Moneymaxxing Costco Hacks: How This Mom of 6 Feeds Her Family for Under $3 a Meal
With grocery prices squeezing household budgets—and fresh produce jumping 5.5% year-over-year—families everywhere are hunting for smart ways to stretch every dollar. Enter Brittney Hanks, a North Carolina mother of six and author of Costco One Stop Meals, who has mastered moneymaxxing Costco hacks to keep her large family fed without breaking the bank. Her secret weapon? Turning bulk wholesale runs into budget-friendly feasts that come out to less than $3 per person.
“I think the most surprising thing for people is gonna be that it’s actually not that difficult to get ingredients for entire meals at Costco,” Hanks shared in an interview with ABC News.
Bulk Basics, Rotisserie Magic, and Hawaiian Rolls
The core of effective moneymaxxing Costco hacks lies in maximizing versatile base ingredients. Hanks advises buying staples like milk, eggs, cheese, pasta, bread, and tortillas in bulk, then immediately freezing and preserving extra portions right after unpacking.
Among her family’s absolute favorite low-cost meals are pull-apart cheeseburger sliders, made by layering ground beef and melted cheese over a mega-pack of King’s Hawaiian rolls.
Another game-changing staple is Costco’s legendary rotisserie chicken. To prevent meal fatigue, Hanks transforms a single bird across three distinct dinner nights:
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Night 1: Crispy chicken tacos
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Night 2: Hearty homemade chicken noodle soup
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Night 3: Fresh barbecue chicken salad
She also suggests raiding the Costco food court for quick bargain nights—or leveling up a whole $9.99 food court pepperoni pizza at home by topping it with dollops of ricotta and a drizzle of hot honey.
The One Big-Box Trap to Avoid
While bulk buying yields massive savings, Hanks warns that not every item in the aisle is a bargain. If you want your moneymaxxing Costco hacks to actually pay off, steer clear of the pre-made, grab-and-go deli section.
Although fan favorites like the pre-assembled street tacos, baked mac and cheese, lasagna, and shepherd’s pie offer ultimate convenience, they carry a steep price premium compared to cooking from scratch. Stick to raw bulk ingredients, freeze your extras early, and watch your monthly grocery bill shrink.
