20 Things You Shouldn’t Buy at Costco

4. Medication

I do not recommend buying over-the-counter medication in bulk, as it has an expiration date that could sneak up on you if you buy too much.

“Since you take these as needed, buying them in bulk doesn’t make sense, because you could end up wasting it if it isn’t used by the expiration date,” says savings expert Andrea Woroch.

“Instead, buy smaller quantities from a local drug store or big box retailer, and stick with the generic brand to save up to 30 percent. Since generic meds are required by the FDA to be as effective and safe as the name-brand drug, it’s a no-brainer way to save.”

5. Bread and pastries

You should also avoid buying bread and pastries in bulk because they won’t stay fresh for long and Costco won’t necessarily have the best price.

“Unless you have a large family, it’s better to purchase bread and other pastries from smaller grocery store chains,” says Gina Zakaria, the blogger behind the budget blog Saving Whiz. “They’ll go on sale about every three weeks, and the sale price is cheaper than Costco.”

6. School and office supplies

While school and office supplies don’t have an expiration date, I wouldn’t recommend buying them at Costo, because you won’t get the best product for the price.

“School and office supplies are really expensive at Costco,” says Zakaria. “You can find a much better deal by shopping at Target or Walmart during their back-to-school shopping sales.”