3 Ways My Costco Membership Pays for Itself

If you've been following along, you already know that I'm a huge fan of Costco and all the goodness that it provides the world, but it's not just a matter of preference of one chain vs. another. Costco is kind of a whole experience, and really, a lifestyle. It's also a great way to save money.

While I don't buy absolutely everything there, I do make several regular purchases at Costco, and there's a lot of value to be had from a singular basic Costco membership. Here are some ways my membership pays for itself.

1. Over-the-counter medications

I cannot emphasize this enough: Costco is where to be for OTC meds. As a person living with a chronic health condition, I take a really alarming number of pills. And having to actually pay for them can be a challenge, since my insurance won't cover anything that can be purchased over the counter.

That's why I turn to Costco. Not only will Costco deliver these medications to my door but it keeps the prices low.

I've written about this before, but it boggles my mind just how much I save on one single item: a five-pack of fluticasone nasal spray. My allergies are out of control, and I used to get awful headaches and dizzy spells from how badly my sinuses would swell, so my doctor put me on Flonase for the rest of time.

It was expensive as a prescription, and it didn't get a lot cheaper when it became an OTC med. At Walmart, it's about $15 per bottle, but at Costco, it's $21.99 for five bottles of the same size. I go through about one a month.

Had I purchased these at Walmart, I'd have laid out about $180 per year. At Costco, I spend about $53 per year. Add the $60 membership fee, and I'm still well below the Walmart price. And that doesn't include other OTC meds that I order there, sometimes simply for convenience, sometimes because they're a few dollars cheaper than elsewhere.

2. Bulk groceries

Long ago, in a land far, far, away, I was what you might consider a foodie. I was very into trying new things and experiencing new flavors and textures, and it was a whole exciting lifestyle.

Then, one day, I went out in the woods with my camera and ended up in a nest of lone star ticks. For some background, lone star ticks can give you a "red meat allergy," which is actually a really intense food allergy to a lot of different things derived from mammals and that are in a bunch of different foods.

Now I'm a terrified vegetarian with a set group of foods I eat regularly because that's really the only way this can be done. But this works out well as a Costco member because I can buy groceries in bulk and save some real money.

The list of ways to save with groceries at Costco is long, but a few things I buy very regularly include bulk tofu blocks (don't knock it 'til you pop that stuff in an air fryer) and vegan protein powder, which is available in a size you can't even buy elsewhere at a price that's unbeatable.

3. Electronics

Black Friday is an electronics free-for-all at many stores. But Costco has consistently been the price leader at this most vital of holidays. I've nabbed items like toasters, kitchen gadgets, and tablets. One year, I even snagged a 70-inch UHD television with such a huge discount that I could have signed my best friends up for Costco $60 memberships and still come out on top.

Costco also does this throughout the year, though not to the same extent. Online, it offers bargains on big-ticket items through its "while supplies last" and "online-only" tabs, which can really help if you're working with a tight budget but still want to buy quality items that will last.

For example, this month Costco has the SimpliSafe 13-piece home security kit for $150 off the regular price of $349.99. Right there, you've already saved all you need to save to cover your Costco membership.

It doesn't take much for a Costco membership to pay for itself

I may not buy the most exciting things at Costco, but that's the beautiful thing about the place -- you don't have to in order to make your membership worthwhile. In fact, you don't even have to go into a Costco store to save money. Shopping online still makes a membership worth it.

Costco does such a great job taking care of its members that you can shop however you want, buy whatever you need, and you'll still come out ahead on almost anything as long as you use the store consistently.