Costco membership

What the membership fee actually buys: roughly how much shopping it takes to clear it, what longtime members wish they had checked first, and whether the Executive tier upgrade pays for itself.

• Is a Costco membership worth it? Yes, if you shop there regularly.
• How much do you have to spend at Costco each year to break even on membership? About $300 a year in savings, not spending.
• What do longtime Costco members wish they'd known before joining? You'll spend more than you planned, and that's the point.
• Is the Costco Executive membership worth it? Yes, if you spend over $3,000 a year at Costco.
• How much is a Costco membership? $65 for Gold Star, $130 for Executive.
• Can you shop at Costco without a membership? No, not for the main shopping.

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