12 Secret Tricks Every Costco Shopper Should Know
Smart moves for smarter savings you’ll wish you knew sooner.
By Ben F. | 01/29/2025
Advertiser Disclosure
Last updated July 17, 2025
If you’re a regular at Costco, you get how satisfying it is to find a great deal.
The $1.50 hot dog and soda combo is iconic, but even longtime Costco shoppers overlook some of the best ways to stretch their budget.
Here are 10 tips that might not be as legendary as the hot dog, but are still pretty darn effective.
1. Get the most out of your Costco membership
Watch the price endings:
Items ending in .99 are regular price. If you see .79, .89, or .49, Costco likely scored a manufacturer deal and passed the savings on to you. Prices ending in .88 or .00? That usually means a manager markdown to clear inventory – often items that won’t be restocked.
Look for the asterisk:
A * in the top right corner of the price tag means the item is being discontinued. If it’s something you love, grab it before it’s gone for good.
Use the Costco Savings booklet:
No coupons or clipping, just automatic discounts applied at checkout. All members get access, and the deals change every month.
Don’t forget Costco.com:
Your local warehouse carries about 4,000 items, but Costco’s website has even more, and it often includes online-only deals you won’t find in store.
2. Make up to $483 when you win in this game
I know – it sounds fake. “Win money playing games” feels like one of those things that never works out. But this one’s legit.
It’s called
Solitaire Cash, and yes, they actually pay out. You can win up to $483 per game. You won’t get rich doing it, but if you’re already glued to your phone, you might as well get paid for it.
It’s free to download, super easy to play, and the payouts are real. You can cash out using PayPal (easy). Some people use Apple Pay too. You just play a few rounds, and if you win, you earn.
If you’re sitting around scrolling anyway, it’s honestly a decent way to turn downtime into extra cash.
Try it here and see if it’s worth it for you
3. Use your Costco member-only benefits
Movie nights for less:
Some Costco warehouses and Costco.com offer discounted movie tickets – just show your membership and save.
Vacation deals that actually save you money:
Costco Travel hooks members up with exclusive pricing on hotel stays, rental cars, cruises, and vacation packages. You can even grab discounted gift cards for things like theme parks and city tours.
Better value on tires than you’d think:
When you buy tires from Costco, installation includes lifetime maintenance – pressure checks, balancing, rotations, and flat repairs. They also inflate with nitrogen instead of air, which holds pressure longer.
Unexpected partner discounts:
Your membership could get you deals outside the warehouse too – like 25% off Budget Truck rentals and other partner perks you might not even know exist.
Costco Next = direct-from-brand discounts:
With Costco Next, you can shop products straight from select suppliers, while still getting Costco-level pricing.
4. Don’t pay for home repairs until you do this
Home repairs are expensive (we all know that). But most people don’t realize there’s a way to avoid paying thousands out of pocket when something breaks.
That’s where
Choice Home Warranty comes in. They’ve been around since 2008 and offer affordable protection plans that cover the big stuff in your home – things like your A/C, fridge, or water heater, when they fail from everyday wear and tear.
Here’s the difference:
Let’s say your A/C dies during a heatwave. Instead of handing over $1,500 to a repair tech, you’d just pay a $100 service fee and Choice takes care of the rest. That’s a $1,400 difference, just like that.
You can choose a plan online and file a claim whenever something breaks – 24/7 support, no hassle.
Choose a plan from Choice Home Warranty here to lock in rates
5. Don't pay for interest until 2026
High-interest credit card payments can be a nightmare. Have you ever wished you could just take a break from them?
You actually might be able to. Many people may not know, but there’s a great way to avoid interest payments for over a year or more.
It’s called a
balance transfer. In simple terms, you move your balance to a new credit card that offers a 0% intro APR for a set period of time, which could help you save on interest.
If you’re interested, here are a few great balance transfer cards to look into:
link here.
6. See if this company will pay off your credit card debt
When you’re deep in debt, it can feel overwhelming. Like no matter what you do, you’re just treading water. And the longer it goes on, the harder it is to catch up.
That’s where
National Debt Relief might be able to step in. If you owe more than $10,000 in credit card debt, medical bills, personal loans, or collections, they could help you combine it into one lower monthly payment.
There are no upfront fees, and many people become debt-free in 12 to 48 months. Getting started takes about 30 seconds – just answer a few quick questions to see if you qualify.
See if you qualify with National Debt Relief
7. Use these extra Costco tricks to save even more money
Vacuum seal your meat:
Buying in bulk is great—until you waste half of it. A vacuum sealer lets you portion and freeze meat properly so those savings don’t end up in the trash months later.
Get a chest freezer (if you have the space):
It’s a game-changer. Use it to stockpile meat, frozen fruit, burritos, muffins—whatever you want to prep or grab on the fly. Most Costco staples freeze really well.
Team up with a friend or neighbor:
Splitting bulk buys helps you save money and storage space. Perfect for smaller households that can’t go through a 10-pound block of cheese on their own.
Stock up when staples go on sale:
Things like supplements, dry goods, and household basics often go on sale in cycles. When you see a deal, grab enough to hold you over until it rolls around again.
Don’t forget about your Executive membership perk:
You can take the annual 2% reward as cash instead of applying it to your next Costco run. That way, you earn more toward your next reimbursement check—and get a little extra back in your pocket.
LendingTree
- Tap into your home equity for quick access to cash
- Get lower interest rates and flexible repayment terms
- Use it like a credit card (for anything you want/need)
