There are dozens of ways to put your savvy shopper skills to the test at Costco, but the single best way to save money is by shopping in bulk. We get that small households do not need six boxes of chicken broth or 25 pounds of rice. 

However, since shopping in bulk leads to the greatest savings, we've devised a few ways to make it work -- even if you live in a small household.

Partner up

One of the easiest ways to take advantage of Costco's low prices on bulk items is to partner up with a friend or family member. Mind you, this needs to be someone you get along with well because you'll have to create a shopping list together. In other words, if one of you wants to buy chili beans, you will both need them.

Once you've purchased everything from the shopping list, you keep half and give the other half to your shopping partner. How you split the bill is up to you. You may want to estimate how much it will cost and ask for the money before you head out to shop. 

Or, if you prefer, you can pay using your Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, earn 1% to 4% back on your purchases, and receive repayment when your shopping partner gets their half.

Do a good thing

According to Feeding America, there are 44 million food-insecure people in the U.S., including 13 million children. If you're someone who donates to a local food bank anyway, you already have a bulk shopping partner. Rather than split your purchases with a friend or family member, drop half off at a food bank.

If you have enough money upfront to do it, donating is a win/win in at least two ways:

• You get to help local families
• If you itemize your deductions at tax time, you can write off the money you spent on the donated food

Be strategic

We're not saying that it makes sense to buy everything in bulk at Costco. If you're buying only for your household, there's a chance that dairy and produce items will go bad before you have a chance to consume them. 

There are some items that you can be more confident about using up. For example, laundry detergent, toilet paper, and dog food can typically be used long before you have to worry about them expiring.

As with any shopping trip, your best bet is to enter the store with a shopping list in hand and stick with your plan.

How much you can save

In 2023, CNET conducted an informal study to learn how much the average household can save by buying in bulk. First, they compiled a list of 25 typical grocery items, most of which remain edible for at least one month when stored in a pantry, refrigerator, or freezer. 

The list included items like peanut butter, English muffins, ketchup, pasta, and frozen berries.

Next, CNET conducted a price comparison between Costco and another grocery chain (Stop & Shop). Going down the list, CNET checked Stop & Shop's prices on each item and then did the same for Costco. They found that shopping for those 25 items in bulk at Costco meant a savings of $1,059.

The goal is to ensure that any money that comes from your bank account is spent on items that will not expire before someone has a chance to consume them. By purchasing shelf-stable items in bulk, you can save both money and time running back and forth to the store.

If you're going to pay for an annual Costco membership anyway, why not squeeze as much personal finance benefit from it as possible?