In a lot of ways, shopping at Costco feels like cheating the system — you can save money on gas, get good deals on auto insurance, and, of course, snag a $5 rotisserie chicken all in one swoop. But the retailer offers so many opportunities to save that it’s possible you’re not using your Costco…
The Best Costco Hacks for Prices, Gas, and More
Knowing how to hack your Costco membership and get the most bang for your buck makes the annual fee worth it. Here are some of the best Costco hacks for scoring great deals, including using Costco Travel for steep savings on rental cars, hotels, and more.
1. Buy Gift Cards
Like most grocery stores, Costco sells gift cards. But you get more for what you spend at the warehouse club compared to regular retailers. When you buy gift cards at Costco, you can save up to 30% on the face value, so you’re essentially locking in a deal up front. While you can certainly gift Costco-sourced gift cards, the real hack is using them yourself as a cost-saving perk. For example, if you buy a pack of two $50 Uber Eats gift cards for $80, you can order $100 of take-out for 20% off by purchasing the cards at Costco, and then loading them onto your Uber app.
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2. Fill Up on Gas Before the Store Opens
Costco has some of the best gas prices around, and your gets you membership access to more than 700 fuel stations nationwide. There’s just one problem: Because of the impressive discounts, the Costco gas line is notoriously long. If you need to fill up your tank, consider going before business hours. The Costco gas stations are usually open much earlier than the store itself (in some cases, as early as 5:30 a.m.). This way, you can take advantage of those lower gas prices without cutting into your day.
3. Understand the Price Codes
The secret to the best Costco deals is knowing when to buy, and it all comes down to understanding the retailer’s price codes. These codes provide valuable insights into each product, helping you to identify actual deals and anticipate future price drops. While we covered a full breakdown of Costco price tags, a few of the most important things to remember are that full prices always end in .99, other prices that end in 9 (such as .49 and .59) indicate manufacturer discounts, and the best deals, specifically clearance or markdown items, end in 7.
4. Utilize Costco Travel
Costco Travel is arguably the greatest hack (and perk) of the warehouse membership. When you use the Costco Travel website, you can find good deals on hotels, cruises, and rental cars, and even take advantage of packages and limited-edition deals, such as a seven-night Alaskan cruise for under $1,000 per person. Costco rental cars are also worth considering and can ultimately save you hundreds on travel expenses if you book through the superstore.
5. Shop Online for Sporting Events and Attraction Tickets
Being a card-carrying Costco member is a lot like having access to corporate discounts — except the superstore often offers even better deals. When you shop online, you can find all sorts of discounts on theme parks and attractions, sporting events, and even concert tickets. Whether you’re planning a vacation or sticking close to home, there are almost always travel deals to discover, such as the Go City New York Two-Day All-Inclusive Pass, Kennedy Space Center tickets, and discounted San Diego Zoo passes.
