I was recently shocked to discover that, as of 2024, I’ve been a Costco member for 20 years. Costco has helped furnish my home, supply my small business, feed my children, and equip my everyday life.

Here are 20 of my best Costco buys from the past 20 years.

(All deals were available for online shopping or Costco Same-Day powered by Instacart with prices shown for my local Costco warehouse in West Des Moines, Iowa, as of Oct. 31, 2024. Prices may vary by location.)

1. Living room futon ($799.99)

My family’s Costco futon has been a mainstay of our TV room for 17 years. The same model of futon that I bought years ago is no longer available. But you can get a similarly priced Ravenna Relax-a-Lounger Euro Lounger for $799.99.

2. LG 55″ Class OLED C4 Series TV ($1,299.99)

Watching football or Netflix is pure delight on this massive, colorful screen with its many millions of pixels. This TV’s $1,299 price is valid through Nov. 11, 2024, and includes five years of warranty coverage.

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3. Costco home improvement services

Costco Home & Installation services helps you hire local, reliable contractors for home improvement projects like bath remodels, cabinet refacing, and flooring. We used this to buy new window coverings for our house. It was totally easy and worth it — and we got a Costco Shop Card for 10% of the project price.

4. Kirkland Signature Trail Mix ($15.99)

Costco’s private label trail mix has been a big part of my diet for 20 years. It’s the perfect blend of sweet raisins, M&Ms, almonds, cashews, and salty peanuts.

5. Crazy Cuizine Mandarin Orange Chicken ($19.29)

My kids always loved the Orange Chicken from Costco. This easy-to-prep meal is a delicious, low-cost dinner for a busy young family.

6. Chobani Greek Yogurt Variety Pack — 20 ct. ($18.71)

Here’s another Costco grocery item that brings back happy memories of feeding my kids when they were small. You get 20 5.3-ounce cups of yogurt in a range of flavors, for less than $1 each!

7. Weatherproof Vintage Men’s Outdoor Crew Socks ($11.99)

During the past 20 years, Costco has become my go-to destination for buying socks. I live in a Midwestern state with a chaotic climate. These versatile socks stand up to cold, wet conditions.

8. Orvis Men’s Tech Pant ($19.99)

These Costco tech pants are ideal for traveling and hiking. They’re weather-resistant, lightweight, and have a built-in zippered cargo pocket for cellphones. I’ve worn them in the Scottish Highlands, the Bavarian Alps, and White Sands, New Mexico.

9. Costco Tires

Get your tires at Costco. Even if the price on tires is not the absolute lowest in town, you can relax during your tire appointment with a $1.50 hot dog–and–soda combo.

10. Costco Optical annual eye exams

I’m a self-employed person who doesn’t have vision insurance. Costco Optical has provided me with affordable eye exams year after year.

11. Low-cost laptops

As a freelancer, Costco has supplied me with several cheap laptops. Right now, you can get a 13-inch MacBook Air laptop with Apple M2 chip for $699.99 (price includes $200 savings valid through Nov. 17, 2024; limit two per member, while supplies last).

12. Vaccines at the Costco Pharmacy

Every year, I get my flu shot and Covid shot at the Costco Pharmacy. The prices on vaccines, prescription drugs, and over-the-counter medications are usually cheapest at Costco.

13. Kirkland Signature Paper Towels ($23.27)

These sturdy, absorbent paper towels are create-a-size. That means you can get the perfect amount for microwaving a meal or wiping up messes.

14. Kirkland Signature Rotisserie Chicken ($5.84)

Here’s another classic choice for when you don’t want to cook. Costco’s beloved rotisserie chicken is a tender, juicy, well-seasoned bird and a versatile protein for low-effort meals.

15. Kirkland Signature European Cookies with Belgian Chocolate ($18.71)

This massive tin of cookies is a treasure trove of textures and styles of sweet, crispy, chocolatey, frosted things.

16. Lindt Lindor Chocolate Truffles — 21.2 ounces ($11.34)

This is a big bag of luscious truffles, ranging from white to dark chocolate. And the price is cheaper than you’ll likely find at any grocery store. (Price valid through Nov. 17, 2024, limit 16 items per member.)

17. Kirkland Signature Organic Pure Maple Syrup — 33.8 ounces ($14.61)

On a purely per-ounce basis, this might be the best bargain at Costco. Use it for pancakes, waffles, or maple syrup cocktails.

18. Kirkland Signature Organic Tortilla Chips ($7.01)

These tortilla chips can upgrade your taco night or microwaved nachos. $7.01 gets you 40 servings of crisp, not-too-salty chips that can handle vigorous dipping into salsa, guac, or queso.

19. Kirkland Signature Sweet Heat Snack Mix ($11.10)

I just tried this for the first time, but it’s already made my list of Top 20 Costco Buys. Sweet, spicy, crunchy — a delicious addition to my daily snack rotation.

20. Costco hot dog combo ($1.50)

If I can spend another 20 years eating hot dogs at Costco, that will be a life well lived. And the price will probably stay the same.

Bottom line

Costco has been a constant presence in my life for 20 years, providing family meals, tire repairs, and happy memories. I hope to keep maximizing my membership for years to come!

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