Costco is already known for bulk savings, but most shoppers leave money on the table every month. The difference between shopping at Costco and shopping smart at Costco can easily be $100 or more monthly. The warehouse giant offers countless ways to save beyond just buying in bulk.
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Here are seven proven hacks that can save you $100 every month at Costco without changing your shopping list.
Master the Secret Price Codes
- Savings: $15 to $25 per month
Costco uses a pricing code system that tells you exactly when to buy and when to wait. Most shoppers walk right past these signals, missing out on serious savings.
Items ending in .97 are clearance merchandise that won’t be restocked. These represent the deepest discounts Costco offers, often 30% to 50% off regular prices.
Prices ending in .88 or .00 indicate manager markdowns. These items need to move quickly, so managers slash prices to clear inventory.
The asterisk (*) in the top right corner of price tags means the item is discontinued. Once it’s gone, it won’t come back, so stock up if it’s something you use regularly.
Smart shoppers make a quick scan for these price endings before shopping for anything else. Finding just two to three clearance items per month can easily save $15 to $25.
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Split Bulk Purchases With Friends
- Savings: $20 to $30 per month
Costco’s bulk sizes work great for large families but can be wasteful for smaller households. The solution is coordinating with friends, neighbors or family members to split large packages.
This strategy works especially well for perishables like produce, meat and dairy that might spoil before you use them. Nonperishables like paper towels, cleaning supplies and frozen foods also work well for splitting. You get Costco’s bulk pricing without the bulk storage requirements.
The key is organizing regular split purchases with reliable people. Many neighborhoods have informal networks for this, or you can start one with friends who also shop at Costco.
Even splitting just two to three bulk purchases monthly can save $20to $30 compared to buying smaller quantities at regular grocery stores.
Use Costco’s Gas Stations
- Savings: $15 to $25 per month
Costco gas is consistently 5to 25 cents cheaper per gallon than nearby stations. For most drivers, this translates to significant monthly savings.
If you fill up twice monthly with a 15-gallon tank, saving 20 cents per gallon means $6 per fill-up, or $12 monthly. Drivers with larger vehicles or longer commutes can save $20 to $25 monthly on gas alone.
The gas station is open to Costco members and often has shorter lines early in the morning or late evening. Some locations stay open later than the warehouse itself.
Even better, Costco gas quality meets Top Tier standards, meaning it includes additives that help keep engines clean. You’re not sacrificing quality for the lower price.
The savings add up quickly since gas is a regular purchase most people can’t avoid. Making Costco your default gas station provides automatic monthly savings.
Buy Kirkland Signature Products
- Savings: $15 to $20 per month
Kirkland Signature is Costco’s private label brand that often matches or exceeds name-brand quality at significantly lower prices. The company works with top manufacturers to produce these products.
Kirkland batteries are made by Duracell. Kirkland diapers compete directly with Huggies and Pampers. Kirkland olive oil regularly wins taste tests against premium brands.
Switching to Kirkland products for just your most-used household items can easily save $15 to $20 monthly without any sacrifice in quality.
Use Cash-Back Credit Cards
- Savings: $10 to $15 per month
Costco only accepts Visa credit cards, but that limitation works in your favor if you choose the right card. The Costco Anywhere Visa offers 4% cash back on eligible gas purchases, 3% on restaurants and travel, 2% on Costco purchases and 1% everywhere else.
The key is, as always, paying off balances immediately to avoid interest charges that would wipe out cash-back benefits. Used responsibly, cash-back cards provide automatic savings on money you’re already spending.
Even earning just 2% back on $500 monthly Costco spending generates $10 monthly cash back, or $120 annually. Higher cash-back rates on gas and restaurants can push this even higher. Credit card rewards represent “free money” for purchases you’d make anyway, making this one of the easiest ways to boost your Costco savings.
Time Your Shopping for Maximum Discounts
- Savings: $10 to $15 per month
Costco follows predictable patterns for markdowns and restocking that smart shoppers use to their advantage. Tuesday through Thursday mornings typically offer the best selection of marked-down items.
The warehouse coupon book comes out monthly, and it’s always worth a perusal. Planning purchases around these cycles prevents paying full price for things you use regularly.
Seasonal clearances provide huge savings opportunities. Patio furniture in late August, winter clothing in spring and holiday items after the holidays all get marked down aggressively.
Even catching just one significant clearance item monthly can save $10 to $15, and timing purchases around coupon cycles prevents overpaying for regular items.
Use Price Adjustment and Gift Card Strategies
- Savings: $10 to $20 per month
Costco’s price adjustment policy refunds the difference if items you purchased go on sale within 30 days. You don’t need to return the item — just bring your receipt and request the adjustment.
This policy eliminates the risk of bad timing on purchases. Buy what you need when you need it, knowing you can get money back if prices drop later.
Gift card deals provide another consistent savings opportunity. Costco regularly sells $100 restaurant gift cards for $79.99 or movie theater packages at similar discounts.
If you eat out regularly or enjoy movies, these gift card deals provide automatic 15% to 20% savings on entertainment spending you’re doing anyway. Combining price adjustments on a few items monthly with strategic gift card purchases can easily save $10 to $20 without changing your spending habits.
How the Math Works Out
These seven hacks can realistically save $100+ monthly:
- Secret price codes: $15-$25
- Splitting bulk purchases: $20-$30
- Costco gas: $15-$25
- Kirkland products: $15-$20
- Cash back cards: $10-$15
- Strategic timing: $10-$15
- Price adjustments/gift cards: $10-$20
Total potential monthly savings: $95-$150
The key here is to implement multiple strategies consistently rather than expecting huge savings from any single hack. Small improvements across several areas add up to significant monthly savings.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Shopping Hacks That Can Save You $100 Every Month at Costco
