12 Costco Items I Never Thought I'd Buy (But Now I Always Do)

We're all looking for ways to stop overspending. There are obvious ways to save money at Costco — but we've also found a few hidden gems that can keep your budget on track. And these aren't one-time, super-special sale deals. These are items you'll buy over and over again.

Our list of favorite finds includes store-brand generics, dupes, and more. From gourmet goat cheese to top-quality shampoo, these club buys are bargains you might not think of buying but deserve a spot in your cart.

Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.

Price: $13.99

Pass on pricey pet clothes from stores like Petco. Reddy's sweatshirt for pups is $24.99 at the retailer. But this Kirkland logo hoodie is only $13.99 at Costco.

If you're wondering whether you should really buy generic pet clothes, take it from Costco shopper LoLo, "When we put this on our dog, he turned into a whole new dog. The confidence is unmatched…It's an amazing sweatshirt."

Price: $20.99

Do you only buy EVOO from gourmet brands? Specialty e-tailer Olio2Go sells a fancy 500 mL bottle of Frescobaldi Laudemio Tuscan olive oil for $45.95. Kirkland's version is only $20.99 for two liters (or 2,000 mL).

Price: $21.99

Sensitive skin? You might need a free and clear detergent. And Costco has a generic that works just as well as brand-name equivalents. A 100-load bottle of Tide's Free and Gentle HE costs $19.99 at Target. Kirkland's generic is slightly more, but you'll get 146 loads from it.

Price: $11.99

Generic shampoo may not have the same cachet as salon buys. But that shouldn't make you skip this 33.8-ounce bottle of hydrating cleanser. Costco customers praise this pick. Shopper Sonny raved, "Like you, I've tried about a trillion shampoos…I got this bottle expecting to add to my collection of failures and was thrilled to finally succeed."

Price: $11.99

Surprise, this Kirkland generic has the same active ingredient as Zyrtec. CVS sells a 40-count bottle of the name-brand OTC med for $24.49. For $10 less, you can get 365 Aller-Tec tablets. And both allergy options contain 10 mg of Cetirizine HCL.

Price: $16.99

Are you used to paying high prices for batteries? Four Energizer AAs cost $6.99 at Walgreens. We found this 48-pack of Kirkland's generic for under $17. You would need to buy 12 packs of the Energizers (at over $83 total) to equal Costco's bulk deal.

Price: $5.66

Forget about fancy French bakeries. You can buy baguettes at Costco. Yes, they're generic Kirkland items. And yes, they taste just as good as what you might find in pricier gourmet stores.

Price: $8.89

Like baguettes, this goat cheese is something you might expect to snag from a specialty store. But you can score a serious deal on the generic at Costco. Get two 10.5-ounce logs for $8.89. A single 10-ounce size from Whole Foods Market's 365 brand costs $9.49.

Price: $13.99

If you usually shop at sports or outdoors stores for base layers, you're probably paying too much for cold-weather gear. Costco's website lists this two-pack for $13.99, but we spotted it at a local warehouse club for $9.97. Both prices are still better than $55 for one Under Armour crew at Dick's Sporting Goods.

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Price: $6.69

Get over 1.6 pounds of sea salt, including a grinder top bottle and a refill, for under $7. Use the bulk buy bargain to season everything from freshly baked French fries to homemade tomato sauce. Compare Costco's price for 26 ounces to $5.19 for 9.5 ounces of Olde Thompson Mediterranean Sea Salt at Target.

Price: $36.99 

K-cup fans can get a better deal on medium roast pods in Costco stores. Kirkland's generic Summit Roast blend is $36.99 for 120. On Keurig's website, you'll pay over $67 for a one-time 96-count purchase of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Nantucket Blend.

Price: $16.99

LaCroix lovers pay $4.19 at Target for an eight-pack of 12-ounce cans. Kirkland's surprisingly similar version is $16.99 for a case of 35 assorted flavors. That breaks down to $0.52 per can of the name-brand versus $0.48 for the generic. Make every penny count at Costco. 

Whether you want to stock up on batteries or need a new shampoo, we've scoured Costco's aisles for the must-have bargains that shoppers put on repeat. Even though you might not think of a warehouse club's baguettes, coffee pods, or sockeye salmon as top-choice selections, these (and the other picks on our list) finds are fan favorites.

Looking to save even more? Use the top cash back credit cards to earn cash back, points, or perks on eligible Costco purchases.