If you live with a motley crew of family members or roommates, joining Costco seems like a slam dunk. You’ll be able to buy bigger quantities of groceries and household supplies for less money. But what if you’re a household of just one human?
I managed to hold off on joining Costco until quite recently, and a big reason I waited was because I share my living space with my three cats, and have no other humans in residence. But even without taking advantage of those deals on bulk groceries, I’ve found that Costco membership has still been worth it.
Here are just three simple reasons (among many!) to join Costco as a solo person.
1. Bulk paper goods
Honestly, this was at the top of the list of reasons why I finally joined Costco. I bought a house earlier this year, and now I have a lot more storage space than I did in my apartment. So I’ve been buying toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, and tissues at Costco. I often host my loved ones at my home, but most of the time it’s just me, meaning a huge package of Costco TP lasts far longer than it would in a full house of people.
I’m getting good prices on these items, but honestly, making a trip to Costco for a huge supply of paper goods every few months seems a better use of my time and energy than buying smaller quantities more often from the grocery store. And I don’t mind Kirkland Signature brand paper goods (admittedly, the Bounty paper towels my colleague Maurie Backman raves about are great — but I’m just not as fussed about paper towels!). So I’m leaving myself open to even more savings.
Want to earn cash back on that pack of 30 rolls of TP? Click here for our favorite credit cards to use at Costco.
2. Electronics
When you think Costco, you probably don’t think tablets or laptops, but it can be a surprisingly good place to buy items like this. On the one hand, you could get a better price than those offered by Amazon, Best Buy, Target, or other electronics retailers — this isn’t a guarantee, but if you’re in the market for a shiny new toy, check Costco. For example, you can score a new 10.9-inch, 64GB Apple iPad (wifi only) for just $249.99 right now — Best Buy has the same model for $279.99.
In addition to a cheaper price, you’ll also get a 90-day return policy, free tech support, and a free second-year extended warranty on some items, including laptops, TVs, and major appliances. Honestly, even if buying from Costco won’t save you money, it still might be worth making a big purchase from there for these benefits.
3. Various services
Finally, Costco offers a host of other useful services that anyone can take advantage of — even those of us who thrill in not having to pick up after other people. For example, if you’re a homeowner, Costco Home & Installation Services can be your gateway to trusted contractors who can install new countertops, solar panels, a generator, and more. You’ll often also get a Costco Shop Card (a gift card to Costco) in the amount of 10% of your project’s cost, to boot.
Wear glasses or contacts? You can get your vision checked at Costco Optical, buy glasses of all kinds, and even use your vision insurance, if you have it. The Costco Tire Center offers an included five-year road hazard warranty on the tires you buy there, plus free installation, flat repairs, and more.
If you’re going to join Costco, you may as well try to maximize your rewards in the process — check out our No. 1 strategy for doing just that.
Costco can even save you money on prescription drugs, in addition to selling bulk packages of over-the-counter allergy medicines, painkillers, and supplements. The Costco Member Prescription Program offers deals on 90-day supplies of popular medications — some will cost you just $9.99. Oh, and you can fill your pets’ prescriptions there too.
What have you got to lose?
Even without a household of other people, a Costco membership still offers benefits for folks like you and me. If you live near a warehouse club, there’s really no reason not to give it a shot — I live an hour away from my closest Costco, and joining earlier this year was still a good move for me.
And note that Costco’s fabulous return policy extends to memberships, so if it turns out that Costco isn’t a fit for you, you can cancel and get a refund anytime.