Money Management

Even excellent savings can’t make up for a terrible shopping experience. Here’s how to avoid the Costco crowds. [[{“value”:”

Between the deals and the bulk discounts, it’s easy to save money at Costco. But all the savings in the world are not enough to make a Costco warehouse tolerable when it’s packed with a sea of oversized carts jousting for free sample access.

If you’re tired of battling the crowds, changing when you shop at Costco can make a big difference. Here’s a look at the best — and worst — times to make your Costco trips.

Best time: Weekdays, any time outside 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Based on many Costco visits, reading a lot of social media opinions, and consulting the Google Maps data for a dozen different locations, the consensus is that the best time to go to Costco is on a weekday, provided you avoid the typical “after work” hours.

That said, if you want the absolute smallest crowd possible, Google’s “Popular times” charts show the least busy times are just before closing during the weekdays, which would be between about 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., depending on your store’s specific hours of operation.

Bonus tip: If you want to really improve your Costco efficiency, use the Costco mobile app to make lists and check sales. The app also gives you access to your digital membership card, as well as mobile pay if you have a Costco cobranded credit card.

Check out our picks for the best credit cards for Costco spending to earn more cash back at the warehouse club.

Worst time: Weekends, pretty much any time

You only need to drive by the Costco parking lot on a Saturday or Sunday to know the absolute worst time to go is on the weekend.

Folks who want to test their patience (and faith in humanity) to the max can head into the store either day between 11 a.m. and about 4 p.m. Be warned, this experience is not for the faint of heart (or short of temper).

If you absolutely can’t avoid heading to Costco on the weekend, your best bet is to be there when the store opens. Also, use your shopping list and don’t waste too much time browsing. Try to be out in under an hour if you don’t want to fight your way out of the parking lot.

Other options for avoiding the Costco crowds

The only sure way to avoid the crowds at Costco is abstinence — that is, to not go to the Costco stores in the first place. Here are a few ways you can still get your bulk buys without dealing with bulk-sized crowds.

Shopping Costco.com

Depending on your needs, you may be able to get a lot of your Costco shopping done through Costco.com. A lot of household items, including many Kirkland Signature paper goods, are available through the website.

Now, there are a few downsides here. For one, you can’t buy many grocery items, and definitely nothing cold. You also miss out on in-store-only items from other departments.

Additionally, Costco.com has a fairly large markup on most items over the in-warehouse prices, and that’s before you add on any applicable shipping charges, although many items ship free. (You can also get the shipping fees waived on many items by spending at least $75 per order.)

Ordering delivery through Instacart

For pretty much any other store, I’d caution against the hit to your budget from Instacart markups. But ordering Costco Same-Day through Instacart is surprisingly not terrible on markups in my experience.

Will you pay more for items than shopping in the store? Very likely — but it probably isn’t as bad as you think. And if you’re busy and/or don’t want to deal with the crowds, that extra cost could be well worth the benefits to your time and sanity.

Another big perk of using Instacart is that it (generally) codes as a supermarket. So you can potentially use a good grocery rewards card for up to 6% cash back on your purchases.

No sample is that good

One argument I hear from people about why they go during the busiest times is that’s when all the samples are out. Well, friends, I am here to tell you that no sample you will ever eat is good enough — or valuable enough — to make up for the nonsense of shopping at Costco on a weekend. This is one time when paying full price for something you want to try is absolutely the better move.

Top credit card to use at Costco (and everywhere else!)

We love versatile credit cards that offer huge rewards everywhere, including Costco! This card is a standout among America’s favorite credit cards because it offers perhaps the easiest $200 cash bonus you could ever earn and an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, even when you shop at Costco.

Add on the competitive 0% interest period and it’s no wonder we awarded this card Best No Annual Fee Credit Card.

Click here to read our full review for free and apply before the $200 welcome bonus offer ends!

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.Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Brittney Myers has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet and Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Are you planning to buy gift cards soon? If you’re a Costco member, you may be able to save money on them. Check out these Costco gift card deals. [[{“value”:”

Many shoppers join warehouse clubs like Costco to save money when buying groceries, household essentials, toiletries, electronics, and clothes. But there are other ways to save at Costco — including buying discounted gift cards.

If you’re a member, check to see if you can keep more money in your checking account by purchasing gift cards from Costco.

You can use discounted gift cards to pay for everyday purchases at your favorite retailers or give them as presents. Ready to save even more at Costco? Here are a few notable gift card deals from Costco that offer savings of up to $50.

1. Domino’s Pizza: Four $25 electronic gift cards for $74.99

I don’t know about you, but ordering pizza is one of my favorite ways to kick the weekend off. Eating delivery pizza in my pajamas is my idea of a fun Friday night. If your family likes to get pizza delivered, you’re in luck. Costco sells discounted electronic Domino’s gift cards. You can buy a four-pack of $25 e-gift cards for $74.99, a savings of $25.01.

2. Cinemark Theatres: $50 electronic gift card for $39.99

Another worthwhile gift card that offers big savings is a $50 Cinemark Theatres electronic gift card. You’ll pay $39.99 when you buy it at Costco. This gift card can be used to pay for movie tickets, food, drinks, and merchandise. This deal makes for the perfect affordable date night.

Want to save even more when you shop at Costco? You can earn cash back rewards when you swipe your credit card at checkout. Click here to review our top credit card picks for Costco to boost your savings by earning cash back rewards.

3. Uber: Two $50 electronic gift cards for $79.99

Another deal you don’t want to ignore is a pack of two $50 Uber gift cards. You’ll get two electronic gift cards totaling $100 in value that you can use to pay for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides. You’ll pay $79.99 instead of $100, which is a savings of $20.01.

I just spent $30 on an Uber ride yesterday, so this gift card purchase could have saved me money. Since I’m a Costco member, I’m going to take advantage of this deal before taking my next Uber ride.

4. Southwest Airlines: $500 electronic gift card for $449.99

Here’s another deal that will appeal to travelers. Costco sells a $500 Southwest electronic gift card for just $449.99. If you like to fly with Southwest Airlines, that’s a steal of a deal. You can use this gift card at Southwest.com, Southwest ticket counters, or call 1-800-I-FLY-SWA.

Note: This is the typical price that Costco sells this Southwest gift card for, but if you keep an eye out, especially around the holidays, it occasionally goes on sale for as low as $419.99.

Take advantage of opportunities to save big

Investing in a warehouse club membership like Costco is an excellent strategy for those who want to stretch their dollars further. As a Costco member, you can save more money by shopping valuable deals like these. To join, you must pay a membership fee of $65 to $130 annually. But for many, the yearly membership fee is well worth the money they save.

Another way to save is by earning cash back by paying with the right credit card. If you pay for Costco hauls with a credit card, make sure you’re earning rewards. Check out our list of the top cash back credit cards with big rewards.

Top credit card to use at Costco (and everywhere else!)

We love versatile credit cards that offer huge rewards everywhere, including Costco! This card is a standout among America’s favorite credit cards because it offers perhaps the easiest $200 cash bonus you could ever earn and an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, even when you shop at Costco.

Add on the competitive 0% interest period and it’s no wonder we awarded this card Best No Annual Fee Credit Card.

Click here to read our full review for free and apply before the $200 welcome bonus offer ends!

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 and Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends Southwest Airlines. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Is now the right time to open a CD? Maybe not. See why buying this one special investment could be a better move for your extra cash. [[{“value”:”

The recent Fed rate cut in September 2024 made a lot of people wonder if now is the right time to lock in a long-term CD. But here’s the problem: CDs make you lock up your money, and they don’t earn that high of a yield. CDs’ early withdrawal penalties aren’t the best fit for most people’s emergency savings, and their low yields aren’t a good fit for longer-term investing.

If you have a decent amount of cash beyond your short-term emergency fund, what should you do with your extra cash instead of opening a CD? Think about opening a brokerage account and investing that money in a diversified portfolio of stocks, like an S&P 500 index fund.

Let’s look at how you can invest your extra cash to hopefully earn higher returns than CDs.

When to invest in stocks instead of opening a CD

Not everyone should use their extra cash to buy stocks. If you don’t already have a few months’ worth of expenses in cash in a bank account for emergencies, you should build up those short-term savings first. But many Americans might have extra cash sitting on the sidelines.

If you don’t need your cash for immediate emergencies or short-term financial goals like buying a car or home, you might want to invest your cash in the stock market. One of the best ways to do this is by buying a low-fee S&P 500 index fund (which holds the 500 largest publicly traded U.S. companies), preferably purchased through a 401(k) or IRA.

Click here to see our list of the best IRA accounts and how these online brokers can help you invest extra cash by buying stocks.

Now let’s look at how much more you can earn by investing in the S&P 500 index instead of opening a CD.

How much the S&P 500 index earns vs. the best CDs

As of Oct. 12, 2024, the best CDs were offering 4.70% APY on 1-year terms. But in the past year, the S&P 500 has gained 33.69%. $10,000 invested in the S&P 500 index one year ago would be worth about $13,369 today, while a 4.70% APY CD would only be worth $10,470. That’s a difference of $2,899.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results, and the S&P 500 index has a risk of loss, like all investments. Stocks, including the S&P 500, go up and down, sometimes for mysterious reasons. The S&P 500 index can go up 30% or more in a year, and it can go down by 20% or more in a year (like it did recently in 2022, when it lost about 19%).

If you can’t stand the thought of losing money to investment risk, you should keep your cash in a savings account.

But if you have extra cash you don’t need this year or next, you could earn a lot more by investing that money in stocks with the S&P 500 index. For the past 30 years, the S&P 500 index has delivered a compound average annual growth rate of 10.7%.

Here are a few comparisons of how much you could earn by investing $10,000 in the S&P 500 index (assuming 10.7% CAGR) vs. the best CDs (with APYs shown for various CD terms).

Even the best 5-year CDs can’t compete with the compounding power of average returns from the S&P 500 index. If you’re able to invest your money for the long term, and you can stomach some short-term ups and downs (the S&P 500 index does not always deliver 10.7% per year, but over time it tends to), investing can be a better deal for your money than even the best CDs.

Bottom line

Don’t assume that CDs are the best place for your cash. If you already have an emergency fund in the bank, if you have the risk tolerance and time horizon to invest in stocks, the S&P 500 index can outperform even the best CDs. Buying and holding the S&P 500 index for the next few years could be a better money move than opening a CD.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to 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.The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Costco memberships offer a ton of value. Read on to see how to avoid having yours revoked. [[{“value”:”

One of the best steps you can take to save money on groceries and everyday essentials is to join Costco. The warehouse club giant is known for its competitive prices on items like bulk food, paper products, cleaning supplies, and more.

Plus, as a member, not only can you maximize your savings at Costco, but you can also enjoy a host of perks that range from cheap gas that’s high in quality to discounted gift cards. And if you book a trip through Costco Travel, you might end up paying a lot less to visit your dream destination.

There’s a whole lot of money to be saved by shopping at Costco — especially if you use the right credit cards. Click here for a list of credit cards offering amazing rewards for Costco members. But if you’re not careful, you might lose out on the opportunity to shop there for good.

Because Costco memberships offer so much value, it’s important to make sure you’re not putting yours at risk of getting revoked. Here are a few actions that could result in your membership being terminated, so it’s important to avoid them at all costs.

1. Abusing the store’s return policy

For the most part, as a Costco member, you can bring back any item you buy at any time for a full refund. But if you go overboard, Costco might revoke your membership — which it has the right to do at any time, as noted in the fine print.

You may be wondering what’s considered excessive in the context of Costco returns. Unfortunately, there aren’t clear guidelines. So your best bet is to make sure your returns are reasonable by nature.

This means a few different things. First, if you buy 27 items a month at Costco, don’t return 23 of them often. Returning two or three is probably fine. But if you make a large number of returns regularly, it could raise a red flag.

Also, if you’re going to return food on the basis of not liking the taste — which you’re allowed to do — make sure you’re bringing back at least 50% of the item in question. Otherwise, it looks as if you’re trying to game the system.

If you buy a tub of peanut butter–filled pretzels at Costco, bust it open, and decide that it tastes stale, Costco shouldn’t give you a problem if there are five or six nuggets missing. But if you bring back only a quarter of the tub, not only are you unlikely to get your money back, but you might put your membership at risk if you do this repeatedly.

2. Abusing the store’s guest policy

Your Costco membership gives you the right to bring any children you have and up to two guests with you into the store. But if you abuse that policy, you risk having your membership taken away.

Chances are, you won’t abuse the guest policy by inviting 17 of your closest friends for a Costco outing. But if you’re letting friends borrow your membership card and visit the store without you, that is violating the guest policy. So don’t do it — especially now that Costco is cracking down on memberships by installing card scanners at the front of many of its stores.

3. Being rude or inappropriate at the store

Acting rudely or inappropriately might get you kicked out of any store. At Costco, you risk not only a one-time ousting but the loss of your membership.

If you’re unhappy about something related to your Costco experience, your best bet is to broach the topic calmly with customer service. Also, read the store’s policies so you’re able to go in with accurate expectations.

For example, you can only return electronics for a refund within 90 days. If you bring back a laptop after 100 days expecting a refund, you might understandably get upset over not being able to get your money back. But if you read the store’s policies carefully, you’ll see that if you’re denied a refund in that case, it’s because you waited too long — not because the customer service person you’re working with is trying to be difficult.

Don’t put your membership at risk

Remember, a big part of Costco’s business model is making money on membership fees. So it’s in the store’s best interest to keep you as a customer. And it generally only revokes memberships in extreme situations. Being careful and avoiding the mistakes above could make it so you can remain a lifelong Costco member — and enjoy big savings for many more years to come.

Top credit card to use at Costco (and everywhere else!)

We love versatile credit cards that offer huge rewards everywhere, including Costco! This card is a standout among America’s favorite credit cards because it offers perhaps the easiest $200 cash bonus you could ever earn and an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, even when you shop at Costco.

Add on the competitive 0% interest period and it’s no wonder we awarded this card Best No Annual Fee Credit Card.

Click here to read our full review for free and apply before the $200 welcome bonus offer ends!

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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Costco didn’t just install scanners in stores to crack down on membership sharing. Read on to see what the strategy entails. [[{“value”:”

It’s not unusual for stores to make changes to policies and practices over time. And Costco is no exception.

In recent months, Costco has taken to installing membership card scanners at the front of its stores. And the general consensus is that Costco’s goal in doing so is to put an end to membership sharing.

Indeed, Costco has been cracking down on non-members by banning them from its food courts. This change seems to fall in line with that strategy.

But actually, there’s another big reason Costco opted to install membership card scanners. And it’s one that could benefit you a lot as a regular shopper.

It’s a matter of managing Costco’s inventory

If you’ve ever shopped at a Costco store before, you most likely encountered a lot of people. Costco stores tend to see a lot of foot traffic in general. But sometimes, that traffic can be inconsistent, making it harder to ensure an adequate supply of inventory.

During the company’s most recent earnings call, President and CEO Ron Vachris explained that the purpose of the new scanners isn’t just to make sure that non-members aren’t sneaking in. It’s also to track inventory based on the number of customers who are coming into the store at different times.

As he said, “It gives our operators real-time traffic counts throughout the day. So, we’re able to adjust front-end lines that we need to open and close lines based on the fluctuations of business. We can monitor our fresh foods a little better because we know what the traffic counts look like and so forth.”

Another reason behind the decision to install scanners is to see if memberships are up for renewal. If so, Costco can direct members who need to renew to customer service so they don’t hold up the checkout lines. And given the store’s notoriously long lines, that’s a good thing.

As Vachris said, the scanners have “taken the friction of membership verification away from the front-end registers and moved that to the front door, where we’re able to look at people’s membership status. We let them know if their renewal is due before they get to the front end.”

A better customer experience could be coming

It’s clear that Costco has been making changes in recent months, including implementing a fee hike that raised the cost of a Gold Star membership from $60 to $65 per year and the cost of an Executive membership from $120 to $130 per year. But ultimately, even that change has the potential to lead to a better customer experience.

Costco uses the revenue it brings in from membership fees to offset its costs and offer up the low prices it’s known for. Costco can also use that revenue to expand its product line and services. And that, coupled with better inventory management, might actually make for a better experience for members.

After all, there’s nothing more frustrating than trekking out to Costco only to find that a few items on your list aren’t in stock. With this new system, that may be less likely to happen.

Of course, as a member, a good experience often boils down to saving as much money as possible. And you shouldn’t just rely on Costco’s low prices to maximize your savings. Instead, be savvy with the credit card you use for your purchases. Click here for a list of the best credit cards for Costco, and get ready to enjoy a host of rewards.

Top credit card to use at Costco (and everywhere else!)

We love versatile credit cards that offer huge rewards everywhere, including Costco! This card is a standout among America’s favorite credit cards because it offers perhaps the easiest $200 cash bonus you could ever earn and an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, even when you shop at Costco.

Add on the competitive 0% interest period and it’s no wonder we awarded this card Best No Annual Fee Credit Card.

Click here to read our full review for free and apply before the $200 welcome bonus offer ends!

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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Want to upgrade your ticket for an upcoming flight? It may be cheaper than you think if you score affordable in-app airfare upgrades — learn how here. [[{“value”:”

You might assume that the only way to get a flight upgrade is by shelling out a lot of money. But believe it or not, you don’t need to be super rich or an elite flyer to get an airfare upgrade. A cheap seat upgrade may be available through your airline’s mobile app.

Many airlines promote seat upgrade offers in their mobile apps for customers who have already purchased plane tickets. While you must pay extra to upgrade your existing seat, you may be able to score an upgrade for a reasonable price.

Want to fly in style without going broke? Here’s what you need to know before your next flight.

See if you can upgrade your plane ticket for a fee

If you’re departing for a trip soon and want a more comfortable flight experience, you may want to see if an affordable upgrade is available. Most airlines display upgrade offers in their mobile app. You can view these offers by selecting an existing reservation through your account.

If you’re not a mobile app user, an alternative way to see upgrade offers is by logging into your account through your airline’s website.

Here’s how it works: If a seat upgrade is available, the airline will list the fare type (e.g., business class) and the fee to upgrade. The fee is the amount you must pay to upgrade your ticket, in addition to what you already paid for your initial airfare. If you like an upgrade offer, follow the prompts to accept it and submit payment details.

Want to get rewarded for upgrading your ticket? Use a credit card that earns cash back rewards. Click here to review our list of the best cash back credit cards with big rewards.

It pays to check upgrade offers repeatedly

Remember that upgrades may be unavailable if all premium seats are already booked. But if there are unsold premium seats, your airline may be eager to upgrade a paying customer for a fee rather than let the flight take off with an empty seat, or upgrade an elite flyer for free.

Here’s one big tip: in-app upgrade offers change. The price you see listed today may be different from the price you see later this evening, three days from now, or a week before departure. It’s beneficial to review offers periodically. An expensive upgrade could become much more affordable later. Don’t assume an upgrade is out of reach for you financially.

Here’s how I made a long-haul trip more comfortable

Last winter, my husband and I took a long-haul international overnight flight to attend a wedding celebration. We bought economy tickets several months before departure, but I knew there was little chance of either of us arriving rested if we flew in cramped economy seats.

Several weeks before departure, I checked the in-app offer to see if I could score an affordable upgrade for both of us. At first, upgrade prices were showing as over $1,500 per person — which was out of budget. But later, prices dipped to $655 each. I was able to upgrade both our tickets to business class for a total of $1,310. At that price, an upgrade felt well worth it.

If you want to improve your flight experience, check for in-app upgrade offers.

Earn travel rewards you can redeem for free travel

When booking travel arrangements, consider the best way to pay. You can take advantage of the opportunity to earn rewards when you swipe your top-rated credit card for travel purchases like hotel stays, flights, and more.

You can redeem your rewards for flights and hotel stays, making a future vacation less costly. For many travelers, this strategy allows them to see more of the world. Ready to get rewarded? Click here to see our list of the best travel rewards credit cards to find your ideal card.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to 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 has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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