Is a Costco membership worth it for a single guy?

[wannabe]

So, I keep going back and forth on this issue every few months. They just built a Costco just a few blocks from my house, so it's super convenient now. I typically order stuff from Amazon, but lately, their deliveries have been shit. I was thinking about cancelling my Amazon Prime account and replacing it with a Costco membership. I don't watch Prime Video at all.

What do you guys think? Do you think the $60 annual membership would be worth it for a single guy who lives alone?

 

[AbsolutEnduser]

No
the $60? no

but then even if you're on the loss, it's not going to be more than a few bucks per year, so.


same as with the "worth it", actually too. Even if it's worth it, big deal, savings of a total $10 per year probably (You bought $70 cheaper goods than elsewhere, BUT you had to pay $60..)

...
finally however. In YOUR case--just because you "live so close", maybe it's nudging towards a positive.

 

[byke]

These things are tough because the question is actually, "do you value your money in the same manner that I do?", otherwise we'd just buy all the things, but to me it's absolutely worth it and I think it'd still be easily worth it if I were flying solo.

 

[mikev]

I buy stuff at Costco all the time and I'm single

 

[auntiebling]

if you go with the spendier membership, you get 1% dividend back at end of the year. might be cheaper in the long run. it only counts for front end sales, i.e. not tires or gas

if you do'nt beat the cost of a regular membership you can request a refund of the difference

is it worth it for you? probably not, have to buy a lot of stuff. if you're expecting to buy a bigass TV and some furniture it might be

 

[Map8]

Unless you are consuming way more gasoline, alcohol, frozen food and tube socks than the average single guy, I'd say no. There are usually long lines for gas in urban or suburban areas so your time would also have to be factored in to the membership cost.

I'm a single guy and use Costco for my business. When I'm at Costco, I think about whatever non-business items I would buy there and it never makes sense for me.

 

[Removed 3]

The Costco in-store shopping experience is what most want to avoid

However, the $60 membership justifies for a year only when you are planning to buy electronics and/or expensive household appliances like a dyson vacuum cleaner

Try it for a year and see for yourself! $60 is worth experimenting on

 

[cheez]

if you go with the spendier membership, you get 1% dividend back at end of the year. might be cheaper in the long run. it only counts for front end sales, i.e. not tires or gas

if you do'nt beat the cost of a regular membership you can request a refund of the difference

is it worth it for you? probably not, have to buy a lot of stuff. if you're expecting to buy a bigass TV and some furniture it might be

This, coupled with a Costco cash-back card, can be effective at reducing cost of spend. We do our fuel purchases on a Costco card and get 4% back on those in addition- paid for an entire $500 Costco trip in February (including a couple of nice briskets and some mezcal!)

If you are a frugal single dude who can buy bulk quantities of items and has the room to store them, it's a good move. If not, maybe not.

 

[auntiebling]

Unless you are consuming way more gasoline, alcohol, frozen food and tube socks than the average single guy, I'd say no. There are usually long lines for gas in urban or suburban areas so your time would also have to be factored in to the membership cost.

I'm a single guy and use Costco for my business. When I'm at Costco, I think about whatever non-business items I would buy there and it never makes sense for me.

dunno about this particular new store, but when costco redid the gas station near me (satan clara) they 3x'd the number of pumps. rarely a line at all and if there is it's 2 cars. i would hope they took this approach for a new store in a fairly dense area

The Costco shopping experience is what most want to avoid

it's been amazing during covid. practcally empty, 2nd favorite experience only to a fully operational amusement park on a rainy day

 

[Removed 3]

dude what area do you live in?
that's nice!

 

[Agent Orange]

Its one of those things where it nice to have when you need it. Do I spend enough per year to justify that $60 membership? Probably not. But its a great one stop shop when I need to restock on protein and random other bits having a little extra doesn't hurt on. Plus I get to eat their hot dog and pizza from time to time.

 

[scootergmc]

Depends on how much you'll spend and if you'll offset your savings. For $60 year, given the proximity to you, I would've done it being single, unless you just want booze or whatever else you can buy without a membership. If the food court is outside you can raid the $1.50 carb-wrapped wieners without a membership as well.

You probably won't realize the 2% executive membership rebate as that will need quite a bit of spending to offset the extra $60/yr.

 

[mikev]

I mean. There is TONS of stuff that you can get at Costco as a single person. It's generally way cheaper per unit for household staples.

Cooking oil. Spices. Butter. Cheese. Little single serve packs of guacamole. Coffee. Frozen veggies. Whole rotisserie chickens for $5 (loss leader, but you have to get one). Nuts - almonds, trail mix, dried mango, etc.

All stuff you can buy in bulk even if you're single.

 

[lefty]

Do you have a dog? If so, it's worth it. Their Kirkland brand dog food is 'supposedly' really good. I spend about $60/week on just their dog treats, which are way cheaper than any other pet store.

 

[wannabe]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I think I'm going to try it for a year. I'm looking at it more in comparison to the $12.99 per month for Amazon Prime. $5 per month sounds pretty good in comparison, and the Costco by my house (South San Jose) is still relatively empty of people.

I've been getting my prescriptions there for a while now without a membership. Every time I go in to grab my drugs, I see something that I wish I could buy.

I'm going to give it a try and decide again next year.

 

[ucmgrad]

I'm a person with no kids (in a relationship) and have the citibank costco card that pays back at the end of the year. I solely use it to gas up on my commute (60 miles roundtrip/a day) and it pays for itself. I maybe step inside costco less than five times a year but I think the membership is worth it.

 

[ejv]

If you buy meat for sure. They carry prime beef for example. Very well priced. You just have to buy a fair amount to buy any. It is easy to save $60 at Costco for me and I don't buy booze or gas there. Did my Disney trip through Costco booked last year and went in February. Saved about $500 I believe it was plus got a gift card for the park which had about $180 credit on it. I always watch the Lagavulin 16 and it is always between 30 and 40 less that retail. I love that stuff but I drink it slow so have only bought one bottle there before.

 

[mikev]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I think I'm going to try it for a year. I'm looking at it more in comparison to the $12.99 per month for Amazon Prime. $5 per month sounds pretty good in comparison, and the Costco by my house (South San Jose) is still relatively empty of people.

I've been getting my prescriptions there for a while now without a membership. Every time I go in to grab my drugs, I see something that I wish I could buy.

I'm going to give it a try and decide again next year.

Well, also ethically speaking Costco is approximately a million times better as a company than Amazon is.

 

[Kurosaki]

For me, no. I wouldn't get my money's worth.

 

[R3DS!X]

Just an FYI you don't need a costco membership to buy booze from there.