Money Management

Costco offers more than groceries and electronics. Read on to learn about sourcing tools there. [[{“value”:”

So, you’ve bought a fixer-upper home, and it was a steal — but you’re gonna need a lot of tools and equipment to get the project from where you are now to where you imagine it can be. I know this song and dance too well, having bought my own fixer-upper nine years ago this month.

If you’re a creative soul, a fixer-upper home will give you limitless canvases to work on and endless problems to solve, provided you can get over the financial hurdle of acquiring the things you need. I recently learned that Costco has a healthy selection of tools and equipment that rotate in and out. You might find that something you really want there is no longer available if you wait too long, but on the flip side, you never know what new tools may come in.

RELATED: The #1 Strategy for Saving Money at Costco

Here are my top picks today for tools and equipment as a fellow owner of an endless project home.

1. DEWALT 8 gallon wet/dry vacuum

I’ve had my wet/dry vac for over two decades, and it has followed me loyally from place to place on its tiny little plastic wheels. Once affectionately named “R2D2” by my construction crew, the little fella has never given me a moment’s complaint, even that time I used him in place of a regular vacuum cleaner because my floor vac bit the dust. He’s hands-down one of my most consistently used tools even today.

So, when I saw that Costco had an 8-gallon DEWALT wet/dry vac for sale, I knew it had to make this list. Not only is DEWALT a brand known for its reliability but eight gallons is a great size for one of these vacuums — not so big to be annoyingly and needlessly bulky, and not so small that a job like sanding drywall or refinishing trim work will mean you’re doing more emptying than working.

Costco has this vacuum for sale right now for under $80 with your membership discount through June 16, 2024.

2. Little Giant MegaLite+ 18 foot reach ladder with leg levelers

Unless you’re a giant yourself, or you bought the shortest house in America, you’re going to need a ladder before you get started on anything. There are lots of different kinds of ladders, but if you’re looking for your first, a multi-position ladder will be the most useful kind you can invest in.

These ladders allow you to do lots of different things, including taking them apart and using them as scaffolding (read your instruction booklet for more information on that), raising and lowering the top of the ladder when in A-shape mode, and even unfolding it for even higher reach as an extension ladder.

And Little Giant is one of my favorite ladder manufacturers — in fact, my most recent ladder acquisition is a fiberglass Little Giant number. They feel beefy without being too bulky to carry around, and everything is just generally nice about them.

The MegaLite+ is made from aluminum, but rated for 300 pounds, so you, a bundle of shingles, a small dog, and a bucket of paint can easily all be hanging from this thing at the same time. It’s currently $189.99 at Costco, which includes shipping and handling if you choose to have it delivered.

RELATED: Best Credit Cards for Costco

3. Greenworks 24V 4-piece power tool combo kit

Greenworks has long been a leader in battery-powered tools, and it now offers a huge range of options for homeowners, from tools for working on the house to tools for working in the yard. So, the fact that the company is offering a kit through Costco with some of the most-used tools for fixer-uppers is absolutely great.

This kit is a fixer-upper owner’s dream starter grouping: a drill driver, a reciprocating saw, an oscillating multi-tool, and a circular saw. All of these tools work with the same 24-volt battery packs, which are included, and share batteries with the 200-plus other tools in the Greenworks lineup.

Look, I come from a time before battery-powered power tools were the norm, and it was far less convenient. Can you imagine being up in an attic, trying to make a cut with a corded circular saw, when you run out of cord? You’re so close you can almost reach it, but not close enough. Sorry, Charlie.

But the battery tools are fantastic because they go anywhere, they can reach anything, and they’re largely designed to be lightweight enough to be able to be used anywhere. The one drawback is that sometimes they’re not quite meaty enough for really big jobs. The circular saw in this set is the same size as mine is at home, and it could be tricky to cut anything thicker than about four inches with it. But on the upside, you likely will almost never need to do that.

Check your local Costco for tools for your fixer-upper home

If you’ve bought a fixer-upper or you’re just still living in one, you’ll need to stretch your tool budget. So remember to check Costco before you make a tool purchase. Surprisingly, it offers generators, work lights, tool kits, shop vacs, tool boxes, and so much more.

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

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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.JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Kristi Waterworth 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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Want to bank some cash in June? Read on to see how you can accomplish that goal. [[{“value”:”

What could an extra $200 or $300 do for you this month? Could it give you more breathing room in your budget for paying bills? Could it help you chip away at a nagging credit card balance?

The reality is that saving money isn’t easy, especially at a time when living costs are so much higher than they were a few years ago. But if you approach some of your June plans strategically, you might manage to bank some extra cash by the end of the month. Here are some less-obvious ways to boost your savings.

1. Have a low-key Father’s Day

Dads do a lot, so they deserve an awesome day that’s dedicated to them. But that doesn’t mean you have to go overboard with your spending.

Consumers shopping for Father’s Day plan to spend an average of $189.81 on gifts and celebrations, according to the National Retail Federation. That’s a lot of money to plunk down if your finances aren’t all that stable.

So instead of going all out on Father’s Day, go low key. Invite your dad over for a barbecue, or pack a nice lunch and join him at the beach, park, or whatever spot he loves. You might even indulge your dad with a screening of his favorite movie.

2. Give your grad a fun experience instead of a costly gift and party

In some parts of the country, high school will be wrapping up in the coming days. You may be tempted to buy your graduate a nice last-minute gift. But instead of doing that, consider planning an experience you can enjoy as a family.

That could mean taking a day trip to a nearby city they want to explore. Or it could mean granting them a day of indulgence in their favorite things — perhaps pizza, video games, and unlimited snacks.

Along these lines, instead of planning an expensive party or dinner at a restaurant for extended family, limit the celebration to your immediate family if money is tight. Or allow your grad to invite a few close friends over to your home for a night of takeout and games.

3. Seek out free family activities

In some parts of the U.S., school is still in session. But in other parts, school’s been out for weeks and kids are getting restless. Before you rack up a large credit card balance by springing for theme park tickets and outings to the bowling alley or arcade to occupy your kids, explore your options for free entertainment in town.

You may have access to free beaches where you live. And if there’s a pool club, it may offer a free day pass for families interested in joining.

You can also see if your local library is offering any free programming over the summer. You may even find an event you can drop your kids off at for 90 minutes or so, thereby giving yourself a break.

Finally, see if there are any free festivals happening in your town. You may come across options ranging from outdoor concerts to guided nature walks at nearby state parks.

It’s not easy to save extra money these days. But if you take a laid-back approach to Father’s Day, resist the urge to overindulge your high school grad, and find free entertainment for your kids, you can set yourself up to add to your savings account this month rather than dip into it.

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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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If you have a Discover credit card, you might visit some places that don’t accept it. Like these three. [[{“value”:”

Discover credit cards are accepted nationwide at around 99% of places that accept credit cards, according to Discover’s website. But that wasn’t always the case. In fact, not too long ago, it wasn’t uncommon to encounter retailers, restaurants, and grocery stores that wouldn’t take a Discover credit card, mainly because its processing fees were higher than competing issuers, like Mastercard and Visa. And while Discover cards enjoy much better acceptance rates today, there are still places that don’t accept them. Like these three.

1. Costco

Costco only accepts Visa credit cards at its warehouses. However, if you order from Costco through Uber Eats or Instacart, you can charge the purchase to Discover. Ordering Costco online could be more expensive, as you’ll pay delivery, processing fees, tip to the driver, and a markup on Costco’s goods. But if you’re keen on using your Discover card to buy your Costco groceries, these delivery apps could make it work.

2. Some local businesses

Some local businesses and restaurants — that is, those that aren’t franchised or part of national brands — won’t accept Discover credit cards, mainly because the processing fees are slightly higher than Mastercard and Visa. For example, whereas Visa charges 1.79% (plus $0.08) per in-person transaction, Discover charges 2.05% (plus $0.08). Because many small businesses have narrow profit margins to begin with, a 0.26% difference in processing fees is certainly enough to refuse the more expensive credit card.

This is changing, however. Many small businesses now rely on payment processors like Stripe and Square, which accept Discover. Others have added Discover to their credit card acceptance list to keep up with its popularity.

To be sure, I still find myself in situations in which a local business doesn’t accept my Discover credit card. Recently, in fact, my Discover was refused twice in the same day. First, it was from the parking meter, which accepted everything but Discover, then it was a merchant selling vegetables at a farmers market.

Sometimes, you’ll even find merchants online who don’t take Discover. For example, the Nintendo eshop only accepts Mastercard and Visa. In this case, as with most online purchases, I can get around this by using Google Pay or PayPal, as you can add your Discover card to both and pay that way.

3. Most places abroad

If you’re traveling outside the U.S., don’t rely on being able to use your Discover credit card to make purchases. While Discover may have grown its presence among U.S. businesses, abroad it still has work to do. As someone who travels frequently outside the U.S., I can testify to its sparse coverage in comparison to Visa and Mastercard.

That said, I believe Discover is expanding its international presence. It’s not as rare as it used to be to find merchants in big cities, like London and Berlin, accepting Discover as a method of payment, even less rare where American tourists tend to frequent the most. Even if the merchant only displays Mastercard and Visa as accepted methods, it’s worth asking if they take Discover, as sometimes they’re able to even if they don’t advertise it.

At any rate, I would still have a Visa or Mastercard in your wallet, just in case. Although Discover has improved its acceptance rate over the years, it’s not yet as widely accepted as those two card issuers. And although I love my Discover credit card, it’s not the best for every purchase. For that reason, it’s prudent to have more than one great credit card, not only to guarantee you’ll have one that’s accepted, but also to get the most rewards on every purchase.

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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.Discover Financial Services is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Costco Wholesale, Mastercard, PayPal, Uber Technologies, and Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Discover Financial Services and recommends the following options: long January 2025 $370 calls on Mastercard, short January 2025 $380 calls on Mastercard, and short June 2024 $67.50 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Saving money doesn’t have to be miserable. Read on for ways to make it enjoyable. [[{“value”:”

Whenever my husband mentions that we’ve been spending extra and that it’s time to buckle down and focus on adding to our savings account, I get a little grumpy.

It’s not that I’m bad at saving money. I’m actually pretty good at it. But I like to save money passively — namely, by automating contributions to different accounts. I don’t like to have to think about ordering takeout less often or saying no to social plans because I’m trying to bank a few extra bucks.

The reality, though, is that saving money is super important, and there are a lot of people who really need to get serious about doing it. Last year, SecureSave reported that 63% of working Americans could not immediately cover an unplanned $500 expense. That’s scary, especially when you consider that the cost of a single home or car repair could well exceed $500.

That’s why it’s important to find ways to make saving money more fun — so, you know, you’ll actually do it. Here are a few tricks that have worked for me in the past, and they may work well for you, too.

1. Do a spending challenge with a friend or partner

When my husband and I were first married, it was much easier to pick up and take a vacation or go out to dinner than it is now that we have kids. But back then, we were often a bit more free with our spending than we should’ve been.

So at times, we would get serious about saving — in a silly way — by challenging each other to see who could be more frugal. What we did was keep a log of our spending and record the various ways we’d saved a few dollars here and there, such as if one of us scored a $2 off coupon at the supermarket.

My husband took the game to an extreme one time by calling our cable provider and negotiating a discounted rate. I then tried to match his prowess by negotiating our cellphone bill, to no avail. But I was glad that he was playing the game in such a cutthroat fashion because his efforts saved us money on cable for an entire year.

2. Learn to cook

Restaurant and takeout spending are a big expense in my family. Sometimes, it’s worth it. But there have been periods where we’ve tried to cut back big time. And a system that’s worked for us is to try to emulate some of our favorite restaurant dishes at home.

What I like about this is that it’s a fun activity you can do with a partner or friend, and you can not only save money, but also enjoy the personal satisfaction of knowing you’ve mastered a dish you love. Now I’ll admit freely that I’ve yet to attempt to make my own sushi. But I’ve learned to make my fair share of Indian and Thai dishes — two of my favorite cuisines. And that’s been a source of pride.

3. Create a rewards program

When I lived alone before meeting my husband, saving money was something I typically did solo. To make things more pleasant, I used to create a rewards system for meeting different milestones.

One month, I told myself that if I hit a certain savings target, I was treating myself to my own internet connection (back then, I used to bum a signal off of my upstairs neighbor by sitting outside his apartment with my laptop). Another time, I told myself I could buy frozen yogurt from my favorite shop three nights in a row.

A rewards program might motivate you to work toward your savings goals because there’s a benefit outside of seeing your bank account balance rise. And it might make you hate the process a lot less.

Saving money may not be inherently fun. But you can make it fun — or at least bearable — using tactics like these.

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

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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.Maurie Backman has positions in Target. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Target. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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