Great ‘What to Buy at Costco & Makro’ Hunt

aitch-aitch

Costco tip for you - look for prices ending with a 7 (e.g £9.97) this means the product has been reduced.

Great for using after Xmas and for other seasonal items as Costco do some fantastic reductions. Check the clothes - I once go a Jasper Conran hoodie for £4.97!

I find Costco are not that good on wines and beers either. Big savings on cat food and toilet rolls (hubby rolls his eyes everytime I bring home 96 toilet rolls!).

Food at Costco may not be all that cheap but it is really good quality - especially the meats (I but the minced beef and chop it into portions for freezing and chicken breasts).

xtopher

:rotfl:Many years ago I became a member of Makro by inventing a business. I was a scientist at the time working for an international company so I called my 'my business' something along the lines International Scientific Analysis Ltd and was promptly given a card no questions asked. Sadly I let it lapse so don't know if it'll work these days.

xtopher

MikeysGirl

Summer01 wrote: »

Hi, I only ever buy the Kirkland washing powder now - it lasts ages

we've just switched to kirkland powder as a money saver - 3.5ish pence a wash compared to something like 15p a wash for Persil. no brainer!! :T

i work for a University so was able to join with my (photo) security pass and a utility bill for proof of id/address.
i joined when i was pregnant with my youngest child and the amount we've saved on disposable nappies and toys at christmas waaaaaaaaaay exceeds the membership fee.
We like Pilgrims Choice cheese which is about a fiver a kilo - i was shocked the other week when i saw Sainsburys selling about a third of the size for the same price :eek:
we also stock up on toilet/kitchen rolls, baked beans, bacon, cereals etc when the offers are on.

we find Costco more useful for our household than Makro but still go to Makro occasionally if Costco don't have what we want.

we tend to plan our trips around a meal time too so we can get v cheap (and yummy) pizza slices in the caf! beforehand :dance:

Bossmanuk

Member of both Makro and Costco. Ideal for anyone who goes abroad for holidays and does self catering (need to have a car!)

If you are travelling to USA take your Costco card, they have everything and at a fraction of the UK price (obviously some warranties are useless)

If you are travelling to Europe take your Makro card. Makro cards can be used at Metro in Europe (and also China) as well as at Makro stores. Alcohol bought from Makro in the Czech Republic is cheaper than in the duty free!

stars_bright

I usually do my supermarket shopping from Sainsbury online, I found out some time ago that it is cheaper than going round the shop because you dont get tempted to buy stuff as you go round the shop. I am wondering about joining Costco but wonder whether I would just buy so much more stuff on impulse that it would cost me more in the long run?

trees72

Travel to CostCo once a month and stock up on nappies, wipes, toilet rolls and loads more!!! :AParticularly enjoy getting the mince which I divide up, also do the same with sausages and bacon. Their free range eggs are much cheaper than the supermarket (£2.79 for 18 large) and also their free range whole chickens. I buy the catering size tomato ketchup and refill a squeezy bottle. My husband is a big fan of the apple pie, whilst my daughters love the muffins and I can't resist the sushi packs!! :rotfl:We all make a bee-line for the various food tasters dotted around the store, but the main reward is the cafe after shopping. Hotdog and a soda (free refills) for £1.50 for me, hubbie loves the chicken bakes while the kids like the pizza slices (which are HUGE). OK the coffee comes in those horrible cardboard cups but it is still a nice cup of coffee.:beer:

All in all I would always advise getting a membership if you can, it definitely pays for itself. It's also a nice way to spend a rainy afternoon if you're bored!!:beer:

boso

Costco also sells the Ipod for about the same price you can get it online/in store, but you also get a 2 year warranty (for as long as you are a Costco member). When I bought one for my wife (last October), we also got the plugin charger for free. (Not sure of this is still the case).

Their LCD TV's are not exactly price competitive all of the time, but you get a free 5 year warranty (as long as you are a Costco member).

Sami_Bee

Costco also sell bundaberg ginger beer which is LUSH!!
http://www.bundaberg-brew.com.au/

boso

Bossmanuk wrote: »

Member of both Makro and Costco. Ideal for anyone who goes abroad for holidays and does self catering (need to have a car!)

If you are travelling to USA take your Costco card, they have everything and at a fraction of the UK price (obviously some warranties are useless)

If you are travelling to Europe take your Makro card. Makro cards can be used at Metro in Europe (and also China) as well as at Makro stores. Alcohol bought from Makro in the Czech Republic is cheaper than in the duty free!

Didn't realise that I could use my Costco card in the US, that is very useful knowledge !!

shaz-ann

mi55moneypenny wrote: »

So do Costco do a day membership? How do you get this? Just turn up? Or is there a particular time of the week? And how much is it?

Questions! Questions!

No, they don't but it really is worth buying a yearly membership because of the money you would save over the year, especially if you live reasonably close by.

I think it was already mentioned earlier on in the thread that membership costs around £25 plus vat for the year, but you get an additional card free (I'm not sure but I don't think it has to be a spouse/partner).