How Often Should You Shop at Costco?

The quick answer? It depends on your schedule and needs.

When I first started shopping at Costco, it was before kids came into the mix. As such, it was harder to justify buying perishables like milk, certain cheeses, fruits, and vegetables in bulk. And so back then, we used to run to Costco every few weeks to load up on things like snacks and household cleaners -- items you can keep around for months without having to worry about them going bad.

These days, though, we go through a lot of food in my house. And so we've incorporated a weekly Costco run into our schedule, which helps us rack up a lower credit card tab in the course of shopping for groceries. 

If you're paying for a Costco membership, you may be wondering how often you should be visiting your local Costco. And the answer? It depends on your needs and schedule.

What can a weekly Costco run do for you?

If you have a Costco nearby and you tend to go through perishable items very quickly, then a weekly trip to the store could work to your benefit. You may find that you're able to spend a lot less on the items you consume regularly than you would at the regular supermarket. 

Of course, this assumes you have the time for a weekly Costco trip. If you're very busy, and if you don't have a Costco nearby, then a weekly run may not be feasible. 

Remember, too, that if Costco isn't particularly close to your house, then what you save on food, you might spend on gas to get there. So definitely take driving distance into account when deciding how often to shop at Costco. 

Now, if you're someone who lives alone, or with only one other person in your household, then a weekly Costco run may be excessive. But again, that's going to depend on your specific food consumption habits. Maybe you eat a ton of produce, and so you're able to finish a bulk load of Costco fruits and vegetables before they spoil. If so, a weekly run could pay off.

Are you getting your money's worth if you don't shop at Costco that often?

It may not make sense for you to head over to Costco more than once every month or so. And if that's the case, you may be starting to question your membership.

So the big question to ask yourself in that case is how much your membership is actually saving you. A basic Costco membership costs $60 a year. If you typically buy things like toilet paper, chips, and cleaning products there, but that saves you $10 a month compared to the supermarket, then you're saving money. 

In fact, the frequency of your Costco trips shouldn't dictate whether a membership is worth paying for so much as the savings that come out of those trips. You don't need to shop at Costco every week to get your money's worth. And if you decide that a single Costco trip every three months is the best cadence for you, then by all means, go for it -- as long as you're getting the savings you expect in the course of a year.