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18 Weird Little Hacks Costco Shoppers Should Know

Last updated Nov. 6, 2026 | By FinanceBuzz Editors

Do you shop at Costco? If so, you already understand the joy of saving money and finding a great deal. But you're probably overlooking some other simple ways to be smart with your money.

Don't worry, though. We compiled a list of genius money hacks that could help your hard-earned dollars go even further. It might not be as good as a $1.50 hot dog meal, but we're sure you'll find something helpful.

Member-Only Benefits You Might Not Know About

  1. Costco members can now get their favorite items delivered through Uber Eats in all 47 states where Costco operates, with on-demand or scheduled delivery and member pricing. Eligible members can also get 50% off an annual Uber One membership for the first year.
  2. Prefer DoorDash? Costco members can now link their membership in the DoorDash app and order groceries, household items, and electronics from any U.S. Costco.
  3. Costco is entering health insurance. Starting in 2027, members in parts of California and Nevada can choose a Costco-branded Medicare Advantage plan from SCAN Health Plan, with allowances to spend on over-the-counter items and health food at Costco.
  4. Executive members can shop before everyone else. Warehouses open at 9:00 a.m. for Executive members, an hour before other members Sunday through Friday (9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.) and 30 minutes earlier on Saturday (9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.).
  5. Save on your next vacation with Costco Travel. Members get member-only prices on vacation packages, cruises, hotels, rental cars, and theme park trips.
  6. Buy tires at Costco and get free maintenance for the life of the tires: rotations, balancing, inflation checks, and flat repairs. Costco also fills your tires with nitrogen at no extra cost and includes a 5-year road hazard warranty.
  7. Moving? Costco members get 25% off Budget Truck rentals.

See if you qualify for this free service helping homeowners in Ohio get gutter guards installed

Your gutters are your home's first line of defense against water damage. But if they overflow, clog with leaves, or need cleaning every season, it might be time for gutter guards. And gutter guards do a lot more than just keep leaves out. They can also:

  • Help increase your home's value and protect your roof and foundation from overflow and water damage
  • Keep out leaves, pine needles, seed pods, sticks, and insects, since a fine stainless steel micromesh blocks common debris
  • Stand up to heavy downpours and resist rust and decay
  • Possibly save you thousands on new gutters, since the guards install right on top of your existing ones

Get started today - it only takes a few minutes: 1) Click the link below and select your approximate home square footage and click "estimate LeafFilter cost." 2) Complete the short questionnaire about your home. 3) Enter your name, email, and phone number to submit your request.

It's that simple! Complete the short questionnaire here to start the process

Ohio Homeowner? Cancel your home insurance

Before you renew your current home insurance policy, you owe it to yourself to see what else is out there. Many homeowners stick with the same provider for years without checking if they could pay less … and that's exactly how you end up missing opportunities to save.

This free tool can help you compare options in just a few clicks, and the results could surprise you. A recent study shows the average cost of home insurance in the U.S. is over $200 a month!1 I figured that was as good as it gets, so why bother looking? Big mistake.

I used this tool and now I'm able to pay just $51 a month for my home.2That's real money back in my pocket every single month.

If you want to see if you could be paying less, here's what to do:

  1. Click the link below and enter your zip code, email, and phone number.
  2. Answer a few quick questions about your home to get matched with top-rated providers.
  3. Pick the option that works for you, and if you find a better rate, switch your policy and start saving.

Compare your options now and see if you could pay less for the same coverage.

Don't forget to cancel your old policy once your new one is active so you're not paying double. I can't believe I waited as long as I did. The whole process of getting matched with providers took me about 3 minutes.

Pay no interest into 2028

Imagine getting an introductory 15 months with 0% intro APR on a big purchase or balance transfer (APR then 18.74% - 28.74% (Variable); Balance transfer fee applies). Sounds great — right? You could dramatically change your financial picture with one of the industry-leading low-interest cards — the Discover it® Cash Back (Rates and fees).

Cardholders get a generous intro APR of 0% for 15 months on purchases (APR then 18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)) — that means you can cover bills, large purchases, or whatever you need to charge and not pay interest into 2028! 

If you want to kick high-interest credit card debt to the curb, this is one of the leading cards available. Transfer your high interest debt to this card with a 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers (APR then 18.74% - 28.74% (Variable); Balance transfer fee applies). Your payments can go directly to paying down your balance without incurring a pile of additional charges. That could save you hundreds of dollars in interest!

The best part? The Discover it® Cash Back card is accepted by 99% of merchants (according to the February 2025 issue of the Nilson Report), boasts an exceptional cash back rewards rate, and there's no annual fee.

Click here to Apply Now

Earn a $200 bonus with this incredible cash back card

The Chase Freedom Unlimited®(Rates and fees) lets you earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. 

In addition to this welcome offer, this card lets you earn cash back on everything you buy. Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

And it gets better (really): This card also gives you 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. That means you could finance large purchases or pay down high-interest debt for over a year. After the intro period, the APR is 18.49% - 27.99% Variable. Oh, and the annual fee is $0. 

It's almost a no-brainer to apply. 

Good or excellent credit (typically 670 or higher) is recommended.

Click here to Apply Now to the Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Earn a $200 Bonus with this no annual fee card

Right now the Chase Freedom Flex®(Rates and fees) lets you earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. 

In addition to this welcome offer, this card lets you earn cash back on everything you buy. Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.

And it gets better (really): This card also gives you 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. That means you could finance large purchases or pay down high-interest debt for over a year. After the intro period, the APR is 18.49% - 27.99% Variable. Oh, and the annual fee is $0. 

It's almost a no-brainer to apply — this card might the best-in-class amongst similarly-featured credit cards, especially with the bonus.  

Good or excellent credit (typically 670 or higher) is recommended.

Click here to Apply Now to the Chase Freedom Flex®

This plan helps protect select Ohio homes from many expensive appliance and home repairs (see if you qualify)

Everyone talks about home insurance, but hardly anyone talks about this. If you live in Ohio and own your home, you could save $1,000s on home repairs without much work at all.

American Home Shield is currently helping homeowners slash appliance repair bills. Instead of paying $1,000s, you pay for a monthly plan and a simple one-time service fee per covered repair.

Getting a monthly plan could help you tap into immense savings for nearly any system or appliance in your home that’s covered.

Not everyone is eligible for this plan so here’s how to check:

  1. Click the link below and enter your name, address, phone number and email.
  2. Hit the “Get Free Quote” button.
  3. If you qualify, select a plan.

Complete this short form to see if you qualify

Make Sure You’re Always Getting The Best Deals at Costco

  1. If you see an asterisk on a price sign at a Costco warehouse, that typically means the item will not be replenished once it’s sold out. If the item caught your eye, you’ll probably want to snag it now while you can.
  2. Each Costco warehouse carries around 4,000 items, allowing them to buy in large quantities and passing the savings down to you. But you can find even more items at Costco.com, which also offers online-only savings.
  3. All members have access to the Costco Savings booklet, which contains savings on a large variety of items. The best part? There is no coupon clipping required — savings are applied directly at checkout.
  4. Pay attention to prices! Prices ending in .79 typically have been marked down from regular-priced items, which end in .99. Odd pricing, such as .79, .49, or .89 could indicate items Costco got a deal on from the manufacturer. Prices ending in .88 or .00 typically mean managers have reduced the price to clear out inventory. This could also mean the item is discontinued or won’t be restocked.

Set up direct deposit - pocket up to $400

Set up an eligible direct deposit with SoFi Checking and Savings and you could pocket a bonus of $50 or $400.3 Make the switch, set up direct deposit, earn the bonus. It basically takes no extra work at all other than following these steps. 

Why people are switching: This account earns up to an insane 4.40% APY4on savings for up to six months on new accounts (3.30% APY standard + 1.10% APY boost; terms apply) on top of that $50 or $400 bonus.3 That's way better than the measly 0.38% APY (as of 10/19/26)5 national average savings accounts offer. 

No monthly fees and no surprises. Open your account and earn up to a $400 bonus

Get up to $500,000 in life insurance from just $30/month, 100% online

Getting life insurance sounds like a hassle to many people. A doctor's appointment, weeks of waiting on bloodwork, and a sales call you didn't ask for. It doesn't have to work that way.

With Ethos, you just answer a few health questions online. Many applicants could get a decision the same day, with no medical exams or blood draws required. And it's more affordable than you think. For a 40-year-old non-smoking male in good health, $500,000 in coverage could run around just $30/month on a 10-year term.6

Plus, most policies from Ethos come with access to estate planning tools like a will, trust, power of attorney, and more at no additional cost (up to $898 in value)!7

  • Skip the doctor's office (just answer a few health questions online)
  • Apply entirely online (an agent is available if you want one, but never required)
  • Coverage from $15K to $3M with terms from 10–40 years
  • 4.9/5 star rating on Trustpilot and an A+ BBB rating8
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

If you're looking to help cover a mortgage, set aside money for future tuition costs, or just give your family a safety net, Ethos lets you build a policy around your life and your budget. Now's the time to help protect your family's future.

Born after 1975? Get your estimate now →

Ohio homeowners, get the best price on new windows

Old windows drive up your home's electric bill. But if you live in Ohio and your windows are 5+ years old, you could save.

Modernize connects homeowners with top local pros who install high-quality, energy-efficient windows that could help reduce energy bills and improve comfort.

They make it easy to compare quotes and find the best price on your window replacement. The entire process is hassle free.

Get started now if you check these 3 boxes:

  1. You own your home.
  2. Your windows are 5+ years old.
  3. You live in an available ZIP code.

Get your free quote to get started

Ask this company to pay off your credit card debt

If you have a lot of debt, getting out of it can feel stressful (and nearly impossible). Here’s the problem: the longer you put off tackling it, the harder it gets to fix. If you don’t take control of it early on, it can add undue stress to your life for years. But what if there was a way to get out of debt once and for all?

National Debt Relief could help. If you have more than $30,000 in debt from credit cards, medical bills, collections, or personal loans, their representatives might be able to assist you in consolidating your debt into one low monthly program payment.

Best of all? There are zero fees until your debt is settled, and you could be debt-free in 24-48 months. To get started, just answer a few simple questions. It only takes 30 seconds to see if you qualify!9

Try National Debt Relief

Did You Know?
On average, debt settlement saves clients around 32% of their enrolled debt after fees, according to a 2023 study by the Association for Consumer Debt Relief. The consultation costs nothing. People who enroll and complete the program could be debt-free in 24 to 48 months.
Sources: Association for Consumer Debt Relief (2023)

Ohio homeowners, borrow from your home’s equity to pay down high-interest debt

Home equity loans are surging in popularity with homeowners with great credit to pay down high-interest debt quickly or make home improvements. 

This popular program lets you tap into $70,000 or more, without affecting your mortgage rate. The best part is you can actually keep your current mortgage rate by getting a home equity loan!

Compare home equity offers from LendingTree's network of lenders.

How to get started:

  1. Check out LendingTree’s Home Equity matching tool.10
  2. Answer a few questions about your home.
  3. Compare personalized offers.

Compare Offers

You could be overpaying for your retirement planning

Fees matter. High fees can cut into your returns and affect your overall nest egg. But the ways fees are levied vary. Some are "fee only," charging a flat rate regardless of usage. Others take a percentage of all assets under management. Some earn commissions directly from mutual funds or other financial products, which presents a significant conflict of interest.

This free matching quiz helps Americans get matched with fiduciary advisors who serve their area, so they can compare and decide which advisor to work with.

Save potentially $1,000 or more on home insurance in Columbus

We have some unfortunate news: You might be throwing away $1,000s on expensive home insurance for no reason.

If you want better or more affordable home insurance, there is ONE thing you should never skip in the process of finding a policy: Getting multiple options from a variety of home insurance providers with our new home savings tool. 

Too many homeowners skip this step — not realizing that they could save potentially $1,000s over the lifetime of owning their house just by switching. And yes, you can switch your home insurance at any time starting today. 

The best part is it's free to check!  Just answer a few questions and enter your zip, email, and phone number to see if a lower rate is in your future. 

Enter your zip code to see if paying too much

Earn up to 5% cash back at restaurants and on entertainment and utilities when you activate this incredible offer

There's a credit card that's making waves with its amazing welcome bonus and benefits. Apply for the Discover it® Cash Back (Rates and fees) and you can earn up to 5% cash back at restaurants and on entertainment and utilities now to December 31, 2026, on up to $1,500 in purchases when you activate.

There's no annual fee — plus, you'll earn 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically. The generous welcome offer provides top-notch cash back rewards since you can receive a $200 statement credit when you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months of account opening. Plus, Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year (terms apply).

This card also offers an intro APR of 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then APR 18.74% - 28.74% (Variable) (balance transfer fee applies). That means you could use this card to fund large purchases or even help tackle your debt. If you're traveling this summer or want to earn more on beauty essentials, this card is practically a no-brainer!

Click here to apply now for the Discover it® Cash Back.

Get Out of $30,000 or More of Credit Card Debt
National Debt Relief
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National Debt Relief Benefits
  • No upfront fees9
  • One-on-one evaluation with a Certified Debt Specialist
  • For people with $30,000 in unsecured debts and up
Visit National Debt Relief