Living on a fixed income can be a challenge. In fact, if you’re a retired empty nester, you might not think you need to spend the money on a Costco membership when your budget is already tight. However, Costco customers can benefit greatly from buying in bulk.
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Nonperishable goods, those with a long shelf life and other items are often significantly cheaper at Costco than other stores. And saving a few dollars per item can amount to significant savings over the course of a year. If you’re living on Social Security checks alone, here are the best Costco items to buy this fall to stretch your money.
Prescriptions
You might not realize it, but Costco has a pharmacy — and it offers savings opportunities. You can get discounts on prescriptions at Costco by using the Costco Member Prescription Program (CMPP), which is an included benefit for all active Costco members and offers savings that average between 2% to 40% on brand-name and generic drugs for both people and pets.
Simply visit the pharmacy page on the Costco website and type in the name of your medicines to comparison shop. If you decide to have them filled at Costco, you can pick them up in-store or sign up for them to be delivered by mail.
Eyeglasses
Replacing your eyeglasses can be expensive, but not when your new specs are a Costco product. Choose from a huge selection of optical frames or reading glasses starting at $18.99.
Lenses do cost extra, but they’re made from Single Vision High Index 1.60 lens material — thinner, flatter and more optically correct than standard plastic lenses. Plus, they’re equipped with an anti-reflective treatment, they’re scratch resistant and they have a UV filter.
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Hearing Aids
If you wear a hearing aid, the Costco Hearing Aid Center has you covered. Choose from a variety of options, including the Philips HearLink 9050 hearing aids that start at $1,599. When you purchase a Costco hearing aid, you’ll also get free remote follow-up services to help with any adjustments.
You can also get the Apple AirPods Pro 2 wireless earbuds that have active noise cancellation, as they come with a hearing aid feature. Not only can this save you money, but you also get members-only pricing at Costco and pay only $199.99.
Gift Cards
Give yourself the gift of savings. Costco sells discounted gift cards that can allow you to save money on everyday purchases, such as Uber Eats or Outback Steakhouse. Here are some examples of the gifts that keep on giving:
- Two Uber/Uber Eats $50 eGift cards for $79.99
- Two standard or digital AMC Black Tickets (plus a $20 eGift card) for $39.99
- Four IHOP $25 eGift cards for $79.99
- Two Old Navy and Gap Inc. Brands $50 eGift cards for $79.99
Paper Products
At first glance, a Costco-sized order of toilet paper might seem like too much for your household. But as long as you have a place to store it, buying in bulk can offer significant savings. For example, a 30-pack of Charmin Ultra Strong Toilet Paper is $34.49 at Target, but this same item is $33.99 at Costco.
Another bulk product that won’t expire is paper towels. You can save a bundle by stocking up on this eating and cleaning essential. You can get 12 individually wrapped rolls of Kirkland Signature Paper Towels — two-ply, 160 sheets — at Costco for $23.99.
Mouthwash
Buying mouthwash in bulk might seem excessive, but it has a decent shelf life. Specifically, unopened bottles can last two to three years, according to Oral-B.
Therefore, you can’t go wrong with a three-pack of Crest Pro-Health Advanced Mouthwash — each bottle is 33.8 fluid ounces — available for $12.99 at Costco. In comparison, one bottle of this mouthwash is $8.29 at CVS, so this is a pretty deep discount.
Allergy Medicine
If you’re susceptible to fall allergies, you may seek relief in the form of over-the-counter allergy pills. Costco offers seriously competitive prices, so you don’t have to choose between feeling your best and staying on budget.
Offering indoor and outdoor allergy relief, non-drowsy Kirkland Signature Aller-Fex Antihistamine — comparable to Allegra Allergy — offers 180 tablets for $26.99 at Costco. Notably more expensive, a 30-count pack of the Allegra Allergy pills is $25.49 at CVS.
Incontinence Products
If you rely on incontinence products, shopping at Costco can save a lot of money. For example, Costco has a 92-pack of Depend Fresh Protection Plus Incontinence Underwear, with options for both men and women, priced at $52.99. Walmart offers a similar item with options for both genders — the Depend Fresh Protection Incontinence Underwear in an 80-pack for $53.49 — but you don’t get as much for your money.
Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 8 Things To Buy at Costco This Fall If You Live on Social Security
