After my membership ended, we learned that you can still shop at Costco without being a member. How? Costco cash cards! I used to pay my mom to buy a cash card for me and then I would be able to shop there for the few things that I felt that the price and quality could only be attained at Costco. Using the cash card kept me on a budget since I only had a set amount of money on the card, I had to think of everything I was buying and how much it would add up to at the register. (Later I learned that you can use your debit card if your purchase goes over the cash card amount. I knew that you could probably do that for members but I didn't know you could do that for non-members.)This cash card system worked for me for about 2 years. The only downfall with this system is that you can't use the many Costco services like the tire center, photo center, or shopping online. (Although you could still use the pharmacy since legally you don't have to be a member to use the pharmacy.)
Now that my family has almost 5 members, I have now decided to bite the bullet and buy a membership. I was able to get a "discount" membership through my step-father's business so it's not as expensive as it could have been. Since I'm attached to the business membership, he renews each year at his own will.
If I had gotten a membership on my own I have an idea on how to extend the membership one more month (someone please tell me if this works). Memberships renew the moment you pay for the next year. So if you're membership renews in January and you pay for another year on January 1st, then anyone that did not renew with you on January 1st is kicked off the membership. (I learned that the hard way when my step-father renewed and I thought I had until the end of the month to use my membership. After a few phone calls and finagling, I was able to stay on the membership for my last shopping trip that was at the end of the month.) Okay so here's my idea: Buy the initial membership in January (or whatever month) then go shopping on the last day of the month so you're stocked up for a while. The next time you need to go to Costco, renew your membership at that time. Now your membership expires in February (or whatever month you end up going back in.) I'm not sure if this idea works but it's worth a try. You might have to get a new membership number since you let your membership lapse, or Costco might just retroactively renew your membership from the renewal month. Someone try it and let me know! UPDATE: From the comment that Emily gave, looks like my idea to extend your membership a month or more won't work. Darn!
One more idea...
Costco stores only let you use your debit card or Amex. I seriously considered going to Sam's Club instead since they let you use a Discover card. I always use Discover card to build up the cashback bonus award and track my spending. What was I going to do? Well...Costco.com lets you use a Discover card. :) Now I use my membership to buy Costco cash cards online (with free shipping) using my Discover. I build up my cash back bonus award and still get to shop at Costco. Also, since I use the cash card, I still have the budget mentality that I only have a certain amount on the cash card. It works for me and it can work for you. How many times have you been able to get out of Costco under $100? Try the cash card system and you'll see.
P.S. - An obvious way to save money while shopping at Costco is to shop during their food sampling hours. Fill yourself up with appetizers so you won't eat so much at home!
6 comments:
Our membership expired in September but we weren't actually able to renew it until almost December and they told us that the renewal month is still September so we lost 3 months of shopping. Oh well, now we know to renew in September from now on!
Oh, how I love Costco. In the past 6 days, I've been there 3 times. I don't know what I would do without it.
That is so good to know you can use your discover online. Dwayne and I always miss getting the points when we go to Costco for gas or product! I'll have to give that a try!!
Amex also has a rewards card (and it doubles for our Costco card). We get 1% for most things, 2% for travel, and 3% for eating out. At least that's how I think it works. So, we don't get the 5% that Discover Card offers on certain products at certain times, but we always get 2% or 3% on certain things all the time.
Anyway, I love Costco.
OK, so I was right about the cash back, but we also get 3% for gas.
I contemplated getting an Amex for their cashback program but didn't want to get another card. That's probably the way to go if you don't have a credit card already.
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