I made a trip to Costco last week.

Later that evening, while enjoying taco chips and Wholly Guacamole, I wondered: Does shopping at Costco actually save us money?

There’s no question that buying certain items in large quantities makes the per unit cost cheaper.

But what about those impulse buys?

I’m admittedly incapable of visiting a Costco without walking down every single aisle, browsing for whatever’s new and exciting. Zero self-control.

It’s because Costco has new products coming and going all the time. They also deprive shoppers of wayfinding signage, forcing you to go down each aisle to see what’s there.

Let’s say if $50 to $100 per visit is for stuff you had no intention of buying in the first place (cordless spin scrubber, I’m looking your way), doesn’t that cancel out your savings on toilet paper and cheese?

A good friend of mine does all of his Costco shopping via Instacart now.

By staying home, it removes the chance of him making any impulse buys. Even after the delivery fees, he claims he still comes out ahead.

He might be on to something.

Anyways. Today’s feature story focuses on Alberta and whether separating is the right thing to do or not. Check it out below.

-Neil Malik

If you ask the group running the petition, the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP), Albertans aren’t just losing out. They’re getting stiffed by Ottawa.

That’s the backbone of their grievance. Alberta pays way more to Ottawa than it receives in benefits.

Depending on who you ask, walking away from Canada may not make Alberta richer.

An economist at the University of Calgary examined the APP’s fiscal claims behind Alberta separation. He says the math isn’t mathing.