Money Management

As one of the most popular retailers in the world, Costco knows how to provide bargains. Here are seven items for less than $20. [[{“value”:”

There are a staggering 71 million paid Costco members worldwide, and it’s safe to assume that each has their own reason for paying for a membership. Some people drop by the warehouse store to pick up the same specific items each month. Others like the thrill of the hunt, strolling the store to learn what’s new. No matter which camp you fall into, it’s always nice to find a bargain. Here are seven amazing buys for June 2024.

1. Squishmallows 20″ Hello Kitty Plush

Costco price: $19.97

Mercari price: $33.25

We’ll start with the much-loved, sometimes-maligned Squishmallows. Kids love them, while the adults in their lives have been known to ask, “Where are we going to put this thing?” Squishmallows have been popular for a couple of years now, but it’s not always easy to find a good price on one. Recommended for ages 3 and up, Costco’s latest Squishmallows feature one dressed in (bright!) pink plaid and another wearing the same bright pink bow and holding a hamburger.

2. Honeydew Ladies’ 2-piece Pajama Set

Costco price: $9.97

Amazon price: $54

If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that pajamas are not just for nighttime. During those months of pod living, we learned the joy of living in leisure clothes, eventually morphing into wearing our favorite pajamas all day long. We may not get the same opportunities to rock our best pjs now, but that doesn’t make us love them any less. This set is both soft and functional, with side pockets to tuck away a phone. Designs include animal prints, camouflage, and polka dots. Available in sizes X-Small to 3X.

3. trunature Verisol Collagen Powder 2,500 mg.

Costco price: $14.99 through June 30, 2024

Walmart price: $25.91

Thanks to celebrities and influencers, collagen supplements have become all the rage. Collagen devotees say it may improve skin, hair, and nails. Collagen also gets props for helping improve joint function and making bones denser. To be clear, trunature does not make these claims. Still, if you’ve had a positive experience with a collagen supplement, you may want to take advantage of this low price. And if you have an eye on your personal finances but want to give collagen powder a try, this may be the opportunity you’re looking for.

4. Quiksilver Men’s Volley Swim Short

Costco price: $18.99

PacSun price: $33.75

These men’s swim trunks have a couple of features one would expect in a swim trunk: 4-way stretch fabric for easy movement and a built-in liner. What’s more surprising to anyone who’s ever shopped for them is that they’re actually quite attractive. With three eye-catching designs, they’re available in sizes Medium to 3X.

5. ThermoFlask 24 oz. Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle (2-pack)

Costco price: $16.97

Walmart price: $25.99

If you’re trying to help the environment by moving away from plastic bottles, it would be tough to find a better deal on 24-ounce insulated water bottles than this. They’re made of double-walled vacuum-insulated stainless steel and come with a universal lid that fits all wide-mouth ThermoFlask bottles. In addition, they are BPA-free and dishwasher-safe.

6. Kirkland Signature Extra-Large Absorbent Pads (100-count)

Costco price: $19.99

Tractor Supply Co. price for a leak-free product of similar size: $32.99

Whether you have a puppy or an older dog, you know how invaluable absorbent potty pads are. At 30″ by 23″, they’re large enough to use for potty training or bedding. And, at $19.99, you’ll only spend $0.20 for each leak-free pad.

7. BIOHEAL BOH Vitamin Toning All Melting Cleansing Balm – 2-pack

Costco price: $18.99 through June 30, 2024

eBay price: $24.50

If you’ve never washed your face with a cleansing balm, you’ve been missing out. As it melts into your skin, you can practically feel it removing the impurities. BIOHEAL BOH is made with lipohydroxy acids (LHA) to gently exfoliate the skin and polyhydroxy acids (PHA) to clean while protecting the moisture barrier. The formula is hypoallergenic and suitable for all skin types.

The fun thing about Costco is the massive variety of products. There truly is something for everyone. If you’re fortunate enough to find something you like that fits your budget, it’s nothing short of a win-win.

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.Dana George 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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Starting a side hustle can be fun and empowering, but it can also bring extra costs and risks. See how to make these side hustles work for you. [[{“value”:”

Side hustles are becoming more popular than ever before, as people look to earn extra income. Whether you want to pay off debt, get a more comfortable cash flow for your monthly bills, build up your savings account, or achieve other financial goals, starting a side hustle can be fun and empowering.

But some side hustles become side “hassles” — they bring extra costs, risks, and unpaid work. Before you start a side hustle, make sure you’re aware of the costs of doing business.

Here are a few popular side hustles that might not be worth the effort — and how you can make these side hustles work better for you.

1. Ride-hailing driving and food delivery apps

If you own a car, starting a side hustle as a ride-hailing driver or food delivery app driver can be a quick way to start making extra cash.

But beware: Ride-hailing hourly wages, after the costs of gas and depreciation, might not be worth it. The Ascent’s previous research has found that Uber drivers make an average of $19 per hour, and food delivery app drivers might make $15-$22 per hour with tips. Those aren’t bad wages, but they’re averages — if you go too long without a new customer, your hourly earnings might drop to the point where it’s not worth doing.

And driving for a living has a few unique risks, like car insurance and wear and tear on your vehicle. What if you get a flat tire while delivering groceries, and have to pay hundreds of dollars for new tires? What if you get in a car crash that’s not covered by your “on duty” ride-hailing app’s car insurance? That $20 per hour of extra income could turn into thousands of dollars of extra expenses.

How to make this side hustle a better deal: Get rideshare auto insurance. Some insurance companies offer special car insurance for the needs of ride-hailing drivers, either as a new policy or as an endorsement to an existing auto policy. Most ride-hailing apps provide some insurance while you’re officially “on duty” within the app, but getting additional insurance can keep you from falling through the cracks.

2. Dog walking and pet care

I’ve seen mixed reviews about just how much money you can make with a side hustle as a dog walker or pet sitter. Some research from Preply has shown that dog walkers can make an average of $43 per hour (which would make it one of the highest-paying side hustles), but I’ve also seen dog walkers advertising on Rover (rover.com) in my city for as little as $13 per walk, or $20 per day of doggy daycare.

If you love pets, and you’re not really doing it “for the money” but just because you enjoy taking care of animals while getting exercise, then dog walking could be a great side hustle and hobby. But a dog walking side hustle might not always be a big money maker.

How to make this side hustle a better deal: There’s a lot of competition for dog walkers on sites like Rover, which can cause aspiring dog walkers to slash their prices. Instead, build up a select dog walking clientele by networking among your friends and family — and if you’re going to be responsible for caring for pets, make sure you’re charging enough money to be worth your time.

3. Podcasting

Lots of people love listening to podcasts, talking about podcasts, and recommending podcasts. Podcasts get millions of downloads every day. It’s possible to make money from podcasting as a side hustle; I have a friend who co-hosts a podcast about Dungeons & Dragons that earns a few hundred dollars per month.

But here’s the problem: Don’t assume you’ll be able to create a superstar podcast that gets sold to Spotify for millions of dollars. Many podcasts never attract a big enough audience to monetize. According to personal finance guru (and successful podcaster) Ramit Sethi, a typical podcaster with 10,000 listeners might earn about $500-$900 per month. And unless you go viral for all the right reasons and have an overnight success story, it takes time to build up an audience of that size.

How to make this side hustle a better deal: Don’t go it alone with your side hustle podcast — invite other podcasters to be guests on your podcast, and cross-promote each other on social media. This can help you build up your audience and start making more money.

4. Social media influencer

Want to get paid to look photogenic on Instagram, or promote products on TikTok? Being a social media influencer and content creator looks glamorous, but there’s lots of unpaid effort that happens behind the scenes. It’s not all hanging out in Santorini, Greece with selfie sticks. And it can be hard to cut through the clutter of millions of people trying to get attention online. According to Ramit Sethi, the average Instagram influencer with fewer than 100,000 followers gets paid about $200 per post. Is that enough to quit your day job?

How to make this side hustle a better deal: Be a content creator because you love it, not because you’re expecting to be the next MrBeast (or whoever the cool teens are talking about on TikTok now).

Bottom line

I don’t want to discourage people from trying to do fun, creative side hustles. But it can take a long time to build up enough of an audience for your social media content, podcast, or YouTube channel to put money in your small business bank account. If you’re going to start a side hustle, or any small business, be aware of the costs and risks. Go in with a spirit of optimism, but protect yourself from the downsides.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until 2025

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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 positions in and recommends Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends Flow and Maker. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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A huge benefit of using credit cards is to reap the rewards. Read on to make sure you’re not missing out. [[{“value”:”

I rarely take cash out of ATMs. That’s because I pay for the bulk of my purchases using credit cards.

I happen to really appreciate the convenience of being able to tap or swipe my way into a purchase. But my favorite aspect of using credit cards is getting to rack up reward points for items I was going to buy anyway.

That said, I always try to make a point to use my rewards to the fullest. But if these signs apply to you, it could mean you’re not taking full advantage of your credit card rewards.

1. You’re not being strategic about welcome bonuses

Plenty of credit cards offer welcome bonuses that could put a huge amount of reward points in your pocket. For example, you might score 50,000 miles from a travel rewards card by spending $3,000 within three months of opening your account. But if you’re not strategic about chasing welcome bonuses, you could lose out.

Some of the credit cards with more generous welcome offers have a higher spending threshold. If you time your applications right, those spending requirements may be doable, such as if you have a large home repair coming up that you can charge, or if you time the opening of your account to when you’re doing your holiday shopping.

But don’t sign up for a new credit card at random because you’re enticed by the welcome offer. Instead, compare those offers, and sign up at a time when meeting the spending requirement is easier.

2. You’re letting rewards expire

Many major credit cards don’t have rewards that expire. But it’s pretty common for store credit card rewards to expire at some point. If you don’t use your rewards in time, you’re throwing money away in some shape or form.

One solution is to limit yourself to credit cards where you get as much time as you need to use up your rewards. Otherwise, make yourself a rewards calendar — with reminders — so you’re able to get that benefit in full.

Here’s another tip. Say you have $20 in store dollars that expire at the end of the month, but you don’t find an item that particularly meets your needs. In that case, buy something random, keep the receipt, and then exchange it for store credit a month or so later. At that point, there may be something else at the store that you want.

3. You’re forgetting about revolving bonus categories

Some credit cards offer revolving bonus reward categories. You may, for example, get 3x points on gas one quarter, 3x points on groceries another quarter, and so forth.

Pay attention to those revolving categories so you don’t miss out on extra cash back in your pocket. Also, you may want to simplify your life by choosing a credit card that offers bonus rewards all year round in the categories you need the most.

For example, you may decide that it makes sense to find a card that gives you 2x points on gas and supermarket purchases 365 days a year, as opposed to getting 3x points on those purchases during certain times of the year only.

Credit cards may be convenient, but they can also, in a way, pay you to use them in the form of rewards. So don’t deny yourself that benefit. Be strategic in pursuing welcome bonuses, keep tabs on expiring rewards (or avoid them altogether), and do what you can to make it as easy as possible to score the extra cash back you deserve.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until 2025

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 a disclosure policy.

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Hosting a July 4 party? See how much you can save on must-have Costco July 4 deals. [[{“value”:”

July 4 is coming soon, and you still have time to spruce up your home and patio with great deals at Costco. Whether you want to raise your game at grilling burgers, or give your guests a more comfortable outdoor space, there are several ways to elevate your gathering with Costco deals.

Here are a few of our favorite Costco buys for July 4 party hosts.

(All deals were available for online shopping with prices shown for my local Costco warehouse in West Des Moines, Iowa, as of June 23, 2024. Prices may vary by location.)

1. Frigidaire Self Cleaning Bullet Ice Maker ($79.99)

Hosting a July 4 party, especially with rising summer temperatures, means you’re always going to need more ice. This Frigidaire ice maker helps keep your guests’ drinks cold and your coolers fully-loaded, and helps you avoid extra trips to the convenience store to buy heavy, drippy ice bags.

Why this is a great Costco July 4 deal: This Frigidaire ice maker can produce ice in less than six minutes, and can crank out up to 26 pounds of ice per day.

2. Proshade Umbrella Base with Wheels, Clamp, and Split Stem ($87.99)

Tired of seeing your poolside or patio umbrella get blown over on windy days, or knocked down by unruly party guests? Upgrade your umbrella experience with this Proshade Umbrella Base. It offers a clamp lock system to keep your patio umbrella where it belongs, and the resin base and aluminum stern are rust-resistant and durable. You can fill this base with bricks and sand (not included).

Why this is a great Costco July 4 deal: The umbrella is also not included — but this umbrella base gets rave reviews (4.6 stars from Costco members).

3. SunVilla Commercial Sling Wave Chaise Lounge, 2-pack ($349.99)

Outdoor seating is always in demand at a July 4 party. These SunVilla Chaise Lounge chairs can help upgrade your patio, pool, or deck seating arrangements. The chair backs and armrests are adjustable, so your July 4 party guests can lounge, lie flat, or sit up straight.

Why this is a great Costco July 4 deal: This price includes manufacturer’s savings of $120 valid through July 7, 2024. While supplies last, limit five per Costco member.

4. Cortland 7-piece Dining Table Set ($799.99)

Whether you’re hosting a July 4 party at a new home, hosting for the first time, or just want to upgrade your dining room capacity, this Cortland dining table set can help. For $799.99, you get a table and six chairs with padded seats (100% polyester fabric). The furniture is made with poplar and rubberwood solids, with acacia veneers, and the chairs have nylon protective floor glides.

Why this is a great Costco July 4 deal: This price includes manufacturer’s savings of $400 valid through July 21, 2024. While supplies last, limit five per Costco member.

5. Blackstone 36-inch Cabinet Griddle with Airfryer & Cover ($879.99)

Want to raise your July 4 grill game with a gas-powered griddle? This Blackstone griddle gives you massive cooking space (768 square inches) and four different controllable heat zones for a wide range of foods — and it has an airfryer!

With this Blackstone griddle’s cooking capacity, here’s how much food you can cook at once:

126 hot dogs69 bacon strips47 eggs30 burgers27 steaks21 pancakes

If you’re hosting a big crowd for your July 4 party, this Blackstone griddle can turn your backyard into a quick-service restaurant. Whether you want burgers and brats, or a July 4 brunch with pancakes and eggs on the griddle, you can handle a wide range of orders with ease.

Why this is a great Costco July 4 deal: The price of this Blackstone griddle is about $419 less than it costs directly from the manufacturer.

Bottom line

Don’t miss your chance to impress your guests at your July 4 party. Costco has great deals on premium items to help you provide a memorable meal with comfortable seating and well-chilled drinks for all. Sometimes, hosting a holiday party is a nice occasion to improve your home with new furniture or appliances. Costco offers great finds with hundreds of dollars of discounts. These July 4 deals might be worth putting on your credit card.

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

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A Costco membership could be crucial for new homeowners. Read on to see why. [[{“value”:”

Buying a home today is a pretty expensive prospect. The median home sale price in May reached a high of $419,300, as per the National Association of Realtors.

That’s why you may find that a Costco membership comes in very handy as a new homeowner. At Costco, you can load up on a host of items you might need to settle into your home and keep it well maintained. Here are a few reasons to join Costco if you’ve recently purchased a house or are in the process of doing so.

1. You can load up on bulk cleaning supplies

Houses need to be cleaned, both when you first move in and in general. Thanks to Costco, you can load up on your cleaning supplies in bulk. That could mean not only saving money, but saving yourself time by not having to constantly restock.

But it’s not just supplies like Lysol and paper towels you can buy at Costco. You can purchase equipment you might need to clean your home, like a new vacuum cleaner. Right now, in fact, Costco has a number of Dyson models on sale for $100 off or more. And if you want a robot vacuum to minimize your personal workload, Costco sells those, too.

2. You can decorate to your heart’s content

Costco carries a host of home decor items that could really enhance your new house and make it feel like your own. These include everything from curtains and drapes to mirrors to lamps.

And if you like the idea of having plants in your house but struggle to keep them alive, Costco sells a host of artificial plants that look just as nice as the real thing — only without the extra work. You can also buy real plants through Costco for your outdoor garden.

3. You can make improvements and get free Costco cash in return

It’s not uncommon to buy a house that still needs work after you move in. You should know that you can do a host of home projects through Costco, whether it’s putting in new flooring, remodeling a bathroom, or installing a standby generator — it could pay to seek one out if you’ve moved to an area that’s prone to power outages.

The great thing about using Costco for home installation services is that many of them come with a free Costco Shop Card (the store’s version of a gift card) equal to 10% of the cost of your project. So if you’re going to spend $8,000 on a new HVAC system and Costco’s price is in line with others you’re seeing, going through Costco could mean scoring $800 to spend at the store once your project is done.

To be clear, you don’t need to own a house for a Costco membership to make financial sense for you. But if you’re buying a home, you may find that joining Costco gives you access to the products and services you need at prices you can manage. And that’s crucial at a time when you’re taking on the expense of homeownership.

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.

“}]] Read More 

Moving into your first apartment is a milestone to celebrate. Check out how these Costco purchases could make it easier to settle in. [[{“value”:”

Getting your first apartment is an exciting milestone. But it can also be an expensive one. In addition to the security deposit your landlord is bound to ask for, you may need to buy a host of items to get settled into your new digs. That could include everything from furniture to your very first spice rack.

If you have a Costco membership, though, some of your new buys may not be as expensive as you fear. Here are a few things to get from Costco when you’re moving into your first home.

1. Bulk cleaning supplies

In an ideal world, you’ll move into an apartment that’s been thoroughly cleaned by your landlord (or a service they hire). In reality, your new home will probably require a deep clean before you settle in.

That’s where Costco could come to your rescue. You can buy a host of bulk cleaning supplies, like a four-pack of Lysol disinfecting wipes for just $13.99 at Costco.com. And you’ll probably find a cheaper price in the store. There’s also a 212-ounce supply of Clorox All Purpose Cleaner with Bleach for $22.99 online. And these are just a couple of examples.

Of course, you’ll also need paper towels, but Costco’s got you covered there, too. You can order a 12-pack of Bounty for $24.49 online or see what the in-store price is. Or if you’re not picky about your paper towels, go with the Kirkland version, which will cost you a few dollars less on your credit card.

2. Storage options

The last thing you want is for your new apartment to become a cluttered, disorganized mess. So it pays to invest in some storage solutions, and Costco’s got your back here, too. You can buy a six-pack of clear, large-sized bins for $48.99 online. The benefit of clear bins is that if your labels fall off or degrade over time, you can peek in and see what’s in them.

If you need a little extra closet space, Costco also sells a rolling garment rack for $96.99. Or grab yourself a three-tiered shoe bench for $49.99 to keep your footwear nice and organized.

3. Home decor

Your first apartment shouldn’t just be a temporary place to crash until you can upsize — it should feel like home. So you may want to turn to Costco for some finishing touches that let you put your own stamp on your rental.

If your new apartment gets a lot of light, that’s a great thing — except for when you want to sleep. So you may want to invest in a pair of SUN+BLK Buckingham Chenille Total Blackout Curtains, which cost $34.99 each online. And speaking of light, you may want a stylish lamp to illuminate your living room in the evening and add character to your space. Consider the Basia 3-Light Floor Lamp — Costco has it in stock for only $69.99.

Also, nothing says “cozy” like some strategically placed throw blankets. Costco’s got a pretty large online selection of those.

You could save money in the course of stocking your first apartment by turning to Costco. It pays to browse online and visit your local warehouse club store to see which items on your list are worth buying there.

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.JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale and JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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