I’ve worked at Costco for almost a decade, since 2018.
I’m on the go during most of the workday, and I like to make sure I have energy and time left at the end of the day for family, fun, and even household chores.
Luckily, it’s easy to grab groceries and other essentials at Costco after my shift. As an empty nester, here are a few of my favorite buys that help me stay on budget and live efficiently.
My FoodSaver has been an incredible kitchen tool.
Long before I started working for Costco, I invested in a FoodSaver because I was tired of my extra fish and meat getting freezer burn.
Since I buy in bulk so frequently and often cook for one, I’ve quickly gotten my money’s worth out of this machine.
Typically, I get large packages of fish, chicken, or steak on sale at Costco, divide them into individual portions, seal them in airtight bags (also purchased at Costco) using my FoodSaver machine, and freeze them for later.
I’ve found these airtight packages of protein last up to a year in the freezer without showing signs of freezer burn.
All in all, my FoodSaver is great for meal prepping, avoiding waste, and practicing portion control while saving money.
Kirkland Signature organic chicken stock is a staple in my kitchen.
Working full-time should not mean sacrificing good meals at lunch and dinner. To set myself up for success, I regularly buy bulk packs of Kirkland Signature chicken thighs and organic chicken stock.
On one of my days off, I cook a large quantity of chicken thighs on the grill, in the oven, or in my pressure cooker. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, I remove all the fat.
This process naturally leaves small pieces and large pieces of meat, which I seal in FoodSaver bags and freeze. Now, fully cooked chicken is ready to add to any recipe.
For a quick meal, I combine smaller portions of frozen meat with chopped veggies, pre-cooked brown rice, and chicken stock to prepare a semi-homemade soup.
Usually, I’ll bring stock and veggies (often carrots and squash) to a simmer in the microwave, then pour it over a bowl of rice and frozen chicken. The heat from the stock is enough to warm the chicken. From there, I season my soup to taste, and dinner is served!
I also heat up chicken stock and use it for warming up chicken pieces that I can use in a salad or tacos. Sometimes, to add extra flavor to rice, I cook it in chicken stock instead of water.
A few times a year, I stock up on San Francisco Bay Coffee’s French Roast.
I love the rich taste of San Francisco Bay Coffee and appreciate the brand’s mission and farming practices.
The 3-pound bags of its French Roast typically go on sale a couple of times a year at my local Costco. When it does, I buy a few packages so that I always have close to a year’s supply in my freezer.
Before freezing it, I snip the original packaging, then vacuum-seal it in a FoodSaver bag to remove all the air.
Fortunately, I think this coffee tastes great even after months in the freezer — and knowing it was purchased on sale adds to the joy of every cup.
Fairlife nutrition shakes help me meet my protein goals.
I require a very high-protein diet, but I need to watch my calories.
Fortunately, these Fairlife chocolate nutrition shakes help me reach my protein goals without consuming too many calories. Each has 30 grams of protein and 150 calories.
They’re so nice and chocolaty that I even enjoy them as a dessert when paired with a handful of pistachios.
Kirkland Signature nondairy oat beverage is also a staple for me.
To add more fiber and protein to my morning bowl of Cheerios, I eat them in a bowl of Kirkland Signature nondairy oat beverage. One cup of the beverage has 3 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber.
I also like that it consistently tastes fresh, and the cartons are shelf-stable and don’t need to be stored in the fridge.
The ingredients in the Kirkland Signature oat beverage are also comparable to many others at a higher price point.
You’ll find Winix air purifiers throughout my home.
I keep Winix air purifiers in my living room and bedroom to filter out things like pollen, fine dust, and smoke. Some versions of them are available at Costco for about $130 each.
I have seasonal allergies, and generally, I find running these makes the indoor air much more pleasant and less triggering.
Kirkland Signature shelled pistachios are a great snack.
Pistachios are considered to be a complete protein, which is rare among nuts. This, combined with their great taste, makes them one of my favorite snacks.
The Kirkland Signature pistachios are typically priced pretty well, which affords me the luxury of buying them unshelled. They’re roasted and salted, too, which makes their flavor even better.
I’m also a fan of Kirkland Signature roasted almonds with sea salt.
These Kirkland Signature nuts have a satisfying, crunchy crispness and well-developed almond flavor. Each bag I’ve had has been consistently roasted and salted.
I keep almonds in my locker at work because the high-protein nuts do such a great job of controlling my appetite. Also, I’ve found that a few crushed-up almonds make a terrific crunchy addition to brown rice.
White vinegar can be great for cleaning, so I buy it in bulk at Costco.
I like using distilled white vinegar when I clean, so I buy gallons of it in bulk at Costco. Most recently, I purchased a two-gallon pack from the Four Monks brand.
I usually keep a spray bottle of diluted vinegar on hand when I want to give my stainless-steel appliances a nice shine and remove hard-water stains from the shower.
When diluted, white vinegar can also be great for descaling some coffee makers.
Kirkland Signature Aller-Flo allergy spray works well for me.
Costco has its own version of a lot of popular medications, and I find myself repurchasing a few of them on a regular basis.
Kirkland Signature Aller-Flo, a fluticasone spray comparable to Flonase, helps me with my congestion and itchy eyes as much as other brand-name products have.
Using this spray allows me to function much more effectively when my allergy symptoms are bad, and I find it’s usually priced fairly well at Costco.
I keep Kirkland Signature arthritis pain relief gel on hand.
I sometimes take acetaminophen for minor aches and pains, but diclofenac does a wonderful job on my muscle aches and joint pain.
Typically, I just use the Kirkland Signature arthritis pain relief gel. It is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug just like acetaminophen, and because it’s applied topically, it has very good tissue penetration.
I keep a tube of this in my locker at work, one in my first-aid kit in the car, and another at home.
Costco was not involved in the sourcing or writing of this story. The views contained within represent the author’s personal views.
Keep reading our other Costco Diaries to see what chefs, dietitians, and other shoppers love buying at the chain.
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