Five Ways Costco Makes My Life Easier {And a Free Shopping Event}

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We are so excited to partner with Costco to sponsor our Mom Hour on November 4th!

If I had to shop in only one store for the rest of my life, Costco would take the (oversized) cake. I’m a work-from-home mom of two toddlers, so loading up the crew and heading to a bunch of different stores for groceries, supplies, and clothes is about as enjoyable as sitting through a Caillou marathon. In case you’ve never been to Costco, I’ll let you in on a little secret: THEY. HAVE. EVERYTHING.

They’re Food Allergy Friendly

We’re a hard family to shop for. I have celiac disease, and my boys are allergic to dairy. I usually cringe when friends invite us over for dinner since we’re pretty tough to accommodate. Finding gluten-free, dairy-free options usually leaves us somewhat limited. On top of that, I try to buy organic whenever possible. Whenever I see a gluten-free, dairy-free, organic product that doesn’t require me to take out a second mortgage, I feel like I should buy a lottery ticket. Luckily, Costco has tons of options for food allergy families. Costco’s brand, Kirkland Signature, is full of organic, gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free choices. Kirkland is great at clearly labeling the front of the boxes, which lets me know what I’m putting in the cart with a quick glance. For those who have school lunch restrictions, this makes shopping for lunch box snacks a breeze.

I Can Buy Diapers, Books, Laundry Detergent and Wine in the Same Place

If there’s something everyone can agree on, it’s that moms are busy. When there’s one store that carries almost everything you need, it makes life easier. Costco is this store. You can find baby products, cleaning supplies, household items, small appliances, groceries (including a bakery and fresh deli department), clothes, gifts, shoes, seasonal specials, and even tires at the warehouse. The best part? They sell wine. If you haven’t already, do yourself a favor and grab a bottle of the Kirkland Signature Sangria. You won’t be disappointed. Even better, if you can’t find something you want in the store, you can indeed find it on Costco.com.

I Shop Less Often, and I’m Always Prepared

My kids are only two and three, but with the way they eat, they might as well be linebackers for the Giants. We go through a lot of food, especially fruit. Buying in bulk means that I don’t have to run to the grocery store for fresh fruit, veggies, and meat every few days. It also means that I’ll never change a diaper at 9 p.m. on a Sunday and realize I’m just about to use the last one. I save time, money, and those pesky extra trips by buying in bulk for last-minute ingredients. I use my pantry space and freezer to store anything we don’t use right away. I always have enough ingredients to throw dinner together or whip up quick snacks for unexpected guests. Plus, Costco is king when it comes to convenience. They stock premade fruit and veggie platters, meat and cheese trays,  and assorted freshly baked desserts. 

I Save Money

In addition to shopping to accommodate our food allergies and my preference for organic foods, I also try to be as price-conscious as possible. Costco saves me money. This week, I bought the boys a treat of organic Kirkland Signature fruit snacks. The box contains 72 pouches of fruit snacks and costs $14.99. A similar organic fruit snack product in my local grocery store has five pouches per box and costs $3.69. Costco has monthly coupons, and if you download the app, you can redeem them right from your phone. No clipping required!

The Products are Good Quality

Lots of the Kirkland Signature brand items are manufactured by large national companies. Costco ensures they only stock the highest quality products in their warehouses. The produce stays fresh for a long time, and the meat is incredibly delicious! Their clothes wear and wash nicely, and the household products stand against other popular brands. Psst- Kirkland Signature diapers are manufactured by Huggies, the coffee by Starbucks, and the batteries by Duracell.

Bonus points for the extra wide parking spaces!
Bonus points for the extra-wide parking spaces!

Bonus: The Extras

Where else can you do a one-stop-shop and buy furniture, a surfboard, car insurance, grapes, and a vacation package to Disneyland? Costco is best known for jumbo packs of toilet paper and cakes that serve 30, but it might be the extra offerings that make a Costco membership so valuable. Costco offers insurance, travel options, a full-service pharmacy, optical services, and much more. Many warehouses also sell alcohol and have gas stations attached. Your membership entitles you to deals and discounts on all of the services Costco offers.

And…

If all of that weren’t reason enough, my kids would lose their minds for the cart escalator in Port Chester. Promising them a pizza lunch after a big shop doesn’t hurt, either. There are always stations where we can get free samples, and there’s usually a cool demo going on, too. Plus, unlike some other Westchester places, parking is easy and free!