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Even though many of us are still enjoying the fall leaves and weather, the winter holidays will be here before we know it. So at this point, it’s time to start strategizing about ways to keep more cash in your savings account while making your holiday purchases. And one option you may want to consider is joining Costco.

A Gold Star membership at Costco costs $65 a year. An Executive membership costs double at $130, but it comes with the benefit of 2% cash back on the purchases you make.

If you’ve never been to Costco, you may be wondering whether you’ll truly save money on the holidays by joining. But here’s why you might.

1. You can buy gift cards for cheap

Gift cards make a great holiday gift because they’re easy to transport and they don’t require a lot of brainwork. If you’re not a regular Costco shopper, you may not be aware that the store sells gift cards below their face value. But that’s a key benefit of getting a membership.

As just one example, right now, you can buy four $25 IHOP gift cards at Costco for $79.99. If you have four people you want to give a nice gift to, you’ve just saved yourself $20 compared to buying those gift cards from the restaurant directly.

And it’s not just restaurant gift cards you’ll find at Costco. You can buy gift cards for gaming sites, movie theaters, and more.

2. You can find affordable gift baskets

When you’re not sure what gift to give for the holidays, you usually can’t go wrong giving the gift of food. Not only can it be a treat for your recipients, but eventually, it’s something that’ll get used up, sparing them the burden of having to store new items in their homes permanently.

Costco’s gift baskets run the gamut from candy and sweets to fruits and nuts. And if you use the right credit card, you can save even more on gift basket purchases from Costco. Click here for a list of the best credit cards for Costco.

3. You can feed your family delicious holiday meals for less

Whipping up delicious holiday meals can be more than just time-consuming — it can also be expensive. But that’s another area where your Costco membership comes in handy.

At Costco, you can buy many of your holiday groceries in bulk so you’re spending less per ounce. Need baking supplies? Costco’s got them. Want to skip the baking and outsource your pies and cakes? Just head to Costco’s bakery, where you’re apt to find a great selection at prices that are considerably lower than your local bakery.

And if you can’t fathom the idea of having to wash dishes after every holiday gathering, Costco can help you stock up on paper goods on the cheap. As just one example, at Costco.com, you’ll pay $18.49 for a 360-count of plastic cutlery. That’s even better than Amazon’s price of $21.99 for the same quantity.

A Costco membership might help you pull off a festive holiday season for less money this year. So it pays to consider joining. And if you find you aren’t saving as much as expected with your Costco membership, just visit customer service to cancel for a full refund. It’s really that simple.

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.
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.John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Maurie Backman has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon and Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.