4 Signs You're the Ideal Costco Customer
A person might shop at Costco for many reasons, but are they the "right" kind of customer? Read on to find out how you can tell if you are.
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Recently, I've toyed with allowing our Costco membership to lapse. Now that our children are grown and there's no Costco right around the corner, I rarely visit the warehouse store. Still, I believe it's an excellent fit for some.
Just as it once served a need for my family, there are those for whom the $65 to $130 annual membership fee makes perfect sense for their budget. Here are four signs that you may be the ideal Costco member.
1. You buy in bulk
If you're watching your budget closely these days (and who's not?) and you buy in bulk, you can bank more cash by picking up the items you need at Costco. According to estimates, purchasing the food required to feed your household in bulk can save you up to 33% off shopping at a traditional grocery store.
2. You're a planner
Buying in bulk doesn't make a lot of sense for someone who flies by the seat of their pants at mealtime. Sure, toilet paper will last you for months, but that's not true of eggs, carrots, and mayonnaise.
If meal planning also involves meal prep, you may be the ideal Costco shopper. Whether you tune into your favorite podcast, have a football game on in the background, or simply enjoy the silence, putting a week or two's worth of meals together on a weekend afternoon is one way to ensure all your perishable items will be consumed.
If you routinely buy in bulk from Costco, click here to check out our picks for the best Costco credit cards.
3. You're all about squeezing the last dollar from your budget
Man, I love to watch an organized shopper in action. If you're one of those people who decides in advance what you're going to buy and factors in how much you can save by earning money back on one of your favorite cash back credit cards, I'm fascinated by you.
Imagine you settle on a cash back card and shop at Costco once a month, spending an average of $150 in the warehouse and $50 at the Costco gas station on each trip. Let's say the cash back card you choose offers 2% back on groceries. That's $3 back with each weekly shopping trip or $156 back annually.
Your cash back card also gives you 4% off on eligible gasoline purchases, no matter where you fill up. Since you're paying $50 per week, that's $2,600 per year, and you would earn $104 back.
In addition, the card pays 3% cash back on money spent at restaurants and eligible travel. Let's say you eat out twice a week, spending $30 each time. In total, you would pay $3,120 to dine out in a year and earn another $94 back.
Here's a sample of what you could do with the cash back earned:
- More than cover the cost of two weeks of grocery shopping.
- Tuck it away in a high-yield savings account.
- Save for a weekend getaway.
Insider tip: The next time you're looking for the ideal card for your Costco spending, sit down with a cup of coffee (or another beverage of choice) and comb through our list of the best cash back cards.
Choosing a card that closely matches your spending is likely your best bet. For example, if you travel extensively, a cash back card that rewards you for travel-related purchases would be a nice choice. But if the bulk of your money goes toward everyday expenses, like groceries and gasoline, a card that offers generous rewards for grocery and gasoline spending can quickly build up a healthy cash back balance.
4. You enjoy the experience
I loved going to the grocery store when my boys were young. It was pretty much the only time I could be alone with my thoughts, and honestly, just remembering those solo trips to Hen House to pick up diapers or frozen corn makes me feel calm. Money was tight at the time, so some trips consisted of just wandering the aisles (which I still found relaxing).
My husband feels similarly about shopping at a warehouse store like Costco. From the moment he pulls into the parking lot, he's in his element. If you enjoy looking around to see what's new, picking up staples, and trying out samples, you may be the ideal Costco customer. If the experience is half the fun for you, it's the perfect marriage of customer and retailer.
Costco is not for everyone, and that's OK. Based on the number of Costco members worldwide, it's a good fit for plenty of people. But if it's right for you based on these signs, consider joining Costco (or simply renewing your membership) to save money on household goods and special purchases alike.
Top credit card to use at Costco (and everywhere else!)
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Add on the competitive 0% interest period and it's no wonder we awarded this card Best No Annual Fee Credit Card.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Dana George has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
