There’s a reason so many people are willing to spend money on a Costco membership. While you’ll hand over $65 a year for a Gold Star membership or $130 a year for an Executive membership that gives you cash back on your purchases, your savings might more than make up for those fees.
But a few simple moves on your part could make it so you’re able to save even more money at Costco. Here are a few changes that might benefit you in a big way.
If you’re someone who tends to avoid Costco in person and do the bulk of your shopping online, that’s understandable. You may not enjoy battling the crowds at Costco, or having to drive around to find a parking space in the perpetually crowded lot.
But shopping at an actual Costco store vs. Costco.com could result in a lot of savings. See, Costco marks up its online prices to account for the cost of shipping and handling. So an item you buy for $10.99 online might only cost $8.99 (or less) in the store.
Now on a one-off basis, that’s not a big deal. But imagine you’re paying $2 more for every item you buy from Costco.com during the year. If you place one order a month with 10 items, that’s an extra $20. Multiply that by 12 months, and you’re looking at $240.
So if you’ve been sticking to shopping Costco.com because you can’t stand the crowds at your local Costco store, try playing around with different shopping hours. You may find that the store isn’t so crowded when it first opens or during the evening hours.
In fact, a lot of people try to shop at Costco during the midpoint of the day because that’s when the store’s famous free samples tend to be on offer. But if you don’t care about snagging a free bite of cheese or a bonus cracker, shopping early or late could make the experience a lot more pleasant.
Whether shopping online or in store, check out our top tip for maximizing rewards on your Costco spending.
2. Splitting bulk purchases with a friend or neighbor
Buying groceries in bulk at Costco could save you money — if you use up your haul. But if you keep throwing out food because it spoils, you’re not saving as much as you could be.
Say you typically spend $5 on strawberries at Costco each week because $5 worth at your local supermarket gives you 50% less, but you commonly toss about half the carton. Technically, you’re not losing money, because you’d spend the same amount elsewhere and just get fewer berries.
But if you ask your neighbor or friend a few blocks over to split that large $5 Costco case of strawberries each week, then not only can you avoid wasting money, but also, spend $2.50 less each week. Multiply that by 50 weeks, and that’s $125 back in your pocket. And if you do the same thing across a few different bulk items you buy regularly but typically don’t finish, the savings can really add up.
3. Buying gift cards for the discounted face value
You may not be in the habit of buying gift cards at Costco. After all, the store is mostly known for its discounts on food and household items — not gift cards.
But you should know that Costco sells gift cards below their face value. So if there are certain restaurants, for example, that you visit often, then it pays to load up.
As one example, right now, you can buy $75 worth of Subway gift cards from Costco for $59.99. If you buy lunch from Subway twice a week, this is a deal worth grabbing repeatedly, assuming it remains available. And if not, look around, because you may find discounted gift cards to other restaurants or establishments you go to on a regular basis.
You might feel as if you’re saving money at Costco simply by walking through the door. But a few changes to your shopping habits could leave you with added savings. And on top of these three things, make sure you’re using a credit card that offers maximum rewards on your Costco purchases. Click here for a list of the best credit cards for Costco, so you can come away an even bigger winner.
