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You probably know that a big reason to join Costco is to save money on things like groceries, cleaning supplies, and paper products. But if you don’t tend to do a lot of cooking, and you commonly buy your cleaning products from a competitor like Target at a fair price, then you may not feel compelled to sign up for a Costco membership given the cost.

A basic Gold Star membership at Costco costs $65 a year. Or, you can upgrade to an Executive membership for $130 and earn 2% cash back on your Costco purchases.

But the value of a Costco membership extends well beyond savings on bulk food purchases and household essentials. Here are a few benefits of joining Costco that may surprise you.

1. Affordable travel packages with built-in perks

Travel has the potential to be expensive, especially if you have a larger family. So you may be interested to know that Costco offers a host of affordable travel packages, from resorts to theme park stays. And when you book through Costco, you get experienced travel professionals in your corner who can answer your questions and help you find the perfect getaway.

Plus, Costco travel packages tend to come with extras that can save you money at your destination. If you book a cruise through Costco, you may be eligible for a room credit you can use for expenses like excursions or drinks. And if you book a stay at a resort, you may get a credit that’s redeemable for things like spa services or motorized sports that aren’t included in your room rate.

2. Low-cost gas that’s high in quality

Gas can be a huge expense, but joining Costco might help in that regard. Not only does Costco sell some of the cheapest fuel in town, but Costco’s gas carries the TOP TIER™ designation. This means that it’s designed to clean your engine and lead to better performance.

Plus, if you use the right credit card for a Costco fill-up, you may find that you’re able to slash your fuel costs substantially via a combination of a lower price per gallon and extra cash back. Click here for a list of the best credit cards for gasoline purchases.

3. Discounted gift cards

Gift cards make a great gift. And with the holidays coming up, you may have a whole list of people to give them to, from your kids’ teachers and coaches to your cousins you commonly swap presents with.

The great thing about joining Costco is that you get access to gift cards that are discounted below their face value. For example, right now, Costco is selling four $25 gift cards to Domino’s for $74.99 instead of $100. That’s a huge amount of savings.

4. Early access to holiday deals

The longer you wait to do your holiday shopping, the more stressful you might find it. You should know that Costco already has a host of holiday deals available in stores and online. You can save money on everything from TVs to jewelry to clothing.

Costco also has a nice selection of gift baskets available online and in stores. These make a great gift because your recipients can eat their delicious contents without having to make room for another thing in their homes.

5. Extended warranties on electronics

Whether you’re buying electronics for the holidays or in general, it’s important to feel confident when you’re making a large purchase of that nature. The nice thing about buying electronics from Costco is that they come with a free second-year warranty for added peace of mind.

Plus, Costco electronics come with free tech support. That means you’re less likely to run into issues setting them up or using them. And you also get 90 days to return electronics that don’t work out.

There are a host of perks Costco members get to enjoy. But one final benefit is that your satisfaction with your membership is guaranteed. If you sign up for a membership and don’t end up getting great value from it, you can cancel at any time for a full refund. For this reason, it pays to give Costco a try, since there’s no risk and a whole lot to gain.

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 positions in Target. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale and Target. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.