Money Management

Want to avoid expensive Thanksgiving flights? Here’s the best time to book to score cheaper plane tickets for Thanksgiving 2024. [[{“value”:”

It may only be early October, but the winter holidays will be here before we know it! Now is an ideal time to start thinking about your plans. If you’re traveling for Thanksgiving, that means booking your flights. Since so many people travel during that time of year, it’s common for flight prices to be higher than usual.

Here’s why you should book your tickets soon, for the benefit of your checking account.

October is the best time to book cheap Thanksgiving flights

Google Flights is a flight price comparison tool that makes it easy to find the cheapest flights. The Google Flights 2024 Travel Trends report includes valuable flight pricing information.

Google examined historical flight pricing data to determine when travelers should book airfare to score cheaper tickets for the holidays. If you plan to travel for Thanksgiving, you may want to book your tickets in the coming days.

Want to know when is the best time to book cheap Thanksgiving flights? According to Google’s research, domestic flight prices have been at their lowest 45 days before departure. Low airfare prices tend to be available 26 to 59 days out. So, if you want to arrive at your destination on Wednesday, Nov. 27 — booking around Oct. 13 is a good strategy.

However, you will likely find prices low when booking between now and Nov. 1. Today is Oct. 3, so this is an excellent reminder to book your tickets in the coming weeks. If you wait until later in November, you may spend much more than necessary.

Based on these findings, Google suggests buying plane tickets in early October to avoid overpaying. Google Flights offers search filters to help you compare airfare across multiple carriers. Tools like the date grid and price graph allow you to find the cheapest dates to fly.

Never used Google Flights? Now is an excellent time to give this free tool a try.

Here’s how to get rewarded when you travel

Timing when you buy airfare is one way to save. Here’s another way: Pay for travel bookings with a rewards credit card. Many travelers use travel rewards credit cards to earn rewards on their travel spending.

You can earn points, miles, or cash back and redeem them for travel — making a future trip more affordable. These credit cards make it easy to pay yourself back. Ready to earn travel rewards? Click here to review our curated list of top travel credit cards that offer big rewards.

If you prefer earning cash back rewards, another option is a cash back credit card. Check out our list of the best cash back credit cards to see how easy it is to earn cash rewards.

Here’s another strategy to help you save on flights

If you’re planning to book holiday plane tickets soon, I have another tip that could help you avoid overspending. Many airlines allow customers to cancel eligible flight bookings for a flight credit — free of cancellation fees. This applies to select bookings with eligible airlines.

Some savvy travelers monitor flight prices after booking and cancel and rebook if ticket prices drop. Keep in mind that basic economy tickets typically don’t qualify, and the flight credit provided may be non-transferable, meaning only you can use them.

Southwest is one airline that never charges cancellation fees as long as you cancel at least 10 minutes before the flight’s scheduled departure. Regardless of the airline you’re flying with, confirm the cancellation rules before canceling a ticket you’ve already booked.

Travel without breaking the bank

If you love to score the best deal, consider this strategy when booking flights in the future. Every dollar you save on travel expenses can make a difference. Thanks to free tools like Google Flights, it’s easy to find cheaper flights that can stretch your vacation budget further.

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

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Thinking about buying a backyard studio from Costco? Check out what you need to know before spending $17,000. [[{“value”:”

Costco’s catalog of odd and delightful finds just keeps growing. Somewhere between the giant tubs of mayo and high-end massage chairs, you may find something you didn’t expect: a 10’x12′ studio shed for $16,999.99. Yes, you read that right — Costco is selling a guest house.

But before you start picturing a cozy tiny house tucked away in your backyard, let’s dive into the details. Should you really make room in your Costco cart for a DIY backyard studio? Let’s break it down.

The $16,999.99 dream: A blank canvas or a blank check?

First, let’s address the elephant (or shed) in the room: the price. At $16,999.99, this studio shed might make your Costco membership fee seem like a drop in the bucket. That’s a solid chunk of change — especially considering you still need to figure out delivery, offloading, and assembling this bad boy yourself.

But it’s not your average garden-variety shed. It comes with all the bells and whistles you didn’t even know you needed. It has high-efficiency glass windows, French doors with brushed trim, and James Hardie siding primed and ready for whatever color palette your heart desires. Plus, that heavy-duty Galvalume roof system will shield your shed from corrosion and heat.

Sure, it’s not cheap, but you’re paying for more than just four walls and a roof. You’re getting a luxurious space that feels more like a chic backyard retreat. The possibilities are endless, whether you use it as a guest house, art studio, or glorified storage unit. Well, as long as you’re handy with a hammer (or know someone who is).

Keep in mind, though, that there’s no plumbing included — so if you plan on turning this into a functional guest house, you’ll need to bring in the professionals for that part of the project. Not quite as turnkey as a Costco rotisserie chicken, huh?

DIY assembly: Or should we say, DI-why?

This isn’t a simple pop-up tent scenario. You’re going to need a team of three or four people just to unload the massive pallets that get dropped curbside. The delivery service stops there, so it’s up to you and your crew to lug those components to their final resting spot in the backyard.

Once you’ve offloaded everything, it’s time to channel your inner contractor. The shed comes with fully panelized wall sections and easy-to-follow 3D instructions, but let’s not pretend that will make the process easy. This isn’t IKEA, folks.

While the 3D directions will certainly help, you’re still responsible for the actual labor, including constructing the heavy-duty roof system. This shed isn’t going to assemble itself.

And the interior comes completely unfinished, leaving you with a blank slate. While that’s exciting for anyone itching to flex their interior design muscles, it’s also another project — and potentially another expense. After all, if you’re paying close to $17,000 for a studio shed, do you really want to leave the inside looking like a plywood fort?

So, should you buy it?

Here’s the million-dollar (or $17,000) question: Should you buy a studio shed from Costco? Well, that depends.

If you’ve been dreaming of a sleek, modern backyard studio and have the time, skills, and friends to assemble it, then Costco’s Medano Studio Shed might just be your perfect match. It’s certainly not the cheapest or easiest project, but the final result is a versatile, aesthetically pleasing space that can serve as a home office, guest room, or creative studio.

However, if the idea of hauling pallets and spending weekends playing contractor doesn’t appeal to you, this might not be the right choice. Sure, the shed’s a beauty, but it’s still a DIY project that requires a good amount of elbow grease — and probably a few additional trips and Costco credit card charges for supplies you didn’t know you needed. Oh, and don’t forget about those plumbing upgrades if you’re planning to turn this into a proper guest house.

Ultimately, Costco delivers (literally) a luxury backyard experience, but whether it’s right for you depends on your budget, patience, and willingness to roll up your sleeves. And if you do go for it, just make sure you invite us over for a tour. We’ll bring the snacks.

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

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