Many people seem to have a love/hate relationship with warehouse stores like Costco. Either they lov...

1. 5 Great Ways to Stay Frugal at Costco
Many people seem to have a love/hate relationship with warehouse stores like Costco. Either they
love the ability to buy things in bulk, or it's seen as the height of waste and consumerism. Regardless
of the feeling, it can be difficult to shop at Costco and still be frugal. With each item easily costing
$10 and up, it's easy for your total to quickly add up.
Costco obviously does a good job at marketing since they're such a successful company. If you're
among those who like to shop at Costco but are looking for tips on how to make your budget stretch
further, try some of these tips:
Watch the Price Tags
The first tip to watch out for when shopping at Costco is to keep an eye on the price tags. Known as
the "Costco code," deciphering those price tags can be a great way to determine how good of a deal
the buy is.
While most items end in $.99 increments, it is those that end in $.97 that are considered better deals
as they have been marked down from their original prices. Those aren't the only markdowns,
though. Costco also commonly gets special deals from specific manufacturers. Those items are noted
by odd increments like $.79 or $.49. Finally, keep an eye out for price tags with an asterisk listed
next to the price. Those are items that will not be reordered and subsequently are not going to be
marked down any further, so you should grab them while you can if you want them.
Ask for Coupons
It might seem like warehouse clubs wouldn't want to give out coupons, but Costco regularly mails
them out once every four to six weeks. These offer even better deals on selected items and a coupon
is not even needed in order to get the deal on some occasions.
If you missed yours in the mail, just visit the membership counter for a complimentary book. They
also provide a smart phone app that works, as well. Finally, Costco offers many of the same deals on
their website, so check that out if you like online shopping.
Know what to Skip
It can be hard to know what to bypass when shopping at Costco, because everything seems like such
a great deal. The simple fact is that everything at Costco, or any warehouse club, is not a deal. The
main items to steer clear from are things like paper products for around the house as well as office
supplies. Those can often be found for less at grocery stores or specialty stores when they're on sale.
The other thing to consider skipping is the name brand items. Many warehouse clubs, including
Costco, have their own generic brand on a good number of items. Many of those items are of
comparable quality and often quite a bit cheaper. Consider giving a few of those a try to save money.
If they're not what was expected or wanted, Costco has a great return policy to get your money
back.

2. Stretch Your Food
The big problem with shopping at Costco can be waste. If an item is not finished then it gets thrown
away, which costs money. There are ways to get around this if getting a deal is important. On many
perishable items, such as ground beef, they can easily be split up and frozen in smaller amounts. Not
only will this prolong the life span of the item, but it allows for them to be used in smaller portions,
too.
The other option to consider is going in with a friend to split a given item. It might be difficult for
one family to go through an industrial size item, but split between two it can easily be done and both
still get the deal.
Upgrade Your Membership
It might seem contradictory to being frugal to upgrade a membership, but it can be a great way to
save more for some shoppers. A general Costco membership costs $55 per year, but can be
upgraded to an Executive Membership for an additional $55 per year.
The benefit of the Executive Membership is two-fold. The main benefit is it pays out 2 percent cash
back on spending per year, up to $750. If the extra $55 is not earned back, then Costco refunds the
$55. Plus, Costco offers additional benefits for Executive members on everything from discounted
travel to health insurance for small business owners.
It can be a challenge to shop at Costco and stay on a budget. With a plan, though, it is possible to
score the deals and still be frugal.
John Schmoll is the founder of Frugal Rules, a finance blog that regularly discusses investing,
budgeting and frugal living. He is a father, husband and veteran of the financial services industry
who's passionate about helping people find freedom through frugality.
More From US News & World Report
Banking & BudgetingHobbies & Personal ActivitiesCostco