Money Management

Is a Walmart+ membership right for you? Read on to find out. 

Any time you sign up for a subscription or service, you run the risk of throwing your money away and negatively impacting your personal finances. How many of us have our credit cards charged every month for Netflix or Hulu, only to never watch a single show? And how many of us have money debited from our checking accounts for a gym we visit a handful of times each year?

As such, if you’re going to pay for a new service, it should really be something you get great use out of. And so if you’re contemplating paying for a Walmart+ membership in 2024, it pays to ask yourself these questions to see if the $98 annual fee is worth forking over.

1. Will I need to fall back on grocery delivery even more in 2024?

Maybe you’re a busy person to begin with, and now work is heating up thanks to a new project that’s expected to explode in the new year. If so, and you expect to be working very long hours, then you may not have the time to do much grocery shopping in person.

One major benefit of Walmart+ is that members get free grocery delivery with a $35 order (a threshold that isn’t particularly hard to meet, even if you’re just one person). That way, you don’t have to stress about hitting the store or spending money on Instacart fees all the time.

A Walmart+ membership could also make a lot of sense if you’re thinking about ditching your car in 2024. If you work remotely and really only need a car for the purpose of running errands, then it can be far more cost-effective to just Uber your way to the store when you need to rather than pay to maintain and insure a vehicle. But with Walmart+, you can save yourself the ride-hailing fares and have your food show up at your door instead.

2. Do I tend to place orders on Walmart.com a lot?

Another big perk of Walmart+ is that the program gives you access to free shipping on orders of any size. So if you’re someone who tends to place a lot of online orders at Walmart, now, you won’t need to worry about meeting an order minimum to qualify for free shipping.

Do keep in mind that Walmart+ differs a bit from Amazon Prime in that with the latter, you get free two-day shipping on your orders. With Walmart+, your items might take longer to arrive. But if that’s something you’re willing to work around, then you may find that your membership is worth it.

3. Is my car expensive to fill up?

Walmart+ membership makes a lot of sense for people who don’t have a car. But if you own a vehicle, and it’s expensive to fill up (either because it’s not the most fuel-efficient or it’s just plain large), then a membership to Walmart+ could make sense because it could save you $0.10 per gallon of gas at a wide range of fuel stations.

So, let’s say you normally fill up to the tune of 25 gallons of gas per week. This is more than conceivable if you commute to an office far away and/or do a lot of driving to get your kids places. If you save $0.10 per gallon, that’s $2.50 a week. On a yearly basis, that’s $130 in savings, which is more than your $98 membership fee.

You definitely do not want to throw your money away on a Walmart+ membership, so don’t just buy one on a whim. But if your answer to any of these questions is a yes, then you may want to consider buying one in the new year.

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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.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 and Netflix. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Netflix, Uber Technologies, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Looking to spend less in 2024? Here are a few retailers worth looking into. 

There’s some good news on the inflation front — it seems to be easing. November’s Consumer Price Index showed an annual increase of 3.1%, which is a lower level than what we’ve seen in recent months.

But even so, you might still be eager to save money during your regular shopping in 2024. And if that’s your goal, here are three stores you may want to add to your rotation.

1. Costco

Who it’s especially good for: Larger households, people with ample storage, people who cook a lot

Costco is known for its bulk offerings in categories that extend to household essentials and food. You might reap big savings at Costco by purchasing items in bulk that your household uses regularly.

For example, on Costco.com (which tends to have higher prices than Costco stores), a 60-count of Chewy granola bars is $11.99, resulting in a cost per bar of $0.20. At Stop & Shop, a popular grocery chain, a box of eight costs $3.99, which is about $0.50 per bar.

Of course, for a Costco membership to make sense, you’ll need to make sure you have enough storage space to stash the bulk purchases you bring home. But a Costco membership could pay off if you have a larger household to feed, or if you’re someone who does a lot of cooking and can therefore go through bulk groceries pretty quickly.

Right now, a basic Costco membership costs $60 a year, while an Executive membership that gives you 2% back on your purchases costs $120. But you may be surprised at how quickly you can make your membership fee back, especially if you shop at Costco fairly often.

2. Aldi

Who it’s especially good for: People who aren’t picky about brands, people with flexible schedules who have time to make multiple trips to the store

Most of the items you’ll see on Aldi’s shelves are made by brands you’ve probably never heard of. But it’s for this reason that Aldi can offer such competitive prices on the items it stocks. So if you’re someone who isn’t so particular about brands, Aldi is a good bet.

That said, one hiccup you might encounter when shopping at Aldi is that the store’s inventory isn’t always so consistent. If you work a demanding schedule and barely have time to grocery shop, then Aldi may not work for you. But if your schedule is more flexible and you don’t mind running to the store twice a week instead of just once, then you may find that the savings you reap at Aldi are huge.

3. Dollar Tree (or your local dollar store)

Who it’s especially good for: Teachers, parents of school-aged children

If you’re buying products you hope will last a lifetime, then your local dollar store may not be your best bet. But if you need inexpensive items for things like school projects and birthday party giveaways, then it absolutely pays to stock up at Dollar Tree, or whatever dollar store chain is closest to you.

You might also reap big savings as a teacher by purchasing classroom supplies at your dollar store. Teachers routinely dip into their own pockets to stock their classrooms. And while teachers are allowed to deduct up to $300 worth of unreimbursed classroom expenses on their taxes, many inevitably end up spending more. So when you’re buying things like crayons, stickers, and small classroom rewards, you might as well pay less.

Even though living costs are showing signs of cooling, it still pays to eke out all of the savings you can. And shopping at these retailers in particular might do a world of good for your personal finances in 2024.

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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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In a hurry to complete your holiday shopping? Read on to see how Costco’s got you covered. 

Maybe you started your holiday shopping in early November, but got distracted by happenings at work. Or maybe your goal was to complete your shopping by early December, but you wanted to space out your purchases to avoid a massive credit card tab.

Either way, at this point, you’re pretty much down to the wire with Christmas shopping, so the time to get moving is now. Here are some items you can find at Costco that are apt to please your recipients.

1. A’cappella Classic Hot Chocolate BevBombs, 16-count

Who doesn’t love a warm cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s day? Costco is selling a 16-pack of hot chocolate bombs for $24.99 online, which happens to be $5 off of the usual price. They’re individually wrapped, which means you could gift the entire box to a lucky recipient or otherwise divvy them up as stocking stuffers.

2. Keurig K-Slim+Iced Single Service Coffee Maker

A lot of the people you know might have a Keurig by now. But do they have a Keurig that also makes iced coffee? Maybe not. Costco is selling this coffee maker for $89.99 right now, which is a $30 discount off of the usual price. It includes 24 iced K-cups to get your recipient started, plus a six-count of traditional pods. And to be clear, this model is perfectly capable of brewing hot coffee, too.

3. Ultrafit Touchscreen Running Gloves

Just because you’re stuck out in the cold doesn’t mean you don’t want the ability to use your smartphone while keeping your hands warm. These gloves can make that happen. They come in a variety of sizes for men and women alike and are available online for just $18.99. There’s also a kids version for $14.99.

4. Sharper Image RealTouch Shiatsu Plus Cordless Neck Massager

There’s nothing like a neck massage to help someone you care about unwind after a stressful day at the office. Costco is selling this neck massager for $39.99, which is $20 off of the usual $59.99 price. It comes with three different settings for varying levels of intensity. And its cord-free design makes it even more convenient to use.

5. Popcornopolis Metallic Holiday 5-count Mini Cone Gift Basket, 10-pack

So you dropped the ball and realized you forgot to buy Christmas gifts for all of your colleagues as well as your boss. If you need a bundle of gifts in a pinch, consider a 10-pack of holiday popcorn gift baskets. Each set comes with five mini cones that include flavors like cheddar, kettle, and caramel. At a cost of $69.99, you’re looking at spending just $7 per gift. That’s a price that’s going to be hard to beat unless you really have the time to shop around and put together small gift baskets yourself.

One thing you should know about Costco is that the prices you’ll find in stores are often more competitive than what you’ll see online – so visiting Costco in person might be better for your personal finances. At the same time, some of these products might only be available online. So if you’re eager to scoop them up, act quickly to make sure they’re able to ship out and get to you on time.

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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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You might feel like a warranty will protect you. Here’s how to make sure you’re not just wasting your money. 

At this point, many consumers are rushing around to finish their holiday shopping. And while the gifts you’re buying might run up a large credit card tab in their own right, there’s an additional expense you might contemplate in conjunction with those purchases: warranties.

A recent survey by LegalShield found that more than two-thirds of consumers plan to buy an extended warranty this year during their holiday shopping. The problem, though, is that

62% of consumers report that they face difficulties when attempting to resolve warranty claims with retailers and manufacturers.

If you’re going to spend the money on a warranty for your holiday purchases, it’s important to make sure you’re doing so for a good reason. So before you buy a warranty, do the following.

1. Pay attention to exactly what’s covered

One potential problem with warranties is that they’re not always easy to understand. In the aforementioned survey, 44% of consumers said the warranty terms they’ve seen are somewhat or extremely confusing.

It’s important to make sure you understand what your warranty covers and what it doesn’t. For example, normal wear and tear is usually excluded from coverage. And in many cases, you may not be protected in the event of user damage (meaning, you did something to cause your product to malfunction). If there’s something you don’t understand, see if there’s a customer service number you can call to get things clarified.

2. Be mindful of usage

In some cases, you may not be able to file a claim under your warranty if you don’t use a given product the way it’s recommended. For example, if you expose the item to a temperature that’s not advisable as per the manufacturer, that could render you unable to file a claim. Or, if you use your device with a non-approved accessory (for example, an off-brand charger), that, too, might void your warranty. Make certain you understand what usage standards your warranty imposes before buying it.

3. Understand the process of actually filing a claim

Something as simple as not following the right process could result in a warranty claim getting denied. But if the process of filing a claim is ridiculously complicated, then you may want to skip the warranty if it’s unlikely that you’re going to be willing to put in the time.

In some (more extreme) cases, to provide proof of malfunction, you may be asked to take a video showing how your product isn’t working and then upload it to a site. That’s something you may not want to do. In other cases, you might have to provide a series of photos with explanations. If you’re a busy person who barely has time to read through a warranty, you probably don’t want a warranty whose claims process entails more than just a simple online form.

Should you even bother purchasing a warranty?

You may be inclined to purchase a warranty if you’re buying an expensive product. But in some cases, sticking with a reputable manufacturer and retailer could make it so that a warranty really isn’t necessary. Costco, for example, offers a second-year warranty on electronics at no cost.

Another option you may want to consider is just adding some money to your savings account in conjunction with buying an item you’re looking to protect. That way, instead of paying for a warranty you may or may not end up being able to file a claim against, you’ll have money on hand should you need to repair the item in question.

Of course, if you’re investing in a really expensive item, then buying a warranty may end up being worth it for your personal finances. But for a moderately priced item, you may want to save your money instead.

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If you’re using the wrong credit or debit card, it could be costing you serious money. Our experts love this top pick, which features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, an insane cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee.

In fact, this card is so good that our experts even use it personally. Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

Read our free review

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.

 Read More