Money Management

Looking for a low-cost, delicious dinner idea? If you’re a Costco member, you can order an entire pizza for less than $10. Read on for the details. 

Costco is a fan favorite for shoppers who appreciate a good deal. The warehouse club sells bulk items at affordable prices, allowing consumers to keep more money in their checking accounts while stocking up on groceries and household essentials.

The retailer is also well known for its food court finds. After loading up your cart, you can visit Costco’s food court for a low-cost snack. One of the many food items you can score for cheap is pizza. Did you know that Costco sells pizza both by the slice and as a whole pie? I had no idea until recently.

You’ll get a good deal when you buy your pizza from Costco, since members can buy an entire Costco pizza for less than $1 per slice. Here’s what to know about this delicious deal so you can start planning an affordable pizza night with your favorite people.

Costco’s food court is iconic

Even if you’ve never stepped foot in a Costco, you’ve likely heard people talk about the retailer’s food court offerings. The brand is known for selling tasty, cheap eats. The warehouse club’s most famous food court deal is the hot dog combo, which includes an all-beef hot dog and a soda for only $1.50. But that’s not the only bargain you can find at the Costco food court.

You can also buy cheese pizza or pepperoni pizza by the slice. Shoppers who prefer to take an entire pie home for a quick and easy dinner can also buy a whole pizza. We researched prices by calling several Costco locations in the northeast United States. We discovered that an entire 18″ pizza costs $9.95 plus tax. However, prices may vary, so verify the price at your local club.

When opening your Costco pizza box, how many slices can you expect to see? The 18″ pizza usually comes with twelve slices. If you prefer, you can ask the food court to cut your pizza so it has eighteen slices. You can order pepperoni, cheese, or a half-pepperoni and half-cheese pizza. At this low price point, you can feed your entire family for less than $1 a slice!

How to order a Costco pizza

To order a pizza from your local club, you must order in person or by phone. The warehouse club doesn’t support online pizza ordering at this time. One option is to visit the food court to place your order. But if you want your pizza to be ready by the time you finish shopping, your best bet is to call in your order and ask for it to be prepared for a set time. If you’re a Costco member with a club near your home, this deal could be a win for your taste buds and wallet.

Look for ways to save for a low-cost dinner night in

When life gets extra busy, ordering takeout can be a convenient way to get dinner on the table. But you don’t have to spend a fortune — by taking advantage of deals like this, you can feed your entire crew without accumulating credit card debt.

You’ll need to be a Costco member to order a Costco pizza. But the yearly fee may be worthwhile, as a Costco membership has many perks. If you’re not ready to become a member, you can check with restaurants in your community to discover the best takeout deals. For additional ways to save money, check out our personal finance resources.

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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.Natasha Gabrielle 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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While some types of insurance are vital, others may be pointless and unnecessary. Read on to learn which types to avoid.. 

Do you have insurance for everything possible? You’re not alone. It’s always reassuring to know that you’re covered in case of an emergency or an unexpected event. However, there are some types of insurance that you don’t need or that could simply be a waste of money. While insurance can provide security, it’s important to understand which types of coverage are worth investing in and which are just an added expense.

1. Extended warranties

Extended warranties are often offered when purchasing electronics, appliances, and other big-ticket items. However, these warranties can be expensive and not worth the cost. Most products come with a manufacturer’s warranty that covers repairs.

Plus, if you use a credit card to purchase an item, some offer extended warranties as a perk. In addition, certain retailers (such as Costco) offer an extended warranty on certain products. Most electronics and appliance purchases are automatically enrolled from the date of purchase.

2. Rental car insurance

When you rent a car, the rental company will likely offer insurance coverage for an extra fee. However, most people’s existing auto insurance policies cover rental cars. In addition, many credit cards cover accidental damages to a rental car.

To access this coverage, you must use the credit card to book and pay for the rental and decline the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW/LDW) or similar coverage offered by the car rental company.

Before buying additional rental car insurance, check with your insurance provider or credit card company to see if rental cars are covered. If they are, you’ll save yourself the extra expense.

3. Travel insurance

While travel insurance appears to offer peace of mind, it may end up being a waste of your hard-earned money. Most travel insurance plans have loads of exclusions and require a lengthy claims process, making it difficult for travelers to recoup their losses.

And again, some credit cards offer free travel protection by covering most trip cancellations, lost bags, and other travel-related issues. In contrast, travel insurance may only duplicate coverage you already have, often with additional costs. By simply using your card to pay for flights and other travel expenses, you can access these valuable benefits.

However, travel insurance may be useful for international trips, and help protect you from any potential medical expenses that could arise while abroad. Keep in mind that if you join a tour group or book a travel package through a travel company, you may be required to purchase coverage.

4. Flight insurance

Flight insurance is often offered when booking a flight, but it’s unnecessary. Flight accident insurance provides a one-time payout in the event of death or dismemberment due to a plane crash.

However, most airlines already have policies in place to cover travelers in the event of an accident. Additionally, your personal life insurance policy may already cover you when traveling. Before purchasing flight insurance, review your existing coverage to see if it’s necessary.

5. Identity theft insurance

Identity theft insurance can provide some protection, but it’s often not necessary. Most credit card companies and financial institutions offer credit monitoring services for free, which can alert you to any unauthorized activity on your accounts.

Additionally, you can take steps to protect your identity, such as using strong passwords and shredding sensitive documents. Identity theft insurance may not be worth the cost, so do your research and determine if it’s necessary for your situation.

6. Whole life insurance

Whole life insurance is one of the most expensive insurance types available, mainly because it combines life insurance and investment plans. While it is true that certain kinds of life insurance are important, this particular type may not be ideal.

Most financial experts suggest avoiding whole life insurance and buying term life insurance instead and investing the difference in cost.

7. Mortgage life insurance

Mortgage life insurance promises to pay off your home loan, to help take care of your family’s finances in the event of your demise. Nevertheless, the policy comes with some significant disadvantages.

The coverage decreases as you pay down your mortgage, so your beneficiaries may not receive the full benefit. Additionally, mortgage life insurance doesn’t provide any residual benefits after the mortgage has been paid off.

So, if you are looking for optimal coverage for your family, it may be best to avoid mortgage life insurance.

8. Dealership gap insurance

Dealership gap insurance fills the gap between what you owe on your car and its market value if your car gets damaged in an accident or stolen. It’s usually offered by a car dealership when you purchase a brand new vehicle.

Instead of buying gap insurance at the dealership, you can add loan/lease payoff insurance to your auto insurance policy. This typically costs significantly less than what a dealership offers. In addition, making sure you’re up to date on monthly payments is more critical than buying gap insurance.

Insurance policies can be a valuable safety net for the things that you value most in life. However, it’s essential to make sure that they’re worth the cost. Before purchasing any insurance policy, it’s best to research and consult with professionals to ensure that you make the best possible decision. Undoubtedly, by wisely investing your insurance money, you can guarantee complete protection without wasting a cent.

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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 positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Don’t buy a home without considering the actual cost of homeownership. Read on for the extra costs you could spend thousands on each year. 

A home is a life-changing purchase. If you’re considering buying a house, you’ll want to prepare for all the costs associated with homeownership. You’ll need to budget for much more than your monthly mortgage payment. A recent study from Zillow and Thumbtack found that homeownership and maintenance costs can total over $14,000 per year for the average U.S. homeowner. Here’s how these expenses break down.

Additional costs beyond a mortgage can total $1,180 monthly

According to new data from Zillow and Thumbtack, additional costs beyond a mortgage payment can cost homeowners thousands of dollars annually. The report noted that home expenses and maintenance costs can add up to $14,155 per year for the average U.S. homeowner. That’s an additional $1,180 monthly, in addition to a mortgage payment.

Additional expenses that make a home purchase more costly include utility bills, property taxes, homeowners insurance, and essential home maintenance. Before purchasing a home, it’s important to consider all potential costs. If you don’t budget accordingly, you could end up house poor.

Unavoidable homeownership costs like property taxes, homeowners insurance, and utility expenses averaged $7,742 annually on a national basis. The same study found that the average homeowner spends $6,413 on annual home maintenance projects.

However, these costs can vary depending on the metro area. The study found that the top three metro areas with the highest hidden costs of homeownership were San Francisco, New York City, and Los Angeles. Homeowners in less costly parts of the country could pay much less.

How to prepare for the hidden costs of homeownership

Anyone considering buying a home in the future should further research the true cost of homeownership to figure out how much they can afford to spend on all monthly housing expenses. Budgeting for these expenses in advance can make it easier to set a home purchase price budget that works well for your personal finances.

Home insurance

Before purchasing a home, you can contact home insurance agencies to get home insurance quotes. You can provide home insurance companies with the ZIP code where you plan to buy and give an idea of the anticipated home features, size, age, and home value. It’s a good idea to get quotes from multiple insurance providers to get the best deal. You can keep more money in your checking account by shopping around and comparing rates.

Utility bills

There are a few ways to learn more about the potential utility costs you’ll pay in a new home. One way to research these prices is to contact utility companies in the area for a pricing estimate. For an estimate on electricity costs, you can look up the address on Redfin and use the built-in WattBuy feature to review the property’s current estimated electricity costs to better budget.

Property taxes

You can review property tax rates for your desired area using local and county websites and use this data to calculate property taxes. Alternatively, many home listings websites include property tax estimates. However, it’s worth noting that what the current owner is paying may not be accurate, especially if the county hasn’t assessed the home’s value recently. Buying a home could trigger an updated property tax assessment, especially if the home value has increased significantly.

Home maintenance

Don’t forget to consider the cost of home maintenance. Experts suggest annual home maintenance costs are around 1% to 4% of your home value. If you plan to buy a $250,000 home, you can expect to spend anywhere from $2,500 to $10,000 per year on home upkeep.

Set aside money regularly for home repairs and maintenance

One way to prepare for yearly home maintenance and repair costs is to save money regularly. This clever strategy can help you avoid credit card debt because when unexpected home repair or maintenance bills come your way, the money will already be in your savings account, ready to tap.

Now that you know what additional costs to prepare for as a homeowner, you can make a more informed purchase decision. Check out our list of the best mortgage lenders to learn more.

Our picks for the best credit cards

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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.Natasha Gabrielle has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Zillow Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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If you’re missing your refund and you filed your taxes on time, you may be getting worried. Read on to see what steps to take. 

This year, the average tax refund issued by the IRS was $2,812. But no matter what refund amount you’re due, you’re probably eager to see that money hit your checking account as soon as possible.

This year’s tax-filing deadline was April 18. If you submitted your tax return on time and your refund still hasn’t arrived, that’s a bit unusual, because the IRS commonly issues refunds for electronically-filed returns within 21 days.

Of course, if you filed your taxes on paper, it may be that it’s taking longer for the IRS to process your refund. But if you filed electronically by April 18, you probably should’ve gotten your money by now. So it pays to investigate if you haven’t.

Reasons your tax refund may be delayed

First of all, let’s get one thing clear. If you’re still missing your tax refund two months after having filed your return, it doesn’t automatically mean that there’s a problem or that your return is getting audited. It could be that there was a math mistake, or another error on your tax return, that the IRS has been trying to reconcile. That could result in a refund delay.

It could also be that you entered the wrong bank account information when you signed up for direct deposit. If that’s the case, what may have happened is that the IRS issued your refund only to have the bank it went to reject it. When that happens, the IRS will generally issue a check in the mail for your refund, which could explain the holdup.

Dig around for more information

It’s a good idea to investigate if it’s been more than three weeks since you filed your tax return electronically, or more than six weeks since you mailed in a paper tax return. And the first place to start is the IRS’s “Where’s My Refund?” tool.

To use this tool, you’ll need three pieces of information:

Your Social Security number or taxpayer ID numberYour tax-filing statusThe exact amount of your refund

From there, you might get more clarity about what’s taking your refund so long. Or, you might get a message advising you to contact the IRS for more information.

From there, you can call the IRS at 800-829-1040 to try to get more details about your refund. If you’re hearing impaired, you can call 800-829-4059.

The IRS says that telephone wait times can average 11 minutes between the months of May and December. But you may end up having to wait longer. However, it’s probably worth it, because speaking to a live person might clue you in as to what’s happening with your money.

Finally, you may be inclined to file a second tax return if your refund is still missing. Don’t. Doing so might only cause confusion and lead to further refund delays.

The IRS says you should only resubmit your tax return if you’re due a refund, you filed a paper return more than six months ago, and the “Where’s My Refund” tool does not show that your tax return was received by the IRS.

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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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Savings accounts are trustworthy and secure enough to store savings, but they do have risks. Read on to learn how to protect yourself. 

A savings account is one of the most secure places to store and protect your money. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insures nearly all banks up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank. So even if your bank follows the path of Lehman Brothers, Silicon Valley, and First Republic into failure, your savings would be insured up to that amount.

But for all its safety, there are a few scenarios in which your money could be jeopardized. While there are ways to protect yourself, here are three risks you should be aware of.

1. Your account is hacked

Within a bank, money is stored in airtight vaults, hence the elaborate drills Hollywood actors use to break into them. But when it comes to online savings accounts, all one needs is the correct username and password and the vault door will open wide on its own hinges.

But even here you have some protection. Federal law won’t hold you liable for unauthorized electronic transfers so long as you report the fraud within 60 days of it showing up on a periodic statement.

On the flip side, you might be liable if you don’t report it within 60 days, which is why it’s important to monitor your financial accounts. A 60-day window should be plenty of time to catch fraudulent activities, but you can opt in to receive account alerts for transfers and activities if you want extra security.

2. Your ATM card is stolen

Savings accounts don’t typically come with debit cards. But some come with ATM-only cards, which can’t be used to make purchases but will let you withdraw money from your bank’s ATMs. These cards typically require a PIN, but if the PIN and the card are stolen, someone would have access to your savings.

Again, you do have certain protections here, but they depend on when you report your ATM card missing or stolen. According to the Federal Trade Commission, here’s what your liability would be:

In sum, if you want full protection for your money, report your ATM card missing or stolen as soon as you realize it’s gone.

3. You let a ton of money sit in your account

Money you’ve set aside for emergencies and short-term savings goals, like buying a house, has a proper place in your savings account. But if you’re amassing money for retirement or other long-term goals you might run against another risk: forfeiting the potential for greater returns elsewhere, such as investing in the S&P 500.

This might seem counterintuitive. After all, wouldn’t it be more risky to invest in the stock market than to save money at a bank?

Yes, investing in stocks carries the risk of losing money. But don’t be fooled: Leaving your money in a savings account for long periods can also carry risks, such as earning interest at a rate below inflation or not growing your money sufficiently to eventually retire.

Over long periods, the S&P 500 has historically generated higher returns than the interest earned in a savings account. For instance, between 2012 and 2021, the average stock market return for the S&P 500 was roughly 14.8% annually. That’s a huge difference from the typical APY on a savings account during the same period, which was rarely above 1%.

But putting money into the stock market is risky, which is why it’s important to have cash saved alongside your investments. In this regard, savings accounts are some of the safest places to store your cash, as long as your bank is FDIC insured and you protect yourself from the scenarios listed above.

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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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