I live alone and don't have a Costco membership. Here are 12 things I stock up on when I shop with a card-carrying friend.

I usually make a beeline for the Costco bakery to see what's hot out of the oven. I don't need decadent danishes or soft-baked white-chocolate macadamia-nut cookies but I sure want them.The latter rival David's Cookies, and the croissant-like danishes take away the sting of the discontinuation of the deep-dish pull-apart version.And since they keep well in the freezer, I can tell myself they'll last me until my next run — even though they've never made it through the week.Luckily, the bakery is often located a few steps away from the produce chiller.In there, I scoop up either a six-pack of romaine lettuce hearts or a 1-pound clamshell of organic spring mix, which can be cheaper than at Aldi or Lidl.Sometimes, I'll go for the mega bags of spinach if I've got sautés on the brain. These medium-sized leaves are fine for salads, but they're ideal as a cooked side, shrinking down and freeing up space in my fridge in no time. Crunchy, salty snacks are my Kryptonite, which is exactly why I feel comfortable buying bulk bags of chips from Costco.The Food Should Taste Good multigrain chips are an unbeatable deal per ounce here, especially since Costco carries the organic version.The Kettle-brand Krinkle-Cut Himalayan-salt potato chips is also a high-value steal. It's even cheaper by the ounce than the Sharing Size when its on sale, and it seems the simply salted flavor in the thick, wavy cut is rarely in stock at most supermarkets.If I'm in the mood for sweet and salty, Angie's Boom Chicka Pop kettle corn is great for a movie night. When Costco's got any of these three snacks on sale, that's usually my cue to wrangle a card carrier to help me stock up on my sins.Whether it's fried-then-frozen or Polly-O-stringed, mozzarella cheese is perpetually on my Costco list.My boyfriend has never outgrown string cheese, and a 48-count bag keeps him happily swimming in the stuff. When it goes on sale, it becomes a steal compared to conventional market prices.For myself, I'm never low on the Petite Cuisine mozzarella sticks, one of my affordable favorites. They bake up crunchy, are seasoned well, and have an excellent pull-to-cheese-to-breading ratio. I'd recommend these cheese sticks to anyone.At Costco, a 3-pound tub of Fage — the smoothest, richest plain Greek yogurt out there —costs as much as a 2-pound one in any market, and I don't hesitate to buy two.This yogurt is so versatile and such a delicious and convenient source of protein, that it's gone in a jiff. However, as much as I love mixing things with my unflavored Fage, including the inexpensive Daisy cottage cheese I also like to grab from this aisle, it's hard to resist the individual Chobani cups when they're on sale.I particularly favor the Hint Of lower-sugar line, and when they're on promo, their price is dramatically lower than at regular retailers.Kirkland's organic extra-virgin olive oil is an unbelievable bargain, especially considering that some versions of this ingredient in the US aren't top quality or purity.In fact, I love this oil so much that my mom used to save herself the annoyance of coordinating my piggybacked Costco trip by keeping an extra bottle on hand. The smart lady knew it was only a matter of time before I'd ask for it.And now, Costco carries Chosen Foods avocado oil for as much per liter as bottles a fraction of the size. With its higher smoking point, I like this better for cooking than olive oil, which I usually drizzle on top of dishes.Given the choice of thin, luncheonette napkins or thick, cloth-like, two-ply squares, it's obvious which is the better pick.At Costco, these are roughly the same price as the bargain napkins, and every pack lasts longer when you only need one per meal.I only need to buy a 660-pack about once a year, but if the COVID-19 pandemic stock-up taught us anything, it's that paper goods are hot commodities that are good to have in bulk.Kodiak Cakes' whole-grain, high-protein mix is a go-to meal solution for me and the buttermilk flavor is a perfect blank canvas for a variety of add-ins and toppings.Getting the bulk box means you're missing out on the wide variety of ready-to-go flavors the brand makes, but the savings you'll reap is well worth it.I like to doctor the cake mix up with baking powder for more fluff (which turns a flapjack into a pancake), plus fruit or chocolate chips and a dollop of that Fage yogurt. Ready-to-drink protein shakes can get really expensive, which is why I did a double take when I saw these on my last piggybacked run. Fairlife products are awesome, especially if you're like me and refuse to admit you may be lactose sensitive.This ultra-pasteurized brand is relatively low in sugar and high in protein and it's shelf-stable, so it's perfectly happy sitting in my garage and not taking up too much space. It's great at only 150 calories for 30 grams of protein, but I like to drink it a little watered down on ice too.I love salty, crunchy foods, which makes the nut section another dangerous aisle. Located near the checkout, it's a joyous way to pass the time in line as my carded friend holds the spot for me.The giant roasted cashews are perfection every time, toasted extra dark and salted super hard. The extra-crunchy jumbo peanuts are irresistibly blistered and I can't get enough of them.The Kirkland pistachios are always fresh and powdered generously with fine salt. And I still poke around with hope in my heart that Costco will bring back the Kirkland honey-roasted extra-large peanuts — the best version of a sweet-glazed snack I've ever had. At the entrance and every other endcap, something seasonal and timely usually piques my interest.I typically get sunscreen from Costco every summer, especially since mineral-based sprays can get very expensive when you have to buy them last-minute at a drugstore.But wandering the aisles with friends who need way more than me also means that I can discover life-changing finds, like my Dyson Ball Animal 2. I'm now so obsessed with the brand, I bought the stick vacuum too.I also bought the plate-and-giant-bowl set of my volume-eating dreams in this section.I was able to replace every single light in my new home with energy- and cost-efficient LED light bulbs for a steal.After toughing those long lines and large crowds and maneuvering a big cart, I might not always have the energy to make a meal.The original Costco staple, the famous $5 rotisserie chicken, is as ready to go as I am at this point, and grabbing one is just a smart move. I think some parts of the chicken might be spongy and high in sodium, but overall, it's an easy, tasty, and affordable meal base.Costco rarely ever runs out of the chicken, but if it does, the $9.95 Costco pizza is perfect in a pinch.Like the chicken, it's not the best you can get, but you can't beat the value for the size. The pizza is made with half a pound of good-quality mozzarella and serves as a perfect vehicle for a cheesy toast to another successful card-free Costco run.Click to keep reading Costco diaries like this one.

I live alone and don't have a Costco membership. Here are 12 things I stock up on when I shop with a card-carrying friend.

I need to get at least one kind of fresh-baked treat from the bakery.

In the produce section, I pick up leafy greens.

There are specific things I look for in the chips and snacks aisles.

I always go home with some form of mozzarella cheese.

Yogurt and cottage cheese are a steal at Costco.

Costco has better cooking oil for less.

When it comes to paper products, I get enough napkins for a year.

I stock up on Kodiak Cakes mixes.

Fairlife protein shakes taste like iced hot chocolate.

Costco's nut selection is one of the best things in the store.

I never leave without something random that I fall in love with.

You can't leave Costco without a ready-to-go dinner item.