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The most wonderful time of the year is almost upon us, and that means it’s time for saving even more money on gifts and all the things you need for feasts and gatherings. There’s nowhere better to do that than Costco, ask anybody here at Motley Fool Money.

But you may not want to spend money on a membership if you’ve never been to the warehouse before and don’t yet know just how much you personally may be able to save in a year. For a lot of people it will make perfect sense, but they haven’t taken the chance because of the upfront costs.

Luckily, I’ve got a solution for you if you’re hesitant to make a move.

How to get your first Costco membership for $20

A Costco membership normally costs $65 for the basic Gold Star version, or $130 for an Executive membership, which will give you 2% cash back on a variety of purchases. Understandably, most people choose the Gold Star membership when they’re just checking the place out.

Fortunately for you, there’s a Groupon deal available through Dec. 22 for either Costco membership option, and it comes with a $45 Shop Card, which is basically just a Costco gift card. So, your first shopping trip can be on Groupon, and it’ll get you on your way to squeezing all the value you can out of your Costco membership, too.

There are even more ways to save with Costco, including this winning strategy we’ve come across. Click here to read more about it.

So, what’s the catch?

The catch? There is no catch. OK, there’s a little bit of fine print, but it’s really not bad, I swear.

Here are the major terms and conditions (but please read them all on the Groupon site before you sign up):

• You must be a new member, or have a membership that expired at least 18 months ago.
• You can’t upgrade or renew your membership using this deal.
• You’ll have to wait up to two weeks to receive your Digital Costco Shop Card.
• You have to go into the warehouse to get your membership card, even if you only intend to shop online.
• You must be at least 16 years of age to sign up.

But for the most part, there is no catch. It’s just pretty standard stuff that you’d expect from anywhere offering a membership.

Who benefits from a Costco membership?

People who want to save money are Costco’s target audience, but they also have to be willing to save money in very specific ways. Costco members save by buying in bulk — sometimes considerable bulk, like the approximately one million Ritz crackers I bought last weekend (it was 18 tubes, but I’m pretty sure that’s close).

People who use Costco and really reap the rewards are people who don’t mind using the same consumable things over and over, who plan large purchases around Costco’s sales and product availability, and people who are willing and able to visit the warehouse to buy these things.

You don’t need to be feeding a family to save money with Costco as long as you have a good way to store purchases, which can reduce your shopping trips and spare your budget. You can even get cash back from those Costco trips by using certain credit cards. Click here to see our curated list of the best credit cards for Costco shoppers.

Saving money on a membership is the biggest Costco thing you can do

Costco is about empowering you to save money, and there’s not a more Costco move than to save money on a Costco membership, whether you choose a Gold Star or an Executive membership. As you explore the store, you’ll find even more ways to unlock the potential of your relationship with Costco, including saving money on things like home repair and upgrade services and getting discounts on tires and glasses.

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.Kristi Waterworth 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.