As someone who shops at Costco every week, I’m realistic about the minimum per-visit bill I’m  looking at. And it’s generally not small. 

But that’s understandable. Feeding a family of five costs a lot of money, especially given the way grocery prices have increased in recent years. And because we like to incorporate fruits and vegetables into our diet, our food bills can be substantial.

I try to do my part to keep my Costco spending to a minimum. It’s not always easy given the store’s wide array of tempting inventory, but these tricks help me avoid going overboard. 

1. I make a list and stay out of the aisles I don’t need

My old Costco shopping strategy went as follows: Wander the store. Load up a cart. Hope for the best. 

Once food costs started climbing a few years ago, I realized that approach wouldn’t cut it. So instead, I’ve taken to bringing a shopping list to Costco every time I go. I also make a point to only visit aisles that contain a list item. 

The way I see it, if I don’t have clothing on my list and I stay out of the clothing section, I can’t be tempted to buy a cozy fleece top or a comfy pair of lounge pants I don’t need. 

2. I walk right past the front of the store

Have you ever noticed that when you first walk into Costco, you’re bombarded with a variety of seasonal sale items? It’s a great strategy on Costco’s part — tempt people with fun, affordable purchases while their shopping carts are still empty. But in the past, it’s led me to make impulse buys that are bad for my budget.

Now when I visit Costco, I walk through that front area as quickly as possible. And I actually try my best not to look too closely at the sale items. 

When something in that part of the store does catch my eye, I force myself to do the rest of my shopping first. Only once I’m done with my list do I let myself go back for a second look. 

Often, what happens is that by the time I’m ready to revisit the front of the store, I’ve either changed my mind about the item that tempted me, or I’m too annoyed by the crowds to make an extra trip over there. Either way, it keeps those extra items out of my cart.

3. I say no to the free samples

If you couldn’t tell from that earlier statement, I’m not a fan of crowds, which sometimes makes shopping at Costco a challenge. For this reason, I tend to avoid the free sample stations. I’m not willing to bump elbows with a stranger just to snag a free cube of cheese.

But saying no to Costco’s samples is also a strategic move. If I don’t let myself try new foods, I won’t be tempted to buy them. 

Often, the items Costco has available in sample form are snacky in nature. Since we already have our go-to list of snacks we buy in bulk, I do my best not to add to it. And avoiding the samples is a good way to stick to that plan.

It’s hard to get through a Costco shopping trip without spending a decent chunk of money. But these tricks help me keep my credit card tab to a minimum. And if that’s something you’re looking to do, then I suggest you adopt some of these strategies yourself.