Is Costco worth $55 a year?

[kacaju]

is the executive membership tied to their credit card?

 

[jeepwreck]

We have a Costco card too, we live in Canada so I am not sure if the prices are much different, but for two of us and we buy a lot of meat in bulk and split it up and freeze it. You can find some great deals there but also some times you may not need something in bulk, so there is a down fall.


But for the price you can easily make it up just on hotdogs and samples alone lol..

but for me I make it up in the gas prices for sure since I have to use premium gas in my car.

 

[100AcreWood]

I don't know if they sell organic....I've never checked. Maybe someone else can chime in..................

They sell a lot of organic products including chicken breast and ground beef for amazing prices.

I love Costco. It's definitely worth the $55 a year but we have the executive membership. We buy enough they always end up writing us a check for more than the cost of the membership.

Now the Costco Amex card is separate. They give you money back based on what you spend at Costco including the gas. We have that also and I was shocked when we received a check for $247 recently! We shop there weekly. I went today and bought a dress, a pair of capris and a polo shirt for $48. Love the Costco!

 

[mommyjam]

I make back my $55 with just buying my daughters contacts there, but of course I cant walk in there and just buy contacts. We love their frozen chicken breasts, bacon, meat that we break into smaller portions and freeze, and their pizzas are really good.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Does the membership card have a picture on it? It says it comes with a "household card." What is that? Is there no picture on that. My husband and I would both get a card right? Or would I get one and then he would use the "household" card? Can someone explain this, I can't figure it out.

And thank you so much for all the responses! I want to join!

 

[wishesuponastar]

So you spend $5000 a year at Costco? Do you get all your stuff there? That sounds like a lot unless you do most of your grocery shopping there or buy big items like tires. Is it 2% back on everything or most things? Thanks!

Yes between me and my inlaws. I do most of my grocery shopping there and we have purchased tires there.

 

[disney1990]

Which ever you choose (depending on which one has the products you like) I believe it is worth it.

It is worth it for me in gasoline prices alone.

 

[SaraJayne]

is the executive membership tied to their credit card?

No, it's just a higher level of membership, where you get 2% of your purchases back.

No credit card.

 

[deegack]

We have the costco amex. You get 1% at costco, 2% everywhere else except 3% for gas. We got a check for almost a thousand dollars this year alone.

So for us, worth it.

 

[apnep]

Heck yes! It's worth $100 a year because I get cash back and it pays for my membership! I mostly buy basics (eggs, bread, cheese, milk, and tp). As for gas, my Costco is always the cheapest in town.

Lots of good stuff!!

 

[Tiger926]

We think it's so worth it, that we pay $125/year for the Executive membership (Canada $110 plus tax). Love that we can put everything on our AMEX card.

This year we got 2 cheques totalling $300.00, so we made money by shopping at Costco! Not to mention the extra money we save on gas!

We do the majority of our grocery shopping at Costco, get all of our gas there and photos developed, not to mention electronics, some clothing, books, furniture and school supplies.

We are a huge Costco family! Tiger

 

[momto2inKC]

It's definitely worth it for our family. We have the $50 membership (just renewed last month and did not have to pay the new $55 fee for some reason). The savings on milk alone pay for our membership each year. We buy dog/cat food, cat litter, paper towels, water, fresh fruits/veggies, cheese, rotisserie chicken, bagels, frozen chicken breasts, over the counter meds, microwave popcorn and butter. Then for snacks I usually see what's in my monthly coupon pack they send and get stuff from it, if it's stuff we normally eat. I usually fill up my gas tank each time we go too. Oh, and of course we love the samples and always stop at the food court for pizza and churros on the way out

 

[JoiseyMom]

Love, love, Love COSTCO! We used to be on in-laws account for free, but once a Costco opened a few miles away I wasn't waiting for DH to shop! I got my own card (Executive), they were running a special with a 20.00 gift card back, and if you don't earn back the cost of membership the first year, they will give it back to you, so you can't lose.

I buy eggs, kirkland wholewheat bread, tortilla chips, whole wheat tortilla/wraps, grain free dog food, toilet paper, hambuger/hotdog buns, books, meat, lettuce, onions, potatoes, celery, carrots, paper plates, paper cups, k kups, movie tickets, other veggies and fruits, rot. chicken, shrimp, I can go on and on . Oh, we bought a generator from them after Irene.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I'm not honestly sure I save enough to pay for the membership, but that is partly because the nearest Costco is about 30 minutes away so I don't go that often. Costco has now applied to build a store literally within walking distance of my house, so that should change!

My family is vegan, but we like the produce, and they sell nuts, quinoa, hummus and other items that we use a lot of at good prices. Also books!

Teresa

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Is it true they no longer sell the Costco Peanut butter???? Everyone seems to love this and I just read a bunch of articles from 2011 that said they discontinued it.....is it back?

 

[POOHDRMR]

Used to work there and I still shop there every other week.The savings on electronics are great alone.Kids clothes are usually good too-bought dd a london fog peacoat for 20 bucks this year.Bananas are 3 pounds for under 1.50,the big containers of strawberries and blueberries are much cheaper than anywhere else.At the holidays there photo cards are really nice and under 20 bucks for 50 cards.You can get a refund on your membership at anytime so if you don't think it was worth it for you later down the year you can return it.

 

[5stljayhawks]

I am a org seattle member. Now an exc member. here what it has done for my fam-

1) got $275 refund from my costco amex card for 2011
1A) get 3% back for gas upto 3K - adn thier gas is usually 10-30 cent cheaper
2)pay 2.50 a gall for milk vs 3.75 at local groc. X3 per week
3)cut my rv insure from $360 per year to $70 a year
4)no one seems able to touch my amerprise costco insur - for house/car
5) buy the wife flower - 2 dozen rose bumch for $16 buck week in/ wk out

6) After making dinner tonight, wife said the steak we had tonight was better than then steak house she was at last night.

7) 2 loaves $3 +/-
8) will buy and TRY anything that is kirkland brand. It's quality, they understand it and make sure it's in their kirkland brand.

9) saved about $300 on tires.

10) they have great samples, all the time and teh $1.50 hot dog/polish with soda rocks and has not changed for 10+ years.....


Yah costco smoke sams.(period)

 

[wdw_girl_18]

Is it true they no longer sell the Costco Peanut butter???? Everyone seems to love this and I just read a bunch of articles from 2011 that said they discontinued it.....is it back?

The peanut crop was ruined (apparently because of a drought) so that is why they quit selling it Once the shortage is over I'm sure they will start selling it again!

 

[bearzabout]

We get our biggest savings from Costco by booking car rental on their website. I use the $30 off per week after 30% discount tab with Alamo. I've paid as little as $35/week plus taxes for a rental car (in Hawaii no less). Alamo includes a second driver with each rental.

I also love their eyeglasses. I get a great price on my exam and the glasses.

 

[Meshell2002]

I want to mention that I shop mostly at Trader Joes and Whole foods. I buy other products at Target. I would only buy natural or organic food at Costco....no food coloring or artifical stuff. And we would buy paper products, detergent etc. Do they let you visit and check it out before you have to get a membership?

yes they let you visit first. they also carry natural laundry detergent

we save enough in milk, eggs, and butter to justify, they also have grade a maple syrup, organic PB & almond butter.

If you have little ones they also carry Hanna Andersson clothing! what would be $30 online would be about 13.99 there.