People enjoy shopping at Costco for the low prices and bulk products. Costco’s giant warehouse-style locations are overwhelming for most people, who might miss out on some great deals. Knowing which deals to look out for will help you save money and time with your shopping.
In this article, we’ll discuss some important tips and tricks to help you save money and make the most out of your visit to Costco.
Let’s begin!
Costco’s membership and perks
If you’ve never shopped at Costco before, you need to take this important step before you begin saving money. Although it’s not mandatory to have a membership at Costco, you should purchase one to get the most out of your shopping experience.
The retail giant charges $60 annually for a basic membership and $120 for an executive membership. Once you purchase a membership, you get discounts on gas, vacation deals, and prescription medicines.
How to save money at Costco
Now that you have a Costco membership, here’s how you can save money to get the most out of your shopping trip.
Go straight to the center of the store
Many first-time Costo shoppers hurry towards the flashy displays at the front of the store. Don’t be fooled by these displays, because they usually include expensive items. If you want to find products with great deals, head to the center of the store.
This way, you won’t be tempted to purchase expensive products.
Make a list and stick to it
While this trick is not Costco-specific, it will greatly help your shopping experience. Costo has so many products that even a simple shopping trip for a few items could turn into a multiple-cart shopping event.
You can easily save money at Costco by avoiding the urge to buy several unnecessary items. Make a list before you shop, and stick to the it. The list will keep your spending under control and help you stay on track.
Look out for the “star” symbol.
If you want to know which items you should purchase right away, look for the star symbol. If a product has a star or asterisk symbol on the price tag, it means the product will not come back in stock, so purchase this product while you can.
Learn secret Costco price codes
To get the most out of Costco’s shopping deals, look for secret price codes. These special codes indicate whether a product has a discount or is specially priced. Here are some important codes to look out for:
- If you see a price that ends at $0.97, these are marked down from their original sales value, usually $0.99.
- Other odd prices such as $0.89 or $0.49 typically mean the item is regular-priced.
- Prices that end at $0.00 or $0.88 indicate returned items in good condition.
Look out for those special prices to save money on your Costco trip.
Split bulk items with family or friends
Although buying in bulk saves you money in the long run, you might not have enough storage space to keep it all. If you don’t properly store your products, they will go bad and you will end up wasting money.
A great way to use all the items is to split them between you, your friends, and your family. With this technique, you’ll save money without worrying about extra products.
Check out end-of-season sales after the summer
To get great deals and discounts, don’t forget to check out Costco’s end-of-season sale. You will get major discounts on seasonal items such as pool toys, equipment, and patio furniture at the end of the summer season.
Items like these tend to be highly priced, so check out the seasonal sale after summer to save money.
Save money at the food court
Do you want to grab something quick to eat but don’t want to spend too much money? Your Costco membership will help you get discounts at Costo’s food court.
Costo’s food court has some of the cheapest options for food. You can get a hot dog and a soda for $1.50 or you can get a slice of pizza for just $1.99.
Use Costco coupons
Coupons are a great way to save money. You can find multiple Costco coupons and discounts in a Costco coupon book. You don’t need to carry around numerous coupons; just use the code to get a discount on items in-store.
Check out online coupon stores
Third-party coupon stores are becoming incredibly popular for online purchases. You can also use this service for Costco products.
Check sites such as Slickdeals and RetailMeNot for printable coupons, online Costco coupons, and other saving opportunities. These websites will also let you know about any other in-store discounts.
Shop Costo’s Kirkland Signature brand
Costo has its own brand called Kirkland Signature, which offers various products such as snacks, paper towels, and shirts. Kirkland Signature is a great option to save money because it is cheaper than many name brands.
Since Kirkland items come in larger sizes or quantities, you get more for your money. For example, Kirkland’s granola bars cost 60% less than Kind’s. So, switch to Kirkland Signature to save cash on similar items.
Check out the gift card section
Costco offers a variety of gift cards for its consumers. There is a Costco gift card for almost anything, from restaurant gift cards to travel deals, movie tickets, and more. You can gift these cards to your loved ones or even purchase one for yourself.
Use the Costco app
The Costco app is a great way to look at current discounts and deals. Instead of using paper coupons, you can use the coupons in the app to score some great savings. Use the app to plan your shopping trip while getting the best bargains.
Key takeaways
There are multiple ways to make the most out of your Costco shopping experience. If you follow our helpful tips and tricks, you’ll get access to major savings.
