Costco Hack: I Just Fed My Entire Family Dinner for Only $10

For several years, one of my New Year's resolutions was always to cut back on takeout and cook more at home. But this year, I wrote off that resolution for one big reason -- I always fail at it.

And it's not like I don't know how to cook, or that I hate doing it. I actually like cooking -- when time allows. The problem is that usually, time doesn't.

Between my full-time work schedule and the fact that I'm frequently shuttling my kids to after-school activities and sports practices, I barely have time to grab a drink of water from my kitchen, let alone cook a meal in it. That's why takeout is, unfortunately, something I'm resigned to relying on.

The problem with takeout, though, is that it can be a huge strain on my budget. So I'm always looking for ways to spend less.

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Recently, an oddly-timed Costco visit led me to discover a way to feed my family dinner for just $10. And it's an option you may want to fall back on during a busy week, too.

When Costco's food court comes to the rescue

I normally do my Costco shopping in the morning, when the store first opens. I find that it's less busy at that time, so it's easier to get my shopping done quickly. I'll also sometimes go to Costco later at night.

It's pretty rare for me to pop into Costco during the pre-dinner time rush. But recently, I had to take my daughter to a makeup class at her martial arts school, which happens to be right near Costco. And due to timing and traffic, it didn't make sense for me to go home during the 45 minutes she was there.

I had a need for a couple of Costco items, so I decided to stop in even though I wasn't due for a full Costco run for a few more days. While I was there, I found myself running through the same question I always ponder around 5 p.m. -- what on earth will I put on the table for dinner?

And then I saw the food court in front of me and the answer was clear. Why, a large-sized Costco pizza, of course.

In my area, a large plain cheese pizza can easily cost $20 or more from a local pizzeria. Costco's large pie, on the other hand, costs just $9.95. And it's huge -- as in, a single slice can serve as dinner for me, whereas with a standard pie, I'd need two slices easily.

That night, I was able to walk up, order a pie, grab it to go, scoop up my daughter, and put dinner on the table without breaking a sweat. And unlike my usual takeout meals, this one didn't break the bank at all.

An option you may want to fall back on

It's a no-brainer that cooking at home is generally more cost-effective than takeout. But sometimes, you just need to outsource dinner prep to somebody else, whether because you're too pressed for time or you're too exhausted.

Before you blow $40 on your next family takeout meal, consider heading over to Costco's food court and bringing home a giant-sized pizza. You can even order your pizza when you get there, do a little shopping, and then head to the food court to pick it up so it's nice and ready for you.

Of course, if you're someone with super high pizza standards, you may find that Costco's version isn't quite up to par. I'm from New Jersey, where even the worst pizzerias in town make a good pizza. And I can tell you that while Costco's pizza isn't my top choice, it's decent in its own right -- especially given the price point. So don't hesitate to work it into your meal-planning routine if it's something your whole family eats.

These days, it's hard to put a home-cooked meal on the table for $10. Getting to buy a meal that's already made at that price point is a deal that can't be beat.