Shoppers are ditching Woolworths, Coles and Aldi for Costco

The cost of living has changed Aussie shopping habits and some are flocking to a supermarket you may not even know we have in Australia.

Where should you be grocery shopping during a cost of living crisis? Usually, the answer is either Woolworths, IGA, Coles or Aldi, but savvy Aussies are turning to a supermarket that may not even be on your radar – Costco.

Currently there are only 15 Costco’s located in Australia, it is a originally a very successful American chain, but thanks to inflation rising to seven per cent and interest rates hovering above six per cent, everyone’s re-evaluating where and how they shop.

Costco is being heralded a lifesaver and even worth the drive if you don’t live near a location.

Plenty of savvy Aussie mums and dads have been turning to Costco to help their families the tough times, but it doesn’t work like your ordinary grocery store.

Costco is unique because you need to pay a $60 annual membership fee to shop there. The fee also entitles you to exclusive access to its competitively priced fuel stations as well.

While the idea of an upfront fee leaves plenty of shoppers feeling apprehensive, many Aussies are sharing online that the fee is very much worth it.

Costco has 15 locations in Australia. Picture: Costco/Instagram

Could you buy in bulk to save cash? Picture: Costco/Instagram

The difference between Costco and other grocery stores is that it is a wholesaler, so you buy things in bulk. Forget one bag of toilet paper, you can purchase enough to ensure you’ll be set even if we have another panic-buying situation on our hands.

The idea is you spend more upfront, but it costs you less in the long run. So, if you have a big freezer and room in your cupboards, it’s a great option for families.

An Aussie mum recently took to Facebook to claim that by popping her “Costco cherry”, she saved over $500.

“I did a bit of maths, had If I did the same shop at Woolies/Coles, I would have spent $1160. If I shopped at Aldi, I would have spent $985. If you can afford to buy in bulk, I highly recommend it will save you in the long run,” she shared on Facebook.

She shared exactly what she bought to save the extra cash, and she reckons she managed to buy enough snacks to last a whole school term.

“School lunch snacks x3 kids, will last the whole of next term (I do a three snack rule and put them in a zip lock bag, to grab and go, chips – vege chips, smith’s or jumpys, tiny teddy’s or panda Bickies and some muesli bar/fruit stick) then I just have to add a sandwich, fruit and popper.”

She also bought everyday items like, “Toilet paper, poppers and water,” and stocked up on meat to last her a while.

“Mince, pork, beef, all divided up into 1kg lots and frozen,” she explained.

She also stocked up hand wash, cheese, fruit and vegetables, but she revealed she felt she made some of her most significant savings by buying pantry basics.

“Spices and sauces, Big savings here if you use a lot, like I do, as I cook most things from scratch,” she revealed.

She also added that she thinks the membership is worth it if shoppers are savvy in their approach.

“Everyone says the $60 membership isn’t worth it; well, if you shop smart, it’s well worth it; I’m going to aim to go 4 times a year,” she said

Plenty of families are bulk buying instead of saving. Picture: Costco/Instagram

Shopping at Costco is becoming trendy. Picture: Costco/Instagram

Of course, she isn’t the only mum in Australia that has just discovered Costco.

One mum shared that with three kids in high school, she finds the savings on snacks completely worth it.

“The snacks are so much cheaper than at supermarkets. She explained that gluten-free bread is also cheap, as well as muffins and mince that I freeze in bulk,” she explained.

In fact, she pops into Costo every few months to stock up.

“I spend a few hundred every two or three months, and it saves me on buying expensive snacks every week,” she said.

Another mum agreed that it was a lifesaver for snacks for kids and cheap meat options.

“It is good for meat products and lunch box items,” she said.

Another shared that it is worth the investment, especially if you’re packing school lunches and looking for affordable options.

“If you have kids at school! 100 per cent I recommend it. I got a month’s worth of school stuff for what I was spending a fortnight,” she revealed.

While another shared that she’s found Costco helped keep her budget down in these trying times.

“Costco saves us so much money on school snacks and meat alone!”

While shoppers are used to being told to divert to Aldi to save some bucks, if you want to be savvy and live like a doomsday prepper, Costco is the way to go.

Originally published as Shoppers are ditching Woolworths, Coles and Aldi for Costco