I saw those emails from Costco but I took a pass, because I’d seen Southwest gift cards often sold at about the same (and sometimes better) discount.
I use one of four credit cards, depending. We’ve had a HHonors Am Ex for decades and gotten many many points rooms over the years. We’re not traveling much lately so less incentive. I have a personal cash back AmEx that I use when I want to pay from my own funds. We have a cash back VISA with changing quarterly bonuses. And an Amazon VISA,which I originally got for the $200 credit.
We have a Ralph’s Grocery card which gives points towards gas, $.10/gallon increments up to $1.00/gallon off depending on how much we spent.
I used to play the Kohls 30% off, cash back, and Rewards but seldom shop there anymore.
One trick that has saved a bit a few times when shopping non-Amazon is to leave an item in the cart overnight. More than once, I’ve woken to an email offering mea discount.
5 Likes
I agree with your recommendation for a newbie, but I usually take just the opposite approach. I wander the aisles first, and get the stuff that needs to stay cold last.
1 Like
We buy new but keep cars for a long time also. Now that we are both retired I suspect we will keep one for even longer than normal. I have a nice-ish car, and husband has a less nice car. We use mine for trips, and his is just for running around. I think we are both too independent to go to one car.
2 Likes
When did you get the SW card with companion? Is it still an option? Thanks
I have to add that when I buy big bags of frozen organic berries (I use a huge bag a week for smoothies and with some whipped cream as a snack) - they taste really great. Maybe the companies know how to freeze them a special way but they are tasty!
1 Like
Put your berries in a single layer on a tray to freeze quickly. Dump into a ziplock as soon as they are frozen and do not store more than a couple of months to prevent dehydration/freezer burn. IMO, bananas when frozen taste better than at room temperature! 
1 Like
Freezing fruits changes both the texture and taste. Texture usually gets mushier, as cell walls are ruptured. Taste is more variable, but bananas can be more sugary/sweet. They can also have other taste changes that some consider undesirable. If you prefer frozen bananas, you can freeze them before eating when purchased from any store – not just Costco. I personally prefer fruit (and almost any food) fresh over freezing myself and thawing. I phrase it like that because when a manufacturer freezes foods, they may be frozen earlier in the process than what I’d buy as fresh, which can improve what I am calling “quality.”. There are some vegetables (not fruit) that I prefer manufacturer frozen to buying fresh.
3 Likes
No need to debate this issue this is not about YOU.
If my post is replied to and quoted, don’t be surprised if I reply back, with additional information on the subject.
1 Like
I’ve actually had frozen bananas, and for my tastes they are fine. (Skin gets black though). The funny thing is that the first time I did it was pre-vacation, to keep them from spoiling and smelling up kitchen while gone. Was intending to trash them once back home a few weeks later but decided to try.
Also freeze avocados. Online instructions have you wrap in saran and then put in a plastic bag. I just put in plastic bag, usually a reused cereal bag or similar.
1 Like
Our local Costco has tons of organic produce - it feels as if 50-75% of their produce is organic. I care more about the price (can’t break that habit) and actually would prefer more non-organic options as I only want to pay the organic markup for certain types of produce.
2 Likes
Some items at Costco are amazing deals, others not so much. Been buying bags of 5 extra-large avocados at Costco for $3.79 or $4.19, when 1 avocado that size would be $2 at our local grocery store.
2 Likes
Me too!
2 Likes
Our local Farmer’s Market runs year round. It was a life-saver during the stay at home period of the pandemic since it’s all outside. My husband loves to go every week, sometimes twice a week.
I’ve been to Costco, but it was not enjoyable for me and it’s also not that close.
More Costco for us! 
Thank you for making my shopping experience less crowded. 
Just kidding.
1 Like
Yes, deal quality is variable. I have some idea what the cost is at alternative stores, rather than assume Costco will always be the best option. There are some types of products where Costco consistently does better than all other alternatives. For example, I mentioned rotisserie chicken. Costco is usually less than half the price per lb compared to all other alternatives in my area except Walmart, which is far inferior quality and a substantially higher price (not double). Costco is also in a class by itself with hearing aids. My experience is nobody else comes anywhere remotely close on prices to Costco, for comparable technology hearing aids…
However, produce is a different story. Example prices on the fruits I most frequently buy are below. I looked up prices just now, so different than some of earlier numbers
- Bananas: Costco = $0.86/lb, min 3lb. I usually pay ~$0.60/lb, with no min
- Apples: Costco = $1.62/lb, min 5lb. I usually pay ~$1.30/lb, with no min
- Oranges; Costco = $1.40/lb, min 8lb. I usually pay ~$1.25/lb, with no min
- Grapes: Costco = $3.46/lb min 3lb. When in season, I pay max of ~$1.50/lb. Lowest current price in area markets is ~$2
- Cantaloupe: Costco = $4.39 each, min 2. When in season, I pay max of ~$2. Lowest current price in area markets is $3 each
- Strawberries: Costco = $3.25/lb, min 2lb. When in season, I pay max of $2. Lowest current price in area markets is $2/lb.
- Other common fruit purchases – Out of stock at Costco
I could continue, but I expect you get the idea. Costco produce is generally more expensive than alternatives in my area, in spite of requiring bulk purchases. As noted earlier, I instead buy in season or on sale fruits at other vendors, often varying which specific fruits I purchase from week to week.
1 Like
Once a week stop shop for food? Yes please. Thank you, Costco. People can count cents while not realizing that their time on this planet is limited and becomes more valuable as we approach that final meeting with our maker.
1 Like
Can we moved to something else from discussing Costco?
No. You have been assimilated. 
Yes, please. 