Why do I love Costco?

As of this writing, I don’t have a Costco membership and I haven’t had one in years.

I had one in the past - I actually upgraded to an “Executive” membership (there was a deal going on) in the hopes that I’d spend enough to make back the membership cost with the Executive bonus. (I didn’t, not even when I took friends with me.)

When I tell people I like Costco - me, part of a family of three, with limited pantry space and VERY limited freezer space - they are very, very confused. I don’t blame them.

I mean, I could tell you that Costco is not JUST giant vats of Duke’s mayo and tubs of pimiento cheese, I suppose. But you probably know that.

I could tell you that sometimes the cost per item/ounce is cheaper if you buy in bulk and that appeals to me - but it’s not even always the case. If you catch a Publix BOGO or you have a coupon or you stalk Aldi something, you can often get stuff cheaper at another store. Not ALWAYS, and not necessarily on demand - Costco is probably better on AVERAGE if you don’t want to chase sales - but it’s not always the best deal.

I just…..get such a delightful hit of dopamine at Costco. I went with Jamie (my current friend-with-membership-who-goes-often - but hey if you ALSO have a membership and want to take me, I WILL ALWAYS TAG ALONG) and she was tickled by how I was acting - how I always act.

“I need this and this and this!” I dance through the aisles. I don’t neeeeeeed any of it but it’s a fun pretend game for me. Maybe I DO need those beautiful bowls, that amazing food processor, a giant bag of cauliflower, a pallet of cans of iced coffee. MAYBE I DO. Maybe these things would change my life - make me more organized, healthier, faster, better, sure sure sure.

(I also need those bagels. That caprese salad. The truffle salt.)

What stops me? SOMETHING stops me.

You’d think it was money but it’s not entirely that - although I have issues with money that perhaps I’ll share with you another day, and the way I spend money at Costco doesn’t exactly make sense. It’s more a) space (and lack thereof - especially freezer space, how I wish and have always wished for a chest freezer but we don’t have anyplace to put THAT) and b) practicality, which I cannot escape. We DO NOT NEED THAT. We just don't and I know so.

I lie. I escape it. Maybe I don’t buy a huge bag of cheese puffs or a 2-pack of water bottles of a comfysoftsquishy blankie, but I still manage to buy treats of the food and not-food kind that ping my likely-ADHD* brain in a lot of ways.

So what DID I buy when I was there this most recent time?

A winter coat - that I actually really truly needed because the one that used to fit me no longer fits, the one that kind of fits me lost a button, and I’m going to SCOTLAND. Great price, very cute, loves it. Bonus: I tried it on to ensure it fit (vs buying on Amazon).

A shacket! OMG I just hate that word and also I love it. SHACKET. (Shirt-Jacket) The 90s are back and so is flannel and this was cute, comfy, FIT (again - got to try it on! woohoo!), and well priced.

Both of those things were on my list by the way. I may not always make a list for every store but I promise you I make a Costco list. (I also got leggings because Costco leggings - the Felina ones - are CHEAP AND COMFY - and they were marked down.)

Other things? Treats for my husband and child because they deserve treats and I know what they like (Brownie Brittle, dried seaweed, coconut roll cookies). Olive oil and air filters and paper towels and sponges and dishwasher detergent. Basics - not fun, not flashy. Very responsible-like. Dawn Powerwash because Jamie got me hooked omg I love it. Spicy mayo that was on SUPER sale (in the Costco-sale way) AND THEN got me 4,000 points in the Fetch app so I kind of almost came out ahead and am close to getting another Amazon GC. (Referral code for Fetch: Q4NWJ - ask me for more info but it’s the easiest scan/upload receipt app IMHO.)

Non-alcoholic cocktails in a can - an absolutely ridiculous purchase but, well, while I do drink, sometimes I want a drink but not A DRINK and these looked fun and tasty.

A giant bag of refrigerated seaweed salad (review: Too sweet, not vinegar-y enough - but not awful either, prob won’t buy again). A giant bag of Babybel (MY WEAKNESS I LOVE THOSE LITTLE WAX COVERED ROUNDS OF CHEESE).

AND THEN I made a little squealy scene because they had the shelf-stable boba kits AND they were marked down. I got two boxes. The sample-lady (who was sampling something else, not boba) came over to me and was asking a lot of questions about them, which was adorable. I was honest. Boba is not for everyone. She declined, but we had fun.

Then Jamie and I went to Family Baking in Chamblee and I had an amazing vegan flossy hot dog bun.

When I got home the dopamine and adrenaline started to wane almost immediately, which is why I am writing this post - it bubbles a little of it back up.

Tell a friend about my ridiculous ramblings, would ya?

*I haven’t gotten an OFFICIAL diagnosis yet, but I am in therapy and my therapist doesn’t disagree and, well, let’s be real, I have ADHD and we all know it.