What's Happening
1 hour ago

Investing Myth: Is Investing Just "Gambling"?

foolfool.com
1 hour ago

Severe storms to rumble daily in central, eastern US

accuweatheraccuweather.com
1 hour ago

EV Maker Mullen Automotive Rebrands To Bollinger Innovations

benzingabenzinga.com
1 hour ago

Supermicro Stock Surges On Trump's AI Push, Eased China Chip Curbs

benzingabenzinga.com
1 hour ago

What's Going On With Roblox Stock On Tuesday?

benzingabenzinga.com
2 hours ago

Why Is Kairos Pharma Stock Surging On Tuesday?

benzingabenzinga.com
2 hours ago

Flash flood dangers far from over as storms reload across US

accuweatheraccuweather.com
2 hours ago

Why Is Twilio Stock Soaring On Tuesday?

benzingabenzinga.com
2 hours ago

Assessing Rithm Capital: Insights From 5 Financial Analysts

benzingabenzinga.com
2 hours ago

Breaking Down Sprouts Farmers Market: 5 Analysts Share Their Views

benzingabenzinga.com
2 hours ago

Forecasting The Future: 7 Analyst Projections For Virtu Finl

benzingabenzinga.com
2 hours ago

Analyst Expectations For Vital Energy's Future

benzingabenzinga.com
2 hours ago

How Do Investors Really Feel About Allstate?

benzingabenzinga.com
2 hours ago

Teleflex Stock: A Deep Dive Into Analyst Perspectives (5 Ratings)

benzingabenzinga.com
2 hours ago

How Do Investors Really Feel About Eli Lilly?

benzingabenzinga.com
2 hours ago

P/E Ratio Insights for Healthpeak Properties

benzingabenzinga.com
2 hours ago

Is the Market Bullish or Bearish on Intel?

benzingabenzinga.com
2 hours ago

Analyst Expectations For CenterPoint Energy's Future

benzingabenzinga.com
2 hours ago

Simulations Plus Sees Weaker Demand Persist, Outlook Softens

benzingabenzinga.com
2 hours ago

S&P 500 Defies Odds With Rare Rally — But 'Toppy' Sentiment Creeps In

benzingabenzinga.com

3 Signs Your Costco Membership Is a Waste of Money

A hand holding four hundred dollar bills that are on fire

Image source: The Motley Fool/Upsplash

I know plenty of people who shop at Costco monthly. But I happen to visit Costco almost every week to stock my pantry and fridge with groceries and other products my household goes through regularly.

For me, a Costco membership more than pays for itself with the money I’m able to save on these weekly shopping runs. And to be clear, I pay extra for Costco access.

I have the Executive membership, which costs $130 a year but offers 2% cash back on purchases. You can get in the door for only $65 a year with a basic Gold Star membership, which may be a better move if you don’t shop at Costco all that often.

But even $65 is a lot of money to spend on a membership if it doesn’t do you a lot of good. And if these signs apply to you, then it may be time to stop paying for Costco altogether.

1. You don’t live anywhere close to a Costco warehouse

I’m able to shop at Costco almost every week because my closest store is about 15 minutes away. But if the nearest Costco to where you live is 45 minutes away, shopping there becomes much more difficult. In that case, you’re looking at spending a whopping 90 minutes on the road just to stock up on essential products.

If you’re nowhere close to a Costco, one of two things is probably happening. Either you’re not using your membership very often, or you’re spending so much money on gas that it’s seriously eating into your savings.

If that’s the situation you’re in, you may want to see if there’s another warehouse club store closer to your home, like Sam’s Club. Or, you may want to consider a program like Walmart+ if you’re in a more rural area where pretty much every store is far away. For $98 a year, you get free shipping on all orders, plus free grocery delivery with just a $35 minimum.

2. You have no space to store bulk purchases

In addition to my regular kitchen fridge, I have a second fridge in my basement plus a chest freezer for storage. My home also has multiple closets.

I have plenty of options for storing the large quantities of food and household supplies I typically buy from Costco. But if that’s not the case for you, then you’re probably wasting your money on a Costco membership.

It’s true that Costco offers more than just groceries and cleaning products. You can buy apparel, electronics, and a host of other items there.

But those are probably items you only buy on a one-off basis. So if you don’t have the room to buy the items Costco is most known for, you may want to stick to a regular supermarket for your weekly shopping.

3. You don’t have a car

Not having a car could make getting to and from Costco a challenge. Plus, even if you happen to have a Costco warehouse two blocks away from your house, it’s kind of hard to haul bulk items home in your arms. And while you could solve that issue by ordering food and other items on Costco.com, you should know you’ll generally pay a lot less in person.

It’s possible to save some money by making online Costco purchases. But whether you save enough to make up for your membership fee is the big question.

Also, a Costco membership offers unique value to car owners. So if you don’t have a car, you’re missing out on some key benefits. Costco sells some of the cheapest gas in town. And Costco’s gas is TOP TIER certified, which means it’s associated with better performance.

Combining a fill-up at Costco with the right credit card could lead to huge savings on fuel, so it pays to check out this list of the best credit cards for gas if you are a driver. But if that’s not the case, then this is one perk you won’t be getting.

Costco can also be a great source for affordable tires that come with free maintenance. And, some customers may find that they’re able to save money by purchasing auto insurance through Costco. But as a non-driver, you don’t get any of that.

For me, having a Costco membership makes sense. But that doesn’t mean it’s worth it for you to pay for one. You may be better off canceling and saving your $65 or $130 so you can use it at another store that makes more sense for you.

Top credit card to use at Costco (and everywhere else!)

We love versatile credit cards that offer huge rewards everywhere, including Costco! This card is a standout among America’s favorite credit cards because it offers perhaps the easiest $200 cash bonus you could ever earn and an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, even when you shop at Costco.

Add on the competitive 0% interest period and it’s no wonder we awarded this card Best No Annual Fee Credit Card.

Click here to read our full review for free and apply before the $200 welcome bonus offer ends!

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.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Related Posts

Key Points The 2026 annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) could come in light again based on recent data. As inflation has slowed, COLAs have come down

Key Points Just about anyone who earns even a modest amount qualifies for Social Security. This means that some — but not all — billionaires

People who really understand the credit card and banking industry rarely pay high interest on their debt. They know how to protect their money and

Key Points Filing for Social Security at 62 will typically result in a reduced monthly benefit for life. There are some scenarios where claiming benefits