Monday, February 7, 2011

New Glasses


I'm not sure when it happened, but when I need things, I usually think about Costco first.  Between their physical stores and their web site, you can pretty much buy anything.  As long as you don’t mind buying large amounts, or multiples of many items, it’s a great place to shop. 

I recently noticed that my eye glasses seemed to not be working as well as they should, so I made an appointment at my local Costco optometry department.

When it came time for my appointment, I discovered that the examination and testing was done exactly the same as anywhere else. The optometrist even had a diploma on the wall!  There were no major surprises, but my prescription did have to be adjusted.  They told me it would take about a week for my new glasses to arrive and that they would call me.

Five days later I was notified that my glasses were ready. I went back to Costco to have them adjusted for fit. I loved them! Now I'm hoping that my prescription doesn’t change before I've had a chance to use all eight pairs...

Only folks who frequent Costco got that... (I hope)

I wonder how much food purchased at Costco ultimately gets thrown away because it gets too old before it can all be eaten. Do we really need to buy a 55 gallon drum of mayonnaise?  Can we really use a case of anything? How about a 42 inch flat screen television multi-pack? 

85 comments:

  1. We have Sam's Club here, and with two of us, it's not worth the membership. A drum of mustard would last us five lifetimes!

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  2. Ha! Thank goodness we don't have a thing like this on our island - I'm a natural born stock piler as it is, this would only feed my addiction to fearsome new heights!

    BTW, I love the new avatar pic.

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  3. if you haven't seen idiocracy, you need to.

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  4. Multipack TV? Heehee!
    I do like the big packs of Kleenex and paper towels and garbage bags... what a shock when I find our cupboard bare!
    8 pair of glasses is a hoot. I get the joke...

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  5. Well I don't have a Costco nearby, but I do Have a Sam's club and yes, I am still on the 400 Paper Towel roll bundle I bought in 2003 (just kidding). I love Sam's and find some amazing bargains. I'm up for new specs too. I'll model mine if you will?

    Have a great day my friend!

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  6. My mom bought me 2lbs of pomegranate arils because I love them so much... but by the time I got them they were already starting to taste bad. I had to throw away a pound :-(

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  7. I didn't even realize that Costco had a website - though I don't know why, everyone does. Checked it out more out of curiousity than anything else. Not only can you get your coffee and glasses, but you can also purchase your casket or urn from Costco. Really IS one stop shopping, I guess.

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  8. It is hard for me to imagine a 55 gallon drum of mayonnaise!! I haven't seen it.

    In Japan one or two portions of cooked food are getting more popular.
    Generally speaking, Japanese are concerned about freshness and use by.

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  9. I bet Boyfriend would totally go for a pack of 42" flat screens....I better not give him the idea.

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  10. You made me chuckle, so true! We do not have a Costco, but a Sam's Club. Have a great week!

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  11. Congrats on the new glasses! Did you pick up a car, casket, or a roll of carpet while you were there?

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  12. I'd use that mayo given the opportunity.

    I like Costco - especially the free samples - but we don't buy much food there other than pizza. We do end up throwing so much of it away.

    But there's something about their sheet cakes. I love their sheet cakes. Love them.

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  13. I've been to Costco only once when I was in the US. But I do know what you mean. My aunts are members and boy, what huge packs they have!!! '

    I hope your glasses have different colored frames so you can at least match it with your wardrobe ;)

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  14. If they only sold 55 gallon drum sized catnip!!!

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  15. Well congrats on the new glasses. I am in dire need of glasses as mine are 5 years old.

    And I have never been to a Costco before so I didn't get the joke.

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  16. we don't buy much real food at Costco ... candy, cereal and snack items? yeah, but perishable items? I don't have a freezer big enough for half a cow!
    we do like costco for lunch tho - all you can eat free samples! :)

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  17. Alex - At Sam's club you can buy some individual items, but it's pretty much the same.

    Shrinky - It's a mixed blessing, that's for sure! Thanks about the pic.

    Budd - I will do so today! It sounds familiar...

    Brenda - Honey, please go to costco and pick up a pallet of toilet paper! thanks for getting the joke. I'm not sure everyone is going to...

    Lynne - 400 paper towel roll bundle. That's funny! I'm happy that I actually did only have to buy one pair of specs...

    Cake - there you go! I think I have rusted canned food from years ago...

    Rabbit - You are right, you can buy anything. I'm not really a fan of "big box" stores, but I think Costco won me over with their massive amounts of free samples. I still go to small businesses whenever I can.

    snowwhite - They really don't have them that big. But they do come in gallon size jars. My wife is Japanese and I've spent a lot of time there. My wife's aunts all go shopping twice a day because they want the freshest food possible.

    Baby Sister - Don't tell him! he might also pick up a case of DVD players...

    Ree - Thanks for getting it!

    Bossy Betty - Oh yeah! And a tankless water heater, a 16 camera security system, and new plantation shutters.

    Cheeseboy - I with you! I love me some mayo. the food they actually make there is very good! yum, cake!

    mice_aliling - If I really did have to buy several pairs of glasses, I'd probably get them all exactly the same!

    Brian - I think the DEA would bust the place if they did.

    Oilfield Trash - I'll send you a few pairs of mine! (they really don't sell them that way).

    diane - I understand! We are really careful when we shop there. But the samples really are enough for a meal...

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  18. 8 pairs of glasses would be great for me, at the rate I loose things it would work out pretty well :)

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  19. Pat,
    ...how ironic that you posted about the new glasses when you had mentioned my blog font was hard to read; hah, was it just your eyes?

    Actually, no becuase I had the same thought and so I changed it so now I can read it okay now...not a good font for 'old' eyes. I, too have noticed my eyes have gone through a change and it is not just the 'need for reading glasses' so I have an appt. the 15th of Feb., however not at Costco...don't have a nearby one here to even bother with!

    thanks for your honesty and lett me know about the font!

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  20. I'm the same way. I went there for a camera a year or so ago and while I was there I thought "I should pick up some cereal and some cheese!" but of course the cheese was the approximate size of a commercial airliner and the cereal was in a box only a basketball player would appreciate. I always love their platter of fresh, juicy pineapple but really, I can't eat a plate of pineapple the size of a swimming pool without dissolving my innards.

    I'm somewhat impressed by those gigantic tins of soup though...

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  21. I love people watching in Costco more than anything. I have tendency not to buy much because it's just me ... except for electronics ... Costco is always my first choice then. But it's fascinating to see what everyone puts in their carts because then you have to ask yourself, how/when/where are they going to consume all of that?

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  22. LOVE my Sam's Club and BJ's. (Another big box savings warehouse like Costco). I don't buy LARGE anything...but I do buy in quantity, particularly things that are non-perishable (long shelf dates). We have bought some of our electronics from these places, and have saved oodles of money on them.

    Glad to hear you had a good experience with your eyeglasses. (I used to work in optometry and ophthalmology - so I know what a pain it can be when things don't go right!)

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  23. I heart Costco, everything about it-- the samples, the happy employees, the return policy, the exciting finds, the large jars of maraschino cherries, I could go on and on. Enjoy your new glasses!

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  24. It looks big this shop. We have some of them here too. It's practical, but I prefer smaller places to go shopping. I'm a country girl you know:))
    Have a nice week Patrick:)

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  25. I still haven't gone to Costco since you told me about it before, my glasses need to be checked also and if they are the same as any I just may have to go there.

    Eight pairs would most likely be a good idea for me since unexplained accidents seem to happen with mine :)

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  26. hey, don't be mocking my case of lawn mowers.

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  27. We don't have a Costco here but a Sam's Club. I only go when my Dad visits. I find my hoarding instinct kicks in and want to grab all sorts of things I normally wouldn't. Gets me in trouble... Thanks for the chuckle! ;)

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  28. never been to costco but shop weekly at Sam's

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  29. I once bemused an assistant at a checkout by refusing to take an extra bottle of soft drink when they were on offer at two for the price of one - on the grounds that I needed only one so there was no point.

    You are right. More is not always necessary.

    On the other hand, my husband cannot avoid sitting on his glasses or losing them so he could probably benefit from a cost-cutter-lotta-spectacles offer.

    Esther

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  30. Pssssst--over here----

    BUY SHRINKWRAP!!!!! DUH!!!!!

    Shhhhhh (trade secret),

    He Who Does Not Want to Be Named!

    aka JOHN

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  31. Yes, yes I need a fifty gallon drum of mayonnaise. It's darn near impossible to plan a revolution without one.

    I got my last pair of glasses at walmart. Just couldn't beat the price.

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  32. Alan - I know what you mean! too bad they really don't do it...

    Tracy - Yep! I was shocked when one day i went to read a menu and I had to move it further away from my face to read it....the horror of aging...

    TVA - That is so funny! "the cheese was the approximate size of a commercial airliner...." Thanks! You REALLY get it!

    m. - Yep, it's a good place for that also. Did you know that you can buy used electronics off their web site?

    Marlene - Yep, that's how we do it. I think we have enough toilet paper for a year or so.... My single pair of glasses are great!

    KarenG - I mostly heart the samples! You won't believe how much I ate there the other day. On a thursday when it wasn't crowded.

    Bare - It is VERY big! I agree about smaller places...

    Jimmy - I only really got one, but a couple would have been a good idea!

    Lovkyne - TOO FUNNY! I wouldn't be surprised if they had it.

    Pam - If a person has hoarding instincts, it's a good idea to stay away, far far away...

    becca - Then you know all about it! except double it for costco.

    Esther - Not always necessary and many times a total waste! He could pick up a "bag o' specs."

    John - Oh man! I should have thought about that. Then buy a home version pallet jack!

    Tim - I agree! How are we to make all those sandwiches? I looked at Walmart, but the eye doctor was wearing a wife beater, so I left...

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  33. I have wanted to go to Costco for quite some time. I boycott Walmart/Sams Club, and have heard such great thinks about Costco and their business model, and how they treat their employees. I need to tag along with someone who already has a membership so I can test the waters. Maybe if I ever get around to having kids it will be worth it, right now it seems like I would end up wasting a lot of food.

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  34. Honesty time here, I get nervous whenever I get down to just two jars of mayo in my house. I start rationing until I can get my stock back up with a sale and coupons. A 55 gallon drum would probably help me sleep better at night.

    Have been curious about their vision services though. Thanks for this humorous nod.

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  35. I think I'm about the only person in my town who doesn't shop at Costco. When we shopped at a similar place in Virginia, we threw so much out.

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  36. One pair for each day of the week.
    A hilarious post!

    Don't go much to Cosco or Sam's Club as I feel that throwing things out is so not saving any money.

    Now, I hope I'm not being too forward . . . I've been meaning to ask you about your profile pic. What is it on your head?????

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  37. My husband loves buying from Costco. I don't have much storage so I don't like buying nineteen boxes of cereal or bags of lettuce.

    Do they really give you eight pairs of glasses? ;)

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  38. Hubby and I like to go to Costco but you are right about the extra-large+plus sizes. We can't fine enough to buy to make it cost effective.

    Pam

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  39. Meredith - It does seem as if the the employees at Costco are very happy. I've known a couple of folks who worked there and they said they loved it. They also said you have to hustle...

    Gwen - LOL...I understand that. I'm from a VERY poor background and I don't like running out of things.

    M Pax - I hear that. We've done it also. I'm lucky enough (or cursed" to live in the only ZIPCODE in the U.S. that has two of them!

    One Woman's Thoughts - Thanks so much! That thing on my head is a neck pillow I think. I consider it my crown!

    Clarissa - Nope! They really don't ! One pair only!

    Pam - We had five kids at home at one time, so Costco was perfect for us.

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  40. Minnesota: "Land of 10,000 Lakes"

    Costco: Pft. That all you got?

    (I got, and enjoyed, the glasses joke. They are over the top big, but it is fun.)

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  41. Yea, unfortunately my Costco relationship only occurs when I visit my parents. NYC does not have one. And no, I wouldn't have a problem polishing off a 50 gallon jar of mayo. Kudos on your glasses.

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  42. the wife and I have a costco membership and have yet to actually use it for anything - I think I need a new prescription so I might check out the optometrist selection -

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  43. DumbFunnery - That's too funny! thanks for "getting" it!

    Jesse - hey we gotta have mayo for sandwiches, right?

    Jhon - The have a big selection of glasses. I was happy (with my one pair).

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  44. Bahhhaaaahhh....8 PAIRS! Got it:)
    I am an avid Costco shopper but only because there are 6 of us living here......

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  45. I did finally make it through my 20 rolls of duct tape.

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  46. Dawn - Yeah!!! I'm glad you did! We used to have 9 at one time and Costco, or Price Club as it used to be called was something we really needed!

    Karin - I wouldn't think that mankind's greatest discovery would last too long...

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  47. Funny timing, this post... I was supposed to go with a friend to the local version of a Costco today because I am not a member - believing that a 55 gallon tub of mayonnaise will eventually land you with e-coli - but they do have a couple of items I like, such as Italian coffee and big bags of almonds. I went to play tennis instead. (I replied about to your question about the colonial Spanish architecture on my post, Pat.)

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  48. Glad we don't have one here...for one limited storage space...& the hot weather ruins perishables...we buy stuff that lasts just for a month or two..I prefer fresh and smaller sizes...imagine holding a tub of conditioner 1/3 my size everytime I wash my hair...do they have rainbow range of colored lenses...I may then be tempted to shop online... :D

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  49. Ah, yes! Buying in bulk at Costco - even in the optometry dept!
    ;-D

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  50. Warehouse shopping is essential (!!) with three teenagers, and even then I run out of things.

    However there are things I refuse to buy in "club Packs" - not thanks the mayonnaise/ mustard/ etc has to fit in the firdge...

    but pantry items are great from there. Love it.

    I do forsee a time after the kids are grown and on their own that shopping there will not be neccessay.

    My parents gave up their membership after we kids were all grown and on our own - they now happily shop in markets, and specialty shops... places that, for people with teenagers, are way too expensive.

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  51. I agree! I don't have any kids so I don't see the point in my husband and I shopping at BJs. We have NO storage room for a bulk order of anything and when would we even use it!!

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  52. I agree! I don't have any kids so I don't see the point in my husband and I shopping at BJs. We have NO storage room for a bulk order of anything and when would we even use it!!

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  53. Francisca - In reality, they do have some smaller quanity items, but not many! Thanks for the response at your place, I'll go check it out.

    Rek - for shampoo and things like that you need a smaller bottle that you refill once in a while from the big one.

    Louis - They really do let you buy just one pair...

    Nariane - They certainly do serve a purpose! I think you are right, for pantry items, they are great!

    Penny - It's worth it just to eat the samples. Especially on weekdays. they are so smart about it and I'm sure it increases sales.

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  54. Ha ha! I remember shopping at Costco in Tokyo and I had jumbo double packs of every conceivable item - Tomato Ketchup which lasted me almost 2 years! Popcorn, I inherited from some of my other expat friends who'd left the country - well there was so much I couldn't use it!

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  55. I was wondering what the punch line would be about glasses in quantity. Good one :) I haven't renewed my membership, but it could happen. I used to buy computer stuff there.

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  56. HA HA..good one. You and your Cosco adventures always make me smile. I hope you tormented the free sample lady like I do everytime I am there. Last time they let me eat all I wanted. Didn't even have to pull out my 'retarded customer' routine to make them feel bad for bitching at me.

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  57. Talei - I didn't know they had them in Tokyo! all my wife's relatives seem to go shopping at least once a day. They tend to shop for each meal.

    tapirgal - badaboom! They also sell used computers online...

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  58. Kal - Thanks! Yesterday we went there to pick up just a couple of things. One of the samples was these chicken burritos that I like. I went up to her three times. The first and second time I took two pieces and the last time only one. So a hard one and a half burritos! I don't even care anymore...they don't say anything!

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  59. My last 3 pairs of glasses (why do they call them pairs anyway...I only by one frame?) came from Costco. No complaints from me!!

    42" flat screen multipacks. Hmmm...

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  60. Nice to meet/read you! Just popped over from Cake Betch's place for a peek.

    I totally get the Costco thing... I love both Costco and Sams's! I only need to buy toilet paper once every two months! :)

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  61. Sally - None from me either! I could use a nice plasma multi-pack!

    Maggie - Thanks so much for coming over! I appreciate it. You need to buy the one year mega-pack of TP!

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  62. Hey the flat screen multi-pak would be just what i need. It would complete my plan of being to walk from room to room never miss a beat...plus I could dump my last two dinosaur 25" and 32" tv's!

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  63. I love it! I joined one of those stores once. Don't know about Costco, but the ones here cost 35 bucks a years to belong to. Think I bought enough toilet paper, dish soap and non-perishables to stock a bomb shelter. By the time it all ran out my membership had expired. And we were sick of using packages of paper goods as hassocks and ectra seating.....

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  64. I wonder the same thoughts as I wander the cavernous corridors of Costco. We do like to eat there. Kids love the pizza and hot dogs.

    And I love your calendar. Unique. never saw one like that before.

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  65. Chuck - I hear you! Those old TV's weigh about a ton! the new ones are sooooo thin!

    Entre Nous - I understand, it's easy to get caught up in the bulk buying craze!

    Stephen - I agree! A hot dog and soda for a buck fifty! Can't beat it! thanks! The calendar is pretty cool...

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  66. Glad you like you glasses Pat, I wouldn't have thought about Costco for such things. Our nearest Costco is about an hour away and since it's just the two of us it's not worth the trip.

    The last time I was in a Costco was about three years ago just south of San Diego. My SIL and I were stocking up on supplies getting ready to spend a week in Baja for the 1000.

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  67. love costco, I do my grocery shopping once 2 months!

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  68. SQ - They also have a inexpensive pharmacy (if medicine can ever be expensive)

    baygirl - I have to admit that I like it also!

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  69. I kinda like the multi pak of tubes! one for every room and THEN I could watch TV without the specs!!!

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  70. KaLynn - Or you could buy a pair for each room!

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  71. Did you find costwise there was good savings?

    Hmmm... that is a convoluted sentence structure.

    Oh well. Not enough caffeine to figure out what's wrong!

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  72. Jenny - On most things the prices are really good. Their meat is fairly expensive, but it is high quality. LOL...thanks Jenny!

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  73. Sometimes I think there is something wrong with me because I feel like I go grocery shopping. Are we pigs? What is going on?

    But then I realized I only buy what I need, and we eat what we buy.

    I hate wasting.

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  74. Kato - I agree. I like to eat leftovers until they are gone!

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  75. I did a piece about Costco last year. You are so right about the vast quantity one goes home with after a trip to Costco. Tonight for dinner I ate a Slim Jim sandwich--gotta do something with the 100 Slim Jims I bought a couple weeks ago. Anyone wanna come other and watch a movie and eat popcorn--a whole lot of popcorn?
    Eight pairs of glasses--yeah I get it. Funny stuff.

    Lee
    Tossing It Out and the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2011

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  76. Arlee - That is so funny! I haven't had a slim jim in a long time! Thanks for getting it!

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  77. Consumption and economy go hand in hand. For the economy to do well you have to pull the purchase mitas away. Is the snake biting its tail. We have to find a fish that just look forward.

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  78. Leovi - You are so right. the problem is almost everything you but now in America, is made somewhere else...

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  79. When I first joined Costco, Hubby complained I would soon come home with 3 microwave ovens, shrink-wrapped together. Last year, he bought our son the three-in-one crock pot. Who gets the last laugh now?

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  80. Rosemary - Hey, I bought one of those crock pots! They are really good for parties or brunches or multiple hot dips!

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  81. My fifty dollar a year Costco subscription was one of the budget casualties related to going to nursing school. Can't wait to get it back. They've got things that I can't get anywhere, let alone at the prices-- big jars of three bean salad, big jars of pickled herring, detergent, etc. My son loves their lox, which is very inexpensive. Can't wait until I can shop there again.

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  82. Johnny Yen - If you can afford it the membership, it sure is a great thing. You'll be done with school pretty soon and I'm sure you'll get that membership back...

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  83. I don't shop at Costco, because my house is not big enough to store large quantity!

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  84. Icy BC - It's worth the Fee, just for the samples! I know what you mean about the quanity! We are getting low on paper towels, I'd better get down there and pick up a thousand rolls or so...

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  85. I don't think we can match Costco in the UK - two for one offers sink us.

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