Money Management

If you only shop at Costco in stores, you could be missing out. Read on to see why. 

For some people, shopping at Costco is a chore. For others, it’s a fun experience. After all, you get to enjoy free samples, scope out new items on the shelves, and treat yourself to a tasty lunch at the food court afterward.

But while shopping at Costco in person can be a rewarding experience in its own right, you may not want to limit yourself to just your local store. There’s a world of inventory to explore on Costco.com. And browsing the warehouse club giant’s website is a good way to make the most of your membership.

Why you don’t want to miss out on the online experience

When it comes to buying groceries — especially perishable items — shopping at your local Costco is generally a better idea than shopping online. You can look at the items you’re buying and make sure they meet your standards — something that might especially come into play if you’re buying produce. Also, you’ll pay more to purchase fresh groceries online than in the store since you’re covering the cost of delivery.

But when it comes to Costco’s broad inventory, the reason it’s a mistake to never shop online is simple — you could end up missing out on a host of products. Although Costco’s warehouse club stores are massive, there are only so many items that can be put out on display. But if you visit Costco.com, you might come across a wide range of products you never even knew you could buy through Costco.

Let’s say you’re shopping for furniture. If you head to your local Costco store, you might see one or two couches out on the floor. After all, couches are big, and there’s only room for so many. But if you go to Costco.com, you might find dozens of couches to choose from. That way, you’re more likely to find something that meets your needs and budget.

Plus, many of the items you’ll find at Costco.com ship for free. So if you want to save yourself the hassle of hauling bulkier items across a parking lot and into your vehicle’s trunk, then buying them online could be a better option (and if you have a smaller vehicle, hauling certain items home may not even be an option).

You won’t give up your Costco cash back

If you have an Executive membership at Costco, you may be aware that you get 2% cash back on your various purchases. But that extends to orders you place online, too.

Plus, the beauty of shopping at Costco.com is that you use the search bar to see if a given item you’re looking for is available. You might wander dozens of aisles at an actual Costco location in search of something specific only to never find it when it’s actually there.

Shopping at Costco in person is an experience that many people enjoy. And to be clear, shopping at Costco online shouldn’t take the place of in-store shopping. But it does pay to check out Costco.com every so often, particularly if there’s a specific item you’ve been looking for that you’ve yet to find at your local warehouse club. You may be surprised at how many choices you have when you open yourself up to Costco’s entire inventory.

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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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A higher brokerage account balance is a good thing. Read on to see why I don’t celebrate too much when mine goes up. 

Americans think it will take an average of $1.27 million to retire comfortably, according to Northwestern Mutual. I’m not as convinced that $1.27 million is the ideal retirement number. But I’m doing my best to save as much for retirement as I can.

I’m using several tools to build savings for retirement. I have an IRA that I funded up until a few years ago, and I have a solo 401(k) that I contribute to regularly at present. I also have an HSA whose funds I’m hoping to carry forward into retirement.

But I also use a regular old brokerage account to save and invest for retirement. Although that account doesn’t give me any tax breaks, it allows me to access my money when I want.

I try to make a point not to check my brokerage account balance too frequently. But there are times when I need to peek in, such as if I’m thinking of buying shares of a given stock or I want to unload shares due to a company’s outlook becoming less rosy.

Sometimes I’ll review my brokerage account and see that my balance is up. But while that’s a good thing in theory, it generally doesn’t get me too excited for one big reason.

It may only be a temporary increase

The stock market can be extremely fickle. It’s possible for the value of your investments to rise substantially, only to plummet a week or month down the line.

That’s why I try not to get too hung up on my exact balance at any given point in time. I know it has the potential to change, so unless I’m taking my gains and cashing them out, they’re not even official.

The money isn’t for now

As I mentioned earlier, I’m keeping some of my retirement investments in a regular brokerage account. The reason is that I can’t touch my IRA or 401(k) until age 59 1/2 without penalty. So if I want to retire earlier than that, I’ll need money in an unrestricted account.

But because of that, near-term gains in my brokerage account don’t really give me a reason to celebrate. As much as I’d love to take the money and use it to improve my life, it’s not for now. So while it’s cool to see a gain in my account, the reality is that it’s not benefiting me anytime soon.

Plus, cashing out gains could result in a pretty large tax bill, depending on how long you’ve held your investments for. And while taxes are a part of life, they can sour the deal just a bit.

All told, my goal is for my brokerage account to gain value over time. But when I see an increase, I don’t necessarily jump for joy. I don’t think that makes me a negative person. I think I just have a realistic view of the stock market. Also, I’m committed to not touching that money for many years, which is a good thing — even if it takes some of the fun out of seeing those gains pop up.

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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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If you pay for a commercial-free Hulu plan, a price increase will soon impact your wallet. Find out how much you’ll pay for ad-free Hulu starting soon. 

Many U.S. households subscribe to multiple streaming services. Being able to stream movie and TV content from anywhere for a set monthly fee is a worthwhile convenience. But streaming service costs can add up quickly, impacting your budget more than you think.

This is especially true as more streaming platforms become more costly due to price increases. Hulu subscribers who pay for a commercial-free plan should prepare for a rise in subscription costs. Here’s what you need to know to prepare your budget accordingly.

Hulu’s ad-free plan will increase 20% on Oct. 12

It’s not unusual to pay more to access streaming platforms without advertisements. But soon, an ad-free Hulu plan will become even more expensive. On Aug. 9, The Walt Disney Company announced new pricing for some Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ plans in the U.S.

Hulu with ads will continue to cost $7.99 a month or $79.99 per year. However, those who subscribe to Hulu without commercials should expect to pay more. The current price for Hulu’s ad-free plan is $14.99 monthly. On Oct. 12, the price will increase to $17.99 per month.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time the ad-free Hulu plan has increased in price. In October 2022, the monthly price rose from $12.99 to $14.99. With the latest planned increase, subscribers should prepare to pay an additional $3 per month, a 20% increase. That’s $36 more per year.

It’s also worth mentioning that Hulu with Live TV plans will increase in price on Oct. 12. Hulu with Live TV with ads will increase from $69.99 to $76.99 per month, and Hulu with Live TV without ads will increase from $82.99 to $89.99 monthly. Knowing this news before October is best to avoid a surprise larger charge on your credit card bill.

What to do if these price changes impact you

If you subscribe to a Hulu plan that will soon be more expensive, you’ll need to decide if it’s still worth the subscription cost for your service. Here are four possible solutions to explore.

1. Downgrade your plan

If you can no longer afford the new higher fee, you may want to consider downgrading to an ad-supported plan. Doing this can help you keep more money in your checking account without ditching the service for good.

2. Rotate the streaming apps you use

Another option is to rotate some of your streaming subscriptions. Instead of paying for multiple services each month, you can pause some and use one at a time, so you save money on subscription fees. As more streaming platforms rise in price, this technique can help those working on important personal finance goals.

3. Bundle your streaming services

The ad-free Disney+ plan also increases on Oct. 12. From $10.99 to $13.99 monthly. The cost of the ad-supported Disney+ plan won’t change. If you subscribe to Disney+ and Hulu without ads, a new plan will soon be available and could help you keep more money in your pocket.

The Walt Disney Company will begin offering its Duo Premium plan on Sept. 6 for $19.99 monthly. Subscribing to this plan instead of both commercial-free plans separately will save subscribers $11.99 per month once the price increases go into effect. That could be a win for your wallet if you want to continue using both streaming platforms without commercials.

4. Revise your budget

Don’t want to switch plans or get rid of your service? Another option is to rework your budget. By using a budgeting app, you may be able to reduce spending in some areas so you can free up more money to cover the rise in subscription costs. Check out our list of the best budgeting apps to discover how these digital tools can help you better manage your money.

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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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Investing $5 a day might seem like it won’t have an impact. Read on to see why that’s not the case. 

You’ll often hear that if you want to grow a lot of wealth over time, then it’s important to put your money to work by investing it. But actually parting with money to invest is a different story.

You may want to invest a few hundred dollars a month so you can grow yourself a nice little fortune. But finding that few hundred dollars is easier said than done when your car needs maintenance, the rent is due, and you’re out of groceries and need to restock.

It can be especially difficult to find money to invest with when investing is something you’re not used to doing. But the good news is that most brokerage accounts don’t impose a minimum for opening an account, and many allow you to invest on a fractional basis. This means that if you only have $5 to invest with, you can still buy a portion of a share of stock if a full share costs $100 or more.

RELATED: Best Online Stock Brokers for Beginners

Now you may be thinking, “Well heck, I’m not going to get very far by investing $5.” And you’re probably right. A single $5 investment is not going to do a whole lot for you.

But what if you were to carve out $5 a day by making small changes — doing things like skipping your morning store-bought coffee or being more frugal at the supermarket? You may be surprised at what an impact that has over a lengthy period of time.

Small investments could go a long way

Over the past 50 years, the stock market has averaged an annual 10% return (before inflation), as measured by the S&P 500’s performance. That doesn’t guarantee that your stock portfolio will deliver that same exact return. Your money might grow at a slower pace, or you might do better than 10%. But given that data, it’s fair to assume that your portfolio has the potential to generate an average yearly 10% return if you’re investing in stocks over a longer period of time.

So, let’s say you’re able to invest $5 a day over a 40-year period. At an average annual 10% return, you’re looking at accumulating about $797,000 — and you’ll have only put in $72,000 of your own money over that 40-year stretch. That could serve as a very nice nest egg for retirement.

But let’s be conservative and say you’ll only score a 7% yearly return in your portfolio over time. In that case, you’d still be looking at around $359,000 — not too shabby. And if your portfolio does better than the market’s average and you score a 12% annual return, you’ll be sitting on $1.38 million.

You don’t need to invest a ton of money to produce great results

They say it takes money to make money, and that’s fair. You can’t invest if you don’t put some money into stocks or other assets.

But it doesn’t necessarily take a lot of money to invest and do well, especially if you have a longer window of time. So if the idea of building a nest egg seems overwhelming to you, break it down to a number you can wrap your head around — $5.

And if you can’t swing $5 a day right now, start with $1 a day, or $2. You can always ramp up as your earnings increase. But the key is to give yourself as much time as possible to invest and build wealth.

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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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Moving can be very expensive. Read on to see if signing a personal loan to cover a move is a good idea. 

People move for different reasons. Sometimes, it’s a matter of being closer to a loved one. In other cases, moving could become necessary to advance a career or take a better job.

No matter why you’re contemplating a move, you’re no doubt aware that there’s bound to be an expense involved. And if you don’t have the money in your savings account to pay for a move, then you may have to borrow to pull one off — especially if your move can’t wait. In that case, taking out a personal loan to pay for a move could be a much better choice than charging the expense on a credit card.

Why a personal loan is a smarter bet

In an ideal world, you’d have enough money to cover the cost of a move. But if that’s not the case and your move can’t be put off, then a personal loan may be your best option.

With a personal loan, you’re guaranteed a fixed interest rate on the sum you borrow and predictable monthly payments. With a credit card, your interest rate can vary, and your monthly payments could climb over time.

Plus, credit card debt can be instantly detrimental to your credit score. Even if you manage to make your monthly payments on time, the simple act of having a high balance relative to your total spending limit could cause credit score damage. With a personal loan, you won’t face credit score damage if you pay on time other than perhaps a five- to 10-point hit for the hard inquiry that’s done on your credit report when you apply.

Make sure you know what you’re getting into

Before you take out a personal loan to pay for a move, you’ll need to get estimates from moving services to see what costs you’re looking at. And you should do yourself a favor and pad those estimates in your head in case your actual costs wind up being higher.

Now, the amount it costs you to move will hinge on factors such as how much stuff you’re transporting and how many miles you’re going. Moving the contents of a small apartment is apt to be cheaper than transporting the contents of a five-bedroom house. And a move to a city 30 miles away is apt to be cheaper than one that’s 300 miles away.

Angi says the average cost of a local move is $920 to $2,530. For a long-distance move, you’re looking at $2,700 to $10,000 on average.

Figure out what costs you’re looking at, and then crunch the numbers to see what sort of monthly loan payment you’ll be on the hook for. You’ll need to make sure that monthly payment works for you, since falling behind could have serious consequences.

Finally, keep in mind that personal loan lenders commonly impose a borrowing minimum. And if your move is on the less expensive side, you may not meet that minimum. So before you assume that financing a move with a personal loan is an option, do some research.

The good news is that different lenders set different requirements. So if one lender has a personal loan minimum of $5,000 and your move is only going to cost $2,500, you may be able to find a different lender to write a loan of that size. But make sure to give yourself time to do that research so there are no unpleasant surprises.

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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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