The first time I bought a home, I was shocked at how much I spent once I moved in. I easily spent more than $1,000 in just the first few weeks on furniture, a lawnmower, paint, and minor upgrades throughout our home.
If you’re a first-time homeowner or soon will be, you’ll likely want to fill up your new space and make it your own. Luckily, you can do it without busting your budget. Here’s why first-time home buyers can benefit from a Costco membership.
1. Buy furniture for new rooms
My first house wasn’t big, but it had two more bedrooms and a much larger living room than my one-bedroom apartment. My wife and I immediately went out to buy a new sofa and a guest bed for one of the rooms, so we could put our newly acquired square footage to good use.
That was the fun part. The not-so-fun part was paying for it after we spent money on closing costs and a down payment. If I had a Costco membership at the time, I probably would have saved some cash.
I recently found a leather sofa on Costco’s website for $1,799, which is $500 off the original price. The couch also has fantastic reviews, earning 4.6 stars from nearly 1,600 reviewers. Sweetening the deal even further is the fact that delivery, setup, and package removal are all free.
2. Create an outdoor oasis
At my old house, I converted a shed into an outdoor office, complete with windows, an air conditioner, carpet, and insulated walls. It was a fun project that allowed me to take advantage of a shady and unused part of our backyard.
With your new house, you’ll likely have your own backyard projects. Whether it’s grilling out or creating a perfect outdoor living space to watch the big game, many homeowners try to use their backyard as a small oasis.
Costco has great deals to make it all happen. I found a three-burner Weber gas grill for $849.99, which is $100 off the original price. There’s also a four-piece Sunjoy outdoor furniture set for $2,499.99, which is $500 off the original price.
3. Help complete a home remodel
Sometimes, the house you buy doesn’t quite look how you want it to. Paying someone to renovate the house could get very expensive, especially with the average home renovation cost reaching $22,000.
But if you get some help from a craftsperson partnered with Costco, you could save big bucks. Costco offers a 10% Shop Card when you purchase one of its home services like new flooring, cabinet replacement, or countertop installation.
So, if you spend $1,000 on a Costco renovation service, you could earn a $100 Shop Card. These are like gift cards for use on Costco purchases. That’s a nice bonus for something you’d spend money on anyway!
4. Save money on moving day
There are many hidden costs when moving, like packing supplies, renting a temporary storage unit, and paying movers to help you load up your stuff. The average cost of a local move is $1,250.
Costco members can get a little relief on moving day costs by taking advantage of the 25% discount when renting a moving truck through Budget.
Depending on the size of the truck you rent and for how long, this could significantly reduce your moving expenses and make your move a little less stressful.
5. Bundle your home and auto insurance
When I first bought homeowners insurance, I never looked closely at the policy or its price. I took my real estate agent’s recommendation and never considered comparing quotes. I could have saved money by bundling home and auto insurance, but I didn’t even know about that concept at the time.
Costco says its members save an average of $595.86 in auto insurance savings the first year when they switch to its CONNECT insurance, which is offered by American Family Insurance.
Moving is stressful and expensive, but using your Costco membership to save some cash could make the process a little less painful. Whether you’re renovating your new digs, buying new furniture, or shopping for home insurance, there’s likely a Costco discount you can take advantage of. I wish I had!
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