Sticking to a Costco Shopping list . Is it possible?

[redflag5050]

Very simple question. Do you ever stick to a shopping list when you go to Costco? Is it even possible? I for one can never do it.

Actually, if I come home having only bought 4 extra items that were not on the list, that in itself would be an accomplishment!

What say you?

[Ben_Troll]

I'm sorry to admit but every time I visit Costco (and no shopping list) I ended up buying 2 or 3 items.

[Winkle]

I find it's very easy to do. I only buy things that I need that are on sale, or only if I really need it if it's not on sale. I rarely walk out with more then 5 or 6 items in my cart.

[Ottomaddox]

I often walk in ...and never buy anything.

[Cheap Cat]

I rarely buy more than a couple of items and usually only buy what I went looking for. I see here that I am not the only one but I frequently get questioned by other shoppers as to how I can buy so little.

I find the key to buying little at Costco is to get a shopping cart when you go in. If I get a cart, I buy little, if I don't get a cart, I tend to buy more. :lol:

[cheaper_than_cheap]

:lol: I'm able to stick to the list only if I've been going there a lot recently and have already bought one of every impulse item :D

But in reality, no I almost always come out with at least 1 or 2 extra items I wasn't planning on.

[HeleneV]

I always walk out of Costco spending more than I anticipate.

[Hugh Jass]

I always walk out of Costco spending more than I anticipate.

Oooh yeah. I say I'm going in to get my prescription filled, buy some bathroom tissue and bread. Leave an hour later, $300 poorer. Every fricken time.

[amz155]

I find it's very easy to do. I only buy things that I need that are on sale, or only if I really need it if it's not on sale. I rarely walk out with more then 5 or 6 items in my cart.

Same here. There are a few dozen things that I guy regularly at Costco. I usually just go in to get those things, don't browse around, and buy only what I came for.

[hagbard]

No problem at all. Usually they don't have what I was looking for and a walk out with nothin'.

[Cas77]

I remember reading an article a while back on how to save money by not doing any impulse purchases. It was geared more towards grocery stores and preventng you from a) buying stuff on impulse especially when you're hungry and b) not being tempted to buy unhealthy crap food on the end of an isle or next to the cash register.

As silly as it was, they suggested swapping grocery lists every week with a friend/relative. They fill your grocery list for you and you do groceries for them...then settle the money difference. :lol: It's a crapload of trouble but I could see it working though...

[CrazyJo82]

it think it depends on you as a person and how you shop and how well you can control the impulse buy. the good news is, it's costco... buy it take it home, don't like it or needed, return... lol

i've never gone shopping with a shopping list but just seeing the coupons and buying mostly things that are on sale and things that are necessities. my average spending is normally around $100/visit, except when i have a rebate coupon...

[HarleyQuinn]

It's a 5 1/2 hour drive for me to get to a Costco, and I usually end up finding a lot of deals that my incredibly expensive grocery stores can't compete with. :o

The only time I have stuck to a list is when I bring a set amount of money in and no more, like one would a casino . . .

[Hugh Jass]

It's a 5 1/2 hour drive for me to get to a Costco,

Yikes.

[brunes]

Depends on when you were last there. If you were just there earlier in the week, you will have less of an urge to wander the aisles looking for the mystery items.

If you have not been there in a week or more - forget about it!

(True story - I just went there yesterday specifically to buy margarine and salsa - about $15 of stuff, taxes in. I left with a bill of $90 :P One of the impulse purchases was of all things a birdhouse)

[ssainani]

more often than not i look around and see the typical obese costco shopper - based on this i tend to buy very little

[uber_shnitz]

I've no trouble sticking to my list. There's rarely things "on sale" that I'm interested in. However other stores with more frequent sales tend to sidetrack me :lol:

[Purgatory]

I never bring a shopping list when I go to Costco. I also never buy exuberant amounts like some people do (I see some people walking around trying to juggle two full carts.)