Living north of LA in Los Feliz, I often visit the Costco located right next to the 5 Freeway.

Costco membership offers many savings tips beyond just buying bulk products at a discount, so if you take advantage of them, you can easily recoup your membership fee.

Let me share some tips I frequently use and important information you should know.

Hidden Codes on Price Tags

The first thing to know while shopping at Costco is the secret of the price tags. If the price ends in .99, it's just the regular price.

However, if it ends in .79, .49, or .89, it means Costco has negotiated a good deal with the manufacturer to bring it in at a lower price.

So, there's a high chance it's a better deal than the original price.

If it ends in .88 or .00, it means the manager has lowered the price to clear out stock, so it's essentially your last chance to buy.

Additionally, if there's a star (*) in the upper right corner of the price tag, it means the item will not be restocked, so if you hesitate, you might regret missing out.

Costco's price tags should be read like a code.

  • .99 → Regular price

  • .79, .49, .89 → Special price from manufacturer deal

  • .88, .00 → Clearance by manager (almost last chance)

  • Upper right star (*) → Discontinued or no restock item

Shop Online for More Savings

Typically, there are about 4,000 products available in Costco stores.

However, if you check Costco.com, you'll find many more products that aren't available in-store, and online-only sales are often held.

Especially for items like furniture, electronics, and seasonal goods, you can often only find them online.

I usually check camping gear or TVs in-store first, then compare prices online before making a final purchase.

No Need to Carry a Coupon Book

As a Costco member, anyone can receive a Savings Booklet, but it's not like the old days of cutting out paper coupons.

So, checking online or in the app for which items are on sale before shopping makes it much more efficient when filling your cart.

Exclusive Member Benefits Are Quite Valuable

  • Costco Connection: An online newsletter published monthly by Costco that introduces various sales information on furniture, clothing, electronics, seasonal items, and more. You can subscribe via email to stay updated.Eat This Not That

  • Instant Savings Booklet: Monthly instant discount coupons. Without paper coupons, discounts are automatically applied at checkout, so it's good to check in advance.Eat This Not That

  • Costco Next: A platform where you can purchase third-party brand products at Costco member prices. For example, you can get discounts on well-known brands like NordicTrack, Dell, Green Pan, etc. It's especially useful when looking for electronics or kitchen items.

    Upgrading to Executive Membership offers a 2% cashback benefit annually, so if your annual spending is significant, the savings can exceed the membership fee. Starting this September, you can also receive a $10 credit for same-day delivery orders through Instacart, and early access benefits before 9 a.m. will continue.

    Don't Miss Out on Vehicle-Related Services

    Make sure to get your tires changed at Costco. They don't just install them; they also provide free lifetime air pressure checks, balancing, and flat repairs. Plus, they fill the tires with nitrogen instead of regular air, which helps maintain pressure more steadily and aids in fuel efficiency.

    Don't Overlook Partnership Benefits

    External partnership discounts available through Costco membership can be quite beneficial. For example, when moving, you can get a 25% discount when renting a truck from Budget Truck. Also, as mentioned above, you can purchase third-party brand products at Costco prices through the Costco Next program.

    Living in LA, rather than just casually shopping at Costco, knowing and utilizing these detailed tips can significantly increase your savings.

    • By reading the hidden signals on price tags, shopping both online and offline, taking advantage of member-only benefits, and carefully utilizing partnership services, you can easily recoup your membership fee and potentially save hundreds of dollars each month.