I have been a member of Costco for approximately 10 years, and I love it! We typically recoup our membership cost within the first few months of our membership every year. We have a family of five that can easily go through the many bulk items we buy. However, if you’re single, is a Costco membership worth it when living alone? The answer is a resounding yes for most people. However, there is a small percentage who won’t benefit.
Is a Costco Membership Worth It When Living Alone?
A Costco membership isn’t always worth it when you’re single, but for many, there are enough advantages that having a membership is worth the $60 a year. Some of my favorite reasons why include:
Special Diet
If you have a special diet such as food intolerances or allergies or you prefer organic food, Costco is the place for you. Our family has both dairy and gluten intolerances, and I can’t beat the price for almond milk or gluten free pancake mix at Costco.
If you prefer organic food, you’ll definitely want to check out Costco. Over the years, Costco has added more and more organic selections. You can buy a 6 pack of organic Romaine lettuce for less than a 3 pack of the same at a traditional grocery store. Almost all of their organic fresh vegetable and fruit selections are markedly cheaper than a traditional grocery store. In addition, they have large bags of organic frozen fruits and vegetables that are much cheaper than their counterparts at a traditional grocery store.
Alcohol
If you love to entertain, Costco is the place for you. I don’t personally drink alcohol, so I don’t have exact prices on this. However, I’ve been told that you can buy wine and hard liquor at Costco at a much lower price than anywhere else. I know each time I go to Costco, I regularly see several customers who have their carts full of alcohol.
My husband does drink beer, and I can buy him a 24-pack of beer at Costco for just a few dollars more than a 12 pack costs at the grocery store. Over a year, the savings really add up!
Electronics
The only place we buy our laptops now is at Costco. Every laptop comes with a 2-year warranty—the first year from the manufacturer, the second year from Costco.
If you have a problem, simply call Costco’s concierge service, and they will assist. I have had issues with my laptops both in the first and second year of owning them. When it was during the first year and my laptop was still under manufacturer’s warranty, Costco acted as a bridge to help facilitate the interaction and repair, making for a seamless process.
During the second year, Costco does the repairs. I almost prefer if something needs to be repaired on my computer during the second year because Costco is so efficient! I always get my computer back quickly, and they do an excellent job keeping me updated on the repair process.
Gift Cards
Costco offers many gift cards at a significant discount.
If you love to dine out, you can get two $50 gift cards or four $25 gift cards to restaurants like Macaroni Grill, California Pizza Kitchen, and Smashburger, just to name a few of the many they offer. These $100 gift cards are available for just $74.99 to $79.99! You are immediately saving 20% or more.
In addition to restaurants, they also have gift cards for weight loss programs, the App store, and more. If you love video games, you’ll find significant discounts for XBOX, PlayStation and others.
These gift cards are great for presents, but they’re also great for you to use for your regular expenditures. If you spend just $300 a year dining out and always use your Costco bought gift cards, you will recoup your $60 membership fee right there!
Travel Benefits
Do you travel frequently? If so, you may find this yet another way you can quickly recoup the price of your $60 membership. Costco has many special package deals for travel.
While we haven’t yet used Costco for any package deals, we’ve used Costco to book our rental car whenever we travel. By doing this, we easily save at least 10% off the price of booking without our Costco card.
Gas
One of the best perks of being a Costco member is the gas prices. Whenever I’m near Costco, I fill up because gas is routinely 15 to 30 cents cheaper per gallon than anywhere else in town. When you’re filling up your vehicle multiple times per month, that discount can have a real impact.
However, the Costco stations don’t have window cleaner solutions and squeegees. (I wish they did!) Also, because most members know about the bargain gas price, don’t be surprised if you have to wait in line a few minutes before you can pump your gas.
When Having a Costco Membership Isn’t Worthwhile for Singles
As wonderful as Costco is, for some people who are single, a membership just isn’t worthwhile. My mom is one of those people. She doesn’t have a specialty diet, and she doesn’t care about eating organic food. She doesn’t drink alcohol, and she rarely travels. Instead of having a Costco membership, she just asks her friend who does have one to pick her up any items she’d like at Costco.
Another reason why it might not be worthwhile to have a Costco membership is if you’re a bargain shopper who likes to go to a variety of stores to get the lowest prices. While Costco can save many people a significant amount of money on groceries, generally, shopping at multiple stores for the lowest price will save even more.
Final Thoughts
Is a Costco membership worth it when living alone? For most singles, it is worthwhile. If you have a special diet, like to socialize and throw parties, or like to travel, getting a Costco membership will be a smart move. However, if you’re one of the few people who wouldn’t benefit from a membership, simply do what my mom does, and ask a friend with a membership to pick you up a few things.
Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking. She resides in New York, where she loves the natural beauty of the area.
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