I drive 2 hours to shop at Costco and spend at least $250 on each trip. Here are 17 of my favorite things to get there.

Thu, 10/17/2024 - 09:15

Photo of the writer with a shopping cart filled with wine, mini tacos, barbecue sauce, Goldfish, and other products while waiting in line at Costco checkout — When I go to Costco, I always leave with a full cart.
Tiffany Duong

I live two hours from Costco, so when I go there, I stock up on necessities and a few fun items.
I use the Kirkland Signature chicken salad to make delicious, light dinners.
I treat myself to the Harmless Harvest organic coconut water and Italian Volcano 100% lemon juice.

A few years ago, I moved from my native California to the Florida Keys to scuba dive and live a relaxed life. The Keys, an island chain off the southern tip of Florida, are beautiful but far from many conveniences — including Costco.

As a Florida Keys resident, I don't have access to many big-box stores where I can buy my groceries in bulk. So, I drive two hours to a Miami-based Costco to stock up on necessities and a few splurges.

The retailer, which has been a leader in customer satisfaction for at least seven years, carries the products I need to last me a few months or so. Here's what I get at Costco on a $250 budget.

Prices may vary by location.

When our toilet paper supply runs low, I know it's time to go to Costco.

I always stock up on the Kirkland Signature bath tissue at Costco.

Tiffany Duong

The Kirkland Signature bath tissue is one of my favorite household items. Whenever our supply is low, I know it's time to head to Costco.

Plus, I get a lot of bang for my buck. Each $20 package has 30 rolls (about $0.67 per roll) and lasts a few months.

Liquid IV hydration-multiplier packs keep me feeling energized.

Green-and-yellow pouches of Liquid IV drink mix next to a display of blue Liquid IV pouches at Costco — Liquid IV hydration-multiplier packs come in various flavors.
Tiffany Duong

These powdered electrolyte drink mix-ins come in individual packets, so they're perfect for bringing with me when I go scuba diving.

I combine this electrolyte drink mix with water to help fight off headaches and dehydration. There are lots of different flavors, but my favorites are the strawberry, golden-cherry, and firecracker (yes, like the Popsicle) varieties.

Pouches of 24 to 30 packets cost about $30, but they're often on sale for up to $8 off at my Costco.

Emergen-C vitamin C daily immune-support packets come in handy when I travel.

Bright-orange boxes of Emergen-C tablets stacked on top of each other at Costco — I use the Emergen-C vitamin C daily immune-support packets when I want a boost of vitamins.
Tiffany Duong

Emergen-C is a powdered vitamin supplement that comes in individual packets, similar to Liquid IV.

Each packet contains 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C, and the 120-pack at Costco includes three different flavors: super orange, raspberry, and tangerine.

I like mixing water, Liquid IV, and Emergen-C together for an electrolyte- and vitamin-rich drink when I travel. I add varying amounts of Liquid IV and Emergen-C powder so I can control how much flavor I want in my drink.

This variety pack of Emergen-C costs about $30 at my Costco, and each box lasts my household half a year.

Natrol melatonin 5-milligram fast-dissolve tablets help me catch up on sleep and fight jet lag.

Selfie of the writer wearing a gray top smiling and holding a purple-and-white package of melatonin — I sometimes take the Natrol melatonin 5-milligram fast-dissolve tablets to help me fall asleep.
Tiffany Duong

As a journalist, I never know where my work will take me. So, I keep melatonin tablets in my suitcase to help me fall asleep fast and adjust to different time zones when I travel.

A 250-count bottle of 5-milligram tablets costs $12 at my Costco.

I love Campari tomatoes, and I can't find them anywhere else.

Several stacks of clear-plastic containers holding tomatoes on the vine at Costco — I love how tangy and juicy the Campari tomatoes from Costco are.
Tiffany Duong

These are my favorite tomatoes to get at the grocery store — and I've never seen them outside Costco. Unlike other varieties I've tried, these tomatoes burst with flavor throughout the entire fruit.

To me, these golf-ball-sized tomatoes taste more savory than grape or cherry varieties. I think they also have more to them than the Roma and beefsteak types.

They're perfect in sandwiches, with sliced mozzarella for a caprese salad, or as nutritious, tangy, sweet treats. A 2-pound pack of tomatoes is $4.90 at my local Costco.

I like to elevate my salads using butter lettuce.

A hand holds a clear-plastic container of fresh-looking lettuce next to a price sign that says — I use butter lettuce for salad bowls and spring rolls.
Tiffany Duong

Butter lettuce is my favorite green. These leaves are softer than romaine lettuce and have a really nice mouthfeel.

When I have a fancier meal planned, I'll opt for butter lettuce. It elevates my salad bowls, chicken-lettuce wraps, and spring rolls.

My Costco sells a package of three lettuce heads for $7.

I love the Kirkland Signature chicken salad made with rotisserie chicken.

A clear-plastic container of chicken salad with a white sauce and visible pieces of green celery — The Kirkland Signature chicken salad made with rotisserie chicken is so good.
Tiffany Duong

This dish, made with Costco's famous rotisserie chicken, is full of flavor. Its texture is more creamy than chunky, so it's really easy to incorporate into meals.

It's made with chicken breast, celery, onions, sour cream, and the perfect amount of salt, making it a savory yet nutritious treat. I like to eat it by itself, with crackers, or on top of greens for a light dinner.

At my Costco, this salad is located on the refrigerated shelves near the rotisserie station. It costs $6 per pound, which comes out to about $13 to $14.

I can't get enough of the Harmless Harvest organic coconut water.

Green and white boxes with illustrations of bottles with coconuts on them on shelves at Costco — I love the price of the Harmless Harvest organic coconut water at Costco.
Tiffany Duong

The Harmless Harvest organic coconut water is a "treat yourself" item that almost always finds its way into my cart. The naturally pink coconut water tastes like you're drinking the beverage straight from the fruit.

At my store, a six-pack costs $14, or just over $2.30 per bottle. This is about $1 to $2 cheaper than prices I've seen at other stores near me.

The Tillamook medium-cheddar snacking cheese is the perfect light bite.

Selfie of the writer wearing a gray shirt and smiling open-mouthed holding a large pouch of individually wrapped cheddar squares — The Tillamook medium-cheddar snacking cheese upgrades almost any meal.
Tiffany Duong

These individually wrapped cheese squares are perfect for quick, on-the-go protein.

They're also my household's preferred "emergency cheese" (when we need a little something to make a dish taste better). However, we inevitably use the cheese for more than just emergencies — it's delicious.

A bag of 52 cheese squares costs $14 at my Costco.

The Kirkland Signature Italian-style beef meatballs add protein and flavor to quick meals.

Green cardboard boxes holding green and white pouches with pictures of meatballs on them — The Kirkland Signature Italian-style beef meatballs are very flavorful.
Tiffany Duong

The Kirkland Signature Italian-style beef meatballs are always in our freezer. We add them to pasta, meatball subs, or straight into sauce for quick meals.

My favorite preparation is with Rao's marinara sauce, also from Costco — this combo packs a ton of flavor.

A large bag costs $18 at my store.

The Brazi Bites remind me of meals in Rio de Janeiro.

An orange cardboard box holding several orange pouches of Brazi bites with white and purple lettering — The Brazi Bites are a tasty snack.
Tiffany Duong

Air-frying these frozen Brazi Bites, or Brazillian cheese bread, reminds me of when I lived in Rio de Janeiro.

The cheesy dough is delicious in a way that's not overwhelming or greasy. Plus, they make a great gluten-free dinner-party appetizer.

They're an affordable delight that I love rediscovering in my freezer every few weeks. At my warehouse, a bag of about 62 bites costs $15.

Bagged beets may seem weird, but they instantly elevate any salad.

Selfie of the writer wearing a gray top and smiling next to a display of white boxes with illustrations of beets on them — The Beetology organic beets come peeled and cooked, so they're super easy to add to recipes.
Tiffany Duong

I love having big, colorful salad bowls for lunch. Roasting beets takes effort, and canned ones sometimes have a funny texture. But the Beetology bagged beets from Costco are amazing.

They come precooked and skinned, so I can immediately open the package, slice them, and enjoy them.

A box containing three bags of beets costs $8 at my store.

Bottled lemon juice is my finishing touch for many drinks and meals.

A pair of green bottles with white-and-yellow packaging on a gray floor next to a pair of large green bottles with yellow caps — I buy two brands of bottled lemon juice at Costco.
Tiffany Duong

Sour is my favorite flavor profile, and lemon juice is a convenient substitute for fresh citrus.

I opt for the Italian Volcano 100% organic lemon juice when I want to splurge. This bottled juice really hits like a fresh-squeezed lemon.

Otherwise, I stick with the ReaLemon lemon juice. These bottles of juice upgrade almost any meal, and they practically last forever.

At my Costco, two packs of the Italian Volcano and ReaLemon lemon juice cost $9 and $5.80, respectively.

We're huge coffee fans, especially when it comes to the Kirkland Signature brand.

Large mahogany canisters of coffee with green labels reading — The Kirkland Signature dark-roast 100% Colombian coffee has a robust, earthy flavor.
Tiffany Duong

My house goes through iced coffees at a breakneck pace. To keep our habits affordable, we use Kirkland Signature ground coffee.

The 3-pound tins of 100% Colombian coffee come in regular and decaf varieties. We get the regular dark-roast, fine-grind variety — perfect for drip-coffee machines.

It's robust but not bitter, with an earthy aroma. At my store, each tin costs $15.

I love that I can buy my favorite Aveeno daily-moisturizing lotion in bulk.

Selfie of the writer smiling and holding a two-pack of Aveeno moisturizer — The Aveeno daily-moisturizing lotion nourishes dry skin.
Tiffany Duong

I love Aveeno's daily-moisturizing lotion. It has a mild scent and locks moisture in, which is necessary for life in South Florida. I love how nourishing it feels on my skin without leaving any greasy residue.

At my Costco, a two-pack of Aveeno lotion costs $18.

My roommate loves to stock up on the Celsius sparkling energy drinks.

Photo of a man in a neon green shirt flexing one arm and holding a black box of Celsius energy drinks in the other — My roommate is a big fan of the Celsius sparkling energy drinks.
Tiffany Duong

My roommate is a gym enthusiast who enjoys Celsius energy drinks alongside his daily workouts.

However, they can be expensive at other stores, so I stock up for him at Costco. At our location, an 18-can variety pack costs $24.

Before we leave, we head to Costco's gas station.

Costco has some of the best fuel prices I've seen in my area.

Tiffany Duong

On my way out, I fill my gas tank for the long drive home. No gas stations in my area are cheaper than Costco.

On my latest visit, gas was about $3 per gallon. I'm always happy if my 14-gallon tank is near empty because I feel I'm maximizing my Costco experience and value.

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I drive 2 hours to shop at Costco and spend at least $250 on each trip. Here ar…