Making Room by Gather

Date With Kayt: Unlocking Costco and Trader Joe's Secrets

• Kayty Helgerson • Episode 126

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Master the art of Costco shopping with our practical tips and recommendations. From their unbeatable refund policy to the hidden gems of Kirkland brand clothing. We'll reveal how you can identify discontinued items by spotting asterisks on price labels and compare prices with other retailers. Relish in the culinary delights Costco offers, from rotisserie chickens and premium cheeses to convenient, prepared meals. Whether it's turning bulk bell peppers into week-long dishes or indulging in sweet potato fries and Starbucks egg white bites, we've got your Costco cravings covered.

Ever wondered how Trader Joe's stacks up against Costco? We explore cost-saving opportunities at both stores, spotlighting affordable, high-quality products without artificial additives. From healthy essentials to budget-friendly flowers and greeting cards, Trader Joe's proves to be a haven for accessible and nutritious options.

Learn how intentional shopping can reclaim peace and create meaningful family moments despite rising food prices. As we navigate these changes together, look forward to more enriching experiences with Making Room by Gather. Grab a coffee, soak in the sunshine, and stay tuned for exclusive content on our YouTube channel, coming soon!

This Episode is Sponsored By:
Feast & Fettle get $50 off your first week of hand crafted, flavor packed meals delivered straight to your door so you can soak up summer with code GATHER at checkout 

Our Youtube channel is currently getting a makeover but subscribe here so you don't miss a thing! 

This Episode is Sponsored By:
Feast & Fettle get $25 off your first week of hand crafted, flavor packed meals delivered straight to your door so you can soak up the season with code GATHER at checkout

Watch our Youtube episodes here!

Speaker 1:

Guys, youtube is coming, it's coming, it's coming. There has been a lot going on behind the scenes of strategizing, behind this, planning for this, and I am reminded, now more than ever, it's better to start than wait for perfect. When the YouTube channel actually like officially launches and starts, you'll see our background kind of fill together and pull together as we get more of more pieces and design that background. You'll see our video quality improve. You'll see kind of like the YouTube page develop. Youtube is a beast of its own and but we are willing and committed to learning about it as we go. We just really want you guys to feel more connected to our guests, more connected to me, more of a sense of intentional, growing community, and so hang out over there. To plug in a little bit deeper, also, as a part of this YouTube channel this is currently in development I'm going to be launching a date with Kate series there. So date with Kate on the show is kind of like us hanging out chatting as friends about hospitality. Date with Kate on the YouTube channel is a very similar relaxed, friendship, approachable kind of model. But I'm going to be talking more about like our life in that space. So you can listen here for conversation style. You can watch there for, like, behind the scenes. We have Wesley's birthday coming up soon, his first birthday party, and I'm going to be showing what I'm using, how I'm decorating, how I'm planning, how I'm creating intentional details for our guests. All of those things and then a few other things that I can't share about just yet, but a lot of kind of like what I, I guess, like not practicing what I preach, but like putting it into I don't know more interactive, teachable type content which I think you guys are going to love. I think it's going to be really fun and maybe, if there's enough interest, colby and Wesley will join me too and it will be really, really sweet. So hang tight, it's coming. Gather, intentional living on YouTube. I think my name, katie Marie, is also attached. I'm going to have to go in and kind of add that as an SEO so that links to our page and let us know if you have any questions, any suggestions. And hang tight, because it was supposed to be July 1st, but I think it's going to be. It's anticipated to be the first week, the first podcast week in August. So it's a coming. It's a coming.

Speaker 1:

Well, today we are going to do a date with Kate Stile and there are so many questions that I get about Costco and Trader Joe's. I mean, I don't formally keep track of this, but I would say it's probably the most asked question topic of any content I've ever covered. So I frankly don't have time to sit in this season and write out or design out this like how to guide for Costco and Trader Joe's. But you know what I do have time for I have time to hang out and talk about it. So today we are going to be chatting about Costco and Trader Joe's how to, how to shop there, what's worth getting and all of the things. Also, can we talk about how it is July 26th? Well, that's when I'm recording, at least, but it's July 26th and I can't think about it too much or else I might cry. I don't want summer to be over, guys. My heart was, oh goodness, my heart's home is summer, but we are going to soak it up and for me that means I want to do a lot of day trips with Colby and Wesley and I want to say yes to everything I'm invited to, and that often means that I don't have time to be in the kitchen, and I know a lot of you guys get it, and also it has been so humid here in Connecticut who wants to be in the kitchen. So I'm always looking for solutions that I feel good about and that I want to recommend to you too, and I've said this once, I'll say it 100 times I only recommend things if they are 100% aligned with my values for hospitality, for home, for food, for health, and so if you have not heard us talk about it, you need to know about Feast and Fettle.

Speaker 1:

Feast and Fettle is a fresh, never frozen meal delivery service. What I love about this is it's not coming in a bag. You don't have to cook, it is already prepared. Okay. So it comes fresh to you in this gorgeous bag with this amazing ice pack that Colby thinks is the coolest, and you select all of your meals. So you select an entree and the sides that you want to go with it. You can order kids lunches, you can order breakfasts and snacks, and you could pick your special dietary needs, like gluten free or dairy free, and every single flavor hits your palate and you're like oh yeah, I'm not compromising here. This is really dang good. It's really good guys. You don't feel like any weird textures or any weird chews. You get it If you know, you know, and when you're finished with it, you are excited to see what's on the menu the next week and waiting to order. So if you are in the Northeast, be sure to head on over to FeastAndFettlecom and get $50 off your first week. Your first week of food delivered $50 off that is an incredible savings that I'm so excited to be able to offer you guys. So head on over to FeastAndFettlecom, or the link in our show notes, so that you can enjoy the rest of the summer. Guys, we all need to do that, because I don't even want to say the W word, but it's coming, it's coming and we got to soak up these memories while they're here.

Speaker 1:

Hi, I'm Katie, a hospitality educator and the host of Making Room by Gather podcast. I am set to see our communities get back to the table through hospitality, but it wasn't always this way. My husband and I moved to the table through hospitality, but it wasn't always this way. My husband and I moved to Thailand and through it I experienced some loneliness and with it I was given a choice to sit back and accept it or to do something about it, and for me, that meant two things that I needed the healing to learn how to accept an invitation and the confidence to know how to extend one. Through this process, I developed some of the richest and deepest relationships of my life.

Speaker 1:

Through Making Room by Gather, you will hear conversations from myself and experts in the areas of food, design and relationships. You see there are countless things trying to keep us from the table, but can I tell you something? Take a seat, because you are ready, you are capable, you are a good host. Let's talk about Costco and Trader Joe's, two of my favorite topics in the world to talk about. Nothing feels more hashtag, basic or like a 30-year-old's than that 30-year-old mom, but two of my favorite things. And the reason I'm dedicating a whole episode to it is one because, honestly, guys, I don't have time to make a like printable resource for you right now, but you know what I do have time to do. I have time to talk about it. So we're going to chat about it. I'm going to answer some of your questions, give you the full lowdown and if any more questions come up, send me a DM on Instagram and I will share them and stories there. You know, sometimes when you're like in it so deep you like forget what you like didn't know at one point. So that's what I'm anticipating happening a little bit.

Speaker 1:

So I remember when we were little I think it was BJ's, actually not Costco I went with my dad and it was payday. We always went to BJ's on payday, on his payday, and he had this like big brick cell phone and I'm a 90s kid, so I don't know it was like 96 or whatever I don't know and we were buying a DVD player and it was a really big deal and I remember he was calling my mom on his brick cell phone saying this is a really good deal, we have to get it and look at how far we've come. So, okay, costco, bj's. To be honest, yeah, I don't know the big differences. I have often heard it compared to like one is like Walmart, one is like Target. I think that Walmart actually owns what does Walmart own? Sam's Club, bj's, one of them. See, I don't even know, so let's just not even talk about it. But Costco is a wholesale store, ok.

Speaker 1:

And so when I was younger I remember we would go for only for big parties, like if we needed a lot to fruit or like a lot of snacks and it was only like a few things and then we would go and I don't remember hearing back then that it was like anybody was shopping there regularly. But over the years, over the past few years, you've probably seen it with different influencers covering it and, fun fact, Costco doesn't have any paid marketing Costco and Trader Joe's. Actually, they just have such phenomenal models. They rely solely on word of mouth and so if you've seen anything, it's just because people love it and share. No one is actually paid to share about it and so they have become more of an everyday family store. I would say not necessarily a health food store, because they definitely offer a wide range of options, but they are an incredible location for kind of like active, relevant, family lifestyle supplies but then also really good quality, affordable health stuff.

Speaker 1:

So Colby and I go through different spurts. We go through seasons of shopping there every other week. So like one week we'll do Costco, one week we'll do Trader Joe's, depending on like what we're eating or meal planning. Sometimes we go weekly, monthly, depending on like what we're eating or meal planning. Sometimes we go weekly, monthly, whatever. And a lot of people are like that's insane. You guys have two people. How does that work?

Speaker 1:

And what I want to talk about today is the things that are worth getting at Costco, because I have found that there are things there that are actually not just cheaper in the long run, but cheaper up front to get there, which, like, really, really, really surprises people and it makes it so worth it for us, because what family does not want more, like a greater quantity of food for less? And so let's start from the beginning. Let's start from the beginning of Costco. So you start by finding the one closest to you and if you're like, oh, mine is 30 minutes away, I'm going to be honest with you. I feel like Costco is 30 minutes away from everybody. So just commit to the process, trust me, enjoy the ride.

Speaker 1:

So head to a Costco. I find that ones that are not in the heart of a city are just more enjoyable. We have two close to us One that is kind of like in a very developed strip mall area, and that one is a zoo and ruins Costco for people. We have one that's a little bit more like suburbia and it is, so you just like breathe deeper when you're there. So that's the one that we had to. So pick the one. If you have a few options, that's a little bit more in like suburbia land and if not, you'll be fine when you get their memberships. I do not know what their current status with day passes are is or guest passes, but you could just head to customer service. There are two doors right when you walk in. One is the entrance, one is right to customer service and I'm sure they will let you know.

Speaker 1:

Now let's talk memberships, because if you're listening to this and you have some kind of interest, I'm going to tell you to just get a membership, because I don't know anyone that it's not worth it for. But here is what I want you to know. So Colby and I are in a big budgeting season, like we're super aware of every dollar and just like counting the cost of everything, literally wanting to be wise with our money, literally wanting to be wise with our money, and so when we looked at the options, we were like, okay, the first one is around $60. The other one is around $120. Now the $60 one. Both of them you have to renew yearly. And so say, today's July 26th, you get your membership today. Next year, july 26th, you're going to have to renew it again or else your card and your access will be blocked. So the $60 membership every year you're going to pay $60 to renew it-ish. $60-ish, the $120-ish.

Speaker 1:

Colby and I also really are trying to get away from all credit cards and so we looked at it and we were like, oh, the things that they offer appear to be credit card like. They give you a percentage back from every single purchase and there are certain oh yeah, different. You can have like multiple people attached to each membership. So Colby and I both use that one, like it's our kind of like family one. And sorry, guys, should have looked up all the perks before. But really there's just like one main perk, which is the reason that we've stayed with it. So it's $120 up front. You get a percentage back of all of your purchases. So the next year, when you get the letter in the mail that's like hey, it's time to renew. You get a check, you get a Costco check and we have this.

Speaker 1:

This past year was the first year that we ever had to contribute some money. So we've been back from Thailand five or five years. We got a membership right away. The first four years we didn't have to pay a penny towards it. The money back covered the membership and I think every year I'd have to ask Colby we actually had even more money to put towards our Costco purchase.

Speaker 1:

This year, I think, our refund or rebate, whatever check was like $90-something and so like big, big deal. It's pay like 20 bucks, you know. So it is so worth it. It is not credit, it's not a debit card, it solely is just a rewards card, and it's so worth it. Now I also want to talk about the refund policy. Now people have a hard time with this ethically, and I get it. I get it. But Costco is a big company. They can handle it. They have very smart strategists and people in management that are counting the cost and wouldn't offer it if they couldn't do it Right, and so they have a refund policy similar to LL Beans. If you're familiar with it or what it was, it's not anymore where you could return anything at any time. And so, guys, I am not necessarily proud of this, but it's where we're at. It's what it is.

Speaker 1:

Colby loves Costco clothes. He loves them and thankfully, he picks good things, but it's just part of our life right now. He gets so proud when he gets a good find and is really proud wearing it. If you watch anything with Dave Ramsey, his brand, one of the personalities there, george Campbell, he talks all the time about being a Kirkland King because Kirkland is their brand and he just loves their clothes too. So I do think there is a time in adulthood where you just start buying clothes at Costco.

Speaker 1:

But anyways, every once in a while I was going to say surprise, surprise, no, every once in a while things shrink or just end up not being the quality that we thought they would be or hoped they would be, and they are absolutely no questions asked, ever, ever, ever. I remember too, last year I share about their mums every year. They're like 20 bucks and they are massive, they're huge. Their garden center is incredible and mine just like they were like sick, they were like diseased plants and I just took a picture of it, brought it to the customer service counter and they believed me and refunded it and oh yeah, refunded and let me get two new ones, and so that's a really reassuring thing about being new to Costco or trying new things is that even if you just don't like something, you could bring it back and they're not going to shame you anything.

Speaker 1:

It's, I find it to be very, hmm, like a community centered kind of like policy that makes you customer retention Right, sipping on coffee as we're talking, ok, so you go into Costco. There are these like massive, massive carts, massive, massive carts. If you have kids, like the thing on the grocery cart is big enough that you could put two of your kiddos in the kids section on the cart. And here is what I recommend. I recommend that every single time you are there, you go down every single aisle. Now you could do this really quick. This is like some of my self-care time. I really love the hunt is like some of my self-care time. I really love the hunt.

Speaker 1:

They change the store very, very often, which can seem stressful, but I actually find it to be really fun, and they change their inventory a lot. So as you are going through the store, it makes sure that you don't miss a thing. And also, as you are going through the store, keep an eye on anything with an asterisk on the price. What do you call it? Price label. So an asterisk means that the product is being discontinued or temporarily not going to be sold. I have been told by Costco employees, when I see the asterisk next to things that I love buying there, that they listen to, demand, and so if you ever see something next to something that you fall in love with, be sure to let the Costco associates know, and I've definitely seen them bring things back.

Speaker 1:

So what's at Costco? You're going through with your cart, your massive cart. They have a lot of home goods, home good type things. They have clothes, they have shoes, produce prepared foods, dry foods, frozen foods, all things like that Seems like a random mixed bag, but somehow it totally works for them.

Speaker 1:

Now here is what I'm going to tell you. There are things at Costco, for example, like the Ninja brand, that they'll sell there and they'll have on an incredible deal, but we have sometimes found it cheaper on Amazon. So just because it's at Costco doesn't mean it's cheaper, but sometimes it is. So around Christmas time they have instant pots that are like next to nothing. They actually literally are the cheapest. But just make sure you do a little bit of your homework and don't get sucked in. I'm going to just kind of go through the store and let you know, like, what we've purchased and what you can look for, what's worth, yeah, you're looking for too. So walk through the front of the store. That's usually the seasonal stuff. They have these incredible outdoor blankets right now with, like, the waterproof lining and the fleece on top and they fold up super nice and they were like less than 20 bucks. Um, I love getting Tupperware there.

Speaker 1:

There's this brand called Snapwear and what I love about it is it nests into each other perfectly and the tops are interchangeable. It is unbelievable. It's a super big set, very, very, very low price, like a fraction of the cost of Pyrex, and very worth it. If you are looking for any kind of plastic drink carafe, they have phenomenal, very affordable ones. If you're looking for area rugs, the price on the area rugs is amazing, and then I guess I'll call it like broke bougie, because Costco has very great home accents that are really on trend, really current, really aesthetically pleasing, but they're very, yeah, very great styles and prices. So there are things like organizational units, like any kind of rubbermaid tub that you might be looking for. They have storage racks, towels, sheets, down comforters and again, guys, I am not someone that does like. I don't love going to those like big box liquidation type stores. This is so different.

Speaker 1:

I feel like Costco has this way of intentionally sourcing, like, whoever their shoppers are, get really good stuff, and what I've been told time and time again is Kirkland brand often uses the highest. Let me give an example so I know how to describe this better. So like, for example, when you find Kirkland brand leggings, their leggings are made by Lululemon and the Kirkland brand diapers are made by Huggies. And so whenever you find Kirkland brand I don't know how they do it, but it is always excellent and they just private label it, and so I've never, ever, not once, had a problem with anything Kirkland brand.

Speaker 1:

The throw pillows I don't love. They're not my favorite. Yeah, I mean, whatever you're looking for flatware. The melamine collection this year for outdoor dining was phenomenal, but this is one of the sections that changes a lot, and so be sure to head up and down those aisles. If you have a pet, their pet beds are huge and very inexpensive, very great dog treats. Those are all things that we get somewhat regularly as well.

Speaker 1:

Now, when you are walking through the store, so you find like all of your home goods, stuff, decorations and all of that, and then usually the clothes are right there. I'll be honest, I don't find much of anything for me. They have Lucky Brand socks that I get there every once in a while I'll get a pair of like slides or like slip-on shoes In the winter. They have very great gloves, but I don't find much. Colby finds his utility kind of like tactile work pants there. That's what he really likes getting, and they have a Banana Republic line for men. Now, listen, I'm sure you have a right to be skeptical of it and the quality and everything behind it, but the styles are great, the prices are good and, hey, it works. It makes him happy, it makes me happy.

Speaker 1:

Now the produce section. So produce is one of the sections of the store that does not remain consistent week after week. I don't know if it's their supplier, I don't know if it's seasonal, I'm not really sure how that works, but one week you can get a bag of avocados literally for like $3. The next week they'll be eight, and so just keep an eye on it. But I will say, if you are someone that wants to eat healthy, if you are someone that wants to be surrounded by foods that make eating healthy easy, costco is the way to do that for your family, and their produce is really the reason that we go so regularly. So it breaks my heart, makes me angry, all the things.

Speaker 1:

When I go to my local supermarket and I buy this small thing of strawberries for $7, I mean like the small one, right, the one that you can like inhale, and they're gone, you know. And then I go to Costco and the massive thing of what did? I say Blueberries? I meant to say blueberries it's like $3.99. And so produce, guys, is the way that you are going to save an incredible amount of money up front there.

Speaker 1:

I have had very specific examples over the years. What are some more? All of the berries, for sure. Lettuce, if you are a salad eater or want to be a salad eater more, I mean it is massive thing of spring lettuce or like the spring mix is like $3.99 or $4.99. I again, it makes me like equally angry and sad when I go to my local store to pick up a thing of lettuce to make a salad at home. It's like $7.99, and I think of what I can get at Costco.

Speaker 1:

So all of the fruit, all of the produce. They have really great options like papayas and plantains if you're into tropical fruit and things like that for a very affordable price. Tropical fruit and things like that for a very affordable price. We are huge pineapple eaters. Their pineapples are like $1.99. And so, again, not something where you have to invest a lot of money up front and save in the long run. This is literally going to save you money on your grocery bill this week.

Speaker 1:

The peppers, like bell peppers I can go on and on. Just know that section is going to save you a ton. And you might ask me okay, so, like Katie, what do I do with eight bell peppers? Well, you just include it in your meals that week. So a lot of produce. Especially there's super good quality. I don't have a problem with anything like rotting or spoiling, and so throw peppers in your eggs, throw peppers on your salad, make sausage and peppers and maybe, towards the end of the week, make a chicken cacciatore. You could start planning a little bit like that, but we honestly don't have a problem with using it or with waste, and I'd be happy to talk more about that if that would be of interest to you.

Speaker 1:

Now the famous rotisserie chickens. Oh my gosh, so these are like butter. Now, guys, I'll be honest, I haven't done research into the quality behind this and if there's anything nasty that they're pumping it with. But rumor has it that there was someone that like develops this recipe. When he passed away or something like that, he said that they could never raise the price of the chicken. So Costco takes a massive loss every single year on the chicken. They are $4.99 and they are huge. But what they have learned, and the reason they haven't discontinued it or whatever, is when people go in for the chicken, they're actually spending more money on their way out, and so it ends up kind of leveling out for them.

Speaker 1:

Now cheeses so if you are a charcuterie lover, want to design cheese boards, all of that their selection is prime. It is so good. But here's what I'll tell you Cheese is one of those things at Costco that you will spend more money up front. They are larger quantities, larger portions, things like that, and so the quality is phenomenal. It is my favorite Parmesan cheese ever in any store that I've been to more than Whole Foods, more than Trader Joe's, more than any of that. But you're paying a lot more upfront. So it is one of those like cheaper in the long run things. But the wine infused cheese that all of my customers end up getting addicted to. They sell it there. Parmesan brie, everything. They have a phenomenal cheese shopper. Same with salami, now lunch meats. This is super interesting.

Speaker 1:

So Colby goes through different spurts with his lunches and he'll go through like a sandwich spurt or a wrap spurt. And so the turkey ham, roast, beef, deli cheese anything sliced like that is the price. Anything sliced like that is the price. Okay, so they come in three pound packages, but it's the price of one pound at our local store. So I think of so many of you that are making lunches for your spouse, for your kids. You are going through so much deli meat and you want a good quality one. The Applegate ones at the store are like $7.99 for like a package. Ones at the store are like $7.99 for, like a package. This is like, and they're like six slices. This is like $7.99 for three pounds and it is so, so phenomenal. Like it. You could taste how good quality and like how fresh it is. That leads me to the mentally I'm just like walking through the store the prepared food section.

Speaker 1:

So there are two types of prepared food sections at Costco. One is like packaged, like you buy it in a box, and the other one is from the Costco deli. We buy both, especially this last year, just figuring out life with Wesley. So if you're getting things from Costco, these are not necessarily an incredible steal or deal, but the flavor is good and the convenience is there. The stuffed peppers are gluten-free but not dairy-free. They are phenomenal. They have amazing massive salads like Caesar salad, spinach salad that you could even pick up and bring to a picnic or something Colby really likes the tacos, but those aren't gluten-free. The taco-making kits they like tortellini kits. Everything is super, super fresh and super flavorful so you could feel comfortable buying those for your family or bringing them to an event. But the boxed prepared section is my favorite. Oh my goodness, guys, I could spend all my money in that section every single week.

Speaker 1:

So if you are looking, all of these things are gluten-free and they are not necessarily like I wouldn't call them like cheap, but they're cheaper than getting takeout, which is why we get them, because you know how it goes. You don't have food in the house, you get takeout and that is the budget breaker. So we keep some of these in the house to keep us from getting takeout a lot. So there are these things called pupusas. It's like this, like corn cake that's stuffed with this incredible like tender Mexican, flavored like beef almost briskety. Mexican flavored like beef almost brisketty. And I you're gonna laugh at me. These are a game changer, though. I put them in the toaster with a side and then I have a side salad and they are so stinking good.

Speaker 1:

The Kevin's brand that is totally paleo. Every clean ingredient. They have amazing options there. There's a pad thai that I really really like. The chicken tikka masala has dairy but it's gluten free. What else do we get there? Oh, my gosh, they have burnt ends that are really good that I just throw in the air fryer. The Costco sweet potato fries are absolutely the best ones I've had in my entire life and I eat them as a snack. I threw them in my air fryer and they are just. I don't know what they do to them, but they are super clean, super good. Um, wow, this is like really going on, but I hope you're loving it as much as I am, because I could talk Costco for a while If you walk next. Oh, you can't forget the Starbucks egg white bites. Those are my fixation right now.

Speaker 1:

Again, not cheap, but cheaper than buying them at Starbucks every day, massive savings, so you can get a whole I think it's like eight dozen pack. We get the two dozen pack that I think is $4.99. I get my dairy-free milk there. They have a wonderful almond milk option and oat milk option. And then, when it comes to paper goods, we get these twice a year. It is, I think almost everything is twice a year. It's unbelievable. So this is another one of those things that you spend a little bit more up front but you save in the long run. But our paper towels, kirkland brand toilet paper and trash bags are worth getting there a hundred times over and trash bags are worth getting there a hundred times over.

Speaker 1:

Now, when it comes to getting snacks for your family, I'm a huge snacker. Colby packs snacks for work. I love having snacks for friends when they come over. You are gonna save money upfront on healthy snacks there. So, for example, a massive bag I mean massive of lesser evil popcorn is the massive bag is cheaper than the small bag at your local grocery store. Things like sweet potato chips, those like crunchy snap peas, the hippies brand dried mango I'm trying to think what else we get. Um, I'm trying to think what else we get. Um, colby really likes those dots brand pretzels. Um, they have such good snacks, such amazing healthy snacks and every single bag oh, that Tara T E R R A brand Every single bag is cheaper than the small bag at your local grocery store. So get the healthy snacks guys. Go there, stock up on healthy snacks. Set yourself up for success, enjoy really good food that way. So I mean, like if you really wanted to hone in, I guess, like produce and snacks and healthy condiments, make it worth it a hundred times over Now talking about healthy condiments. Make it worth it 100 times over Now talking about healthy condiments, if you are into like the health scene or learning about ingredients and the things that you're eating.

Speaker 1:

Mayo is always a big topic of conversation and it is insanity. It is totally insane. It is totally insane. But the healthy, like really good quality mayos are like $15 at the local store, which makes you not want to buy it, right? Well, you go to Costco. They're usually like $8.99, $9.99 for the healthy mayo and it's massive. It's going to last you like a long time, and so the mayo.

Speaker 1:

Peanut butter is another one A good quality, good oil, no junk peanut butter at your local store is like $12, $15. The Kirkland brand organic peanut butter is $9.99 for two massive containers that jellies. There are very good sauces from brands like Primal Kitchen, like their buffalo sauce. They're often a really good Primal Kitchen dressings. So condiments is another thing that is really great to look for there.

Speaker 1:

Coffee is one of those things that you'll spend a little bit more up front. But, for example, I'll spend maybe like $14.99 on my big thing of coffee, because Kirkland brand is private labeled Starbucks coffee, but it will last me like three or four months and so think about that. You go to your local store. You're paying like $10 a bag for coffee. It's totally worth it. Colby really enjoys their breads, the muffins we don't eat a ton of food like that, but I'm sure it's phenomenal, I'm sure it's really good, so you can look at that as well and baby stuff. Wesley's been eating just like mostly what we're eating these days, but there is this brand there called Amara and they have phenomenal, kind of like melty, chewy snacks that he really enjoys. And the diapers, of course. If you haven't heard of this, it's like $40 for like 200 diapers, and so that has been our saving grace these last few months.

Speaker 1:

Now, when you check out at Costco, it is interesting you load everything on the belt like you would at your local store and they don't have bags. And so what happens is you go through, you show your card, they stock everything up back in your cart. As you are walking out of the store, you'll see these massive boxes where all of the stuff on the shelves came in, and you take some of those boxes and of the stuff on the shelves came in, and you take some of those boxes and, as you're putting all the groceries in the cart or in your car, you fill those boxes with your groceries and so just know there are no bags. You have to do that all yourself. And then, as you are walking out, if you wanted to get your like $1.99 hot dog, hey, have at it. Colby loves it. It's huge. It comes with the soda I really enjoy. When we go there on like a busy weekend and we're having like a quick day date, they have a Caesar salad. I just tell them no croutons, it is massive, it's super cheap and they use the rotisserie chicken from the back, which is super good. And what else have I gotten there? I think that's it. They don't have a huge selection, but it is very affordable and they have super good nugget ice if you want to drink on the way out. But that's that. Yeah, that's Costco.

Speaker 1:

I have heard a lot about their liquor. I was pregnant and then like breastfeeding, all that, so I haven't really been drinking a lot and so I haven't been buying a lot of alcohol either, but I've heard wonderful things about about it there as well. Let's quick transition and talk about Trader Joe's. So Trader Joe's, growing up, I always thought was like how do I explain it? Like like expired foods that were like discounted. That was my impression of Trader Joe's. I don't know why. I remember I babysat for a family that had Trader Joe's food and I thought it was just like super weird because it wasn't any like brands that I recognized, and I don't remember when I started going, but I real quick drank the Kool-Aid and fully bought in. So, trader Joe's, I just started reading the book Becoming Trader Joe because I'm like a massive fan and wow guys, I just couldn't do it. I love reading and I love Trader Joe's, but something about the way that book was written I just couldn't do it. But there's a lot to learn.

Speaker 1:

I don't know the full story, but essentially they have found just really great sources and relationships with people that kind of like cut all the middle people out and make things just like more affordable. They pay people fairly, they want to make healthy options more accessible to people, all of those things. And so I noticed recently they've started selling a few outside brands, but almost everything is the Trader Joe brand. They never use any artificial colors, ever, and I think they don't use any artificial sweeteners in anything. I think that's also the second thing that they stand by. So it's not that everything is healthy, it's just better it's made in smaller batches and all of that stuff.

Speaker 1:

So things to buy at Trader Joe's. So things to buy at Trader Joe's flowers buy yourself flowers every dang week because you can make. You can even have fun picking up a new hobby and designing your own bouquet, because they are so, so, so affordable. And they are all the good blooms, too, like, they are all the good, whatever you call it, varieties. They have really great plants. They have really great greeting cards. They're 99 cents, they're super cheeky and guys, why are we spending $7.99 on Hallmark cards? Get them at Trader Joe's, they're great.

Speaker 1:

I love produce there too. Costco doesn't have every single thing that you would need, but Trader Joe's does, and so everything isn't expensive there. I mean like unbelievable. You're like how are they making any money? They have amazing, fresh, fresh, fresh produce, really cool things too, like if you're eating healthier and you want any kind of like vegetable that's like in noodle form or what else. They have really great like pre-chopped veggies. They have amazing like very affordable kombucha and things like that. Yeah, just, I mean seriously, the whole produce section is so, so, so good.

Speaker 1:

As you're walking through the produce section, they generally have like a vegan or a dairy free section that has super good dips. So like a vegan buffalo chicken, a vegan caramelized onion dip, tzatziki garlic dip, a vegan pesto, all of those things. You'll find one of them, at least one, in my fridge at any time. Um, some of the ingredients are not like the total cleanest but, guys, they are good and they are cheap. Like if you went to whole foods and bought something like that, I don't know what you'd spend ten, $10 a container and I think these are like $3. So, if you're having company over and someone's dairy-free, pick one of those up. If you're trying to go dairy-free, pick them up. Okay, going through that section, go to the cheese section. Now, this is where you want to get your cheese for the everyday.

Speaker 1:

Charcuterie and cheese is something that Trader Joe's really prides himself on. Everything is phenomenal. I still like the Parmesan at Costco better, but the caramelized onion cheddar we really like. They have amazing goat milk-based cheeses goat milk cheddar, goat milk gouda, goat milk brie, which is easier for lactose-tolerant people to digest, and the prices are so affordable. We get granola there. I get my gluten-free bread and bagels and sometimes muffins there. I will say they are better toasted than plain way better toasted. But they have a very great gluten-free section. If you need some gluten-free cookies for a gluten-free guest that's coming over or anything like that, it's a very affordable, incredible option.

Speaker 1:

Their freezer section they are super famous for. Here's what I'll tell you. I think that Costco's freezer section is better. Trader Joe's is. Trader Joe's is cheaper, for sure. I just find it to be not as flavorful as the options at Costco. But the things that we get at Trader Joe's I get the cauliflower gnocchi, I get the fresh gluten-free pasta and I keep that in the freezer and it's very good. Every once in a while we'll get a pizza from Trader Joe's. Colby really likes their frozen, kind of like ice cream treats. I get my smoothie bags like my smoothie kit bags from there.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, the freezer section we've been kind of staring away from lately, but give it a shot. I mean it's definitely very affordable and healthier than other options. They have really great and unique seltzer options. Their dairy section is phenomenal. Colby is a big yogurt eater. The yogurt is very cheap.

Speaker 1:

They have a gluten-free kind of like Toll House cookie. That's pretty good and we'll get that there sometimes. Oh, for the summer months, they have a very, very good cold brew concentrate and it's $8.99, but you can make like 12 coffees with it and so it is definitely worth having in your pantry. It doesn't have to be refrigerated at first. What else? We get treats for Luca there, but the treats at Costco are definitely better.

Speaker 1:

So I guess here's where I'll summarize. Oh, and then guys Wesley did this to me. He did it. I didn't have candy for years and that kid, I am a gummy candy addict now and it's not good, it's not good. So I'm trying to find the healthier options. And so they have these things called Scandinavian swimmers and you have to get the sour ones, you have to the regular ones. Don't do it. They are so good and I'm really sorry. I'm really sorry that I did that to you, but if you are gluten-free, be careful, because so many of their candy options have wheat in it. That's a thing that a lot of people that are new to gluten-free don't always know. So I guess here's a summary.

Speaker 1:

Costco and Trader Joe's are different. Obviously, because of the quality or quantity, size of everything, I tend to lean towards favoring Costco. I just find that their options are more flavorful, the ingredients and everything are more in line with what I want. There are more brands that I recognize and that I like eating, but Trader Joe's is phenomenal for kind of like quick, your everyday things, filling in the gaps with the things that Costco doesn't have, and so I actually think that they're a really sweet couple. They really are, though A lot of people ask me like well, why not Aldi?

Speaker 1:

I would encourage you Listen, I'm not trying to make Aldi go out of business. I just think that Trader Joe's is superior. I think that they have more consistent options, more flavorful options. It's a much nicer shopping experience too, and I think the prices are just as low, so try them out. Let me know what you think.

Speaker 1:

Trader Joe's does have bags, so try them out. Let me know what you think. Trader Joe's does have bags, and you might have seen this like reel that I posted the other day, kind of joking about the cashiers at Trader Joe's. Everyone there is so sweet, they are so helpful and so nice. But sometimes you're like, are you flirting with me? But like every single time. So just anticipate that they are very sweet, but sometimes I don't know, maybe it's just that we need more kindness in our worlds, maybe that's what it is. But try them both out. Try out Costco and Trader Joe's. Let me know what you think. Let and I am happy over time, when I get more in a routine, to create more of a list. But let me know what else would be helpful. Let me know if this was helpful. Let me know what else would be helpful if there's any other stories that you want me to kind of like debunk or demystify, whatever, because I want you guys.

Speaker 1:

The world's hard right now it is. There's so many stressors, there is so many alarms going off in life all the time, whether it's politics, whether it's money, the account, like all this stuff. It is time for us to kind of be more intentional with our decisions and take some of our peace back, and I think that this is one of the easy ways to do that. I think that by being intentional and going to stores where we could still celebrate the food that we're buying, still enjoy the table, but be wise with our money. I think that's what it's going to be a huge game changer for so many of our families, our wallets and our tables. I just don't want any of us to stop gathering because of the price of food right now or because of the options available to us, and this is a way that I can help you get back to that space. So hope you love this, guys.

Speaker 1:

This date with Kate, I am sipping on an iced coffee, not the Trader Joe's one, it's from my local store because I ran out of time this weekend but the Trader Joe's one. It's from my local store because I ran out of time this weekend, but I wish that we were sipping on coffee together. So go get one. Go get one for me, as you're listening to the next Making Room by Gather episode, and pretend that we're having one together, and I am so excited for everything to come with Gather, with Making Room, and we will see you on YouTube. Have a beautiful weekend. Hope you get to soak in some sunshine.