Costco Blog

Costco brought back Tyson's Wings of Fire.

On my December 23, 2009 Costco shopping, I bought a bag of Foster Farms' Hot'n Spicy Wings.  They didn't have Tyson's Wings of Fire.  From that time, for 2 years, there was no Wings of Fire.  We had Hot'n Spicy Wings.  But, I like Wings of Fire better.  As Dos Equis man woud say.  "I don't always eat hot wings, but when I do, I prefer Wings of Fire."

I was disappointed they Costco took away Wings of Fire.  Then around December 2011, I saw Wings of Fire back at Costco.  As of February 2012, Costco is still promoting Wings of Fire by sampling them.  People stop by to eat those wings.   As much as I love Wings of Fire, I wouldn't eat there standing up with my hands.  It's not my style.  But, I tell ya, I wanted to talk to people who just ate those wings up close, so I can smell their greasy upper lips.

Costco replaced Wings of Rire with Hot'n Spicy Wings for exactly 2 years.  There has to be some kind of inside story (2 years contract, etc...).  Anyway, this is a pleasant news to me.

* I know, I know... I took a picture of an empty bag of Wings of Fire 2 years ago.  I know it's crazy.  But, you should know me by now.  I need to find a girl.

Pictures

Below: Older Package of Tyson's Wings of Fire - Sold by Costco
Photographed December 2009
Costco stopped selling Wings of Fire from this point

Below: Foster Farms' Hot'n Spicy Wings - Sold by Costco
Photographed December 2009
Costco carried Hot'n Spicy Wings for 2 years, until December 2011

Below: Tyson's Wings of Fire - Sold by Costco
Photographed January 2012
Package now have new design

To me, now is the worst time to go to Costco.
I will not go to Costco anytime soon.
Because, I bet Christmas is no more at Costco by now. It's over. It's a little sad.

Next time I go to Costco, they will have rose bushes and stuff, maybe, getting ready for spring season.

Christmas comes very early at Costco. In return, they take down Christmas early.

7 More days to enjoy. God bless everyone.

I wish I make a lot of money next year so I can hold some kind of stupid competition and give away prizes. :)

* Stupid is cute. Stupid is good. People who can enjoy stupid stuff are the happy ones.

As you know, times are tough, especially for me.  But, thanks to Costco, I manage to treat myself with some fancy stuff now and then. 

Without Costco, I will not enjoy stuff like this.  Maybe I will find similar products.  But, I'll have to look everywhere and shop around.  that's a lot of time and effort.  Costco put stuff together at low price.  Costco makes it possible for me to use my small paychecks and enjoy good (fancy) stuff.  Costco elevates my life-style.  Hence, I love Costco. 

Check it out.

Last month, I bought a can of Starbucks' Hot Cocoa (2.5lb).  They had a $2.50 (?) coupon at that time.  This is a good stuff.  I tell ya, Starbucks is a brand name I hate to love.  I try to avoid Starbucks products, because people who like starbucks seem rich and phony.  But, I have their coffee, coffee mug, and now hot cocoa.  Hot cocoa is slowly becoming my weekly routine.  It gives me a cozy feeling, especially during the holiday season.

Check out the picture below, you can see my basil plants.  :)

On my last Costco shopping, I finally bought a lobster tail.  I only bought one tail, but this tail was over half a pound ($10.79). 

I boiled it for 10 minutes; and ate it with lemon, butter & salt. 

Oh my God! It was so good. I can't believe rich people eat like this whenever they want.  I should eat 1 lobster tail every other month or so.

- end -

FYI: Costco Wholesale will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 24th, 2011.

Warehouse Hours & Holiday Closures

Hurry, there is only one available.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/ProductSet.aspx?Prodid=11672296

I had a busy day.

I woke up so late I went to work without taking a shower.

On my lunch time, I came home to take a shower and did three loads of laundry.  Yes, it was a long lunch.

I went to Costco after work.  I didn't buy anything fancy.  I am so poor.  I am trying to be careful with money.  But, look!  Christmas time is here.  I saw a lot of toys and Christmas ribbons at Costco.  "Here we go..." one lady said.

I ate a hotdog and filled the gas tank.

After Costco shopping, I drove to Bed Bath and Beyond for some bargain hunting.   I bought a Yankee Candle (Christmas scent).

I came home past 9pm.

2 minutes after I got home, I got a phone call from The Marijuana Girl. She was putting her hamster cage together.  She wanted some help.  I was at her apartment for 1 hour. 

I came home and ate dinner.  Now it's 1:30AM Friday.

I will be happy if I get good 5 hours sleep. ZZzzz...

I bought this Cuisinart coffee grinder on December 17, 2009 (at Costco) - Two Christmases ago.

This machine is broken.  It's making different sound now.  And I smell something burning. Coffee is not coming out.

I used this machine almost every day for 16+ months. It has 18 months manufacturer warranty by Cuisinart.  I didn't save the box.  But I have a scanned image of Costco receipt that I can print out.

Mm.. this is a hassle.  I'll have to make an unplanned trip to Costco soon. 

Little things like this distract me such way that I cannot sleep well at night.  I am like that.   The fact that it has 18 months warranty AND I bought it 17 months ago makes me feel like I'm defusing an explosive device.  Does anyone empathize what I'm talking about?

I should juggle my plan and visit Costco ASAP. 

Update:

I went to Costco today on my lunch break.   They refunded without asking any question.  After receiving a refund, I looked for new coffee grinder to buy.  But they didn't have any.  So now I only have 2 coffee grinders at home.

I received a $215.34 rebate check from American Express (Costco).

I am going to put entire amount to savings account like I promised to myself.

Compare to my last year's check ($170.63) I received $44.61 more this year.

But, I am not too happy about this.  I have a problem with this big check.

Every year, I promise myself that I would spend less money.  Every year, I make less money.  But, my rebate check shows that I spent more money last year.

I am a grown man who doesn't own a house.  I really need to get my priority straight and spend less.  I must try harder.

I received 2% executive membership rebate check on January.  I am not sure if Janurary is the official month for rebate checks.  Some people haven't received the checks yet.  There has to be a reason why some people haven't received the checks yet.  Maybe Costco will send more checks later.  I am not sure.

Then American Express sends out their rebate check on February.

I upgraded my Costco membership to executive on August 13, 2010.  Last year, I was an executive Costco member for 4 1/2 month.

So extra $50.00 on executive membership pays itself in 5-6 months. I should have upgraded a long time ago.

This check is redeemable only at Costco.

But, this year, I promised myself that I will put all my rebate checks to savings account.  So, I transferred $40.32 from checking to savings.

*This month, I put $330.00 to savings account.

I got a copy of Costco cookbook. They were passing them out as we left the warehouse 2 days after Thanksgiving, Saturday 27, 2010.

These 236 glossy pages have a lot of pictures and recipes.

###

December 2010 issue of Costco Connection can be downloaded here

www.costcoconnection.com/connection/201012

###

Coupon Book is here

Costco turned 27 years old today.

Costco opened its first warehouse in Seattle, Washington, on September 15, 1983.

Happy Birthday Costco.

I would like to announce that I am now an executive member at Costco.

Thank you, thank you...

The lady looked up my account and said "This membership will pay for itself, because you spend so much money here"...

I didn't get the black membership card.  Because I use American Express card as a membership, there was no need to take picture & etc...

Whole process took only several minutes.

OK, it's time to panic.

They are out of Costco Grocery Bags (large reusable grocery bags)
I looked for Costco Bags at Valencia Costco & Oxnard Costco.
They didn't have them.

I always give out my Costco Bags - people love those bags.
I only have 3 in my trunk and I need more.
I don't know if they are going to re-stock them or if this is the end of it.

I need to ask my Costco guy
(looking for his email address...)

OMG, OMG...

PS. I went to Costco with my female friend the other day.  We shared the cart and she bought a lot of stuff.  It would have been perfect if I put her stuff in my tote bags for her.  But, no, I told her "Sorry, I wish I could give you these bags, but..."  How lame was that?

PPS. August 1, 2010: I received a message from a Costco shopper in Arizona.  She couldn't find Costco shopping bags there in Arizona as well.

PPPS. August 7, 2010 - People started to inform me about new kind of Costco shopping bags.  They say a bundle contains 3 bags; 1 large, 1 large (insulated), and one smaller.

 
Large reusable grocery bags from Costco

I hope you got this too.

Last year I saw the first sign of Christmas at Costco on August 20th.

3 years ago, I saw the first sign of Christmas (at Costco) on July 31st.

So... we shall see Christmas stuff at Costco in about 2 months.

Get ready...

Most of us have less money this year (I am so poor), but let's try to have fun.

Most of all. don't get sick.  Good health is the best gift.

God bless.

Christmas Don't Be Late~!

FYI:

These are my three recent financial failures.  My total loss was about $10.00.  But, this bothered me enough that I had to share this story here.

1. Coffee Filter: I bought these coffee filters.  A week later, I bought a new coffee machine just to realize that my new coffee machine takes different kind of filter. (I love my new coffee machine, by the way).
2. Pepper: This jar of peppers has a built in grinder.  You can't beat this price ($3.99).  Anyway, I used the grinder too rough one day.  I broke the grinding mechanism.  So, I had to buy another one.
3. Vitamin D3: I paid regular price 2 weeks ago.  A week later, I received a $3.00 coupon from Costco. 

On all these cases, packages were already opened and I had nobody but myself to blame.  Even though Costco is likely to make refund, my conscience didn't allow me to take them back.

I have to be more careful, that's all. 
Anyway, I am out $10.00 and this bothers me somewhat.  Hm...

Update

I bought vitamin D3 with a coupon, then returned it with the old receipt.

* 11th Costco Shopping this year, 4th time this month.

* Blog Originally posted March 3, 2010 - Than updated March 31, 2010

I've been doing very good with money for last 2 months.

Now I have an itch to shop. 

I cannot fight this urge, I think I have reached my limit of holding back.

I need to find something that justifies my spending.  Something that's expensive but good for me.

I am heading out to Costco.com

Oh boy.  Wish me luck~! (writing from work)

Update: I ordered an air purifier at Costco.com.  Spent $432.99.  Picture coming up.  Itch is gone... for now.

Update: Package arrived at my work exactly 1 week later.

Blueair Air Purifier from Costco
I am generally healthy.  But, I had one (1) asthma attack about 10 years ago.  That was a scary episode I will never forget.  It was very difficult to breath that my head was spinning.  I don't know why and how I had asthma attack.  Maybe it was the pets, maybe it was because my room was dusty.  At that time, I was poor and didn't have insurance, so I took some over the counter medication and gutted it out for 1-2 days. (very stupid if I look back).

I had no problem with breathing since then.  Like I said, I am generally healthy.

Then for last 2-3 months, I felt subtle difficulty of breathing.  It was not bad, not even close to my previous episode.  It was very subtle, but still scary.

So, I went all out and bought an expensive air purifier from Costco (online).  I got $100.00 instant discount.  Total price was $432.99 with free delivery. 

To make long story short - my breathing problem is no more.  And this also took care of my itch to shop.  I am happy with my purchase.

* In February, I bought this $433 air purifier and still managed to save 66% of my take-home pay.  So, I am really doing good with money. 

After Work - Taking Air Purifier to Home

I have three savings accounts including Ing Direct & Emigrant Direct.

Ing Direct & Emigrant Direct are known for their high interest rate.  But, with today's economy, their current interest rate is 1.1%.  This is still a lot better than 0.5% you can get from your local banks.

But, check this out (link).

I just noticed that Capital One has a savings account exclusively for Costco members (that's what it says).  And the interest rate is even better at 1.5%.

I should move all my money.  I mean... ASAP.

They even give me $20.00 for opening an account.

*You have to keep minimum balance of $5k.

** I hope interest rate will go up soon. I miss the day when I used to earn 2.5 - 3% interest.

Update: March 4, 2010

I opened a savings account with Capital One (for Costco members only)

I'm in the process of moving cash. But, first, I have to go through some validation process.