I went to Costco to buy a few things to bring my daughter for college visiting day. I ended up spending $308.38, with a cart full of dorm supplies, everyday groceries, easy meals to try, and a few impulse buys.
Some purchases were things we were running low on. Others were things I had been waiting to try on sale. And then there were the clearance finds that convinced me I needed something I already owned.
Here’s what came home with me.
These are the prices I paid on this trip. Prices, discounts, and availability vary by warehouse and date.
Two $6.97 Costco Clearance Finds I Couldn’t Pass Up
Henckels Grill Basket and Tray Set
Price paid: $6.97
Did I go to Costco looking for a grill basket set? Of course not. I already have one! But it was marked down from about $29 to $6.97, and I couldn’t say no.
This is how Costco gets me. One minute I’m buying groceries, and the next I’m convincing myself that I need a backup grill basket. At that price, it found its way into my cart.
Reversible Accent Rug
Price paid: $6.97
I’ve watched the price of this reversible accent rug drop every time I’ve gone to Costco. This was the lowest I’d seen it, which was enough to convince me to buy it.
I’m bringing it to my daughter for her college dorm. With visiting day coming up, the timing worked out perfectly. At least this impulse buy already has a destination.
A Costco T-Shirt for a Frequent Shopper
Price paid: $9.99
The Costco T-shirt was another unplanned purchase. Given how often I’m there, I felt like I needed one. At this point, I might as well dress for the occasion.
Snacks and Supplies for My Daughter’s College Dorm
With college visiting day coming up, I picked up a few things to restock my daughter’s room.
Mac and Cheese Cups
Price paid: $9.99
These cups are convenient for those times when she’s busy and wants something quick without leaving her dorm. They’re easy to keep on hand for a simple meal or snack.
MadeGood Granola Minis
Price paid: $11.99
My daughter loves MadeGood granola minis. I like that they come in individual snack bags she can grab on her way out, rather than having to portion out a larger bag.
Kirkland Bottled Water
Price paid: $3.99 per case, plus a $2 bottle deposit per case
I bought two cases of Kirkland bottled water. My daughter keeps them under her bed as backup for those times when she forgets to refill her reusable water bottle.
I’m already picturing us carrying everything into her dorm. Apparently, visiting your college kid comes with a grocery delivery service.
Two Breakfast Purchases for Myself
Seven Sundays Wildberry Protein Oats
Price paid: $10.49
I picked up these protein oats in my ongoing attempt to eat a little healthier. The protein caught my attention, but the taste is what would bring me back.
I’ve tried them now, and they’re delicious and really easy to prepare. These are going on my buy-again list.
Also, I recently did a price check to see Costco or Target is cheaper. This Seven Sundays Wildberry Protein Oats is included in my price check.
Kirkland Hemp Hearts
Price paid: $12.99
I tried a sample of these at Costco before and liked them, so I finally bought a bag.
My plan is to sprinkle them over yogurt. Since I already eat yogurt regularly, this seems like an easy way to add some protein and change up my breakfast without much extra work.
Three Easy Meals for Busy Weeknights
Now that school has started, our weeknights are busy. Some nights, I just don’t have time to cook, so I picked up three easy meals to try.
Irish Stew
Price paid: $15.90 for this package, after $5 off
This package was $20.90 before the discount. I’ve been wanting to try the Irish stew because I’ve heard good things about it. Seeing it on sale gave me the push to finally put it in my cart.
Sukhi’s Butter Chicken
Price paid: $11.99, after $4 off the $15.99 price
My family already likes Sukhi’s Chicken Tikka Masala, so I’m curious whether we’ll enjoy the butter chicken as much.
The sale felt like a good opportunity to try something different from what we already buy. I’ll have to see how it compares with our usual tikka masala.
Rana French Onion Ravioli Bake
Price paid: $9.79, after $4.20 off the $13.99 price
French onion and ravioli together definitely got my attention.
I haven’t tried this yet, but I’m hoping it becomes another easy dinner to keep on hand. At the sale price, I decided it was a good time to give it a try.
Everyday Groceries We Go Through Quickly
A good portion of this haul was our regular groceries.
| Item | Price paid |
| Chobani yogurt | $17.99 |
| Organic eggs, 2 dozen | $8.29 |
| Organic bananas | $2.49 |
| Pineapple | $3.99 |
| Avocados | $7.49 |
| Heavy cream, 1 quart | $4.19 |
| Broccoli florets | $7.99 |
| Dried plums | $9.99 |
| Kirkland olive oil | $18.79 |
| Kirkland Organic Strawberry Spread, 2-pack | $8.69 |
We eat Chobani every day, so I never want to run out. We also go through a lot of eggs, and I buy a bunch of bananas every time I go to Costco.
Heavy cream is another regular purchase. Costco is usually where I find the best price on it.
Broccoli Has Become an Easy Air-Fryer Side
I recently discovered how easy it is to air-fry broccoli, and now I’m wondering why I wasn’t preparing it this way all along.
I love those browned, crispy edges. It’s such an easy side dish for a busy night, so this big bag of broccoli florets was an easy addition to the cart.
Restocking Olive Oil and Strawberry Spread
We’re almost out of olive oil, so I picked up another bottle of Kirkland olive oil.
We’re also running low on strawberry jam, which is why I bought the Kirkland Organic Strawberry Spread. I’m happy it now comes in a two-pack.
With the old giant jar, we sometimes had trouble finishing it before mold appeared. Two smaller jars are much more manageable for my family.
Laundry Supplies That Finished My P&G Rebate Goal
I was working toward $200 in qualifying P&G purchases for the promotion I participated in, which is why I bought both Tide and Gain on this trip.
The Tide was $29.99 with $6 off, so I paid $23.99.
I also bought two bottles of Gain. Each was $19.99 with $4 off, bringing them down to $15.99 each, or $31.98 for both.
These purchases finally pushed me across the finish line, and I’ve now received my $60 rebate!
Two Cetaphil Creams on Sale
Price paid: $15.99 each
I also picked up two Cetaphil creams. They were $19.99 each with $4 off, so I paid $31.98 for both.
Watch my Costco haul video:
My Costco Haul Total: $308.38
My Costco haul total was $308.38.
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