Money Management

It’s a great time to become a Costco member, despite a recent fee hike. Read on to see why. [[{“value”:”

On Sept. 1, Costco raised its annual membership fees from $60 to $65 for a Gold Star membership and $120 to $130 for an Executive membership offering 2% cash back on purchases. In spite of that, there are plenty of good reasons to join Costco this October. Here are a few worth considering.

1. You can get access to some of the best seasonal baked goods in town

Costco’s bakery churns out a wide assortment of breads and pastries on a daily basis. And if you’re a fan of fall flavors, now’s a good time to get a membership.

For a limited time, Costco has its pumpkin streusel muffins back in stock. These only tend to be available for a couple of months, but if you love pumpkin, they’re absolutely worth trying. Plus, during this time of the year, Costco’s bakery tends to feature other cozy fall favorites like apple pie, pumpkin pie, and pumpkin cheesecake.

You should also know that Costco’s bakery prices are extremely affordable. While prices vary by store, a 12-pack of jumbo muffins might cost you as little as $9.99.

At a local bakery, you might pay $4 or $5 for a single muffin that’s not nearly as large as one from Costco. And if you already know you’re on tap to host Thanksgiving, the savings on desserts alone could justify your decision to join Costco this month.

Plus, if you use the right credit cards, you can pocket generous rewards on your Costco purchases. Check out our top list of credit cards that offer great rewards for Costco shoppers.

2. You can save big on gas — and get better performance out of your tank

Costco is known to have some of the least expensive gas in town. But it’s not just that you’re looking at paying less money per gallon. You might also get better performance out of a Costco fill-up than a fill-up elsewhere.

Costco’s gas is TOP TIER™ certified, which means it’s designed to keep your engine running smoothly. You may find that your car performs better on a whole if you keep filling it up at Costco.

3. You can load up for Halloween without breaking the bank

It’s nice to have plenty of Halloween candy on hand for trick-or-treaters. But if you’re on a budget, your generosity could catch up to you.

Costco’s got you covered for Halloween candy. Right now, you can snag a 90-ounce bag of mixed miniatures for $22.99, or a price of $0.26 per ounce at Costco.com. And you should know that Costco’s prices are typically higher online than in stores, which means this assortment might cost even less if you buy it in person.

Amazon has a comparable bulk candy assortment that costs $26.97 for a 45.18-ounce bag. So there, you’re paying about $0.60 per ounce, which is a huge difference.

And if you’re looking to be that person who hands out full-sized candy bars, Costco can save you money there, too. Right now through Oct. 6, Costco is offering $7.20 off of a 30-count of assorted bars and M&M packs, bringing your cost per item to just $0.83 based on the online price. At Amazon, a similar full-sized assortment will cost you more like $1.09 per bar.

You should know that Costco doesn’t just sell Halloween candy. You can also buy everything from decorations to costumes if you act quickly while these items are still in stock.

Even though it recently got more expensive to join Costco, the savings you enjoy could more than make up for your membership fee — especially if you’re also able to maximize your credit card rewards at Costco. So it pays to consider signing up this month and seeing how things go.

And remember, Costco stands behind its memberships. If you end up unhappy with yours, you can always cancel for a full refund, so there’s no risk in giving it a try.

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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.John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Maurie Backman has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon and Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Costco has some great offers available this month. Read on to learn more about what the spooky month at Costco holds. [[{“value”:”

The nice thing about shopping at Costco is that there’s pretty much always a good deal to be had. But sometimes, Costco piles on the savings by offering money off the staple items it carries.

Such is the case this October. So if you’re eager to spend less on the things you want and need, here are some limited-time deals worth checking out.

1. $5 off Bounty Advanced paper towels

If you use paper towels at home as much as I do, then you know that stocking up when they’re on sale is a smart bet. Right now though Oct. 20, you can score $5 off a 12-count of Bounty Advanced paper towel rolls, bringing the online price to $24.99.

A quick note on online prices, though. Costco builds the cost of shipping and handling into its prices, so you’re pretty much always going to pay more online than in the store. And sometimes, it’s quite a bit more. But these deals apply to both online and in-store purchases, so for maximum savings, it’s best to snag them in person.

As a parent who’s tackled her fair share of spills, I can tell you that Bounty paper towels are superior to any other I’ve ever tried. So not only do you get savings in the form of a lower price on Bounty rolls right now, but you can also save money by virtue of not having to use as many paper towels to deal with a mess.

And if you love the idea of saving money, click here for our top list of credit cards that offer great rewards for Costco shoppers.

2. $7.20 off a 30-count of full-sized candy bars

Halloween is right around the corner. If you want to be that house that trick-or-treaters rave about all night, giving out full-sized candy bars is the way to go. And right now, you can save $7.20 on a variety pack of favorites like M&Ms, Snickers, Milky Way, and Twix — 30 in all.

Now that said, if you get a lot of trick-or-treaters, handing out full-sized bars to each and every one may not be good for your wallet. But if you only tend to get a handful of kids and can swing the full-sized giveaways, grab this deal for an online price of $24.79 before it ends on Oct. 6.

3. $5 off the Brentwood Originals Oversized Waterproof Pet Blanket and Furniture Protector

We all love our pets. But we don’t love the damage they sometimes cause.

Case in point: Last month, my dog ripped up my beloved discount furniture store couch that survived years of abuse from rowdy toddlers and has been a mainstay in my living room for 15 years. And to think that I could have avoided that scenario — and the cost of a replacement couch, since mine can’t be fixed — by investing in a pet blanket and furniture protector.

If you have pets, don’t fall into the same trap as me. Grab this oversized pet blanket and furniture protector from Costco while it’s available for $5 off through the 20th of the month. After the discount, you can snag this furniture protector for just $19.99. It’s soft enough to keep your pets cozy and is washable for easy care.

4. $3 off a four-pack of Lysol Disinfecting Wipes

In many parts of the country, October means the start of cold and flu season. So it’s definitely a good time to stock up on disinfecting wipes.

Costco is offering $3 off of a four-pack of Lysol wipes through Oct. 20, bringing the online price to $16.99. Each canister contains 95 wipes, so a four-pack might carry you well into spring. And if you have school-aged kids, know that teachers commonly appreciate Lysol wipe donations to their classrooms, which tends to be hotbeds for germs.

5. $7 off Peet’s Coffee Decaf House Blend K-Cup Pod, 60-count

If you guzzle coffee all day, you may want to think about switching to decaf by mid-afternoon to avoid being up all night. And while I love buying coffee at my neighborhood Dunkin’, at the rate I drink it, that has the potential to be a very expensive habit.

That’s why I treat myself to store-bought coffee three times a week these days but make my own at home in my Keurig the rest of the week. And I’ll probably scoop up a 60-count of these decaf coffee pods while they’re on sale for $7 off through Oct. 31. This brings the online price down to $32.99.

You may want to do the same, especially if you enjoy dark roast. I find that the robust flavor gives it some oomph, which makes up for the lack of caffeine a bit.

These are only some of the fantastic bargains you’ll find at Costco this month. I highly suggest browsing online or visiting your local store to stock up on these and other essentials before they go back to full price.

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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Should you keep your Sam’s Club membership this month or let it go? Read on to find out. [[{“value”:”

Sam’s Club makes it pretty easy to cancel your membership if you find shopping at the warehouse club isn’t working out for you. You can visit the member service desk at any club if you want to cancel and get a refund right away. You also have the option to cancel via phone at 888-746-7726.

You may want to take advantage of one of those options this October to free up money in your budget. Here are three potential reasons you might want to say goodbye to Sam’s Club this month. Do any of them apply to you?

1. You want to join Costco instead

Being a member of both Sam’s Club and Costco doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. You’d have two membership fees to pay, and there’s a lot of overlap in what the two stores offer. You should pick one or the other. If you’re currently a Sam’s Club member, there are plenty of good reasons to consider a switch to Costco this October instead of sticking with the status quo.

It could make sense to switch if you live in a location where new Costco stores are opening. There are two new Costcos that will open their doors in Oregon and California during the month of October, and there are an additional five coming in November. If one of these new stores is closer to you than your local Sam’s, switching which warehouse club you’re a member of could make your life more convenient.

Even if you aren’t getting access to a new store, a switch could be worthwhile to take advantage of some special holiday items that are Costco exclusives. For instance, Costco offers tons of amazing frozen appetizers with devoted followers that are perfect for the upcoming entertaining season, and it also has many beloved seasonal offerings, like cranberry walnut bread and giant pumpkin pies.

Canceling your Sam’s Club membership now and changing your warehouse club alliance will give you the chance to take advantage of all these special delights available this time of year.

2. You tend to overspend around the holidays

Overspending starts to become a really common issue during the holiday months. In fact, a shocking 86% of millennials overspent on holiday gifts last year, according to an American Express survey.

If you have a hard time keeping your spending under control, remaining a member of a huge warehouse club chock full of deals — and designed to get you to open your wallet — may not be a good idea. That’s especially true as we head into fall because Sam’s Club heavily promotes Black Friday deals. These can cause you to give into your fear of missing out, even if you don’t actually need the items on offer.

If you give up your membership, you won’t feel as if you’re “wasting” the chance to score those Sam’s Club “bargains.” You can focus instead of minimizing your trips to the store and sticking to shopping from your holiday list so you can get only the items you need and won’t be tempted by all the stuff you see walking down Sam’s giant aisles.

3. You want to start shopping with coupons

Finally, if you’re hoping to start saving some extra money for the holidays, you may be able to do it by clipping coupons — but not if you are a Sam’s Club member. Sam’s doesn’t accept manufacturer coupons.

If you want to take advantage of the chance to reduce the cost of essentials, cancel your Sam’s Club membership this October and start shopping at your local grocery and drug stores instead. You can put the money those coupons are saving you in a special savings account to cover your holiday costs — you can add the funds you’ll save by not renewing your Sam’s Club membership, too.

For all of these reasons, October may be the ideal time to say goodbye to Sam’s. Just call its customer service number or stop by the warehouse club to cancel your membership if the time is right.

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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.American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Christy Bieber 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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