5 Costco Buys That Can Pay for Your Membership Fast
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Shopping Share Share Close Mail Page URL https://money.com/costco-retirement-plan-long-term-savings/ Link copied! 5 Costco Buys That Can Pay for Your Membership Fast By: Marc Guberti Marc Guberti Marc Guberti is a personal finance writer who hosts Breakthrough Success, a podcast where he teaches listeners how to grow their businesses and achieve personal transformations. Has also written: Your 2026 Social Security Check Is on the Way. Here’s How to Stop Fraudsters From Getting It First The Hidden Fees That Could Be Quietly Shrinking Your Nest Egg You May Not Know About This Rule That Could Boost Your Retirement Savings 8 Secrets for a Happy Retirement Financial Experts Reveal a Major Mistake Retirees Make See full bio Published: Mar 6, 2026 4 min read Getty Images Shopping at Costco can save you a significant chunk of change, thanks to the wholesaler’s deals and discounts on food, clothing, cleaning supplies and more. By heading to the warehouse for your everyday essentials, you can free up space in your budget — and retirees, who can no longer have a steady paycheck, should take advantage. Purchases related to your health, home and security, for instance, can offer sizable savings. Must ReadExperts are Bullish on Gold — Here's How to Get InWhy Retirees Are Turning to Gold as a Buffer Against Stock Market LossesWarren Buffett on Market Volatility — and 3 Ways You Can Take Advantage The Costco payoff for retirees Shopping at Costco isn’t free; you’ll need to pay a membership fee to get through the warehouse doors. But you may be able to save enough to recover that fee fairly quickly. Here are five items retirees should consider buying at Costco. 1. Home security If you’re looking for home security items such as security cameras, doorbell cameras, motion sensors, smart door locks and more, Costco has many options to choose from. You can browse the offerings from companies like Reolink, Ring and SimpliSafe online. You can also save money on batteries and long-lasting LED lighting by buying them in bulk at Costco. Still paying for subscriptions you don’t use? See what you could cancel 2. Health and personal care Bulk vitamins and supplement orders at Costco can go a long way for your wallet while ensuring you are taking care of your health. The warehouses also have pharmacies where you can get flu and COVID shots as well as immunizations for travel, and pick up prescriptions (for you or your pet). Retirees may want to look into getting eye wear and hearing aids at Costco, as well as buying personal care items — shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste and deodorant, for instance — in bulk to save. 3. Auto offerings Costco offers auto perks to its members, such as free tire installations if you buy tires from a Costco Tire Center. Those tires also come with a five-year road hazard warranty. Car owners who are also Costco members can score 15% off parts, service and accessories at participating service centers. Grow your investing confidence with expert-selected stock picks 4. Furniture Costco offers a wide range of furniture, such as mattresses, tables, sectionals and desks. You can often find discounts on popular brands and the furniture delivered to your home. 5. Gas If you pump your gas at Costco, you can save significantly. The retailer offers lower prices to bring people to its warehouse, meaning you can save both time and money by combining your shopping trip with a trip to the gas pump. Must ReadExperts are Bullish on Gold — Here's How to Get InWhy Retirees Are Turning to Gold as a Buffer Against Stock Market LossesWarren Buffett on Market Volatility — and 3 Ways You Can Take Advantage How to shop strategically at Costco Strategic shopping at Costco can reduce your overall household overhead and free up space in your budget. That way, you can get more mileage out of your nest egg when you retire. You don’t have to be a wholesaler to benefit from bulk purchasing. Costco members can save significantly by purchasing non-perishable items in bulk. You can either make these orders yourself or team up with friends and neighbors to buy items in bulk, split the purchase and save. Before you head to Costco, make a list of the items you need and can buy in bulk, such as olive oil, peanut butter, toilet paper and cleaning supplies.