Well, I lasted 112 days. 😉
I picked up some Zaycon weenies the other day and remembered we were out of ketchup and brown mustard. Which is funny because right after I came home from Fred Meyer with my bottles of ketchup and mustard I read a comment One Hundred Dollars a Month reader Sarah had just left for me, “What do you do if you need, say a bottle of ketchup, but don’t want to buy 3 at Costco?”
Ha ha ha.
How timely because I had just been to Costco to buy our groceries for this week. I had gone down the condiment aisle and spotted the enormous 3-pack of ketchup, yellow mustard and relish for $8.99 and got a giant knot in my stomach. For starters… we needed ketchup and it was too early in the growing season to try and make my own {after all, I have no homegrown tomatoes}. Secondly, no one in our house likes yellow mustard {we’re snobs, what can I say}. And thirdly, I’d much rather eat homemade zucchini relish than store bought relish on my burgers.
So did I really need to pay $8.99 for a collection of ketchup, mustard and relish just to accommodate my silly little Only Shopping at Costco for One Year challenge? Should I buy the 1000 packets of ketchup instead {like the ones they give you in fast food restaurants} for $12? All I wanted was a flipping NORMAL sized bottle of ketchup.
So I caved.
I stormed out of Costco defeated and bought normal sized bottles of ketchup and brown mustard at Fred Meyer for $1.00 each. It wasn’t about the money. It was about feeling forced to by something I didn’t need. If one can rationalize being forced to buy ketchup that is. First world problem, I know.
So. A little hiccup in the road.
Will I still continue to shop at Costco exclusively this year? Yes. For one simple reason. Convenience. I can’t even begin to tell you how much time I have saved this year by just buying all my groceries at one store.
I guess we all have our limits though. 🙁
~Mavis
Jannette says
Don’t feel bad Mavis. I have a similar dilemma. I know there are savings to be had at big box stores but I have only a one-person household to maintain. If I bring a tray of croissants into my house from Sam’s Club, I will eat a whole tray of croissants by myself!! This was pantry stock up emergency. Just makes better sense (cents) to buy only what you need.
Glenda says
There are only two of us retired oldies 🙂 in our household. We shop at Sam’s Club from time to time. Since we eat primarily organic foods, we buy the items at a huge savings when we can find organics at Sam’s.
I do, however, buy the 3 conventional (non-organic) large ketchup at Sam’s. The dates on the bottles are usually a couple of years out and in two years time I will make a lot of homemade bar-b-que sauce for large family gatherings. It’s much more cost effective to buy the 3 pack of large ketchup for this purpose. Since we have a couple of very large storage pantry areas stocking up on such items saves us money.
Madam Chow says
I do this, too. Between batches of BBQ sauce, and using it in and on meatloaf, I am really surprised how quickly the two of us go through those large bottles.
Jennifer Jo says
Our Costco has three packs of ketchup which is what we get. I’ve never bought the mustard-relish-ketchup combo.
Carolyn says
That’s why we love you – because you keep it real! Way to stick to your primary goal but be realistic when it just doesn’t make sense.
Lisa says
THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!!
Leslie says
lol!
Seriously though, it’s all part of the experiment.
Melissa says
Well, I think you’ve done an awesome job. I’m amazed at how long you’ve been able to go w/o shopping at a regular grocery store. I mean, Costco is my favorite, but it really doesn’t have everything. So kudos to you, Mavis! (We are mustard snobs, too.)
Jenn says
I wonder if my hubby and I eat a lot of ketchup? We must because I buy the 3 pack of ketchup at Sam’s several times a year. Right now we are down to 1 bottle in the pantry and I’m wondering if it will be enough to last another month or if I should go ahead and buy some more this month.
Madam Chow says
We are mustard snobs, too. I confess to occasionally special ordering gourmet mustards through the internet. Please don’t judge me, we all have our little vices. 😉
Sara says
Hi Mavis,
I used to shop at our local BJ’s (similar to Costco) until I felt like I was in the same position: I was buying in bulk to save, but it was sitting on the shelf — sometimes for years (ketchup, jelly, etc.)! What a waste! Then, I switched to a more traditional grocery store, but it was expensive. Recently, I’ve moved to Aldi: https://www.aldi.us/en/new-to-aldi/shopping-at-aldi/. I’m not sure if there are any in your area, but they are much more inexpensive than the traditional grocery store (ex.: cucumber at Aldi $0.49 at the traditional grocery store $0.99). They don’t have “sales.” You NEED to bring your own bags and put a quarter in to borrow a cart (you get it back when you return the cart). They also have a decent selection of produce and ORGANIC produce — to the point that a lot of it is in an unrefrigerated isle since there is so much turnover.
Food for thought 🙂
Melissa says
I’ve heard of Aldi’s from other penny pinchers – none at all located in the Pacific NW though, where we (and Mavis) live
Sue says
I made your zucchini relish last year and fell in love.
diane @smartmoneysimplelife says
112 is a huge effort! It’s not your fault the Costco product developers are crazy. 🙂
Christy says
Well, here is my Costco secret.. I buy the large size (is it a half gallon?) of Ketchup and use it to refill my small ketchup bottle. Small bottle stays in the fridge in the kitchen, large bottle stays in my “costco fridge” in the garage.
You are doing great with this year’s challenge and I’m loving seeing your food choices and recipes! Thanks for sharing!
Rho says
Mavis,
You’re allowed!
Your onehundreddollarsamonth is so cool! I check in every day.
Teckla says
All in all, your Costco challenge is worthwhile and definitely educational. HOWEVER, in many ways, for most of us, such an experiment is doomed from the beginning for just this type of reasoning. It isn’t practical for most people. I do believe that one store can serve the majority of the purpose for most people and for those things that don’t “fit” the pattern, they can usually be slotted into other routines without sacrificing time and efficiency. Ultimately, for most of us, a limited combination plan will still save time and money and, certainly, frustration. After all, life is for enjoying! Maybe it’s time to reach some conclusions and readjust your plan for the balance of the year to accommodate the occasional circumstance that just doesn’t fit the mold?? What say?
Doroth says
We shopped almost exclusively at Costco until we found that the two of us couldn’t finish the fresh vegetable and fruit packs. We love the organic milk and eggs, dog food, the large variety of cheeses and the reasonable paper products. We now shop at Aldi’s, as well, because they have reasonable prices and the fruits and vegetables are packed in smaller quantities that we can finish. They carry a lot of their own brands which I’m just beginning to try. Aldi’s is close by but they only take cash or debit cards. Aldi’s is the parent company of Trader Joes. Who knew?
Margaret says
Mavis, I find the same problem with coupons. Single household and I try to save by using coupons on products I usually purchase. Why should we buy 3 or 4 of an item to save 25 cents if you only need one. Don’t think so.
Lisa Millar says
Our supermarkets around here in the last couple of years have been offering their stock at discounts if you buy multiple items.
I really dislike it. I like to choose whether I want to stock up on a lot or buy just one.
(These are not the big bulk supermarkets like your Costco…)
Especially non essential items like Coke (which I KNOW is bad for you but love it anyway) We get a bottle as a treat on occasions when it is on special. Sadly tho, its mostly on special in the manner of “Buy 4” to get a discount. Bad enough scoffing one, let alone 4, and we don’t have the willpower to leave them alone if they are in the house! lol
Very sad Mavis that you had to revert back to your bought sauce!! 🙁
In recent years we have had so many tomatoes that I chop and freeze them in tomato sauce quantities, so when we run out I can pull a container out of the freezer and make up a new batch.
Butterflyweed says
While I love to shop at Costco, most of the time I have to pass on multi-packs of items. Often there are 3 or more different flavors offered and there is almost always one flavor of chips or juice or whatever that no one in my family likes. I would so much prefer it if they offered multi-packs of one flavor that we like-and I would spend a lot more. I think Costco probably loses a lot of sales because I can’t be the only one passing because of the one creepy flavor.
Jen says
i hear there are “Costco sharing” groups on Facebook…groups you join and can split up big purchasers with other people/families in your area
suzanne says
Mavis, please come up with a good ketchup recipe. I tried one years ago with tomato paste used as a base and was disappointed. I’ve wanted to try one that promises perfection with real tomatoes and a crockpot but it’s not the time of year for tomatoes. We don’t eat ketchup as is but I use it for killer french dressing and bbq sauce. I would love to be able to buy it in bulk at Costco but HH won’t eat hydrogenated corn syrup. In a pinch, Costco offers Grey Poupon. I think it’s under $6 for 2 -16 oz jars and also makes an excellent salad dressing additive. If you think making relish is worthwhile try making your own mustard. Basically you marinate your seed (bought in bulk) in an acid of your choice. Blend to your favorite texture while adding your favorite seasoning/beer or herb.
Karin says
Just being human…it all comes out in the wash… No need to worry 🙂
Kelly says
We your readers love you for being flexible and real. I have really enjoyed watching what you have been buying at Costco this year. Keep up the awesome work, Mavis!
Patty says
I have been making my ketchup for a couple of years. I do not like all of the sweetener (HFCS) in the store bought ketchup. I use a tomato paste recipe and I found this recipe while searching the web. http://www.simplyscratch.com/2012/05/homemade-ketchup-recipe.html
It does use brown sugar, but you can always reduce the amount of brown sugar or leave it out, like I do. The mix of cloves, allspice and mustard powder gives it a nice taste. It is cheap to make so if you don’t like it, how much are you out?
Melissa says
it was bound to happen sometime – I struggle with the impulse purchases at Costco (which is so rarely an issue for me at regular grocery stores for whatever reason), but gotta have Costco for certain things – don’t think I could make the same commitment you have for the year 🙂
I’m just surprised you weren’t able to barter with your neighbors for some 😉
Julie says
You will never make me eat that yellow weird mustard (We’re too spoil in France!!) but Costco sells the Grey Poupon mustard that is really good and mustard can be kept for a while, you should check it next time!