12 Little Clever Ways to Get More Out of Your Costco Membership

SAVING & SPENDING
Take advantage of these extra perks that your Costco membership offers.
Updated Dec. 17, 2024
Fact checked
hand holding costco receipt with executive membership card at costco store

Are you getting the most out of your Costco membership and maximizing how much money you can save?

Sure, you stock up on pantry staples or frozen items when you head to the warehouse retailer. But you may be overlooking some other money-saving perks of shopping at Costco.

So next time you head out to the warehouse, take advantage of these clever ways to maximize your membership.

Save on gas

Gas prices are high right now, but Costco offers a great way to save on fuel.

The Costco gas station typically offers fuel that is a little cheaper per gallon than what you pay at other local gas stations. Over the course of a year, those savings can really add up.

Ohio Driver? Cancel your car insurance

We've got bad news. You could be wasting $600 every year on overpriced, second-rate car insurance. And you should probably cancel your existing insurance right now, because there's something much better.

This new tool from FinanceBuzz can tell you if you're overpaying for your car insurance in just a few clicks. We match drivers with companies that report saving drivers up to $600 or more per year when they switch! Each driver’s savings will vary by driving history and how many discounts you’re eligible for. And once you try it out, you'll never have to look for affordable insurance again because we find you the lowest rates that other companies can't match.

Oh, and it's also free. And come on — you can't tell us you don't want to save up to $600. To find out if you're losing up to $600 or more a year, just answer a few questions, and then make sure to enter your zip, DOB, and email, to see if you qualify for a lower rate. It takes less than 2 minutes.

See if you're overpaying

Earn 2% cash rewards at grocery stores and Costco

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card(Rates and fees) is a powerful rewards card that allows you to earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases — including on groceries, even at warehouse stores like Costco.

New cardholders can also earn a one-time cash rewards bonus — $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months!

If you’re looking for a powerful rewards card that offers an extended intro APR period, look no further, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card checks that box too!

This card also offers an intro APR of 0% for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (then 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable). Which is great for someone who wants a break from high interest rates, while still earning rewards.

The best part? There's no annual fee.

Click here to apply for the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card now.

Don’t pay a CENT to contractors for home repairs until you do this

Sounds crazy. And maybe you’re not even sure if this is real. But … you’re probably curious anyway. Choice Home Warranty makes it so you might be able to save $100s in home repairs!

They’ve been around since 2008 (so you know they’re legit) and they offer affordable plans to cover appliances and systems in your home that could break down from routine wear and tear.

Think of it like this: Say your air conditioning unit breaks down during a heatwave. Instead of paying $1,500 for repairs, you may only need to pay a $100 service fee with Choice Home Warranty, and their techs come and fix it ASAP. This could save you $1,400 almost instantly!

Choose a plan here to get started. Then, whenever a covered system in your home breaks down, all you have to do is make your claim online or give them a call. Their team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.1

Choose a plan from Choice Home Warranty here

P.S. Use the links above and you’ll get $50 off and 1 month free. We don’t know how long this will last, so take advantage of it today before it disappears.

Save on travel

Check out Costco Travel if you are planning a trip somewhere special. You can book hotel rooms, flights, and rental cars at a discount using your Costco membership.

Using the retailer’s travel site also can get you other perks, such as meal credits and 2% back on travel purchases if you're an Executive member.

Earn a $250 travel bonus with this incredible card

There's a credit card that's making waves with its amazing bonus and benefits. The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card has no annual fee and you can earn 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

You can earn additional points just by using this card for your everyday purchases — unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases. The 25,000 bonus points can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward travel or dining purchases.

If you want to travel and dine out more, the Travel Rewards card can help you get where you want to go.

The best part? There's no annual fee.

Click here to apply now.

Earn a $400 bonus with this checking account

We hate to tell you this, really. But if you aren’t banking with Truist Bank, you’re missing out on extra cash. Don’t worry though … it’s easy to fix.

New checking clients can earn a $400 bonus when you open a new Truist One Checking account online between October 31, 2024 and April 30, 2025 using promo code AFL2425TR1400. Terms apply.2

To earn the $400 bonus, your account needs to receive at least 2 qualifying direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more within 120 days of account opening.

This is practically passive income and a great way to supercharge your earnings.

Plus, you can enjoy other benefits like no overdraft fee, a $100 negative balance buffer,3 and automatic upgrades for access to growing perks.

Open your new Truist One Checking account here

Save on prescriptions

Costco has an excellent prescription drug program for its members. It allows them to get great prices on their medications at Costco and thousands of network pharmacies.

You also get other perks, such as mail delivery of your medication and automatic refills. These benefits add up and are some of the many smart shopping hacks at the warehouse retailer.

Costco can also save you money on prescriptions for your pets, so don’t forget to look for deals on medication for your furry friends.

If you’re over 50, take advantage of massive discounts and financial resources

Over 50? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on things like travel, meal deliveries, eyeglasses, prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance and more.

How to become a member today:

  • Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today” 
  • Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions 
  • Start enjoying your discounts and perks!

You’ll also get insider info on social security, job listings, caregiving, and retirement planning. And you’ll get access to AARP’s Fraud Watch Network to help you protect your money, as well as tools to help you plan for retirement.

Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (Do not skip this step!) Doing so will allow you to take up 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $12 per year with auto-renewal.

Become an AARP member now

Get discounted gift cards

Gift cards can be great presents in a pinch, so check out the options at Costco. You can often pick up gift cards that are worth more than their price.

These discounted gift cards are also a great option if you're retired and living on a fixed income, or are simply trying to save money at any age.

Earn up to 4% cash rewards to use at Costco

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi(Rates and fees) is a powerful card that allows you to earn Costco cash rewards anywhere Visa is accepted — up to 4% cash back! Perfect for those monthly Costco stock-up trips.

Here's how it works: Earn 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter; 3% on restaurants and eligible travel purchases; 2% on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com; and 1% on all other purchases.

This card truly allows you to turn everyday purchases into cashback rewards to use at your favorite store. Even better: Receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico!

The best part? There's no annual fee.

Click here to apply for the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi now.

Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards

Benefits

Card Details

  • Low spend threshold for its welcome offer — $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
  • Cell phone protection benefit (subject to a $25 deductible)
  • Can redeem rewards at an ATM for literal cash
  • Apply Now
  • Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
  • Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
  • Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
  • 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
  • $0 annual fee.
  • No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
  • Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
  • Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
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Intro Offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

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