco Price Codes Like a Pro
Ever wonder if something is actually on sale? Here’s a secret: Costco’s price tags hold hidden messages.
- Prices ending in .99 → Regular price
- .97 → Clearance (and once it’s gone, it’s gone)
- .49 or .79 → Manufacturer discount
- .00 or .88 → Manager markdown (sometimes returned items or final stock)
If I see a .97, I always grab it because that means it won’t be restocked.
2. The Best Time to Shop? It’s Not When You Think
If you hate crowds and long checkout lines, avoid Costco on weekends and especially Sundays after church hours.
Best times to go:
- Weekdays right when they open
- Tuesday & Wednesday afternoons (mid-week magic!)
- 1 hour before closing for a quick in-and-out
Avoid Saturdays at noon unless you enjoy shopping in a full-contact sport.
3. Sample Day Strategy—Yes, It’s a Thing
Samples are free, and we all love them. But did you know Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are peak sample days?
Want to try all the new goodies without fighting through a crowd? Go mid-morning before lunch when everything is freshly set up, and sample carts aren’t swarmed.
Bonus tip: If you like something, buy it before you leave the sample area—hot items sell out fast
4. Don’t Skip the Endcaps
Those little sections at the end of the aisles? That’s where Costco hides some of the best deals. They often feature limited-time markdowns or new products that haven’t made it into the main aisles yet.
I’ve found huge discounts on snacks, frozen foods, and even electronics just by scanning the endcaps.
5. Kirkland Brand = Secretly the Best Stuff
Kirkland Signature (Costco’s private label) is basically the secret weapon of budget-friendly shopping. Most of their products are made by name-brand companies but at a fraction of the cost.
- Kirkland Vodka → Rumored to be Grey Goose
- Kirkland Coffee → Roasted by Starbucks
- Kirkland Batteries → Same manufacturer as Duracell
- Kirkland Dog Food → Competes with high-end pet food brands
Moral of the story? When in doubt, buy Kirkland.
👉 Want to know the secret behind Costco’s rotisserie chicken, food court hacks, and how to shop without a membership? Click for Part 2!
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