By: Natasha Etzel |
Updated
– First published on May 27, 2023
For some households, investing in a Costco membership is worthwhile. The famous warehouse club sells most of its grocery and household items in bulk, which can result in significant savings for shoppers on a budget. If you’ve never shopped at Costco, you may be surprised at the variety of available products. Some items sold here aren’t sold at other retailers, so make sure you don’t miss out on these winning finds at your local Costco club.1. $1.50 hot dog and soda comboIs there anything better than a satisfying snack after a busy afternoon filling your shopping cart? Costco is well-known for its affordable food court finds. One popular treat that makes for an easy and cheap lunch is Costco’s $1.50 hot dog and soda combo. You won’t find a deal this good at your local grocery store, but you can enjoy this cheap lunch at your local Costco.2. Kirkland Signature organic extra virgin olive oilWhile you can find olive oil at most grocery stores, not all olive oil available is high-quality or sold at a price that won’t drain your checking account. But Costco’s Kirkland Signature organic extra virgin olive oil is a favorite among Costco shoppers. Celebrity chef Samin Nosrat, host of Netflix’s Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, recommends this essential kitchen staple. You can get a 2-liter bottle at your local Costco for less than $20.3. Pumpkin pieCostco is known for this favorite seasonal find: pumpkin pie. This tasty treat is available in the bakery section beginning in the fall and through the winter holidays. The ready-to-enjoy pie consists of more than three pounds of goodness for $5.99. In a fall 2022 post in the r/Costco subreddit, user ouchmytounge shared a photo of a line going out the door at their local club. The crowd of shoppers were waiting for this fan favorite! You won’t find this exact creation elsewhere, so it’s the perfect item to bring to this year’s Thanksgiving potluck.4. Rotisserie chickenAnother deal that Costco is known for is its rotisserie chicken. The warehouse club sells an entire rotisserie chicken for $4.99. Whether you plan to make chicken salad, shredded chicken tacos, or add the meat to soup for a more hearty, filling meal, this is a great price to pay for an easy meal. Finding a rotisserie chicken this cheap at your local grocery stores will be difficult.5. Kirkland Signature organic pure maple syrupCalling all breakfast lovers! Another Costco favorite you won’t find at other stores is the Kirkland Signature organic pure maple syrup. Whether you’re a fan of brunch, add maple syrup to your morning bowl of oatmeal, or use maple syrup as a sugar substitute, this high-quality, 100% pure maple syrup won’t break your budget. A 33.8-ounce bottle costs less than $15.A warehouse club membership could save you moneyIf you want to reduce your grocery spending, consider investing in a warehouse club membership. Joining a club like Costco may help you stay on budget as you shop. Plus, you can try some of the finds mentioned above. Costco membership prices range from $60 to $120 annually. For additional ways to save money, check out our personal finance resources.
By: Maurie Backman |
Updated
– First published on June 12, 2023
There’s a joke that it’s really not possible to do a shopping trip at Target without spending a minimum of $100. But that joke isn’t all that funny.Many consumers are pretty cash-strapped these days due to inflation and can’t afford to make extra purchases. But shopping at Target can easily lead to that. So if these signs apply to you, it may be a good idea to steer clear of your local Target store until goods become cheaper or your personal financial circumstances improve.1. You already have debtDuring the first quarter of 2023, U.S. credit card balances rose to $917 billion, according to TransUnion. That’s a 19.2% increase from a year prior.If you owe money on a credit card already, then the last thing you want is to risk adding to that debt. Doing so could really trap you in an unfavorable financial cycle. So if that’s the case, you may want to avoid shopping at Target until you’re debt-free. That way, if you end up falling victim to impulse purchases, they won’t necessarily push you deeper into a hole.2. You always overspend when you shop thereThere’s just something about Target that tempts people to stop exercising self-control. Maybe it’s the store’s cute apparel line or hard-to-resist housewares section. Even the snacks at Target are out-of-this-world delicious.You may not have any debt right now. But if you tend to overspend at Target and you’re trying to save for a specific goal, whether it’s saving for retirement or buying a home, then you’re probably better off avoiding it.3. You have cheaper options for food and essentialsTarget’s prices tend to be competitive, but they’re not always the cheapest. If you’re hunting for non-perishable items, you may find that you can scoop them up at a lower price point at your local dollar store. And when it comes to perishable items, you may find that you can spend a lot less to feed your family at discount grocers like Aldi.Furthermore, if you have a Costco membership, it could pay to do a lot of your food shopping there. You may also want to turn to Costco for household essentials (though to be clear, you should always try to compare prices when you’re buying food or things for your household).When it pays to stay awayIf you love shopping at Target, you’re in good company. But if these signs apply to you, then you may want to stay away, especially if your financial situation isn’t all that great right now. Besides, the longer you steer clear of Target, the more you might appreciate shopping there once your budget opens up and you’re able to scoop up fun items without having to stress over the cost.In fact, one thing you may want to do is give yourself the reward of a Target run for meeting a specific financial goal, like paying off a credit card or getting to a certain balance in your savings account. That might motivate you to hit that goal even sooner.
By: Dana George |
Updated
– First published on June 13, 2023
It’s easy to go wild while shopping at Sam’s Club. After all, there are new things to see and buy every time you walk into the warehouse store. And while many purchases are spot-on, some only make sense if you go in with a plan. Here are five things it rarely makes sense to buy at Sam’s Club. 1. Huge containers of anythingIf you’re excited by the idea of purchasing a one-gallon container of mayonnaise, you’re my kind of person. However, it may not be the best idea, particularly if you’re unsure how long it will take to consume a container of mayonnaise as large as a newborn baby.While there are dueling expert opinions on the matter, Dr. Karen Latimer is quoted in EatDelights as saying that a jar of mayonnaise can last for months if left unopened and stored away from sunlight. However, once that jar is opened and refrigerated, you have between two and three months to ensure it’s consumed. And if you accidentally leave it out for eight hours? Prepare to toss it. In short, unless you’re running a school cafeteria, a massive quantity of mayo may not be a good buy. It’s easier to save money on groceries if you’re willing to give up mega-sized products. 2. Fresh produceEvery time I walk into a warehouse store, I rack my brain to figure out who would benefit from purchasing the fresh produce. It’s colorful and looks supremely healthy, but you can’t just pick up two or three tomatoes or apples. So, unless you’re throwing a huge party and need enough avocados to put a bowl of guacamole on every table, or you’re a summer camp director and know the kids will tear through 10 pounds of onions with their burgers, you’ll probably save money by picking up the actual quantity of produce you need at your local farmer’s market or grocery store. Given that an estimated 20% of the food we buy goes to waste, making an extra stop could be worth the money. 3. SunscreenSummer is upon us, and we all know better than to allow our skin to burn in the midday sun. Sunscreen is essential, but unfortunately, it does expire. According to Mayo Clinic, we have 36 months to use sunscreen from the time it’s manufactured. The active ingredients will break down faster if exposed to excessive heat or direct sun. Picking up a three-pack of sunscreen as you browse your local Sam’s Club may seem like you’re saving money.. However, if you still find yourself squeezing sunscreen from one of those bottles three years later, you’re essentially putting lotion on your body and expecting it to protect you from the elements. 4. Vitamins and over-the-counter medicines One of the things that make vitamins and over-the-counter medicines so attractive at Sam’s Club is how much less you have to pay per unit. After all, the less you spend, the more money you’ll have to put away in a savings account, right? It’s not quite that simple.Let’s say you need to pick up Bayer Low Dose Aspirin. At Target, you’ll pay between $0.05 and $0.06 per tablet. But at Sam’s Club, you’ll pay only $0.03 per tablet. In this situation, there’s no doubt that Sam’s offers the best bargain. According to Bayer, aspirin remains 100% effective for up to four years, and you’ll probably use an entire bottle of aspirin in that time. However, it can be tough to determine when other products in the pharmacy department are due to expire. The Food & Drug Administration does not require vitamin manufacturers to put expiration dates on their products. While some manufacturers do so willingly, it’s not something you can count on. For example, if you were to pick up a 400 count bottle of Vitamin C + Zinc 500 mg at Sam’s Club today, you’d pay $0.04 per capsule. Here’s the problem: A Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences study found that 92% of vitamin C supplements lose efficacy after 12 months of storage. But unless you know that in advance, you don’t know if you’re getting an actual bargain. 5. Diapers and toilet paperGoing out of your way to purchase either diapers or toilet paper at Sam’s Club may cost you more than it’s worth. We all use toilet paper. Retailers know that, so they frequently discount toilet paper to lure shoppers into their stores. Chances are, you’ll score a deeper discount by purchasing TP when it’s on sale at your local market. You can compound the savings by using a coupon. The same is true of diapers. Today, the cost of Member’s Mark Newborn Diapers comes out to $0.16 per diaper. At the same time, Target’s Up & Up Newborn Diapers sell for a little less than $0.14 per diaper. It’s not a huge difference, but the savings add up when you consider how many of those things you go through while a child is young. By determining what constitutes a good buy and which products you want to avoid before walking into a Sam’s Club, you can spend less and keep more in your bank account.
By: Christy Bieber |
Updated
– First published on June 14, 2023
Making the right financial decisions all the time can be tough, and it’s inevitable that you’ll make mistakes during your life that will affect your checking account balance. But while putting a few extra purchases on a credit card or making other minor errors are often easy to recover from, there are certain financial choices you’ll want to make absolutely sure to avoid.Dave Ramsey has identified one such choice, and in particular, called it a “horrible financial decision.” Here’s what it is.Dave Ramsey has a big warning about this type of purchaseAccording to Ramsey, one financial choice you’re almost sure to end up regretting is purchasing a timeshare.Essentially, with a timeshare, you buy the right to stay at a certain vacation property for a set period of time each year. But in addition to the upfront cost of the timeshare purchase — which can be very expensive — you also get stuck paying annual maintenance fees as well.Ramsey also warned about vacation clubs, which are similar to timeshares but allow you to buy the right to stay at one of many different resorts or locations that participate in the club.Ramsey believes each of these types of purchases should absolutely be avoided because the downsides outweigh any possible benefits. And he’s correct about that.Here’s why Ramsey is absolutely rightDave Ramsey is 100% right when it comes to timeshares. These are a money-trap that cost you a fortune and actually provide very little benefit in the end.The upfront costs of timeshares are astronomical, with the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) reporting the average initial cost to buy at $24,140 to purchase a week’s time at a vacation resort. You’ll also have to pay maintenance fees, which can total thousands of dollars more each year. In fact, older data from the ARDA estimated annual maintenance costs at $1,290 per year for a unit with three or more bedrooms.Some timeshares also tack on other fees, such as costs to book your stay at your resort. And timeshares may also impose special assessments on owners under certain circumstances, depending on the terms of the original agreement.In exchange for all this money, you get the right to stay at your resort — usually for about a week or two. Now, you could buy a lot of nights in a hotel for $24,140 upfront, not to mention the $1,290 or so that you pay in maintenance fees each year. And you get to choose where to purchase a hotel stay and whether you want to or not. With a timeshare, even if you can’t go on vacation one year for some reason, you’re still stuck with the costs.Timeshares also don’t give you a valuable asset you can resale, unlike when you buy a vacation home, as timeshares often sell for $1 because people just want to get out of their obligation to pay annual fees.There’s no reason for anyone to waste money buying into this system, which is why you’ll often see resorts doing a very hard sell on timeshares (for example, offering you free nights in exchange for listening to a timeshare presentation). Do not fall for this. Ramsey is right, and a timeshare is something you should just say no to.
