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How to Authorize Another Person to Your Costco Membership

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How Many People Can Be on Your Costco Membership?

Costco continues to be a popular chain in the United States, and it’s growing throughout the world.  As of 2020 there were over 550 Costco stores in the United States.  While the vast majority of Costco members renew their membership every year, there are still some Americans who do not want to pay for a Costco membership.  Luckily, Costco makes allowances for that.  If you don’t currently have a Costco account, you’ll want to understand Costco’s guest policy as well as how many people can be on your Costco membership.

Costco’s Guest Policy

Any member can bring up to one guest with them to the store.  However, only Costco members are allowed to make purchases.  If your guest wants to make a purchase, you will need to buy the items, and your friend will need to pay you back.

How Many People Can Be on Your Costco Membership?

Each Costco member who has a Gold Star membership is allowed to have one additional person on their membership.  This person must be in the same household and 18 years or older.

How at Authorize Another Person to Your Costco Membership

Adding an authorized user to your Costco membership is simple.  Just sign in to your account, click “My Account,” and go to “Account Details” to add the person you would like.   Then, that person can pick up their membership card at the local Costco you choose.

You can also easily change authorized users using the same steps.

How Much Is a Costco Membership?

Is a Costco Membership Worth It When Living Alone?
Photo by Henry & Co. on Unsplash

For people who don’t own a business, Costco offers two main membership types:

Gold Star Membership

A Gold Star Membership is Costco’s most basic type of membership.  This membership costs $60 per year, allows you one free household card, and is valid at any Costco worldwide.

Executive Membership

If you shop at Costco frequently or have a large family or hungry teens, you may want to consider upgrading to an Executive Membership, which costs $120.

An Executive Membership also includes one free household card and is valid at any Costco worldwide.  However, it has additional, significant benefits.  These include annual 2% reward on qualifying Costco purchases (this check is sent to use once per year, usually in the month your renewal is due), additional benefits on Costco Travel products and increased savings on other Costco services.

We have an Executive Membership, and each year, our 2% reward check is greater than the additional $60 this membership costs over the Gold Star Membership, essentially making this upgrade free.  Plus, we reap all the other benefits of an Executive Membership.

Final Thoughts

If you are on the fence about getting a Costco membership, try to see if a friend with a membership will let you accompany them to the store so you can see what it’s like, what products are offered, and how much they cost.

If you have a Costco membership, don’t forget to add a household member on to your Costco card for free.

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Products That Save You Money

Products That Save You Money

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Products That Save Money

Every year, there seem to be more and more expenses competing for our money.  But rather than spending money on disposable or one-use items, consider investing in some of these products that save money.

Around the House

There are so many products that save money for around the house!  This is only a small sampling of what is available:

Deep Freezer

Investing in a deep freezer can save you a significant amount of money because it allows you to buy foods in bulk when they’re at their lowest prices.  Using this method, you never pay full price for food.  Our family has a deep freezer, and we buy a ¼ side of beef every six months to one year.  We get a wide variety of meat at a much cheaper price than we could buying it retail at the store.

Just make sure to keep an inventory of freezer contents and rotate your foods regularly so nothing goes to waste.

Drain Snake

If you have a plugged drain, there is no need to call the plumber if you have a drain snake.  We have three girls in our home with long hair, and the drain snake has kept us from having to call the plumber more times than I can count.

Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat allows you to reduce your heat or air conditioning when you’re not home and then automatically increase it 30 minutes or so before you return home.  This lets you return to a comfortable home.  Programmable thermostats can easily save you hundreds of dollars every year in energy costs.

Wool Dryer Balls

Wool dryer balls take the place of dryer sheets.  These balls only cost about $10 to $12 for a six pack, and they will last for months.  These are definitely much cheaper and more eco-friendly than buying dryer sheets.

Vinegar

Products That Save Money
Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash

Vinegar may be the item that saves you the most money on this whole list.  Vinegar can be used to replace so many cleaners and other items you may currently buy.  We use vinegar to clean our toilet and bathtub.  We also use it as a weed killer.

Food/Drink Consumption

Food is most people’s largest expense behind a mortgage/rent or a car payment.  But there are many, many products that save money in this area.

Coffee/Espresso Maker

If your Achilles’ heel is coffee, don’t run to the coffee shop every day.  Instead, invest in a coffee or espresso maker and make your brew at home.  (Plus, you’ll save time not waiting in line at your favorite coffee joint.)  The savings here are significant.

Herb Garden Kit

Buy a herb garden kit and set it on your window, and you’ll never need to buy fresh herbs again.  Not only does this save you the expense of buying herbs (that often come in packages to big to be used before they go bad), but it will also improve the taste of your food, which may make you less likely to go out to eat.

Bottle Emptying Kit

At first, this may seem like a silly purchase.  I regularly tip bottles upside down to try to get the remaining contents out.  However, frequently, bottles like dish soap can’t stand up when upside down.  Instead, they fall to the side.  As an alternative, attach a bottle emptying kit to the lid, and the stand holds the bottle in place while the ingredients run down for your use.

This kit can be used for condiments, oils, shampoos, hand soaps, dish soaps.  When you consider every item where you can use all of the contents instead of leaving a bit at the bottom, you will save money with a bottle emptying kit, though it may take years.

Female-Related Expenses

For female related needs, there are many ways reusable items can save you money.

Period Panties

Using period panties reduce the need to buy disposable tampons or pads.  While these panties cost around $20 each, they can be used for two to five years, if cared for properly, netting you a significant savings.  Plus, as part of the CARES Act, you can now be reimbursed for buying period panties by your FSA account.

Menstrual Cup

Likewise, a menstrual cup can be used for one to two years.  At $40, one of these could quickly save you money if you replace disposable tampons for it.

Reusable Bamboo Make Up Remover Pads

If you’re currently using disposable make up remover pads, consider switching to reusable bamboo make up remover pads.  You can buy a 20 pack for $3.99 on Amazon, and, according to Good Housekeeping, they can last you for over 500 to 1,000 washes!

Subscription/Membership Services

Some people adamantly refuse to pay money to save money when it comes to subscriptions and memberships, but I disagree.  Paying for these can be an excellent way to save money.

Amazon Prime

Photo by Christian Wiediger on Unsplash

An Amazon Prime membership costs roughly $130 a year (including taxes).  While that sounds like a lot, our family finds that the membership pays for itself in many ways.  Many other Americans must feel the same.  As of 2019, there are over 90 million Amazon Prime account holders in the United States (Fortune).

For our family, the free shipping alone covers the cost of an annual membership.  However, an Amazon Prime account can also save you money on entertainment—take advantage of Amazon’s free movies and TV shows as well as music, books, and magazines.

Costco

Costco is another membership-based company that can save you money.  We save a lot on organic food and foods that cater to our many food intolerances including almond milk, gluten free pancake mix, and other items.

In addition, their clothes are very reasonable, as are their restaurant gift cards.  Don’t forget their discounts on car rentals or their discounted gas.  Also, one of my favorites is their two year warranty and concierge service on products like computers and televisions.  There are many, many ways having a Costco membership can save you money.

Final Thoughts

While most of these products that save money require that you spend money up front, the investment is worthwhile for the amount of money you’ll be saving over the next few years.

What are your favorite products that save money?

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Free Alternatives for Things You Currently Pay For

Is A Costco Membership Worth It When Living Alone?

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I have been a member of Costco for approximately 10 years, and I love it!  We typically recoup our membership cost within the first few months of our membership every year.  We have a family of five that can easily go through the many bulk items we buy.  However, if you’re single, is a Costco membership worth it when living alone?  The answer is a resounding yes for most people.  However, there is a small percentage who won’t benefit.

Is a Costco Membership Worth It When Living Alone?

Is a Costco Membership Worth It When Living Alone?

A Costco membership isn’t always worth it when you’re single, but for many, there are enough advantages that having a membership is worth the $60 a year.  Some of my favorite reasons why include:

Special Diet

If you have a special diet such as food intolerances or allergies or you prefer organic food, Costco is the place for you.  Our family has both dairy and gluten intolerances, and I can’t beat the price for almond milk or gluten free pancake mix at Costco.

If you prefer organic food, you’ll definitely want to check out Costco.  Over the years, Costco has added more and more organic selections.  You can buy a 6 pack of organic Romaine lettuce for less than a 3 pack of the same at a traditional grocery store.  Almost all of their organic fresh vegetable and fruit selections are markedly cheaper than a traditional grocery store.  In addition, they have large bags of organic frozen fruits and vegetables that are much cheaper than their counterparts at a traditional grocery store.

Alcohol

Is a Costco Membership Worth It When Living Alone?
Photo by Jack Ward on Unsplash

If you love to entertain, Costco is the place for you.  I don’t personally drink alcohol, so I don’t have exact prices on this.  However, I’ve been told that you can buy wine and hard liquor at Costco at a much lower price than anywhere else.  I know each time I go to Costco, I regularly see several customers who have their carts full of alcohol.

My husband does drink beer, and I can buy him a 24-pack of beer at Costco for just a few dollars more than a 12 pack costs at the grocery store.  Over a year, the savings really add up!

Electronics

The only place we buy our laptops now is at Costco.  Every laptop comes with a 2-year warranty—the first year from the manufacturer, the second year from Costco.

If you have a problem, simply call Costco’s concierge service, and they will assist.  I have had issues with my laptops both in the first and second year of owning them.  When it was during the first year and my laptop was still under manufacturer’s warranty, Costco acted as a bridge to help facilitate the interaction and repair, making for a seamless process.

During the second year, Costco does the repairs.  I almost prefer if something needs to be repaired on my computer during the second year because Costco is so efficient!  I always get my computer back quickly, and they do an excellent job keeping me updated on the repair process.

Gift Cards

Costco offers many gift cards at a significant discount.

If you love to dine out, you can get two $50 gift cards or four $25 gift cards to restaurants like Macaroni Grill, California Pizza Kitchen, and Smashburger, just to name a few of the many they offer.  These $100 gift cards are available for just $74.99 to $79.99!  You are immediately saving 20% or more.

In addition to restaurants, they also have gift cards for weight loss programs, the App store, and more.  If you love video games, you’ll find significant discounts for XBOX, PlayStation and others.

These gift cards are great for presents, but they’re also great for you to use for your regular expenditures.  If you spend just $300 a year dining out and always use your Costco bought gift cards, you will recoup your $60 membership fee right there!

Travel Benefits

Is a Costco Menbership Worth It When Living Alone?
Photo by Ross Parmly on Unsplash

Do you travel frequently?  If so, you may find this yet another way you can quickly recoup the price of your $60 membership.  Costco has many special package deals for travel.

While we haven’t yet used Costco for any package deals, we’ve used Costco to book our rental car whenever we travel.  By doing this, we easily save at least 10% off the price of booking without our Costco card.

Gas

One of the best perks of being a Costco member is the gas prices.  Whenever I’m near Costco, I fill up because gas is routinely 15 to 30 cents cheaper per gallon than anywhere else in town.  When you’re filling up your vehicle multiple times per month, that discount can have a real impact.

However, the Costco stations don’t have window cleaner solutions and squeegees.  (I wish they did!)  Also, because most members know about the bargain gas price, don’t be surprised if you have to wait in line a few minutes before you can pump your gas.

When Having a Costco Membership Isn’t Worthwhile for Singles

As wonderful as Costco is, for some people who are single, a membership just isn’t worthwhile.  My mom is one of those people.  She doesn’t have a specialty diet, and she doesn’t care about eating organic food.  She doesn’t drink alcohol, and she rarely travels.  Instead of having a Costco membership, she just asks her friend who does have one to pick her up any items she’d like at Costco.

Another reason why it might not be worthwhile to have a Costco membership is if you’re a bargain shopper who likes to go to a variety of stores to get the lowest prices.  While Costco can save many people a significant amount of money on groceries, generally, shopping at multiple stores for the lowest price will save even more.

Final Thoughts

Is a Costco membership worth it when living alone? For most singles, it is worthwhile.  If you have a special diet, like to socialize and throw parties, or like to travel, getting a Costco membership will be a smart move.  However, if you’re one of the few people who wouldn’t benefit from a membership, simply do what my mom does, and ask a friend with a membership to pick you up a few things.