Money Management

It pays to scoop up these bargains and save a bundle. 

Some people love shopping at Costco and can’t imagine what their fridges and pantries would look like without it. But not everyone is a fan of Costco. For some people, buying in bulk just isn’t desirable or feasible. And others don’t like the idea of having to pay an annual membership fee just to be able to walk into a warehouse club store.

But actually, it’s those very fees that allow Costco to continue offering competitive pricing. And in many cases, the cost of an annual membership can more than pay for itself in the form of savings during the year on items like groceries, household essentials, and apparel.

But in some cases, you might manage to score a single deal that’s substantial enough to more than pay for your annual membership — which, right now, is $60 for the basic version and $120 for an executive membership. In fact, these five deals are so huge that the amount you stand to save is at least triple the cost of an annual basic membership.

1. Whirlpool 19.2 cubic foot Counter Depth 4-Door Refrigerator

Need a new fridge? Costco is offering this model for $750 off, which is well more than three times what you’ll spend on a basic or even executive annual membership. Plus, when you buy this Whirlpool model through Costco, you’ll enjoy free delivery and installation as well as a two-year warranty.

2. HP 17.3″ Laptop

Need a new mid-range laptop — one that has more oomph than a Chromebook but isn’t a $1,000+ investment? Then consider a new HP laptop at Costco. This 17.3-inch model comes with a 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1235U (10-Core) Processor, great speakers, and a full-size backlit keyboard. Right now, Costco is offering it for $200 off, which is a little bit more than three times the cost of a basic membership.

3. ECOVACS DEEBOT N8 Vacuuming & Mopping Robot with Advanced Mapping

If you have children or pets at home, then vacuuming is something you probably do on a regular basis — but you don’t have to. If you invest in a robot vacuum cleaner, you can outsource that task to a machine and free up hours during your week. This ECOVACS model is actually a combination vacuum and mop, so it’s more likely to actually get your floors as clean as you want them to be. And right now, Costco has this model on sale for $200 off.

4. KitchenAid Stainless Steel 8-Burner Grill

Though it’s hardly the season to be thinking about barbecues, if you’re looking to take your grilling game to the next level, then it could pay to invest in this KitchenAid model. You’ll get 1,180 square inches of total cooking surface, plus a grill cover. Right now, Costco has this model available for $400 off, so even if you don’t plan to do any grilling for the next few months, it could pay to scoop it up now.

5. ProForm Pro 9000 Smart Treadmill

If your New Year’s resolution is to exercise more in 2023, then a treadmill could be your ticket to meeting that goal. And right now, Costco has this ProForm model on sale for $200 off. It comes with an interactive touchscreen display and can be folded up when not in use to save space.

At a time when so many people are raiding their savings accounts to keep up with inflation, shopping at Costco could help your paycheck go further. And these specific deals can more than make up for the fee you pay to access Costco’s bargains year round.

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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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Image source: Getty Images
What Happened: In 2023, Delta Air Lines plans to gradually roll out free in-flight WiFi on many of its flights. If successful, more travelers will be able to stay connected mid-flight without spending extra money. It’s expected that fliers would need to enter their SkyMiles loyalty number to access the Internet. This membership program is free to join. So What: Delta is a major U.S. airline with a loyal customer base. The airline and most of its competitors provide WiFi service, when available, at an additional cost. Costs vary, but free WiFi service available to all fliers (regardless of airline status or ticket type) is not typical. JetBlue is the only U.S.-based airline that offers free WiFi to all fliers.
Discover: This card has one of the longest intro 0% interest periods aroundMore: Consolidate debt with one of these top-rated balance transfer credit cards
If Delta begins offering free WiFi to all customers on all flights, it may entice other carriers to do the same. Airline ticket costs are high, so this would be welcome news to frequent fliers as it would cut down on additional travel expenses and provide more incentive to fly with Delta. At this time, Delta is testing its WiFi infrastructure by rolling out this feature to select travelers on select routes. As noted in The Wall Street Journal, when asked for more information about this news in November, Delta Chief Customer Experience Officer Allison Ausband said, “It’s complex to do, but we are actively testing it right now, and it’s working.” Now What: No one likes being nickel and dimed with extra fees. This change would allow more travelers to remain connected without paying an extra expense. However, this news may have some Delta cardholders wondering if they will get less value from their airline credit cards if it’s implemented. The good news is Delta cardholders likely won’t experience a loss of value from their cards. That’s because no Delta cards currently offer free WiFi as a perk. Delta credit cards include in-flight discounts in the form of a statement credit. However, Wi-Fi purchases aren’t eligible. No matter which credit card you have in your wallet, regularly reviewing your card benefits is good practice to ensure you continue to get value from the card. If you’re ready for a change, you may want to explore other travel rewards credit cards.Top credit card wipes out interest until 2024If you have credit card debt, transferring it to this top balance transfer card secures you a 0% intro APR for up to 21 months! Plus, you’ll pay no annual fee. Those are just a few reasons why our experts rate this card as a top pick to help get control of your debt. Read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.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 recommends Delta Air Lines. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 

What Happened: In 2023, Delta Air Lines plans to gradually roll out free in-flight WiFi on many of its flights. If successful, more travelers will be able to stay connected mid-flight without spending extra money. It’s expected that fliers would need to enter their SkyMiles loyalty number to access the Internet. This membership program is free to join.

So What: Delta is a major U.S. airline with a loyal customer base. The airline and most of its competitors provide WiFi service, when available, at an additional cost. Costs vary, but free WiFi service available to all fliers (regardless of airline status or ticket type) is not typical. JetBlue is the only U.S.-based airline that offers free WiFi to all fliers.

If Delta begins offering free WiFi to all customers on all flights, it may entice other carriers to do the same. Airline ticket costs are high, so this would be welcome news to frequent fliers as it would cut down on additional travel expenses and provide more incentive to fly with Delta.

At this time, Delta is testing its WiFi infrastructure by rolling out this feature to select travelers on select routes. As noted in The Wall Street Journal, when asked for more information about this news in November, Delta Chief Customer Experience Officer Allison Ausband said, “It’s complex to do, but we are actively testing it right now, and it’s working.”

Now What: No one likes being nickel and dimed with extra fees. This change would allow more travelers to remain connected without paying an extra expense. However, this news may have some Delta cardholders wondering if they will get less value from their airline credit cards if it’s implemented.

The good news is Delta cardholders likely won’t experience a loss of value from their cards. That’s because no Delta cards currently offer free WiFi as a perk. Delta credit cards include in-flight discounts in the form of a statement credit. However, Wi-Fi purchases aren’t eligible.

No matter which credit card you have in your wallet, regularly reviewing your card benefits is good practice to ensure you continue to get value from the card. If you’re ready for a change, you may want to explore other travel rewards credit cards.

Top credit card wipes out interest until 2024

If you have credit card debt, transferring it to this top balance transfer card secures you a 0% intro APR for up to 21 months! Plus, you’ll pay no annual fee. Those are just a few reasons why our experts rate this card as a top pick to help get control of your debt. Read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

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 recommends Delta Air Lines. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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There’s at least some relief to be had. 

It’s fair to say that inflation has been wreaking havoc on consumers since the start of 2022. In fact, inflation actually began to surge in 2021, but things really got out of hand in that regard this year.

One thing that made matters worse earlier on in 2022 was soaring gas prices. The Russia-Ukraine conflict sent the cost of gas upward, to the point where consumers were paying more than $5 a gallon on average back in June.

But these days, it costs a lot less to fill up a car. On Dec. 19, the national average cost of gas fell to $3.14 a gallon. And given that many consumers are now dealing with holiday expenses on top of soaring inflation, that dip in gas prices couldn’t have come at a better time.

Even more ways to save

It’s estimated that 21 states now have gas for sale at below $3 a gallon. And given that many people no doubt have plans to travel for the holiday later this month, that dip couldn’t have come at a better time.

But even though gas prices are down across the country, there are still steps you can take to spend less at the pump. For one thing, always look to see if there’s a cash discount available. It’s perfectly legal for gas stations to charge a different price for cash fill-ups versus credit card fill-ups as long as they post their prices clearly. But in some cases, using cash instead of a credit card could save you a good $0.10 per gallon.

That said, not every gas station offers different pricing for gas versus credit card fill-ups. So in that case, you might as well swipe your credit card and score some cash back in the process.

In fact, if you do a lot of driving, it pays to get a credit card that gives you extra cash back at the pump. Some cards will offer 3% or 4% back on fill-ups of up to a certain annual limit, but that limit may be more than reasonable given the amount of driving you do.

Another way to save money on gas? Get savvier about planning out your errands. Bundling trips to the store and changing your routine could help you spend less at a time when you might already be carrying some holiday debt.

What does 2023 have in store for gas prices?

It’s really hard to know. If the conflict overseas escalates, it could be enough to drive gas prices upward again. And other factors can come into play that influence how much you’re forced to spend at the pump. Even weather events can have an impact on gas prices.

Your best bet, therefore, is to stick to a careful budget so there’s wiggle room in case the cost of gas rises. At the same time, do what you can to eke out savings at the pump, whether by using the right payment method or changing your driving habits.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until 2024

If you’re using the wrong credit or debit card, it could be costing you serious money. Our expert loves this top pick, which features a 0% intro APR until 2024, 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 expert even uses 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