10 Costco Groceries I’m Buying to Treat Myself This Summer (All for $10 or Less)

This variety pack of natural shea lip balms will keep your lips satiny-smooth all summer long. This balm is dermatologist-recommended and safe for sensitive skin. There are three flavors of lip balm in the package: honey apple, watermelon frosé, and blackberry hibiscus. The spherical shape makes the lip balms easy to find in the bottom of a purse or beach bag. Plus, with seven balms in the package, I can leave one in my car, another at home, and one in each of my favorite summer bags.

I will forever advocate for keeping a loaf (or two) of pound cake in your kitchen during the summer months. This summer Costco’s brilliant bakers are offering a tangy take on the tender loaf with a lightly frosted sour cream butter pound cake. Nothing says summer like thick slices of pound cake toasted on the grill or served simply with seasonal berries for dessert. Need a last-minute potluck offering? Cut the cake into cubes and layer with whipped cream, fresh fruit, and jam or lemon curd in a tasty trifle.

It’s cruel that making homemade jam means standing over a bubbling pot during the summer. That’s why I leave preserves to the professionals. Bonne Maman makes some of the best jams, jellies, and preserves we’ve tasted and is one of the top 10 groceries you can buy (at any price) from Costco. The four fruits preserves are made with strawberries, cherries, red currants, and raspberries. Stir a spoonful into Greek yogurt for breakfast or skip the syrup and use it to top a stack of flapjacks. Spread it between slices of bread for a better PB&J or between layers of cake for a festive occasion.

Dish soap might not be the first thing you think of as a luxury item, but hear me out. The idea of little luxuries is that this is something that eases the mundane tasks that you do every day. If your sink is anything like mine — near-constantly filled with dishes and cups (so many cups) — finding a better way to wash would absolutely be a luxury. The foaming soap is a scrub-free way to keep dishes clean with a fraction of the effort. Plus it’s great on shower doors, grease-stained clothes, and more.

Summer is Popsicle season. This year treat yourself to icy-cold pops that actually taste good. The organic Popsicles from DeeBee’s are made with 100% fruit juice and purée and no added sugar. This pack has three flavors: strawberry-lemon, mango-orange, and blueberry-pomegranate. Unlike other Otter pop-style Popsicles, you’ll want to shake the bag before placing it flat to freeze. This mixes the fruit purée through the Popsicle so that the first bite is as tasty as the last. 

Flan is a caramel-topped custard that takes some practice to prepare at home. Luckily, Costco carries the cutest glass jars filled with the creamy custard. Usually flan is served inverted with the caramel sauce on top, but in these individual servings, you’ll have to scoop your spoon to the bottom for a taste of the sweet sauce. Pick these up for a truly zero-effort dessert, and be sure to save the glass jars for reuse.

Cloud slides (also called pillow slides) reached peak popularity last year, thanks to TikTok. These slide-on sandals are among the most comfortable shoes for summer. Wear them inside or out and don’t fret about getting them wet; they’re waterproof and easy to clean. At just under $10 each, and available in a variety of colors, including black, blue, and orange, everyone in the family will want their own pair. 

I’ve never tried to squeeze the juice from a fresh pomegranate, but can only imagine how difficult the task might be. Luckily, Costco sells a large (two-quart) bottle of 100% pomegranate juice for a fraction of the price that I’d pay at my local grocery store. The sweet-tart juice is a must-have for summer recipes like these simple pomegranate-yogurt Popsicles, a frosty granita, or your favorite fruity mocktail or cocktail.

When I was growing up, I considered the Godiva store in my local mall to be the ultimate in elegance. While I don’t often make it to the mall anymore, I can still treat myself with the smooth chocolate candies at Costco. The chocolates in this package come in three flavors (milk chocolate with caramel filling, milk chocolate with hazelnut, and double milk chocolate), are individually wrapped, and are artfully shaped in perfect temper.