Money Management

Costco’s Kirkland Signature line offers a host of fantastic products. Read on to see which ones you might really enjoy. [[{“value”:”

If you’ve ever shopped at Costco, you’ve no doubt seen the Kirkland Signature name all over the store. Kirkland is Costco’s signature store brand, and you’ll find it on a wide range of products, some of which are absolutely terrific buys. Here are five Kirkland products you may want to purchase on repeat.

1. Kirkland bakery muffins

It’s not just that Kirkland muffins are fluffy, moist, and delicious. It’s also the price that can’t be beat.

Now you should know that Costco prices can vary by location. But I live in a pretty high-cost area, and at my local Costco, a 12-count of jumbo muffins costs $9.99. I’d imagine that in most areas, the price is either the same or lower.

Meanwhile, I recently stopped at a local bakery with a friend to grab a muffin and cup of coffee, and they charged us $10 for two muffins that were way smaller than Costco’s version. And honestly, they weren’t as good.

Plus, Costco lets you mix up your muffins by the six-pack. So if you don’t want a dozen blueberry muffins, you can grab six of those and another six corn, chocolate, or vanilla chip muffins instead. Or at least that’s the current flavor selection at my local Costco. Yours might be different. And also, expect other options to show up seasonally, like pumpkin streusel during the fall.

2. Kirkland Signature Creamy Almond Butter

Some people don’t like almond butter and refer to it as peanut butter’s inferior cousin. As a lover of peanut butter myself, I can agree that the two are very different. But I also happen to love almond butter. And if you do, too, then you should make a point to buy yours from Costco.

The online price for Kirkland Signature Creamy Almond Butter is $7.49 for a 27-ounce jar. That amounts to $0.28 per ounce. Seeing as how my local supermarket charges $7.89 for 16 ounces, or $0.49 per ounce, the Kirkland version is way cheaper. And let me tell you — it’s quite possibly the best almond butter I’ve had.

Also, that $7.49 represents what you’ll pay for Kirkland almond butter online. Costco’s in-store prices are almost always cheaper.

3. Kirkland Signature Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets

So getting back to the topic of peanut butter, if you like pretzels, and you like peanut butter, then you’re going to love Kirkland’s peanut-butter-filled pretzel nuggets. They’re a hearty snack you can enjoy at just about any time of the day (I may, ahem, occasionally eat them for breakfast). I also like to take them along when I’m doing a longer hike.

You can buy a 55-ounce jar of these bad boys online for $11.99, or $0.22 per ounce. But again, you’re likely to pay less at the store.

4. Kirkland Signature Men’s Athletic Sock 8-pair, White

Don’t be fooled into thinking that Kirkland products are only of the food variety. You’ll find the Kirkland label on a host of items, apparel included.

Now in the past, I’ve brought home my fair share of comfy Kirkland loungewear items, from pajama pants to fleece sweatshirts. But those are really one-off purchases, as opposed to recurring ones. However, if you go through socks in your household like we do, then you may want to make a point to continuously stock up on the Kirkland version.

Kirkland’s men’s athletic socks, for example, tend to last longer than any other sock my husband has put on his body. And that’s saying a lot. Plus, he says these are the most comfortable pairs he owns, and he’s someone who’s been known to spend $20 on a single pair of socks to run in.

Now, we buy these Kirkland socks in packs of eight. And frankly, the price is so low that it no longer bothers me when his socks get grungy, worn, or lost (the working theory is that the dog hides and buries them in places, but who knows).

The online price for these Kirkland socks is $13.99, or $1.75 per pair. But check your local store to see what price it’s offering. And also, know that Kirkland makes a women’s sock, too.

5. Kirkland Signature Gasoline

One of the best Kirkland buys you can find isn’t something you can bring home in the trunk of your car. Rather, it’s something you put in your car — gasoline.

Now I can’t say that I’ve studied my car’s performance on a tank of Kirkland gas vs. a competitor’s. But I can say that Kirkland gas is the cheapest in my town by far. So I highly recommend visiting Costco when your tank is getting low so you can fill up with Kirkland gas yourself.

Kirkland products tend to be high in quality and low in cost. That’s a winning combination if I ever saw one. So I’d highly encourage you to give these Kirkland items a try if you’ve yet to bring them home (or, in the case of gas, put them in your tank) before.

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

If you’re shopping with a debit card, you could be missing out on hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year. These versatile credit cards offer huge rewards everywhere, including Costco, and are rated the best cards of 2024 by our experts because they offer hefty sign-up bonuses and outstanding cash rewards. Plus, you’ll save on credit card interest because all of these recommendations include a competitive 0% interest period.

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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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You’re not doomed if you don’t have long-term savings by 40. Here’s how to turn things around. [[{“value”:”

When life’s expenses start to mount, IRA or 401(k) plan contributions can fall by the wayside. So if you’ve reached the age of 40 without any retirement savings to your name, don’t panic or beat yourself up.

Fidelity recommends having three times your salary saved by age 40, but many people get a much slower start. If you’re now in catch-up mode, though, there’s a strategic approach to building a nest egg it pays to take.

Let the stock market help you grow your savings

By age 40, you’re likely almost 20 years into your career. That’s a lot of missed opportunity on the savings front, which is bad news.

But there’s good news, too. You might still have a good 25 years of work ahead of you. And during that time, you can easily catch up on your savings and approach retirement with a lot more confidence.

To do so, though, you’ll need to do more than just start carving out room for IRA or 401(k) contributions in your budget. You’ll also need to invest your money so that it grows efficiently. And stocks are probably your best bet.

Over the past 50 years, the stock market has delivered an average annual return of 10%. That number accounts for years of solid gains and years when the market slumped.

So let’s say you’re able to start saving $300 a month for retirement at age 40, and you do so for 25 years. If you invest conservatively (meaning, not too many stocks and a larger concentration of bonds and cash), you might average a 5% return over time, leaving you with about $172,000.

But if you go all-in on stocks and score a 10% return in your portfolio, you’re looking at retiring with $354,000 instead. That’s $154,000 more than the median $200,000 retirement savings balance among Americans aged 65 to 74, according to Federal Reserve data.

Working longer could help, too

Another thing you can do to make up for lost savings years? Consider extending your career a bit longer. Doing so can serve two purposes — adding to your nest egg, but also, leaving your existing savings untouched.

In fact, let’s say that in the example above, instead of saving $300 a month from ages 40 to 65, you do so until age 67. At a 10% return, you could have a balance of about $436,000 instead of $354,000.

And clearly, the majority of that $82,000 difference won’t be coming from two more years of retirement plan contributions of $300 per month. Rather, it’ll come from investment gains in your portfolio — the portfolio you can leave intact if you retire a bit later.

If you’ve reached the age of 40 without any retirement savings, know this: You’re certainly not the first person in history to land in that position. But also know that your situation can be salvaged. You just need to prepare to start saving immediately, invest wisely, and consider working a touch longer than you may have initially anticipated.

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

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Gasoline prices may be cooling nationwide, but they remain high. Consumers in these five states currently pay the most. [[{“value”:”

The cost of gasoline continues to fall nationwide, but it may not feel like it, especially if you live in a state with particularly high prices and your credit card charges are higher as a result.

While the average cost of regular unleaded gasoline fell to $3.472 per gallon on Aug. 5, 2024, the memo does not appear to have reached the following states. Here’s where drivers can still expect to pay the most per gallon.

What drives the price?

As long as fueling your car impacts your personal finances, it’s good to understand that prices are not randomly set. According to the U.S. Energy Administration (EIA), here are the four main factors that determine how much you’ll pay at the pump.

1. The cost of crude oil

For gas prices, nothing plays a larger role than the cost of crude oil. Any time U.S. oil production increases, the cost of gasoline dips. When production slows, you can expect an increase in price.

2. Taxes

Also contributing to the retail price of gasoline are federal, state, and local government taxes, and those taxes vary dramatically by city and state. If your area of the country is steeped in gasoline taxes, you pay those taxes every time you hit the pump.

3. Refining costs

One factor that varies by season is the cost of refining crude oil. There’s also the matter of additives that may be blended into gasoline. If you’ve ever noticed that gas prices change by the day (and even by the hour), it’s due to the ever-changing cost of turning crude oil into gasoline.

4. Distribution and marketing

Gasoline retailers are in the business of making money. For example, gas prices increase as demand increases, meaning you can expect to pay more during the summer months and other times of the year when more people are on the road. Gas stations out in the middle of nowhere with hardly a competitor in sight can get away with charging a higher price per gallon, while those fighting off nearby competitors may have to soften their prices.

Fighting back against high prices

As you’ve undoubtedly noticed, there’s an app for everything these days, from paying off debt to keeping track of your monthly household budget. Fortunately, there are also plenty of apps designed to help you save money on gasoline. Here are some of the most popular options.

Gas Guru

Using data from the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS), Gas Guru indicates where in your area gas prices are lowest. You can even filter by price, the fuel grade you’re looking for, and how far you’re willing to drive.

Fuelio

Fuelio does more than show you where to find the cheapest gas. It also tracks your fill-ups, provides a mileage log, and helps you track vehicle expenses, like tolls, parking fees, and even trips to the mechanic.

GasBuddy

Perhaps the most famous gas app is GasBuddy. All you do is type in your ZIP code, and, like magic, the gas prices for area gas stations will pop up. It’s about as simple an app as you can use.

AAA TripTik Travel Planner

You don’t have to be an AAA member to access the AAA TripTik Travel Planner app. It shows gas stations and prices in your home area and can help you plan a road trip. With more than 85,000 gas stations throughout the U.S. listed, it’s easy to find the cheapest gas no matter where you happen to be.

While you may not be able to control the price of gas, leaning on technology can help you minimize out-of-pocket expenses.

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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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Business-class tickets can cost a fortune. But read on to see when it makes sense to pay for one. [[{“value”:”

There’s a world of difference between flying business class and sticking to economy. Business-class seats are spacious and often recline, whereas, in economy, you might end up with knee bruises before your flight is over. While you can expect to be wined and dined in business class, in economy, be thankful if you’re offered a cup of water.

But there’s also a huge cost difference between business class and economy. And unless you have miles or credit card points to cash in, you may not be able to easily swing an upgraded ticket.

It’s important to be judicious about upgrading to business class. But in these situations, it could pay off.

1. You’re taking an overnight flight to a different time zone

It’s one thing to force yourself into an economy seat for a three-hour flight that takes you from one state to another. But it’s another thing to get stuck in economy on an overnight flight from the U.S. to somewhere like Europe.

When you’re crossing time zones, getting some sleep during your flight could be crucial to minimizing jet lag. If you’re flying for many hours overnight, consider a business-class seat. Often, these seats recline to mimic standard beds so you can get some shuteye.

2. You’re flying for a special occasion

If you live in New York and fly to Colorado three times a year to see your siblings or parents, you probably don’t want to be splurging for business class every time (unless, of course, you have a lot of savings to tap). But if you’re flying from New York to Hawaii on your honeymoon, that’s a different story.

A milestone trip like that is a truly special occasion. You don’t want to start it off with a cramped flight that leaves you sore and uncomfortable.

3. You’re flying solo and don’t want to risk getting stuck with an undesirable seatmate

If you’re flying with a friend or partner and you book your tickets together, you can potentially avoid having to sit next to a stranger on a flight. But when you’re solo in economy, you’re going to be seated next to someone. And that someone may not be the optimal person to share a six-hour experience with.

All it takes is an overly chatty or inconsiderate seatmate to make an already unpleasant flight in economy even worse. And you never know if you might end up getting thrust into the role of unwanted babysitter for parents who are separated from their children due to a variety of circumstances. (It’s not always a refusal to pay more to book seats together. Delays and cancellations can leave parents seated separately from their offspring.)

If you’re traveling on your own, you may want to spring for business class to avoid all of these problems. This way, you’re guaranteed a certain amount of space from the closest passenger nearby.

Although business class can be expensive, sometimes, it’s worth it. The good news is that you don’t always have to pay for those tickets in full. If you bank enough air miles or travel rewards points, you can upgrade your way to business class without having to dip too heavily into your own cash reserves.

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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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The Bank Secrecy Act requires financial institutions to report transactions over $10,000. Find out why making small deposits could be seen as suspicious. [[{“value”:”

Most folks wouldn’t think it a financial crime to deposit money into their savings accounts. After all, it’s your money, right? What kind of world is it in which FBI agents rappel from the roof and burst through your windows just because you made a series of small deposits?

To be sure, depositing money into your checking or savings account isn’t a financial crime, nor does it lead to criminal investigations. However, if you frequently make small deposits into your bank account, especially when they total $10,000 or more, you could find yourself under investigation. Here’s what you should know.

The Bank Secrecy Act

Banks have to report any transactions above $10,000 to the IRS on a form known as the Currency Transaction Report. Yes — even if it’s only a penny above $10,000.

This requirement falls in line with the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, which helps the federal government track and prevent financial crimes. When banks fail to report large cash transactions, it’s easier for criminal activity to fly under the radar. Reporting large cash deposits helps the government keep the banking system clean.

The government isn’t going to hound you because you deposited $10,000. So long as you’re not doing anything illegal, the federal government likely won’t care. Problems arise, however, when you try to cover up that you’re depositing a large sum, often by breaking it into smaller deposits over a short period. Yes, this is illegal even if you’re only doing it to protect your privacy.

Banks might get suspicious when you make several deposits over a short period

The technique of breaking deposits into smaller chunks is known as “structuring.” If you deposit $2,500 today, $2,500 tomorrow, $2,500 the next day, and $2,500 the day after, your bank would have to report the entire series, even if no individual deposit is over $10,000.

Depositing money in this way isn’t always structuring. For instance, contractors sometimes get paid on different days from different clients. Instead of depositing all that income at once, a contractor could very well deposit it in a series that surpasses $10,000. They might do this every month, too, such that it could trigger some suspicion, even though it’s not unlawful.

But if a bank thinks you’re structuring on purpose, your deposits might be reported as suspicious activity. Once flagged, you might end up in an investigation. At that point, if you’re caught intentionally evading a bank’s reporting requirements — even if you just value your privacy — you could face criminal or financial charges.

Try not to obsess over the Bank Secrecy Act

Again, if you’re not intentionally structuring (as in the contractor example), you have nothing to worry about. After all, you shouldn’t be afraid to deposit money into your checking account, especially if you’re doing it lawfully.

Just be aware that large deposits — or even a series of small ones — might draw attention from your bank. As long as you provide necessary information that your activities are legitimate, you should have no issues.

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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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You have plenty of choices for filling up your car. Read on to see why it pays to get your gas at Costco. [[{“value”:”

When you join Costco, you don’t just get access to perks like affordably priced groceries and household essentials. You get access to a world of benefits, from travel services to electronics that come with free tech support and extended warranties.

But your Costco shopping strategy shouldn’t simply be to hit the store, load up your trunk, and leave. You should aim to fill your car with gas before or after your Costco run. Here’s why.

1. The prices are great

Costco’s gas prices are ultra competitive. And while the warehouse club giant doesn’t have an exact formula for establishing gas prices to compete with nearby stations, many drivers are able to save as much as $0.20 per gallon. If your car has a 14-gallon gas tank and you fill up once every week over the course of a year, that’s $140 in savings.

Now one thing you should know is that Executive members at Costco don’t get 2% cash back at the store’s fuel stations. But you can snag cash back on your fill-up by choosing a credit card with extra gas rewards.

2. The gas itself is high in quality

You might think that because Costco’s gas is so competitively priced, it’s not the best. But not so. Costco gas has the TOP TIER™ designation. This means that it’s designed to better protect engines from carbon build-up and deposits that result in wear and reduced fuel efficiency.

We just learned that filling up at Costco could save you as much as $0.20 per gallon. But you might save even more if you get extra miles to the gallon (though that will of course hinge on driving conditions and your habits behind the wheel).

3. You can pump up your tires with free air on the way out

Have you ever gotten in your car on a cold morning, only to see your tire pressure light come up? Poor tire pressure could lead to decreased fuel efficiency, forcing you to use more gas than you should be. So it’s generally a good idea to head to a gas station and pump some air into your tires when that warning light goes on.

But you might have to pay for air at a regular gas station, which is annoying. Not at Costco, though. Costco has free air pumps in its parking lot. So if you’re going to fill up, you can help yourself to all the free air your tires need.

All told, it pays to fill up your car at Costco when it’s convenient to do so. This isn’t to say that you should drive 20 miles out of your way to get to a Costco gas pump, because what you might save on gas, you might spend by going the extra distance.

But if you happen to be driving to Costco to load up on supplies, then it pays to build in an extra few minutes to fill up your tank before or after your shopping. And if you’re buying perishables, aim for before, since you may be eager to get home quickly once you’re done.

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

If you’re shopping with a debit card, you could be missing out on hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year. These versatile credit cards offer huge rewards everywhere, including Costco, and are rated the best cards of 2024 by our experts because they offer hefty sign-up bonuses and outstanding cash rewards. Plus, you’ll save on credit card interest because all of these recommendations include a competitive 0% interest period.

Click here to read our expert recommendations for free!

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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