Money Management

Love Costco? Check out the deals you’ll find in the coming weeks. [[{“value”:”

One of the best things about Costco is its tendency to offer really competitive prices on the items it carries. But sometimes, Costco will take things a step further and discount its inventory even more.

This month, Costco has a number of great sales happening. Here are five of the best deals you might find online or in stores.

1. $90 off of the iPad 10.9-inch (10th Generation)

If you’ve been looking to upgrade your iPad or buy one for the first time, now’s a good time to act. Costco is offering $90 off the 10th Generation iPad with a 10.9-inch screen. It features a crisp, clear Liquid Retina Display, all-day battery life, and your choice of 64GB or 256GB of storage (the latter will result in a higher total price, since you’re getting more storage on your device).

Best of all, when you buy electronics at Costco, you get a second-year warranty, free tech support, and a 90-day return policy. So all told, if you run into issues with your purchase, you should be well protected.

2. $200 off of the Firman 3200W Running / 4000W Peak Dual Fuel Inverter Generator

Given the way weather patterns are shifting these days, many regions are experiencing their fair share of strong storms — even ones that have historically been spared that fate. Because of this, now’s a good time to invest in a portable generator. If the power goes out at home and stays out for days, you’ll have a way to power some devices to stay comfortable until things return to normal.

Now a portable generator isn’t an inexpensive purchase. But in time, it could pay for itself. For example, a generator might make it possible to keep your fridge running during a power outage to avoid food spoilage — and the wasted money that goes along with it. This particular generator has a nine-hour run time with a full tank. It also comes with a three-year manufacturer’s warranty.

3. $12 off of Brita Elite Replacement Water Filters, 4-count

Let’s face it — water filters are a pretty unsexy purchase. But they’re the sort of thing you do have to factor into your budget if you live in an area where the water from your tap doesn’t taste good or isn’t safe.

Right now, Costco is offering $12 off of a four-pack of Brita Elite filers. These are compatible with all Brita pitchers and are said to remove 99% of the lead in your water. If you buy them all the time, you might as well do so at a time when you can save money.

4. $4 off of Pacific Gold Beef Jerky, Variety Pack, 15 oz, 12-count

Beef jerky can be a great source of energy when you’re doing an all-day hike or need a pick-me-up after a run. But beef jerky is one of those snacks that tends to be expensive, so it’s always a good thing to buy it when it’s on sale.

Right now, you save $4 off of a 12-count of 15-ounce packs of jerky. The nice thing is that these packs are individually wrapped, so you can stick one or two in your pocket when you head out for a trek instead of having to lug a large bulk-sized bag along.

5. $3.50 off of GoGo SqueeZ YogurtZ, Variety Pack, 3 oz, 20-count

Yogurt is a breakfast or lunchtime favorite among many young kids. But if you’ve ever watched a toddler eat yogurt with a spoon, you’ve no doubt witnessed the horrors of seeing them wear their meal afterward.

The nice thing about GoGo SqueeZ is that the yogurt comes in pouches. The result? A much less messy experience. And also, the more yogurt that actually makes it into your child’s mouth, the less you might have to spend stocking up on extra.

Right now, Costco is selling a 20-count variety pack for $3.50 off the usual price. You’ll get 10 blueberry yogurt pouches and 10 strawberry.

These five deals are just a few of the many you’ll find in April. So if you haven’t been to Costco in a while, carve out a little extra time to see what’s in stock and what’s on sale.

That said, you don’t want to go overboard in scooping up Costco deals, so see how much room you have in your budget for non-recurring purchases. A generator, for example, may be a good thing to have, but it’s not the sort of thing you buy every week. And while it’s good to capitalize on Costco sales, it’s not good to run up a credit card balance you’re forced to carry forward because you purchased too many items at once and couldn’t pay for them in full.

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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.Maurie Backman 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.

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Car insurance costs have surged. Read on to find out why and how you can lower yours. [[{“value”:”

There’s no getting around the fact that insurance costs ballooned over the past year. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that car insurance premiums rose 20% in 2023, and the average annual amount a driver pays for car insurance is now a staggering $2,543.

Here are a few reasons why car insurance prices have increased lately and what you can do to help bring them under control.

Insurance companies are recouping losses

If you’re a homeowner, you may have noticed that it’s not just your car insurance rates that increased; homeowners insurance is also more expensive. Part of the reason for insurance increases for both home and auto is insurance companies’ mounting losses.

Wildfires and floods in some states have cost insurance providers billions of dollars over the past few years. According to the Insurance Information Institute, insurance providers paid out $1.10 for every $1 they received in premiums in 2023.

Insurance companies have raised home and auto insurance premiums to make up for the losses.

Cars are more expensive to repair

Not only are cars more expensive to replace, but they’re also costlier to repair. Federal Reserve data shows that at the end of 2023, vehicle repair costs had increased 17% from the previous year.

Part of the problem began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when there was a shortage of automotive parts. But there’s also a shortage of trained technicians to fix vehicles, which is driving costs higher. The National Association of Automotive Dealers estimates an annual shortfall of 37,000 automotive technicians.

Vehicle prices are up

The average selling price of a new vehicle was $47,401 in February, a stunning 25% increase from four years ago. While that’s bad news for you when you buy a car, it’s also bad news for insurance companies.

Insurance companies generally charge more for coverage as a car’s value increases. That’s because it costs the insurance providers more money to replace the vehicle if it’s involved in a wreck and declared a complete loss. With car prices up significantly over the past few years, rates have risen along with them.

Three ways to lower your auto insurance

While all of the above are driving insurance costs higher, the good news is that you can do something about it. Here are three ways to lower your insurance premiums.

1. Increase your deductible

Your insurance deductible is the amount you must pay out of pocket in case of an accident or other damage. Depending on the type of coverage you have and how high your deductible is already, you may be able to increase it.

Doing this lowers your car insurance premiums because you’re agreeing to cover more of the costs of repairing your vehicle.

Progressive Insurance gives the theoretical example of a $100 car insurance deductible raised to $1,000. A big deductible increase like this could potentially save you up to 28% on your current premiums. Just keep in mind that if you raise your deductible, you should put extra cash in a savings account to cover the cost if you need to make an insurance claim.

2. Pay your premiums annually

One quick way to lower your premiums is to pay the entire year’s premiums all at once. Most insurance companies offer a discount for paying annually or splitting the payment into two payments every six months.

Paying your premiums in one lump sum once per year could save you 12%. For the average driver, this could equal a savings of up to $305.

3. Comparison shop

I recently spent a few minutes shopping around for insurance rates and found a rate from a competitor that is about $32 less per month. That’s a savings of $384 annually!

Most people don’t take the time to shop around for a lower car insurance rate, and they miss out on potential savings. According to car insurance app Jerry, 60% of people who comparison shop for auto insurance find cheaper premiums.

Nearly everything is more expensive than it was just a few years ago. If your car insurance rate is up, it’s worth considering whether your deductible can be adjusted or if you can pay your premiums annually for a discount. Even if you can make those adjustments, it’s likely still worth your time to take some time to get a quote from a few other providers.

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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.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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This writer now has access to yet another streaming service. But read on to see why she doesn’t regret it. [[{“value”:”

Prior to December 2023, my family subscribed to three different streaming services. And I was pretty convinced that those three were enough.

But over my kids’ winter break at the tail end of 2023, one of my daughters mentioned a movie her friend had suggested she watch. The problem? It was playing on Peacock, a service we didn’t have.

We decided to sign up that month to give my daughter access to the movie, which all of my kids watched together and enjoyed. But rather than drop the service like we originally planned, we’ve held onto it since. And that’s a decision that’s paid off well financially.

When you can stay busy at a minimal cost

The cost of a regular Peacock subscription is $5.99 a month or $59.99 a year plus tax. If you want your content ad-free (which I do), you’ll need to pay an extra $6 per month or $60 per year plus tax.

Since we weren’t sure we’d want to keep Peacock beyond the one-month mark, we signed up to pay monthly. Soon, we’ll probably convert our subscription to a yearly membership to save a little money. But so far, the roughly $12 per month we’ve been paying has been more than worth it.

Over my kids’ winter break, my family watched not just the one, but several movies on the service. Meanwhile, the cost of a single adult movie theater ticket where I live is about $12. So the way I see it, replacing one family movie theater outing with a Peacock movie already paid for several months of the service.

My family tends to be a bit less busy during the winter than the remainder of the year, largely due to outdoor sports being on hold due to the cold. So it’s a time when we may be more apt to spend money on indoor entertainment outside the home to stay occupied.

This winter, we hunkered down for many weekends and enjoyed different shows on Peacock. One Sunday, we opted to stay in for a Psych marathon (it’s a show about a pretend psychic who works with the police) instead of going bowling. The bowling outing would’ve cost over $100, and my kids were more than happy to ditch that plan when I suggested that we instead curl up on the couch with some Psych and popcorn.

Don’t kick yourself for spending money on streaming services

You may be inclined to give yourself a hard time if you’re subscribed to multiple streaming services. But in reality, these services can do the trick of providing many hours of entertainment at a pretty low cost.

Of course, it doesn’t make sense to pay for a streaming service you don’t actually use. But if you have a few already and decide to add another to your lineup, don’t automatically assume that’s a poor choice.

Let’s say you decide to sign up for Peacock at about $12 per month, and you watch three hours of it a week. Well, you’re paying $1 an hour to stay busy. Where else can you spend that little?

All told, I don’t regret getting Peacock. If anything, I may cancel one of the other streaming services we were subscribed to and keep Peacock around for a while. Or, maybe I won’t. Either way, I can justify the cost of these services easily, so I’m not really going to pressure myself to part with them.

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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.
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Preparing financially before you adopt a dog is the best strategy. Your pal will look to you for love and support. Here’s how much dog owners spend each year. [[{“value”:”

Dogs make fantastic pets. They’re loyal creatures, have a lot of love to give, and they will continuously put a smile on your face. But it’s essential to consider whether you can afford to care for your new pet before adopting a pup. Keep reading to discover how much the average pet parent spends on their dog so you can prepare to give your new fur pal the best life.

Pet parents are spending up to $5,225 on annual dog expenses

Rover conducted its The Cost of Dog Parenthood in 2024 study to determine how much the average pet owner spends on their dog. The study researched the average cost during the first year of pet ownership and the average annual cost. Rover found that pet parents spent varied amounts of money caring for their dogs.

When bringing a new dog home, Rover found that pet parents spend between $870 and $4,565 during the first year of pet ownership. Adoption fees, spay or neuter surgeries, vaccinations, and microchips are some expenses new pet owners may pay.

Of course, there are other costs beyond the initial adoption expenses. Regular expenses can include food, toys, crates, harnesses and collars, and annual vet checkups. Dog parents spend between $1,000 to $5,225 yearly to care for their furry friends.

If your dog is healthy and you don’t spring for extras, you may be able to keep your annual care costs well below $5,225. But even if you stick to the basics, you’ll need money to properly care for your new pal. This study is a good reminder of how important it is to consider your finances before adopting a canine companion.

How to financially prepare to become a dog dad or mom

Here are some tips to help you financially prepare so you can give your dog a fantastic life with lots of love, comfort, and companionship.

Research care costs

As the Rover study shows, pet care expenses can add up quickly. Before you welcome a new pup to your family, it’s essential to research average costs. If you’ve only cared for other pets, like cats, you may be surprised at how expensive it can be to own a dog. If you want to gauge local prices, ask your friends and family how much they pay for essentials and vet care.

Start saving

You want to have enough money to care for your bestie’s needs when they first come home and well into the future. Saving up before you adopt a puppy or dog is wise. Establishing an emergency fund can allow you to feel more financially secure.

With extra savings, you’ll have the funds you need if you have to pay an emergency vet bill. Unsure where to stash your savings? A high-yield savings account is an excellent place to keep your extra cash because you’ll earn interest while your money sits in the bank.

Consider pet insurance

Even with savings, unexpected pet care costs can impact your personal finances. You don’t want to incur expensive credit card debt because you already depleted your emergency fund. Some pet parents buy pet insurance to protect themselves financially.

With a pet insurance policy, you can get reimbursed for eligible pet expenses like vet bills. As you research pet insurance companies, review the coverage options so you know what to expect from each policy and can choose the right one for your fur friend.

If you’re considering investing in pet insurance for your dog, check out our list of the best pet insurance companies before bringing your cuddly companion home.

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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.Discover Financial Services is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Natasha Gabrielle has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Discover Financial Services. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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