Money Management

Looking for an easy way to book an amazing vacation? Try Costco Travel! See what happens when you book a cruise or an all-inclusive vacation with Costco. [[{“value”:”

Costco is a great place to find discounts on everyday groceries and household items and even some big-ticket purchases like TVs, furniture, and cars. But did you know that Costco can help book your vacation?

That’s right: Costco Travel offers member-exclusive deals on hotels, rental cars, cruises, and vacation packages. This could be another great reason to buy a Costco membership.

Let’s look at how Costco Travel works, and why it could be a good choice to book your vacation with Costco.

Costco Travel: A travel agency for Costco members

Costco Travel is part of the larger Costco Wholesale company, and you’ll see big signs for Costco Travel at every Costco warehouse location. Basically, Costco Travel is like an in-house travel agency just for Costco members. In the same way that Costco warehouse stores give Costco members exclusive deals on groceries, laptop computers, and rotisserie chickens, Costco Travel offers special travel discounts.

Costco Travel does not offer standalone flights. If you just want to book a flight, you’ll have to use a different travel website or search tool. But Costco Travel does offer:

CruisesHotels (which can include flights)Rental carsVacation packages (which can include flights)

Costco Travel might not be the best deal for standalone hotel bookings. I’m going to be traveling and staying at a hotel next month, and I did a price check to compare my existing reservation’s rate (that I got from my hotel loyalty program) with Costco Travel’s hotel price. Costco’s price was the same as the hotel loyalty program.

Instead, the best value with Costco Travel might come from booking cruises or entire vacation packages. Many vacation bookings on Costco will give you a special discount in the form of a Digital Costco Shop Card based on the cost of your travel package. This could be a better reward than even the best credit cards! Fortunately, Costco offers a wide selection of places you can travel if you let Costco book your vacation for you.

Where can you go with Costco Travel?

Costco Travel offers a wide range of vacation destinations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and as far away as Fiji. You can also use Costco to book cruises all over the world, from Alaska to the Mediterranean to Bali and Western Australia.

Here are a few exciting travel experiences that you can enjoy when Costco books your vacation (listed on the Costco Travel website as of May 20, 2024).

Alaska: Kirkland Signature Denali Explorer Cruisetour

Want to see some of the most wondrous sites of Alaska, while also enjoying a cruise through the Pacific Northwest? This Kirkland Signature cruise experience departs from Vancouver and gives you 11 nights of travel adventures — including an Alaska train ride to Denali and adventurous tours of Denali National Park.

Dominican Republic: Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Resort Package

This all-inclusive resort package gives you a Caribbean beachfront experience, with unlimited food and (nearly) unlimited drinks. Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana is a resort for all ages, and it offers some impressive amenities like swim-up bars, infinity pools, and a water park. The resort gets great reviews from Costco members, who say it’s family-friendly and an easy place to take kids.

Portugal: 10-night Group Luxury Tour

Portugal has a sunny Mediterranean climate, delicious food and wine, and gorgeous historic architecture. This 10-night tour gives you exclusive experiences and encounters with Portuguese culture, like live Fado music, wine tastings, private cruises, and cave outings, a cooking class to learn how to make pastéis de nata (Portuguese custard tarts), and before-hours access to Livraria Lello, one of the world’s oldest bookstores.

Costco Travel: High marks for customer service

Based on the Costco member reviews, Costco’s vacation picks are generally excellent. And in case you run into issues or need help, Costco Travel gets high praise for its customer service. Costco Travel members on Reddit have commented about how helpful the customer service was, such as a time when a rental car company issued unfair charges, and Costco quickly got the charges refunded.

If you’re on the fence about whether you feel comfortable booking a vacation with Costco, you can feel confident that — just like with Costco’s generous returns policy — Costco customer service will have your back.

Bottom line

I’m a longtime Costco member and I love Costco for thousands of reasons, but I personally have not tried Costco Travel (yet). However, I have a friend who used Costco Travel to book a family vacation in London, including hotels and flights. He said it was a marvelous experience and a great value for money!

I would totally try Costco Travel, because I trust Costco to give me a great experience at a lower-than-expected price. With Costco, the biggest value of membership is not just the price, it’s trusting Costco to “curate” great deals for you — and this can be especially helpful if you want to go on a cruise, or go on an all-inclusive resort vacation in another country where you haven’t been before. Costco Travel can be your concierge to help you find great places that you can trust, at a lower price than you could get for yourself.

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 has a disclosure policy.

“}]] Read More 

Most people know Costco offers great prices on gas, but you can also get deals on tires, insurance, and even your next vehicle. Learn more here. [[{“value”:”

When it comes to Costco deals, you probably think mostly about the groceries and household items inside of the warehouse club. Or maybe you dream about Costco’s famous food court, where you can buy a checking account–friendly hot dog and soda combo for $1.50 .

But if you’re a car owner, or you want to become one, Costco has other money-saving opportunities for you as well.

If you know anything about Costco, you most likely already know that its gas is cheap and high quality. But the bargains go beyond the discounted fuel. Here are three other ways Costco can save you money on vehicle ownership.

1. Buying a car

While you won’t find brand new cars inside of your warehouse club, Costco still offers members awesome deals on the purchase of a vehicle. Through its Costco Auto Program, the company partners with dealers and manufacturers to provide specials savings opportunities, including:

Exclusive Costco member pricingManufacturer incentivesLimited-time vehicle specials

As of mid-May 2024, for example, Costco is currently offering:

A $1,000 member-only incentive on the purchase of select 2024 or 2025 Volvo SUVs, hybrid-electric vehicles, and luxury electric vehicles$1,000 member-only incentives on select Cadillac or Chevrolet models$2,000 in member incentives on Polestar 2’s luxury electric vehicle

There are other offers as well, including manufacturer incentive deals, and Costco periodically changes the promotions it runs so there will be opportunities to save on other vehicles in the future.

Reducing the price of a car or SUV by thousands of dollars is a really great perk of Costco membership. Plus, your shopping experience will be a lot more pleasant when you get a pre-arranged discounted member price rather than having to haggle at the car dealer.

2. Replacing tires

Costco offers tire replacement services, and when The Ascent compared costs, we found prices at Costco typically came in lower than Sam’s Club for the same tires. Buying tires at Costco also comes with other benefits, including:

Free installationFive years of road hazard protectionFree tire balancingFlat tire repairs

Generally, you’ll need to replace your tires at least once every six years, but the specifics of how often you need to act will depend on how much you drive. Still, being able to save money and get great service is an awesome opportunity for Costco members.

3. Auto insurance

Costco has partnered with CONNECT to offer members yet another opportunity to save. CONNECT, powered by American Family Insurance, offers home and auto insurance coverage at discounted prices to warehouse club members. And Costco reports that members who switched their auto coverage saved an average of $595.86 in premiums during the first year they made the change.

CONNECT received above-average customer service scores on J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance survey, which means vehicle owners who sign up for this coverage may be able to pay a lot less for quality protection.

Costco members who own a vehicle should consider taking advantage of these three perks to get the most value from being a warehouse club shopper. If you aren’t a Costco member but do own a vehicle, you may want to think about joining. The Gold Star membership costs just $60 a year, and these car-specific benefits alone may more than justify that price.

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.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.

“}]] Read More 

How can small businesses compete with big corporations? By going deeper into the local community. See how better small business marketing can help. [[{“value”:”

As a small business owner, you should spend lots of time thinking about your customers: who they are, what they need, and why they buy from you. Building stronger, deeper, more loyal customer relationships is the best way for small businesses to find a profitable niche and stay ahead of competition from big box retailers and corporations. Being small can be an advantage, if your small size helps you stay closer to your customers.

A new survey from VistaPrint and Wix offers surprising insights into why customers buy from small businesses. Let’s look at a few reasons — and lessons for your small business marketing.

Customers actively want to “shop small” with small businesses

First, it’s important to keep in mind that many customers are rooting for small businesses. People want businesses like yours to succeed, they value the role your business plays in the community, and they will often go out of their way to support small businesses instead of giving every last dollar in their checking accounts to big corporations.

According to survey data from the VistaPrint and Wix 2024 Small Business Marketing Report, large percentages of U.S. consumers feel a strong impulse to shop with small businesses.

Here are a few fun facts from the survey:

78% of consumers say “it’s important for them to shop small.”46% of consumers regularly seek out small businesses in their local communities41% say that supporting a local business is a good reason to shop small instead of with a big corporation40% shop at small businesses once or twice per month36% shop at small businesses once or twice per week

The lesson: Don’t assume that there is no room for your business in a world with so many big corporate competitors. People are out there in your local community (or online) who want to support your small business, if you can just get them introduced to your company. That’s where small business marketing can help!

Why consumers “shop small”

The VistaPrint/Wix survey found five key reasons why consumers buy from small businesses instead of big corporations. Let’s look at these reasons, and see how they could become a bigger competitive advantage for your business.

1. Location and convenience (mentioned by 49% of consumers)

“Shopping small” is also often a matter of “buying local.” If you own a small retail business, restaurant, coffee shop, or any other business that relies on foot traffic and real-life interaction, you should look for ways to improve your local search engine marketing. For example, it’s easy to sign up for a Google Business Profile — just be sure to keep your details updated. This will make it easier and more convenient for customers to find your business location.

2. Product quality (45% of consumers)

Small businesses cannot do everything or offer every type of product like a big box store, but they can do a few little things incredibly well. If you focus on just a few great products, you’ll be more likely to create a memorable impression with your customers.

Whether it’s a cupcake bakery that’s known for one special flavor, or a local fitness gym that provides a one-of-a-kind kickboxing class, think about what it takes for your business to be unique, with hard-to-find and hard-to-replace products and customer experiences.

3. Price (43% of consumers)

This is a surprising answer from the consumer survey, because usually it is hard for small businesses to compete on price — big corporations have big economies of scale that make products cheaper on a per-unit basis.

But sometimes, small businesses can be a more cost-effective place for customers to shop. During the recent high inflation, some big corporations were raising prices to maximize profit — but many small businesses did not pass on their rising costs to customers in the same way.

Don’t price your products so low that you can’t be successful. But look for ways to communicate to customers that your prices really are competitive, and that you’re trying to give them fair prices and excellent value for their money.

4. Wanting to support local business (41% of consumers)

Small businesses have a lot of built-in goodwill with local customers. People will often want to give your business a chance, just because you’re local. Use small business marketing like social media and hosting live local events to get better known in your neighborhood. The more you are known as a local fixture and a generous part of the community, the more people will spread the word about your business.

5. Having a positive impact on my local economy (38%)

There’s a reason why so many small businesses sponsor local kids’ sports teams. Small businesses are the lifeblood of the local economy. Your small business marketing shouldn’t be all about selling your products.

Instead, you should also tell the stories of how your business engages with the community — share photos and stories of your employees (with their permission), local organizations and good causes that you support, and more.

Bottom line

Small business marketing doesn’t always have to be technical, complicated, and heavily digital. It’s often about building relationships with people and getting your business’s name out there in the community. The Small Business Report from VistaPrint and Wix shows that there are a lot of people in your local community who want to help your business succeed — go find them.

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.

“}]] Read More 

Owning a home has become exceedingly difficult. Should you give up on it? And is that even such a bad thing? Read on to find out. [[{“value”:”

Sky-high home prices. Limited inventory. Exorbitant mortgage rates.

These are all characteristics of today’s housing market. And not shockingly, would-be buyers are getting frustrated. Some are even giving up on homeownership altogether.

A good 57% of renters agree that the American Dream of owning a home is dead, according to a recent Guardian-Harris Poll. And it’s easy to see why you might feel similarly.

Now you should know that today’s housing market conditions aren’t going to last forever. So in time, it could get easier to buy a home.

But even if that doesn’t happen, there’s nothing wrong with renting a home on a long-term basis. In some cases, being a life-long renter might actually benefit you financially.

Don’t assume things won’t improve

A big reason home prices are elevated today is that there’s not a lot of inventory to choose from. And the reason there’s not much inventory is that many homeowners refinanced in 2020 and 2021 when mortgage lenders lowered their rates significantly. So now, people with 3% mortgages don’t want to swap them for loans in the 7% range, which is what buyers are looking at today.

Also, buyers who purchased homes prior to 2020 or during the earlier part of 2022 may be sitting on very competitive mortgage rates. So they, too, may be fairly discouraged from selling.

But once mortgage rates start to come down, homeowners may not be as locked into their properties as they are today. So we could see a nice uptick in homes for sale down the line, which could cause home prices to come down.

Specifically, the Federal Reserve has indicated that it’s looking to start lowering interest rates this year. The Fed doesn’t set mortgage rates, but when it raises its federal funds rate, borrowing rates across the board tend to follow suit. Once the Fed starts lowering rates, mortgages could become more affordable. And that could lead to more people moving and a general increase in real estate listings.

You’re not doomed if you end up a life-long renter

Homeownership is often associated with growing wealth and financial stability. But it’s more than possible to do well for yourself financially without being a homeowner.

When you rent a home, you pay a single amount of money each month for the duration of a given lease. You don’t have to come up with $3,000 on the spot to replace a broken water heater, and you don’t have to pay a snow removal service $150 every time there’s a storm.

In fact, if you take all of the money you’re saving each month by not having to pay for maintenance and repairs on a property, you could invest it and grow yourself a lot of wealth without having to deal with the hassle of owning a home.

Let’s say renting costs you $300 less per month over a 30-year period than buying a home. If you invest that money at a 10% average annual return, which is consistent with the stock market’s average, you’ll end up with about $592,000.

Granted, you might buy a home for $500,000 that you eventually sell for almost $1.1 million, thereby seeing a similar gain. But to achieve that gain, you’re spending a whole lot of money each year on maintenance and repairs. And you’re also putting in the work. Maintaining a stock portfolio is something you may find to be a lot less stressful and time-consuming.

It’s not shocking to see that such a large percentage of renters today feel that the dream of owning a home is dead. The good news is that in time, housing market conditions should ease. But the even better news is that if you don’t end up owning a home in your lifetime, you’re not doomed financially by any means. You may even end up coming out way ahead.

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.

“}]] Read More 

It’s important to know the ins and outs of Costco’s rules. Read on to get to the bottom of some big myths. [[{“value”:”

Joining Costco is a great way to save money on groceries and household essentials, as well as one-off purchases you might make during the year, like appliances or electronics. But it’s important to familiarize yourself with the rules of a Costco membership. And it’s also important to know which myths not to believe. Here’s some false information to be aware of.

1. You can take as long as you need to make returns

Costco has an extremely generous return policy. For the most part, you can bring any item back at any time for a refund. But you should know that there are exceptions to this rule.

First, Costco will not take back cigarettes and alcohol. It also won’t let you return gold bars or silver coins.

Somewhat surprisingly, Costco Shop Cards (which are gift cards redeemable at Costco) aren’t refundable, either — though you can use one on any Costco purchase, so you likely won’t need to return one. And you also cannot return other retailers’ gift cards or event tickets.

Costco also has a limited return window for certain products. Electronics and major appliances need to be brought back within 90 days for a full refund.

2. You can return completely eaten food

One of the best aspects of Costco’s return policy is that you can return food on the basis of not liking it or not meeting your personal standards for quality — even if you’ve already started to consume the item. But one thing you can’t do is return completely eaten food.

To get a refund on a grocery purchase — perishable or otherwise — you need to bring back 50% of the item at least. However, in some cases, you don’t have to bring food back to the store if it’s visibly spoiled. Costco will usually allow you to take a picture of the item in question and use that as proof for refund purposes.

So let’s say you buy a carton of strawberries and the next morning, it’s full of mold. You don’t necessarily have to keep those moldy berries in your fridge an extra day until you can get back to Costco. Generally, taking a picture showing visible mold will suffice.

3. You’ll have your membership canceled for making too many returns

You may have heard that if you make too many Costco returns, you’ll risk having your membership canceled. It’s a concern that tends to be prevalent among Amazon Prime members, too.

The reality is that yes, you can end up having your Costco membership revoked if you abuse the store’s return policy. But usually, this has to be pretty extreme before Costco takes that step.

Even if you end up making one return per month or more, your membership is probably safe. Rather, it’s a series of abusive returns, and constant returns, that may cause you a problem. And by “abusive” returns, we’re talking about consistently bringing back partially consumed food on the basis of it “not tasting good,” or bringing back clothing that’s clearly been worn and stained.

If you’re going to pay for a Costco membership, it’s important to know the rules. Keep these points in mind so you’re able to navigate the store’s return policy without having to lose money or worry about having your membership canceled.

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.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.

“}]] Read More 

Today’s CD rates are tempting. But read on to see why a CD may not be the best choice for you. [[{“value”:”

I’ve got to be honest with you. When I first saw that CDs were paying 5.00% and higher APYs, my initial thought was to open one ASAP.

The reality is that today’s CD rates aren’t going to stick around forever. Once the Federal Reserve starts cutting interest rates, which it’s likely to do at some point this year, CDs are going to start paying less. So at first, I thought throwing some money into a CD was the smartest thing for me to do.

Then I realized I was wrong.

A CD could be a smart move for you right now with APYs of 5.00% still available. But if these situations apply to you, then you absolutely shouldn’t open a CD.

1. You don’t have a complete emergency fund

A good 63% of Americans can’t cover an unplanned $500 expense from their savings, according to SecureSave. That’s kind of scary.

If your emergency fund needs work, you should take any extra cash you have and put it into a regular savings account. That way, it’s accessible to you at all times, and you won’t have to risk an early withdrawal penalty, which you’ll generally get hit with if you cash out a CD before it comes due.

Also, let’s be real. Many savings accounts today are paying APYs of 4.00%, and some are even right up there at 5.00% or higher with CDs.

Granted, those rates aren’t guaranteed the way CD rates get locked in. But still, if you’re short on funds for emergency situations, why commit to a CD and risk a penalty for 5.00% when you could earn close to that amount but maintain a lot more flexibility with your money?

2. You’re carrying high-interest debt

A $1,000, 12-month CD paying 5.00% APY could put $50 in your pocket after a year. And hey, that’s not a bad payday, so I can see why you’d want to chase it. But if you’re carrying a credit card balance, one thing you should know is that the amount of money you lose in interest over the next year could well exceed the interest you earn from a 5.00% CD.

Let’s imagine you owe $1,000 on a credit card with a 20% APY. If it takes you a year to pay that balance off, you’ll spend $112 on interest. So which would you rather do — earn $50 or lose $112?

3. You’re saving for a far-off goal, like retirement

The reason I opted out of a CD wasn’t due to a lack of emergency savings or a credit card balance. Rather, I held off on a CD because I realized I wanted to use the money as retirement savings. And while a 5% return is pretty decent, it pales in comparison to the 10% average annual return the stock market has delivered over the past 50 years.

In general, when you’re saving for a far-off goal, whether it’s retirement or college, it’s best to invest your money, because the return you’ll see in a stock portfolio will generally well outpace the amount of interest you’ll earn in a bank account.

Let’s say you’ve got $1,000 and are somehow able to score 5.00% on that money from your bank over the next 25 years. If so, you’re looking at getting to about $3,400, or a gain of $2,400.

And sure, that’s not terrible. But with a stock portfolio giving you a yearly 10% return during that time, investing your $1,000 leaves you with around $10,800 in 25 years. In this scenario, you’re gaining $9,800.

Look, I totally get why a CD might appeal to you today. And maybe it makes sense given your situation. All I’m saying is think things through before committing to a CD. And consider holding off if any of these points apply.

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.

“}]] Read More