Best 4th of July Car Deals For 2023

Receive A $40 Digital Costco Shop Card And A $60 Promo Code When You Sign Up For A New Executive Membership

This content is sponsored by Costco.

Sorry! This deal is now expired.

Costco

Costco is my go-to store for just about everything. The warehouse giant offers bulk grocery essentials at hard-to-beat prices -- prices that get even better with Costco's monthly deals. It's where I make major tech purchases too: I know I'm getting a great deal and Costco extends the warranty on qualified tech items.

That's why I'm so excited about Costco's new July promo. Join as an Executive member online using our exclusive promo code PARA24 at checkout and enroll in auto renewal of your annual membership and you'll receive a $40 Digital Costco Shop Card, plus a promo code for $60 off a Costco.Com order of $200 or more. This promotion expires August 4, 2024. (You can read all the fine print below.)

You can spend your Digital Costco Shop Card like cash on just about anything Costco has, though some exceptions apply. Given that a Costco Executive Membership is $120 per year, this is like getting your first year of membership for just $20. Plus, since you'll be earning a 2% Reward on your yearly Costco purchases with an Executive Membership, you'll save even more.

Tap the button below to take advantage of this Costco membership offer and join now. Remember to use code PARA24.

Why become a Costco member? Bloomberg/Getty Images

I love Costco -- I've been a member for more than 24 years. I do much of my household shopping there. It's my go-to store for paper towels, garbage bags, laundry detergent and all those other household essentials I don't want to buy regularly at a supermarket. It's also where I stock up on groceries such as milk, coffee and eggs (they're much cheaper at Costco than at my local supermarket). Costco is a great place to stock up on wine too. I recommend Kirkland Signature™ brand boxed wines -- it's a solid combination of high quality and low price.

I also make sure to pick up a $4.99 rotisserie chicken when I'm at Costco. It makes a great dinner entree, with plenty left over for making sandwiches or chicken salad the next day. And the price can't be beat -- you'll pay way more buying a whole chicken to roast at home.

Costco is a great place to find household goods -- think furniture, small appliances, bedding and more. And Costco extends the warranty on select electronics to two years at no added cost. Costco has a much friendlier return policy than other retailers, as well.

When I need gas, I stop at the station attached to my local warehouse. The price there is typically lower than nearby stations. Don't be discouraged by long lines -- most Costco gas stations have more pumps than your average gas station. Lines move quickly.

And, of course, every time I visit Costco I stop by the food court. It's hard to go wrong with the $1.50 hot dog-and-soda combo. Try it the next time you visit. Or take a fresh-baked $10 pizza home for the whole family.

Why I love Costco:

Costco has all the grocery essentials I need at a great price.

Costco is a great place to find new snacks and treats, including local favorites.

Costco has regular savings on essentials like vitamins, coffee and detergent.

Costco has high quality standards, especially when it comes to its own Kirkland Signature brand.

You can buy just about anything through Costco -- even bars of gold and silver coins.

REMINDER: To get your Digital Costco Shop Card, sign up for an Executive Membership and use code PARA24 at checkout.

If you want to take your Costco savings to the next level, I recommend upgrading to a Costco Executive Membership. It costs an extra $60 per year over a standard membership, but you'll start earning a 2% Reward on your yearly Costco purchases, including vacations purchased through Costco Travel. The annual 2% Reward is mailed with your renewal notice, two months before the renewal date.

Remember to use code PARA24 at checkout.

Why I love the Costco Executive membership:

If you spend more than $3,000 on qualified purchases at Costco per year, you will receive more than $60 for your Reward.

If you're not satisfied with your Costco Executive Membership, you can convert your membership to a Gold Star membership or cancel your membership at any time and get a refund.

What's the fine print on the Costco membership offer?

Promotion expires August 4, 2024. To receive a Digital Costco Shop Card, you must provide a valid email address and set up auto renewal of your Costco membership on a Visa® card at the time of sign-up. If you elect not to enroll in auto renewal at the time of sign-up, incentives will not be emailed. Valid only for nonmembers for their first year of membership. Not valid for renewal or upgrade of an existing membership. To qualify as a new member, an existing Costco membership must be expired at least 18 months or more. Limit one promotion per household. Promotion is non-transferable and may not be combined with any other promotion. Digital Costco Shop Card is not redeemable for cash, except as required by law. Digital Costco Shop Card will be emailed to the email address provided by the Primary Member at time of sign-up within 2 weeks after successful sign-up and enrollment in auto-renewal. Costco is not liable for incentives not received due to entry of an invalid address during sign-up. Digital Costco Shop Cards are not accepted at Gas Stations, Car Wash or Food Court Kiosk. Use the provided single-use promo code when entering your payment information. (Note: You will see a $0.01 deduction on your membership cost after the promo code is entered. This indicates that your promo code has been successfully processed so your incentive will be emailed.) A Costco membership is $60 a year. An Executive Membership is an additional $60 upgrade fee a year. Each membership includes one free Household Card. May be subject to sales tax. Costco accepts all Visa cards, as well as cash, checks, debit/ATM cards, EBT and Costco Shop Cards. Departments and product selection may vary.

Promo code for $60 off an order of $200 or more on Costco.Com will be emailed separately within 2 weeks of new Executive Member sign-up and enrollment in auto renewal; the promo code will be emailed separately from the Digital Costco Shop Card to the email address provided at time of sign-up. The promo code must be used by October 6, 2024. Code restrictions apply. Promo code is not valid in the warehouse. One promo code per Costco member. Only one (1) $60 off promo code can be used per member per transaction. Promo code will not be replaced if lost or stolen. Promo code amount will not be reissued if merchandise is returned. Ineligible purchases include new Costco memberships, Costco membership renewals, Costco membership upgrade, Gift of Membership, Costco Shop Cards, custom installation services, and Same-Day Grocery Delivery. Not valid for orders at the online Pharmacy, Costco Travel, or Costco Business Delivery. The merchandise total in your cart must equal $200 or more before tax and shipping to receive the promo code for $60 off. The promo code must be entered in the promo code box at checkout to be valid. May not be combined with any other promotion.

Fox Van Allen

Managing editor Fox Van Allen is an expert in tech, laptops and computers, toys and video games for CBS Essentials. When he's not writing about (or playing) the Nintendo Switch and PS5, Fox's hobbies include reality TV podcasting, designing board games and hanging out in his favorite warehouse stores.

The Secret Meaning Of Costco Price Tags

If you're a card-carrying Costco member, chances are you appreciate a good deal. The warehouse retail club sells goods in bulk to better offer discounted prices, both from third-party manufacturers and from its own private label, Kirkland Signature. 

The idea is that, simply by shopping at Costco, you're getting access to deals. You're not going to find clearance signs or dramatic red slashes on Costco shelves, but individual store managers will often mark down products even further. And you can find them with the help of eagle-eyed superfans and content creators (such as money educator Dr. Jessica Spangler of @ecommjess) who claim to have cracked Costco's secret code. Here's how to decode some of Costco's most common price tag patterns so you can shop smartly.

When the price ends in $.99 Most items in Costco are marked with a price that ends in $.99, which indicates a full-Costco-priced item. This means the item hasn't been marked down further from the original deal that Costco secured. When the price ends in $.97  Keep a lookout for these price codes, say Costco superfans. They indicate clearance items or manager markdowns that are exclusive to the location at which you're shopping. While the tag won't include the original price for you to compare, you can always ask a manager at your local warehouse for more information. This is typically the lowest price you'll find for an item at a Costco.  When the price ends in $.00 or $.88 These price codes denote manager markdowns on individual items in special cases. That means these products could have been returned, might have superficial damage or missing parts, or are running low in inventory. Ask a warehouse manager if you have specific questions.  When the price ends in a 9 (but not $.99) Prices like $3.79 or $12.59 are limited-time promotional deals on brand-name products that come directly from the manufacturers, like Hellman's or Starbucks. That means the item will likely return to its regular — and higher — price sometime in the future, and it may be worth grabbing now while it's cheaper. What does a price with an asterisk mean? Sometimes called the "death star," an asterisk next to Costco price tag may indicate that the item likely won't be restocked in the near future (or ever), that the item could be discontinued, that it's a seasonal item, or that it might just not be selling well. The end may be nigh, so snatch these items up while you still can!  What does the date below the price mean? It's always worth taking a look at the fine print. The date listed below the price on a Costco price tag indicates the last time the price changed. This is information that can help you make an educated guess as to whether the item will be marked down again in the near future. If the date listed is from a couple weeks ago, and quite a lot of stock remains, you may be able to score a deal if you wait. What about the hot dogs? Don't worry, this pricing system doesn't apply to Costco's legendary hot dog combo deal, which remains $1.50 — and a great value.

Thanks for your feedback!

The Costco Membership Fee Increase Is Too Much For Me. Here's Where I Shop Wholesale Instead

It finally happened. Costco hiked its membership fee for the first time since 2017, and honestly? It's hitting harder than an oversized frozen lasagna. The annual fee for basic members jumped from $60 to $65 annually, and the Executive membership? That's now $130, up from $120.

Sure, the Executive membership reward cap increased to $1,250 from $1,000, but for those of us just trying to get through the week without breaking the bank, this 8.3% increase feels like a lot.

With 52 million memberships affected, I'm not the only one feeling the pinch. So, where do you turn when Costco's price hike leaves you questioning your loyalty? Don't worry -- I've researched, and there are plenty of solid wholesale alternatives that won't make your wallet cry.

1. Sam's Club

Sam's Club's last fee hike happened in 2022, and Sam's Club remains a more affordable Costco alternative -- $50 for a basic membership and $110 for a Plus membership.

Not only is that cheaper than Costco, but Sam's has been making moves to keep shoppers happy, like offering the handy Scan & Go feature, which lets you shop without standing in a checkout line. It's as close to magic as grocery shopping gets.

You can find all the familiar bulk buys here -- massive packs of toilet paper, giant tubs of laundry detergent, and enough chicken breasts to feed a small army. But what really sets Sam's apart are the unexpected tech deals -- I recently snagged a discounted smart TV. Plus, it has an excellent bakery (hello, croissants) and even more brands to choose from.

2. BJ's Wholesale Club

BJ's has long been the underdog of the bulk-buying world, but don't underestimate it. At $55 a year for a basic membership, it undercuts Costco, and unlike Costco, BJ's accepts coupons. You can stack savings, and I'm not mad about it.

BJ's offers slightly smaller bulk packages. This option is great if you're tight on space but still love a deal. You'll find plenty of name-brand products, and if you're into organic items, BJ's has you covered. It's even partnered with Instacart for home delivery, making life easier when you don't have time to lug around 20-pound bags of rice.

Also, BJ's has gas perks! If you're driving to pick up your bulk buys, you can get some sweet discounts at the pump.

3. Amazon

With an Amazon Prime membership ($139 per year), you're getting fast shipping and access to Amazon's own bulk section, Amazon Business, and Subscribe & Save options that rival wholesale pricing. And let's not forget that you can shop from your couch in pajamas -- no warehouse runs necessary.

Everything from pantry staples like granola bars and bottled water to cleaning supplies and diapers can be delivered right to your doorstep, often at prices that compete with the big wholesale clubs. And with Subscribe & Save, you can set up recurring deliveries for items you use regularly while saving up to 15%.

Plus, Amazon Business offers even deeper bulk discounts if you're a small business or just someone who likes to buy in industrial quantities. No judgment.

4. Walmart+ and Target Circle

Walmart+ costs $98 a year, which may seem high, but you get free delivery, fuel savings, and access to discounts. Plus, Walmart has slowly started dipping its toes into the bulk-buying world, so you can still grab a giant bottle of ketchup or a bulk pack of snacks when the mood strikes.

On the flip side, Target Circle is completely free and offers regular deals on everything from cleaning supplies to snacks. While it's not a bulk store, you might not need 36 rolls of paper towels at once if you're shopping for a smaller household. Target Circle lets you rack up rewards while still sticking to your budget.

There's also Target Circle 360, the newest paid membership for $99 per year. As a member, you'll enjoy unlimited Same Day Delivery to multiple addresses, extended return windows with an extra 30 days, and access to the Shipt Marketplace, where you can shop from dozens of retailers. Plus, get free two-day shipping on hundreds of thousands of items.

Between these two, I've been stocking up on household essentials, like laundry detergent and cleaning supplies. I also can't resist Target's trendy home goods and snack offerings.

5. Aldi

Aldi offers some bulk items, especially pantry staples like pasta and canned goods, and there's no membership fee in sight. It's perfect for people who want to save without going full "buy everything in bulk."

The bonus? Aldi's famous "Aldi Finds" section rotates out seasonal and limited-time goodies you never knew you needed. And let's be real -- sometimes it's nice to leave the store with a pineapple-shaped cutting board, not a 10-pound bag of pretzels.

Aldi excels at keeping things simple. The streamlined store layout means you're not overwhelmed by choices, and the prices are rock bottom. It's a great place to stock up on basics when you don't want to commit to a wholesale club membership.

I'll always have a soft spot for Costco, but with the latest membership fee increase, it's time for me to explore other options. Between Sam's Club's affordability, BJ's coupon perks, Amazon's convenience, and the no-fee charm of Target Circle and Aldi, there's no shortage of alternatives for wholesale shopping.

Will I miss Costco's free samples and mega-sized muffins? Maybe. But until that membership fee drops again (which, let's be real, won't happen), I'm perfectly happy exploring new aisles and charging my credit card elsewhere.

---