Image source: Getty Images

For years, I got my Costco membership value strictly from the pharmacy, and that was fine. I didn’t buy much, but what I did buy absolutely made having the membership worthwhile. And once in a while, I’d get something off the Black Friday sales fliers for a little extra oomph.

But I decided last week that with my grocery bill at an all-time high, I’d find a way to squeeze some more value out of that Costco membership. Upon setting foot inside the grocery section of the warehouse, I immediately realized two things: One, that I could definitely save a lot of money very quickly, and two, that I was not at all equipped to do so.

So, before you make the decision I made and come to the same horrifying conclusion, let me tell you about some things you need to maximize your Costco savings.

1. Storage

I’m afraid I never realized just how big the product packages are at Costco. I know this sounds ridiculous, but when I ordered from the pharmacy, the packages were reasonably small, though they certainly contained a lot of allergy pills or what have you.

I had no idea how many rolls of paper towels or cans of tomatoes were in one package from Costco. And because of this, I was ill-prepared for really fleshing out my grocery list there when I was doing my big shopping trip last week.

So, before you do anything, make sure you have plenty of places to tuck things away, like a big pantry or a lot of extra space under your bed for all those thousands of paper towel rolls.

2. Freezer space

If you’re going to buy groceries at Costco like I intend to, you’ll need more than just storage for paper goods or nonperishable food. You’re also going to need cold storage. Even the smaller packages I bought were monsters compared to the biggest boxes from the nearest supermarkets. So, before I got too serious, I also bought a freezer — at Costco.

The warehouse giant has a few different models on offer. The one I went with was a 11-cubic-foot Hamilton Beach upright with seven neat little bins inside. It was only $299 at my warehouse. If you order it online, it’s $399 with delivery, but you can also include it in your Costco Direct order and save on shipping with multiple items.

If you’re planning on buying a freezer, you certainly can save a bundle at Costco by taking it home with you that day. But you can save even more by paying with a cash back credit card. Check out our curated list of the best credit cards to use at Costco.

3. Someone to split with

Despite having all of these things, you may still run into goods that are just more than you can fathom. Do you really need a 20-pound bag of rice? If you don’t have a family to feed, you may want to consider splitting that with a friend.

The same goes for those enormous containers of paper goods or giant packs of canned vegetables. There’s just a lot there, and some of it might go bad before you actually get around to using it — and at that point, you’re not really saving money.

You don’t both need memberships for you to go in and buy a crate of fresh tomatoes and 17 pineapples to split with a friend. You can go on your own and split it all at home — meaning you get to keep any potential cash back rewards you might earn from a cash back app for yourself. Or save the rewards for a special night out with your grocery buddy — your choice.

Plan ahead for Costco savings

Costco is a great place to save money on the products you use all the time as well as those special purchases like couches and televisions, but you’re really going to have to plan ahead for the best results. I wasn’t prepared for what I saw on my first trip, but by the time I went back, I was armed and ready.

You can be, too.

Top credit card to use at Costco (and everywhere else!)

We love versatile credit cards that offer huge rewards everywhere, including Costco! This card is a standout among America’s favorite credit cards because it offers perhaps the easiest $200 cash bonus you could ever earn and an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, even when you shop at Costco.

Add on the competitive 0% interest period and it’s no wonder we awarded this card Best No Annual Fee Credit Card.

Click here to read our full review for free and apply before the $200 welcome bonus offer ends!

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Kristi Waterworth has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.