Low Dollar, High Value

Discover The Free Stuff at Costco*!

The Sixty Minute Father

Warning: This trip will only work with children who are OK with not buying everything they see, also experts at looking but not touching. This is a perfect opportunity to teach the value of “Thou Shalt Not Covet”. You may need to judge this accordingly, based on previous shopping trips. You have been forewarned.

It may be called Costco or Price Club or Sam’s Club where you live, but the concept is the same. Bulk stuff in a cool big warehouse. When Costco moved to town, before I was a dad, it became my own DisneyWorld in town. Of course, I have never really needed two gallons of mustard, but just the fact that I can go buy it appeals to me. Not only is it a cool warehouse, but a cool warehouse with EVERYTHING. Books, music, DVDs, barbecue accessories, office supplies, widescreen TVs. But most importantly, free food samples. I remember the days when I would go in after work, and leave full after sampling pizza, egg rolls, ice cream, cookies, cereal, etc. And if you planned it right, you could wipe out all 5 basic food groups and end with dessert. (Bring a pair of sunglasses and a baseball cap, and you can revisit the kiosk a second time.)

If you cannot identify, feel free to stop reading now.

Fast forward to when the kids came. Whenever I wanted to give mom a break, I put the kids in the car and took them to Costco. They took to it like I did.

I suggest that you go with a plan:

Ryan’s Typical Costco Trip With The Kids

Grab a cart and put the kids in – the beauty is that their carts are bigger that an El Dorado, with lots of room for the kids to run laps.
Head to the book section and let them pick out a book to read for the journey.
Stop by the cereal kiosk, then the yogourt kiosk. Break granola together.
Wander around the bakery, just for the wonderful aroma, as the kids are reading their books.
Stop by office supplies and furniture, as the kids are reading their books.
Stop by the pizza kiosk, then the eggroll kiosk. (Foods are subject to change) Eat heartily.
Return the book.
Head to the dessert samples.
Go to electronics and watch the movie playing on the huge plasma screen TV I can’t afford. It’s usually Disney or another kid-friendly film playing. I usually check at the beginning to see if it’s just starting or when it will be starting again. (Fortunately, at our store the furniture is right next to electronics, so I have been known to find comfortable chairs and sit down for a good chunk of the movie. Since we usually have the movie at home, I try to catch the middle to the start of the credits, but that’s up to you. Hey, I paid my membership, so I consider that fee to be a rent expense.)
If we’re still hungry at that point, we check out and head to the Costco restaurant. Where else can you feed three people, with dessert, for less than $10?

Unless I am shopping for the family, I can usually get out of the store spending less than $25 on groceries. And we have a great time together.

*The author received no payment from Costco for writing this article. But if they feel they need to, please contact him at ryan@mdm4m.com