Money Management

Costco is cracking down on non-members visiting the food court. Is it worth joining just to keep enjoying the $1.50 hot dog deal? [[{“value”:”

Most people know you typically need a Costco membership to enjoy deals at the warehouse club. But until recently, that rule actually didn’t always apply to some of the very best bargains available.

See, while Costco’s food court was intended for members, the rule wasn’t really enforced. As a result, many non-members were able to enjoy its low prices for yummy treats — including a $1.50 hot dog and soda combo.

That changed last month, with Costco posting signs in some locations warning that, “Effective April 8, 2024, an active Costco membership card will be required to purchase items from our food court. You can join today. Please see our membership counter for details.”

If you’re been enjoying the delights of Costco’s food court with no membership card, that means the party is over. But now for the big question: Should you join for the hot dog?

Is Costco’s hot dog deal worth becoming a member for?

Costco’s famous hot dog deal allows you to pay $1.50 for a quarter-pound hot dog and a refillable 20-ounce soda. The price hasn’t changed since 1984, and the deal is so popular that Costco actually sells around 100 million hot dogs annually — all at a loss.

That’s a pretty unbeatable price for what amounts to a full dinner. However, with Costco cracking down and limiting access to members only, you’d now have to pay the warehouse club’s membership fee to be eligible.

While Costco has two membership tiers, you’re looking at a minimum of $60 coming out of your bank account yearly for the entry-level Gold Star membership. And that’s a good amount of money to pay just to access the food court.

If you’re dining out enough there, though, it may actually be worth the price — even if you don’t actually get anything else at the warehouse club. To see why, just compare it to the cost of some other dogs from other chains offering a similar meal. While there may be some regional price variation, here’s a sampling of what you might pay for a hot dog and soda elsewhere:

Five Guys: $7.49 for an all-beef hotdog plus $3.09 for a 24-ounce drink for a total of $10.58Sonic: $3.09 for an All-American hotdog plus $1.14 for a medium Coca-Cola for a total of $4.23Shake Shack: $4.49 for a 100% beef hotdog plus $3.79 for a large drink for a total of $8.28

Hotdog savings add up

So, at the low end of the scale, you’re looking at saving at least $2.73 on your meal each time you get a hotdog at Costco versus somewhere else. At the high end, you’re saving $9.08 every time.

This means, if you buy between seven and 21 hot dogs over the course of a year, this purchase alone could justify the Costco membership price. It’s really not that hard to imagine eating that many — especially if you tend to visit on a pretty regular basis with a partner or friend.

If you’re upset about Costco’s crackdown, it may just be time to pony up and buy that membership after all. You can keep enjoying your dinner there and may even decide you want to take advantage of some of the other perks the warehouse offers.

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.

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You can find plenty of traditional grocery and household items at Costco. But read on to learn about some unique Costco buys you won’t find elsewhere. [[{“value”:”

Most people know that Costco can be a great source of groceries and household essentials, like paper towels and cleaning supplies. But let’s face it — Costco isn’t the only store selling eggs, paper plates, and laundry detergent. You can find all of these items at other warehouse club chains, as well as big-box and grocery stores.

But some of the items Costco sells are truly unique to Costco. Here are three you may want to scoop up if you have a membership (or, you may want to get a membership to enjoy these items).

1. A massive hot dog and soda for $1.50

Plenty of food establishments will sell you a hot dog and a cup of soda — one that’s probably largely diluted with ice. But you’ll be hard-pressed to find a massive hot dog and large soda that you can fill yourself from a dispenser for a mere $1.50.

Now, if it seems like that price is too good to be true, you should know that it’s sort of a gimmick on Costco’s part. The warehouse club giant has made a point to keep its decades-old price in place for its hot dog and soda combo as a means of customer retention. But hey, that’s not a bad thing if it means getting to pick up lunch on the cheap.

2. Kirkland Signature Cashew Clusters

Plenty of supermarkets and big-box stores sell snacks. But Kirkland’s Signature Cashew Clusters aren’t any ordinary snack — they’re a protein-packed combination of cashews, almonds, and pumpkin seeds with a mildly sweet glaze that offers up the perfect blend of sweet and salty.

These clusters are a great snack to take on a hike, or to pop in your mouth when you need a jolt of energy during a tiring workday. And at a price of $5.50 per pound, they’re incredibly easy on your budget.

Oh yeah, and $5.50 per pound is the online price. But you should know that items sold by Costco both online and in stores are pretty much always cheaper to buy in person. So if you spot these on the shelves of your local Costco, you’re probably looking at spending even less.

3. Kirkland Signature Tuxedo Chocolate Mousse Cake

If you love chocolate, then you should prepare to have your mind and taste buds blown by Costco’s Tuxedo Chocolate Mousse Cake, which you can find in the bakery section. It features a layer of chocolate cake, white chocolate mousse, traditional chocolate mousse, brownie chunks, and a chocolate ganache topping.

To get a sense of just how much chocolate is packed into this cake, let’s put it this way — it’s a good thing Costco sells cheap milk by the gallon. You’re going to need it to polish off a few slices of this beast of a cake. It’s also a stunning dessert to bring to a party or put out for company.

If you order the cake for same-day delivery, you’re looking at a price of about $21. But if you pick it up at your local store, it’s going to cost substantially less.

These are only some of the exclusive products you’ll find at Costco. If you’re on the fence about getting a membership, it pays to sign up, roam the aisles, and check out Costco.com to see what inventory you’ll gain access to.

You can always cancel your membership at any time for a refund if you’re not satisfied with it. But this way, these and other fantastic Costco buys will at least be on the table.

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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Flying together as a family with kids can be an ordeal. Booking with a kid-friendly airline may help. Find out which airlines are best for traveling with kids. [[{“value”:”

Traveling can be fun and exciting, especially when you get to do it with the people you love. But traveling as a family with kids takes extra effort and planning. You may be looking for insight on the best airlines to book when flying with your kids to make future trips less stressful and more enjoyable. I’ll share some of the best airlines for traveling with kids.

American Airlines

American Airlines is one of several airlines that have committed to seating kids under 15 and an accompanying adult together without extra fees when available.

American Airlines has an online system that detects you’re traveling as a family. If you can’t choose seats, are flying on basic-economy tickets, or want to avoid paying for seats, the system will search for seats together before the day of departure.

The airline will try its best to seat everyone together, but if seats are limited, children under 15 will be next to at least one adult traveling on the same reservation.

If traveling with children under 2 years old, you can ask the gate agent to board early. Because of these policies, families may feel more confident booking their airline tickets with American Airlines.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines also does its best to accommodate families with kids. The airline guarantees that children 13 and under will be seated with one accompanying adult at no extra cost. This service is available when booking tickets on the same reservation and is subject to a few other conditions.

Even better, Alaska’s system is built to detect when families are traveling together, so it will automatically attempt to assign seats together during the booking process.

Southwest Airlines

Unlike other major U.S. airlines, Southwest doesn’t provide assigned seats. Instead, fliers are assigned boarding groups (A, B, C) and positions (1–60) at check-in. The group and position on their boarding passes reflect their boarding order.

After getting on the plane, passengers can choose whichever seat they want. Passengers with earlier groups and positions board first. Your boarding order is determined by when you check in for your flight. Checking in as soon as possible will improve your odds of getting an earlier boarding group.

Some travelers dislike Southwest’s no-assigned-seat policy. However, this policy can be beneficial for families traveling with children. How? Families who check in earlier for their flight may receive an earlier boarding group, so they have more flexibility when choosing their seats on the plane. This way, the whole crew can sit together.

Plus, Southwest has a generous pre-boarding policy for eligible families. Up to two adults traveling with kids age 6 and under can board the plane after the A group but before the B group starts boarding. Since each group has 60 passengers, families with young kids can feel more confident that they can sit together.

Finally, every ticket includes two free checked bags. If you’re traveling with your crew, you can avoid the added expense of pricey bag fees by flying with Southwest. Most other airlines have recently increased their checked bag fees, so this perk can offer significant savings.

Try to book a direct flight

This tip could improve your family’s travel experience no matter which airline you use. Booking a direct flight can result in everyone spending less time at the airport in between transit. Less time wasted equals less stress and more smiles.

Direct flights tend to cost more, so purchasing this ticket type will impact your checking account. However, the added convenience of not dealing with the frustration of lengthy layovers may be well worth the added expense.

Earn rewards with a travel credit card

How you pay for your travel expenses, including airfare, matters. Using one of the best travel rewards credit cards is an excellent way to boost your credit card rewards. You can earn rewards when you swipe your credit card and later redeem them for free or nearly free travel.

If you’re an airline loyalist, using an airline credit card from your go-to airline is another way to earn credit card rewards. Travel costs can add up fast when traveling as a family, so earning travel rewards can help you keep more money in the bank.

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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.Natasha Gabrielle has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Alaska Air Group and Southwest Airlines. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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In my long and storied life, I’ve categorized people into two money-saving saving styles. Here’s how to optimize your savings based on your type. [[{“value”:”

These days, certificates of deposit (CDs), money market accounts, and even high-yield savings accounts are offering really attractive rates to savers from all walks of life. Someone might be easily convinced that it doesn’t matter which you choose, believing they’re all the same anyway.

I, on the other hand, think it matters a great deal, because there are different types of savers. The two main types I’ve encountered are the stoics and the goblins. I’m a goblin, and my friend Anna, well, she’s a stoic. Do you know which one you are and how that affects your savings options?

Different approaches to savings

Stoics approach building cash savings with a deep emotional detachment. It’s just part of their ritual, and once the deposit is made, there’s no more to think about. They know exactly how much money they need to pay bills from a paycheck, and of what remains, they place a set amount in savings, never to hear from it again. This is what Anna does, and she is an incredibly good saver. She’d impress the boots off of Warren Buffett himself.

Goblins, on the other hand, have a lot of good intentions, and they really do try, but sometimes…well, we forget that there’s that one bill that only gets paid once every six months. Or we make the mistake of going to the grocery store hungry, and oops, we blow the budget. One time I went to the market for a loaf of bread and came back with $60 in snacks because there was a sale. (Look, nobody’s perfect.)

Goblins will put what’s left from each check into savings and do their best to keep it there. Even if they do turn it around and are able to save a set amount every week, it’s not a done-and-dusted thing — sometimes miscalculations will lead to having to go back to the savings account to fish out that $60 they accidentally spent on snacks. They still manage to save money, but without the intensity and single-mindedness shown by stoics.

Choose your savings vehicle based on your savings style

Look, I desperately want to be the kind of person who can buy a CD and leave the money in it to grow. But I also know that I’m not. Things happen, and I don’t always have a backup plan that will allow me to leave my CD alone until it matures.

But I also don’t have to use CDs because there are other banking options that pay out just as well. Depending on how stuffed my emergency fund is, I could choose either a money market account or a high-yield savings account. Both are at least semi-liquid, both allow me to withdraw my money without penalty beyond the loss of interest on the money withdrawn, and both are currently producing high yields for savers (around 5% APY).

Right now, my dog is sick with cancer, and I never know if she’s going to need to go to the vet on a moment’s notice, so a money market account makes the most sense for me. You can use a money market account similarly to a checking account — put money in, take money out — and there are no penalties for doing so, if you’re within your transaction limit for the month under Regulation D. Most money market accounts make this easy by issuing a debit card.

Regulation D rules often also apply to a high-yield savings account, but in addition to that limitation on your account, you also are very unlikely to have a debit card for access. So to use your money, you first have to either go to the bank and withdraw it or transfer it to another account.

Both are better options than a CD for a goblin saver, because with a CD, the penalties are harsh if you have to take money out to cover an unplanned expense.

Before you open an account, ask yourself what kind of saver you are

A lot of people read about a savings product and how it helped some random person they don’t know earn a lot of interest on their money, but they very rarely stop to consider if they’re the same kind of saver as the person in the story. If you’re a goblin, it will take an absolute miracle for you to maximize your success with CDs or other long-term static investments. That’s why there are other vehicles, like money market accounts and high-yield savings accounts.

Neither type of saver is better than the other on an ethical or moral basis. Saving is a very personal thing, and we don’t all do it the same way. Some of us, despite our best efforts, can be considered optimistic savers at best, putting money away that we hope can stay in an interest-earning account. Some of us are stoic savers who have absolutely planned for all eventualities and know that their savings will stay where they left it.

These two savers just need different bank accounts. So which are you? Are you a stoic or a goblin? Make your account choices accordingly.

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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.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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