If you enjoy shopping at Costco but find yourself constantly overspending, you are not alone. We all fall into the traps of retail and its psychological techniques to get us to buy goods we don’t need right now or in larger quantities than what an ordinary American household need.
We have excellent news: there is a failsafe way to save money at this department store behemoth, and most people overlook it. One might believe the trick is to always use Kirkland Signature items, which is a terrific place to start. Let’s start there and then go on to the trick you should be looking for the next time you visit your local Costco.
First things first: Kirkland products are just as good as the big name brands, and they’re worth a fraction
Purchasing a supermarket brand can be risky because many consumers feel they are low-quality products with close expiration dates. Don’t worry, because those are only false anxieties with little validity. Famous brands may be more appealing in terms of packaging and marketing, but those are also two of the factors that contribute to their pricing.
Kirkland Signature is more than simply a generic brand. In fact, many of their products are created by the same firms that make the top names, but at substantially reduced pricing. This is due to Costco’s elimination of marketing and promotion costs, which allows it to provide top quality to its customers at a lower cost.
Kirkland Signature olive oil is regarded as one of the best in its category, rivaling luxury brands such as Bertolli and Filippo Berio, but at a significantly lower cost. Kirkland paper towels are similarly comparable in quality to leading brands such as Bounty or Charmin, but at a far lower cost.
There are also grains, preserves, protein bars, cereals, beauty items, drinks, and even apparel (there are literally thousands of products, making it hard to list them all). Kirkland products can save you up to 20-30% over well-known brands while maintaining quality and sourcing, since their lines vary from basic groceries to household or automotive necessities.
The real secret to take advantage: Look for the number 7 and the asterisk
The idea is to take advantage of pricing that end in.97. Yes, those seemingly minor numbers on product labels are a major indicator of savings. When you notice a price that ends in.97, it indicates that the item is on clearance and will most likely not be available again at that price.
These reductions are typically offered to products that are about to go out of season, have new packaging, or the warehouse just wants to get rid of inventory. For example, if you see a package of bath towels priced at $19.97, it’s probably on sale and a deal you won’t find again.
But that is not all. Another tip that few people know is to pay attention to the asterisks (*) on price tags. If you see an asterisk in the upper right corner of the label, it indicates that the product will not be replenished once it has sold out. This is a message to get it right now if it is something you need, because there will be no second chances.
