Money Management

Safely, there’s no such thing as a true one-stop shop. These items have Costco shoppers going elsewhere. 

It will come as no surprise to anyone who has met a Costco fan, but they are some dedicated folks. Costco fanatics will happily tell you about all the great bargains they get at the store, as well as listing out the various Kirkland Signature items you simply have to try.

But even the most enthusiastic members of the Costco fandom have some lines they don’t cross, items they won’t buy. From things that go bad too quickly, to items that are simply bad — here’s a look at a few things even diehard Costco fans avoid.

1. Fresh produce

No matter how diligently I try to use it up, there always seems to be some fruit or vegetables turning to the dark side in the back of the produce drawer. Now multiply the size of what you’re buying to Costco proportions, and you’re looking at a veritable undead army of vegetation moldering in your fridge. Unless you happen to be feeding your own army, Costco fans suggest avoiding most of what you’ll find in the fresh produce bins.

2. Soda

The cost of soda seems to have skyrocketed over the last few years, and that applies to Costco as much as everywhere else. But what many other stores have that Costco doesn’t is regular sales on even name-brand sodas. (I like to stock up during buy-one-get-one sales at the local supermarket.)

Even Costco has admitted it can’t compete on price or brand recognition when it comes to soda, which is one of the reasons there’s no Kirkland Signature soda pop on store shelves.

3. Milk

Here’s one item where it’s not price or even quality that’s an issue — it’s ease of use. While folks agree that the Kirkland Signature whole milk tastes fine, many shoppers complain that the large square jugs that Costco sells are hard to handle, especially for kids. They also don’t seem to pour as well as a standard gallon milk jug.

4. Bagels

A bagel is more than just a donut-shaped piece of bread. Or, at least, it should be, which is the main reason so many dedicated Costco shoppers won’t touch the warehouse store’s bagels. In the words of one Redditor, “The bagels are just hard, chewy, bland bread. Blech.”

Even if you can get past the taste (but who can?!), it’s nearly impossible to get through the 12-count bag before they spoil.

5. Fresh meat

Costco fans seem to be split on this one. While everyone agrees that the quality is good, many folks think Costco’s meat counter is just too expensive. On the other hand, folks who are specifically looking for top-quality meat like Costco’s options. So do those who have a large chest freezer, smoker, or other way to preserve large quantities of meat so they can take advantage of bulk discounts.

Even Costco isn’t a one-stop shop

I suppose the moral of the story is that Costco, for all its endless aisles, isn’t quite a one-stop shop. Pretty much everyone has something they simply can’t get — or decidedly don’t want to get — at the warehouse giant.

And you know what? That’s perfectly fine.

From a personal finance perspective, the only consideration is to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth out of your membership cost. Given how much you can save on essentials, like paper goods and pantry items, you could easily recoup the cost without the produce or other potential misses on this list.

So, just do the math each year to make sure you’re still getting value from your membership, and make the weekly trip to the grocery store for fresh foods and meats. Don’t forget to take your grocery rewards card with you, and you’ll probably even earn better rewards than you do at Costco!

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Brittney Myers has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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It’s possible to begin investing with as little as $1. Here’s how to do it. 

If you want to invest but don’t believe you have enough money to get started, we have good news. You can begin with as little as $1. In fact, if you’re nervous about the prospect, starting slow (say, with $50) may be the way to go. It gives you time to learn the ropes and develop your own investment strategies. Here, we’ll show you how you can get started, even if you don’t have much money.

Open a retirement account

There’s a retirement account for everyone. Here are a few of your options.

401(k)

If your company offers a 401(k) plan, you’re in luck. This plan is usually an excellent option for several reasons.

A 401(k) is professionally managed, so you don’t need to understand the ins and outs of investing just yet.

Your investment funds are withdrawn from your check pre-tax. For example, if your gross (before tax) income is $1,000 per week and you contribute $50 weekly, you’ll only pay taxes on the remaining $950. You don’t pay taxes on retirement income until you withdraw the money.

A 401(k) is a “set it and forget it” plan. Once you’ve determined how much risk you’re comfortable taking and how much you’re going to contribute, the work is done for you.

Traditional IRA

Like a 401(k), a traditional IRA is funded with pre-tax dollars, meaning you won’t pay taxes on the money until you withdraw it. There’s no minimum to open an IRA, which makes it perfect if you’re just starting out. If you’re under the age of 50, the most you can contribute in 2023 is $6,500. If you’re over the age of 50, that amount is bumped to $7,500.

Roth IRA

A Roth IRA is funded with after-tax dollars, meaning you won’t owe taxes on the money when you withdraw it in retirement. Like a traditional IRA, the most you can contribute in 2023 is $6,500 if you’re under the age 50, and $7,500 if you’re over the age of 50. If you’re single, you must earn less than $138,000 annually to make a full contribution. If you’re married filing jointly, your annual income must be less than $218,000.

There is no minimum required to open a Roth IRA.

Buy fractional shares

Buying fractional shares is another great way to get your feet wet. With fractional shares, you can buy a “slice” of a stock rather than an entire share. For example, if a stock is selling at $100 a share and you purchase $20 worth, you would own 0.2 (20%) of a share.

With companies like Charles Schwab, Fidelity Investments, E-Trade, and Vanguard selling fractional shares, it’s easy to get started by visiting our list of the best brokerage accounts.

Open a high-yield savings account

Whether you’re building an emergency savings account, saving up to buy a home, or putting money away for a dream vacation, high-yield savings accounts are currently paying excellent rates.

There’s another advantage of high-yield savings accounts, particularly if you’re anxious about losing your money. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) covers savings accounts up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, in FDIC-insured banks. The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) offers the same protection for members of federally insured credit unions.

Before you open a high-yield savings account, though, it’s important to know that rates do not remain steady. Instead, they’re loosely based on what the Federal Reserve is doing and can change at any time, without notice.

Investing is less about how much money you have to invest and more about how committed you are to investing for the long term.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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