Costco is known for being the best place to save on appliances, groceries, and other household needs, but did you know that Costco also offers an array of other less-obvious services?
Having a Costco membership can give you access to various savings on other products and services. For example, I saved about $500 on my car insurance and $400 on my home insurance through Costco. Even if you're not looking for insurance, there are many other Costco services that you can benefit from beyond your monthly grocery run.
Here are some wonderful, not-so-obvious perks you get when you become a Costco member.
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If you're an Amazon Prime member, apply for the Prime Visa(Rates and fees) credit card and you can get a $150 Amazon Gift Card instantly loaded into your Amazon account's Gift Card Balance upon approval (get an instant decision within 15 seconds).1 <p class="">If you respond via the Internet, the majority of applications are responded to in less than 15 seconds. Your actual response time may vary depending on the Internet connection and volume of submitted requests. We may not be able to give you an immediate answer in every instance.</p>
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Pet insurance
Pet insurance is gaining in popularity among owners who are looking for ways to protect themselves and their beloved pets from high veterinary costs.
Here's a great Costco membership perk: Costco members receive 15% discount on pet insurance!
The pet insurance is provided through Figo, which is considered one of the best pet insurance companies.
One great thing about this service is that it also offers the opportunity to talk to a live vet online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Home and installation services
Costco offers some services that could help you with your renovation needs. If you're shopping around to find an installer for your new flooring, windows, or even an HVAC system, don't forget to also obtain a quote through your local Costco warehouse.
Costco partners with local installers to offer its customers great deals on what are often the most expensive parts of any home renovation.
Also, if you're planning to buy a major appliance at Costco, remember that they offer installation, too. This includes dishwashers, fridges, freezers, stoves, hoods, and more.
Hearing tests and aids
Here's something that might surprise you: Costco is the most popular individual retailer of hearing aids in the United States.
So, what makes Costco customers so happy with their hearing aids? For one thing, the in-house Kirkland brand of hearing aids is renowned for its sound clarity and overall quality.
What's even more important is the brand's affordability. Cost is especially key since many insurance plans do not offer any funding help for hearing aids.
Checks
A check remains one of the safest ways to make a big purchase, even though the world is becoming increasingly less dependent on cash and checks.
The only problem is that obtaining checks from our home banking institution is often expensive. Luckily, Costco offers check services through their provider Harland Clarke.
Costco members can save an average of 50% on the cost of checks and can easily order them online without leaving the house.
Shopping pro tip: This month's best deals
January is here, bringing fresh starts, clean slates, and a renewed focus on routines. As the new year kicks off, so do savings, making it the perfect time to reset your space and budget with smart seasonal buys. Look for deals on:
- Fitness gear, wellness products, and activewear
- Home organization essentials
- Cold-weather basics, like coats, boots, and cozy layers
- For grocery savings, look for seasonal produce, including citrus fruits, leafy greens, and root vegetables
With post-holiday markdowns and a shift toward fresh priorities, January is a great time to shop smart, stock up, and set the tone for a well-prepped year ahead.
Life insurance
Your home and car aren't the only things that need to be insured. If you're on the hunt for affordable life insurance, don't forget that there are options available through Costco.
Costco offers life insurance exclusively to its members through Protective. It's very easy to adjust your policy as necessary, and customers report saving an average of 15% on their life insurance costs.
Auto and home insurance
Most Americans spend big bucks on auto and home insurance. It costs the average American over $5,000 a year to cover these two expenses. Saving money on auto insurance alone is one of the best car owner moves you can make.
Costco offers car insurance, home insurance, bundles, and other insurance plans, such as renter's insurance. American Family Insurance underwrites it and receives rave reviews from consumers, with 90% of respondents reporting feeling "highly satisfied."
Auto buying program
Costco's auto buying program may be little known, but it's certainly not new and has in fact been around for 30 years.
Costco itself doesn't buy cars. Instead, they offer cars through select franchised car sellers at a reduced cost to their members.
Many shoppers who buy a car through this program enjoy the fact that they don't have to get tangled up in negotiation as they would through the traditional buying process.
Home solar panels
There are many reasons to install solar panels on your home, and whether your motivating factor is the environment or your monthly budget, Costco can help you with custom installation.
Costco offers solar panels through Sunrun, which is notable for being the biggest solar panel provider in the country. Costco offers its members a 10% Shop Card to purchase Sunrun equipment.
- 18-29
- 30-39
- 40-49
- 50-59
- 60-69
- 70-79
- 80+
Garage doors
We are living in an age when you can learn how to do just about anything yourself on YouTube, but one thing most people should never try to DIY is a garage door installation.
Not only is it incredibly hard to do, but it also has a high failure rate, which can result in negative consequences.
Fortunately, Costco offers garage door installations through Amarr and LiftMaster. It's easy to purchase a garage door installation; the first step is to call in and request a free at-home installation quote.
Costco offers a special incentive through its Executive Member program that allows cardholders to gain 2% cash back on all purchases.
Quick tips: How to travel or dine out without going broke
Thoughtful planning can help you maximize your travel experience without draining your wallet. Here are some tips on how to balance your adventure with a budget:
- Visit restaurants during happy hour or lunch for lower prices
- Use cashback dining apps like Seated or credit cards with travel/dining rewards
- Use price comparison tools like Hopper or Google Flights to track airfare drops
- Book accommodations with kitchens to prepare some meals yourself
You never know where your most memorable moments will come from. So consider both the emotional and financial value of an experience to find the things that are truly worth your money.
Travel
This is one of the more well-known services on this list, but if you're not aware that Costco has a travel program, welcome to the first day of the rest of your life.
Costco offers its members exclusive pricing on package vacations, as well as hotel bookings, rental cars, and even cruises. Not only do users report excellent savings, but they also give Costco travel customer service rave reviews — a must-have when you're traveling because you never know what kind of unexpected hiccups you can encounter.
Be sure to use one of the top travel credit cards on your trip to make the most of your spending.
Bottom line
No matter what brings you to Costco, we're sure that you can find one or two (or three!) other reasons to renew your membership.
Remember to check out the best Costco shopping hacks before you visit your local warehouse to keep optimizing your membership's savings.
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If you're a loyal Amazon Prime member and you love getting cash back rewards on your purchases, the Prime Visa is a fantastic option. You can earn big rewards with this card, and it comes with some other valuable perks as well.
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FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
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