I only shop for one, but my Costco membership is worth it for 7 reasons — like saving hundreds on gas a year (2024)

FAQs

Is a Costco membership worth it for gas? ›

To reach that total, they divided the cost of the membership by the 20 cents per gallon they estimate a driver will save by filling their tank at Costco. The resulting figure, in the case of the $60 Gold Star membership, is 300, or the number of gallons of gas you'd need to purchase to achieve $60 in savings.

It can be harder for singles to benefit from a Costco membership. That's because a lot of the savings to be had by joining is reaped in the form of discounts on bulk grocery purchases. If you're single, you may not be able to buy as much food in bulk. But joining Costco could still make financial sense for singles.

There's much to be gained by getting a Costco membership when you're older. Unfortunately, though, Costco doesn't offer senior discounts. You'll need to prepare to pay $60 for a basic membership or $120 for an Executive membership. You may find, however, that the savings you enjoy can more than make up for those costs.

If you typically spend more than $3,000 a year on Costco purchases, or if you anticipate spending more than $3,000, then you should keep or upgrade to an Executive membership. Why is $3,000 the magic number? It's simple. The cost to upgrade from a basic Costco membership to an Executive membership is $60.

Generally speaking, buying gas at Costco is significantly cheaper than doing so at a traditional gas station. The typical driver can save more than $100 per year. Buying gas at Costco can justify a membership all by itself.

Costco doesn't offer free or discounted memberships, but rest assured that the cost of membership can be recovered quickly thanks to massive price savings once you start shopping.

If you're single, you may not need the bulk version of every perishable item you tend to consume. But if you're someone who cooks often, you may benefit from some of Costco's grocery deals. And even if not, there are plenty of non-perishables you may be able to enjoy on your own well before they go bad.

“By purchasing certain items in bulk and reselling them individually, you can offset the cost of your membership or even turn a profit.” In short, for just $60 per year, a single person can get a lot of benefits from a Costco membership for almost every area of your life.

Costco has more stores across the globe, is expanding rapidly, and generally offers cheaper prices than Sam's Club does, although the latter charges slightly less for membership, has a bigger presence in the U.S., and stocks more name brands.

Here's how to snag the deal: Purchase your Costco membership through StackSocial, and make sure you provide a valid email address. Within two weeks, you'll receive your $20 Digital Costco Shop Card via email. Once you receive the digital shop card, you can use it to make Costco purchases online or in person.

Can you use someone else's Costco card? ›

Can other people use my membership card? The Costco membership card is non-transferable, but there are several ways to share the experience with family and friends. Anyone with a card can bring up to two guests to the Warehouse during each visit. Keep in mind that purchasing items is exclusive to Costco members.

A basic Costco membership costs $60, while an Executive membership costs $120. An Executive membership gives you 2% cash back on your Costco purchases.

Membership Downgrades / Refunds Simply stop by the membership desk of your local Costco or give our Membership Department a call at 1-800-774-2678.

And if you don't have a membership, you're not out of luck. If you're given a Costco Shop Card, which is Costco's version of a gift card, you'll be allowed to enter the store and shop there to your heart's content. Usually, you're asked to show a membership card at the door when you approach a Costco store.

Buying gas at Costco can save you money -- typical savings are around $0.20 per gallon. It makes stopping at the warehouse club more convenient -- you can buy groceries and fuel up your car. The higher quality of Costco gas could help your vehicle run more smoothly.

Gas purchases, for example, do not earn you cash back as an Executive member. Neither do cigarette purchases or alcoholic beverage purchases in certain states. Additionally, Costco Shop Cards (Costco's version of a gift card) won't be eligible for cash back, and neither will postage stamps.

The Costco Anywhere Card is a good choice if you regularly shop or get gas at Costco and also want to maximize rewards on gas and dining. Whether you have an electric vehicle or gas-powered car, you'll earn the most rewards on charging or gas.

So why is it so much cheaper than the competition? The short answer is that unlike pretty much every other retail business that sells gasoline, Costco doesn't care about making money from its gas pumps. In fact, Costco typically sells its gas at a moderate loss.