Every family has that week when the fridge is empty, the takeout bill is climbing, and somebody finally says, “We have to go to Costco.” For @kylensuttner, that week arrived with two little boys in tow, a cart to fill, and a goal she had no real hope of keeping.
“You should see our DoorDash bill for the week,” she joked as the trip began. She had a feeling it was going to be a big one, but she planned to try to stay under $300.
Spoiler alert: she did not.
@kylensuttner
A Cart, Two Boys, and a Plan
Like many shoppers, she started with the fruit. Bananas went in first, with a hopeful note that this time they might not rot on the counter. Next she picked up something she had not tried before and asked her followers whether it was good enough to buy again. Raspberries went in after that, set gently in the cart.
The trip had its share of chaos. At one point, both of her kids got loose. She grabbed a few of the store’s meatballs for an easy lunch or dinner, because the family was feeling lazy. And to keep her boys in the cart, she and her husband used a classic parenting move: they bribed them. If they stayed put for a bit, they could go see the Christmas decorations. That included a Grinch, which one of the boys wanted in his room. The price tag was $60, and the answer was a firm no.
Her cart also held items for the boys’ breakfast, a new mac and cheese to try instead of their usual brand, and a few things she said she had been seeing everywhere and simply had to try. She even asked her audience whether anyone else had tried them.
Along the way, she shared a glimpse of life as a boy mom. Both of her children had bandaids all over them, she said, not because they were hurt but because they just like putting bandaids on their bodies. One of them had even tried to go to preschool with one on his face. Her answer was absolutely not.
She finished with flowers. She loved all the colors and how good they smelled.
Guess the Total, Win a Back Massage
As the cart filled up, the couple made a bet. The couple each guessed how much the trip would cost, and the loser would owe the winner a 15 minute back massage. When the receipt printed, the total was $540. She said it was the most she and her family had ever spent at Costco, and that meant she owed Cam a massage.
She admitted that the haul would probably last the family only about a week. Still, she ended on a sweet note. The flowers she had been admiring, she said, were a gift from her husband, picked out without her even asking.
Why a Warehouse Trip Adds Up So Fast
If a trip to Costco has ever left you staring at a total twice what you planned, you are far from alone. The store is built around bulk, and a few things make it easy to blow past a budget.
- Everything comes in large sizes. Even a good price per ounce means a big number at checkout when you buy a giant package.
- Seasonal displays are tempting. Holiday decor, outdoor furniture, and gadgets are placed where you will see them. They can be fun, but they are rarely on the grocery list.
- Samples create impulse buys. A bite of something delicious can turn into an extra item in the cart.
- Shopping hungry or with kids makes it worse. Both can lead to extra purchases, especially if you are trying to get through the store quickly.
Smart Ways to Keep the Bill Down
- Make a list and stick to it. Plan meals for the week, check what you already have, and write down what you need.
- Compare unit prices. The price per ounce, pound, or count is usually printed on the shelf tag. It helps you tell a real deal from a big package that only looks like one.
- Buy bulk only for things you will use. A great price on something that spoils before you finish it is not a deal. Freezer staples, pantry basics, and household supplies tend to make the most sense.
- Divide and freeze. Break big packages of meat, bread, and berries into meal-size portions and freeze them. Ripe bananas can go into the freezer for smoothies and baking.
- Eat before you go. A full stomach makes the sample table less tempting.
- Set a budget before you walk in, and keep a running total. Even a rough tally on your phone helps you see where you are before you hit the register.
- Decide on the extras ahead of time. Agree on one fun item per trip, whether that is a treat for the kids or a bouquet, so you are not negotiating in the aisle.
The Real Cost of an Empty Fridge
There is a lesson in the first thing @kylensuttner said: the DoorDash bill. When the fridge is empty, delivery and takeout can cost far more over a week than a big grocery run. A single night of delivered dinner for a family can easily rival what you would spend on several days of groceries. A stocked kitchen is often the cheaper route, even when the receipt at the warehouse stings.
So perhaps $540 is not as shocking as it first sounds, especially for a family with two growing boys and a haul that she says will probably last about a week. And if it comes with a bouquet of fresh flowers and a back massage bet, it is a pretty sweet way to spend a Saturday.
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