I experienced something unusual last Saturday at my monthly sojourn to Costco. My purchases did not exceed $200. I don't think I've ever done that before and I suspect many others haven't either. I noticed this because when I stood there with the electronic pen ready to sign on the electronic pad for the sale, nothing came up. The cashier looked at me and said, "You don't have to sign for purchases under $200." mmmph. I believe any other store the minimum is $50.

I looked around and noticed oversized shopping carts filled with huge packages of paper towels, toilet paper, cereal and the occasional TV. it occurred to me that we are experiencing the Costco effect. The overuse of consumables because we have so much of it. Who really needs to buy 8 tubes of toothpaste, six rolls of aluminum foil and a package of 12 nectarines that will go bad before you eat them all...unless your baking a pie.

Take a look at the photo above, does this guy really need 7 mega packages of diapers and 40 lysol spray cans? I wonder what his child looks like.