But once you have that gift card in hand, you can give the store a real test drive — and even take some of those must-have bulk items home with you. Know that not everything is a deal at Costco Shutterstock If you're getting a membership simply because you want to save big bucks on everything you buy, know that some items sold at Costco are not much cheaper than if you bought them in a traditional grocery store.

Certain cheeses and organic milk, for instance, don't seem to be that great of a deal compared to buying them at your local supermarket. In a comparison testone report shows that certain produce, fresh chicken, and coffee were also cheaper at a regular store. This is why it's a good idea to do a quick recon of the store before you invest in a membership. Make a list of some of your most frequently purchased items and check the prices at Costco, then compare them to what you normally pay. Another thing to consider: Like any warehouse club, most of Costco's products are sold only in larger-sized packages. It might be cheaper when you calculate the price per ounce, but for perishable items, if you can't eat it all before it goes bad, you're actually losing money not to mention wasting food! We're not saying a Costco membership doesn't have it's benefits, but those benefits vary based on what you regularly purchase.

Occasionally, Costco memberships can be found at a discount or with a bonus for new members, in the form of a gift card. Keep is a costco credit card worth it eye on Groupon and Living Social for these types of deals, and be sure to grab them when you see them, as they're often in limited quantities. We've also is a costco credit card worth it savings like these through banks and other organizations. And occasionally there are pizza places that near me are open now special deals offered for teachers, where they can get a coupon booklet with the purchase of a new membership. If you're not to antsy to start spending at Costco, being patient could gain you a cheaper membership — or at least a cheaper bill on your first shopping trip. Costco only accepts Visa network cards for credit card payments.

You can also pay via debit card, cash, check or EBT. Costco had a longtime relationship with American Express starting inbut discontinued that partnership aroundwhich is is a costco credit card worth it AmEx was no longer accepted in the warehouse stores, and Visa was phased in. While AmEx customers might be frustrated that they can't flash their plastic at Costco, Visa charges a lower fee So, when you head to the store, make sure your debit card is loaded up or your Visa has plenty of balance available just in case some of Costco's less conventional offerings catch your eye: a digital piano or an inflatable stand-up paddleboardperhaps?

The basic membership is called the Gold Star membership. The Gold Star Executive membership is the other option for individuals. It costs twice as much as the Gold Star membership, but before you dismiss it outright, think about how much you might spend at the store each year. Executive members also get extra benefits on certain Costco services, too. The Costco Anywhere credit card can be used not only at Costco and it works in place of your membership cardbut anywhere else that accepts Visa, too. And there are plenty of perks and rebates, too, such as a percentage back for just about everything you buy with it, ranging from four percent back for certain gas purchases to one percent back for everything else.

What’s the difference between the Costco Gold Star and Gold Star Executive memberships?

According to a reviewthese rebates are higher than the original American Express Costco card. You need a membership to get the Costco Anywhere card, but if you plan to apply for the credit card, just spring for the basic Gold Star membership, since purchases with the card will get you that same 2 percent back you get with the Executive level membership. The reward gets paid out every year in the form of a certificate, which you can redeem for cash at a Costco store, or use in the store towards more stuff But perhaps you quickly discover that the store is too far away to make it worth the long drive, you're having trouble storing all the giant packages in your small house, or you just have is a costco credit card worth it weary of see more the free-sample-hungry crowds when you're just trying to get to the checkout with your bottle of Kirkland wine.

According to the companyif you're dissatisfied with your membership, they'll refund the fee in full at any time. No questions asked. It's not even unheard of to buy and return a Costco membership in is a costco credit card worth it single day! So, go ahead and treat yourself to that Costco membership. What have you got to lose? Only, perhaps, a dress size if you stock up on some of Costco's priced-to-sell exercise equipment! These household members get their own photo ID membership card, and can use it to enter the store and make purchases on their own — you don't even need to be with them. And, since shopping is usually more fun with a buddy, know that you can always bring up to two guests with you every time you shop. It's a great way to introduce Costco to potential new members Student and members of the military can get extra perks with memberships Shutterstock Are you in college, or do you someone who is?

A Costco membership can help budget-challenged students with well-priced beer, Cheerios, frozen pizzas, microwave popcorn, and other staples of college life. Of course, your other option is to wait until you go home to visit your parents, and convince them to take you shopping with their own membership Veterans and active members of the military are rewarded for their service to the country with a special promotion of their own.

You don't need a membership for all of Costco's services Shutterstock You don't necessarily need to be a member to enjoy all of Costco's many benefits. Anyone can grab lunch or dinner at the food court. It's usually located near the exit, so just enter through the exit or near customer service to grab your favorite menu item. In some states, liquor must legally be available for sale to the public, without any membership restrictions. In that case, even Costco nonmembers can shop Costco's extensive liquor department — some even have here own entrances — where you can find name-brand spirits as well as the company's private-label Kirkland brand offerings.

Finally, nonmembers can take advantage of some of Costco's health-related services. They can get eye exams, since the optometrists are not employed by Costco but they can't buy glasses. And, in most states, nonmembers can fill prescriptions at Costco pharmacies, enjoying lower prices on both human and pet medication. One report ranks prices on Costco medications second-lowest among a range of other pharmacies. It's important to note, though, that prices on meds are even lower for club members, thanks to the Costco Members Prescription Program. And if you really need a way to get your hands on some of those great Costco-only products, you can shop Costco. You could replace a broken suitcase, grab a couple of cheap beach towels, or buy a few outfits if your luggage got lost by the airlines.

Or maybe you're just missing the taste of Costco's cheap and delicious hot dogs from the food court. There are more than Costco locations outside of the U. And while the European Costco locations sell a lot of similar products to their American counterparts, you might be able to score some locally is a costco credit card worth it foods or other merchandise. And actually the similarities in selections may have their perks: one homesick American in Paris found that Costco was a great place to stock up on hard-to-find items from home, like marshmallows and pumpkin pie Make the most of your membership with other services Shutterstock Your Costco membership nets you way more than just the opportunity to buy bulk groceries. If you buy a membership, look beyond the awesome deals in the grocery aisles and see what else Costco has to offer in the way of services.

Like to travel? Costco did offer exclusive early shopping hours for executive members several years ago, but the practice has been long discontinued. Because of the pandemic, it continues to offer priority shopping hours for shoppers 60 and older and anyone who has a disability or is immunocompromised, no matter their membership tier. Will you book significant travel through Costco? If you shop at Costco regularly, you can just have your annual cash back applied to a regular Costco purchase. This keeps things extremely simple. Besides the wait, there's no jumping through hoops to redeem points - you don't have to do any calculations to is a costco credit card worth it if you have enough points to get what you've earned. The only reward available is cash. Variety of purchase options. Costco carries so many different items, this card has a lot of flexibility.

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Cash back on gas purchases. Reasons We'd Skip the Card You have a card with better options. You may be able to find a Visa credit card that offers better reward points or cash back than what the Costco Citi card offers, even on Costco purchases. Just use that equivalent card at Costco. You're looking for balance transfers and other "extra" features. There is no intro APR on balance transfers.

Many other cards out there have this feature, so we'd look to those cards instead. And there's no sign-up bonus. You don't buy a lot of gas. This card's best feature is the cash back on gas purchases at Costco or eligible gas stations. So if you don't drive much, you won't be able to take full advantage of this card's biggest benefit. You is a costco credit card worth it immediate benefits.

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Which language is more easier french or spanish	Costco accepts only Visa credit cards. (Its store-branded card, the Costco Anywhere Visa Card, gets you 2% back on your Costco purchases.) If you have a Mastercard, a Discover, or an American. Feb 06,  · The Capital One Costco Credit Card is a no fee card which has an earn rate of 3% cash back at restaurants, 2% on gas, and 1% on all other purchases. I should note the first $3, on other purchases only earns you % so technically there’s a $15 annual fee baked into the rewards. Oct 27,  · So if you shop at Costco and pay with cash because you don't have a credit card backed by Visa, then that's a good reason since you're missing out on rewards. Is an annual fee worth it?
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Is a costco credit card worth it - very

Note: Though each Costco membership can have only one primary member, a secondary cardholder can be added for free.

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Our new Money newsletter will help you manage your finances like a pro— sign up here. A membership may not be worth your money if you shop at Costco. How do you pay for purchases? Costco accepts only Visa credit cards. In This Post Who is this card for? Related: Can Costco Travel save you money on your next trip?

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