By Fox Van Allen
/ Essentials
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If you've been thinking about becoming a Costco Wholesale member, now is the perfect time. That's because Costco is offering a special summer deal on memberships this June: Join as a new member online at costco.com and enroll in auto renewal of your annual membership, and you'll receive a $30 Digital Costco Shop Card. Just be sure to enter code SUMMER23 at checkout.
Costco memberships don't go on sale, and when Costco does offer a new member promotion, it's rarely as good as this one. That's why we think you take advantage of it ASAP: It's like getting your Costco membership for half price. (If you're not close to a Costco warehouse store, don't worry -- we also found a $15 off deal on Sam's Club memberships.)
Don't delay -- this Costco membership promotion expires on June 11.
Best warehouse membership deals in this article:
Costco membership with $30 Costco Shop Card, $60 (a $90 value)
$60 at Costco
Sam's Club membership (1 year), $35 (regularly $50)
$35 at Sam's Club
Why become a Costco member?
I absolutely love Costco -- I've been a member for the last 23 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 wine -- it's the perfect nexus 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. Costco also offers an extended warranty on electronics at no added cost, and has a much friendlier return policy than Best Buy and other retailers.
When I need gas, I stop at the station attached to my local warehouse store. The price there is typically 15-40 cents lower per gallon than nearby stations. (Don't be discouraged by long lines -- most Costco gas stations have more pumps than your average gas station. Lines moves quick.)
And, of course, every time I visit Costco I stop by the in-store cafe. It's hard to go wrong with the $1.50 hot dog and drink combo if you're hungry, but my favorite summertime treat is the $2.99 fruit smoothie. It's made with bits of real fruit (strawberry, blackberry and acai) with no added sugar. Try it the next time you visit. And keep and eye out for the new $6.99 rotisserie chicken Caesar salad, the latest addition to Costco's food court.
Costco membership with $30 Costco Shop Card, $60 (a $90 value)
Important: Be sure to enter code SUMMER23 at checkout.
$60 at Costco
My recommendation: Upgrade to a Costco Executive membership

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% rebate 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.
If you do your regular household shopping at Costco, the Executive upgrade will wind up paying for itself. You need to spend $3,000 at Costco per year to break even. Trust me, those Costco trips add up quick.
Costco Executive membership with $30 Costco Shop Card, $120 (a $150 value)
Important: Be sure to enter code SUMMER23 at checkout.
$120 at Costco
Get a Sam's Club membership starting at $35

Don't have a Costco store near you? Or maybe you're looking for a more affordable warehouse club membership? In either case, you should check out the deal that Sam's Club is running on memberships in June. Sign up for anannual Sam's Club membershiponline today and you'll save $15 instantly.
Like with a Costco membership, you'll start saving money on groceries, gas and so much more. Sam's Club also offers travel deals, a car-buying program, plus pharmacy, tire, optical and photo centers. The chain offers free curbside pickup, and, in some locations, same-day delivery.
You can find your local Sam's Club location (and Sam's Club Fuel Center)using the club finder tool on the Sam's Club website.
Sam's Club membership (1 year), $35 (reduced from $50)
$35 at Sam's Club
You can earn a 2% Sam's Cash rebate on purchases when you upgrade to a Sam's Club Plus membership. You'll also get free online shipping and free curbside pickup.
Sam's Club Plus membership, $70 (reduced from $110)
$70 at Sam's Club
What's the fine print on the Costco deal?
The Costco summer promotion is for new members only or for members whose memberships have been expired for more than 18 months. 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 provide a valid email address and sign up for auto-renewal, a Digital Costco Shop Card 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, a Costco membership must be expired at least 18 months or more. Limit one promotion/incentive 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. New members will receive their Digital Costco Shop Card by email within 2 weeks of sign-up. 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 Washes or Food Court Kiosk. Use the provided single-use Promo Code when entering your payment information.
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.
Related content on CBS Essentials:
- Sam's Club June membership deal: Get one year of discounted gas, groceries and more for $35
- Sam's Club is giving away free money: The best gift card deals
- Is Walmart Plus right for you?
- Amazon's Stock Up and Save sale is like a warehouse club membership, but better
- Sam's Club drops price on hot dog and drink combo, undercutting competitor Costco
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.
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FAQs
How to join Costco as a new member and receive a $30 Costco shop card? ›
That's because Costco is offering a special summer deal on memberships: Join as a new member online at costco.com and enroll in auto renewal of your annual membership, and you'll receive a $30 Digital Costco Shop Card. Just be sure to enter code SUMMER23 at checkout.
Who is eligible for Costco card promotion? ›New members must be 18 years of age or older. Limit one promotion per household. Valid for new memberships only. To qualify as a new member, an existing Costco membership must be expired at least 18 months or more.
How to get a Costco membership for free? ›Costco doesn't offer free or discounted memberships, but rest assured that the cost of membership can be recovered quickly thanks to massive price savings once you start shopping.
How much is Costco membership going up in 2023? ›If the pattern is consistent, the Costco membership price would go from $60 to $65 for Gold Star and $120 to $130 for Executive — 8.3% increases. Industry watchers expect this kind of new pricing to happen sometime in late 2023.
Does AAA offer Costco membership discount? ›Yes, AAA members do get discounts at Costco. When they join or renew their AAA membership, they can receive a one-time $20 or $10 Costco Shop Card.
Can two people use the same Costco card? ›The Costco membership card is non-transferable, but there are several ways to share the experience with family and friends. Anyone with a card can bring up to two guests to the Warehouse during each visit. Keep in mind that purchasing items is exclusive to Costco members.
What is the cheapest Costco membership you can get? ›The cheapest Costco membership is the Gold Star membership. The annual fee for this membership is $60.
Does Costco have deals for new members? ›A one-year Costco Gold Star membership is typically $60, but when you sign up right now with this StackSocial offer, you'll automatically get $30 back in the form of a digital Costco shop card, essentially saving you 50%.
Can I go to Costco without a membership? ›When you visit a Costco warehouse, you'll discover all the valuable savings we have to offer. As a nonmember, you may still purchase prescriptions from a Costco pharmacy with cash, debit, Costco Shop Cards or a Visa® card. However, you must be a paid member to enter the warehouse and purchase any other items.
Is Costco membership free for seniors? ›Unfortunately, Costco does not offer any free or discounted memberships for seniors, meaning that senior shoppers still have to pay full membership fees. The starting cost of a Costco membership is $60 per year, which gets you access to a Gold Star membership.
Which is better Sam's or Costco? ›
Does Costco or Sam's Club Have Better Prices? Overall, the prices at Costco tend to be cheaper. However, Sam's Club has a greater selection of name-brand products and a cheaper membership fee.
Which Costco membership is best? ›Costco has two main membership levels: Executive, which costs $120, and Gold Star, which costs $60. Executive membership gives you a 2% return on qualifying Costco purchases and discounts on services. If you spend $3,000 annually, or $250 per month, at Costco, it's worth upgrading to Executive.
Which one is cheaper Costco or Walmart? ›And overall, while Costco prices are better, Walmart still has very good prices. For me, though, shopping in bulk as Costco allows me to do not only saves money but also time and energy since I can buy cases and big bags all at once!
How much is Costco for 1 year? ›$60.00 Annual membership fee* Includes a free Household Card. Valid at all Costco locations worldwide.
How much do you have to spend at Costco for the membership to be worth it? ›If you think you'll spend at least $6,000 to break even on the membership cost, you really can't go wrong. Additionally, if you plan to take advantage of Costco services discounts, this can also help you quickly recoup the extra $60 membership fee.
How do I get my Costco card after buying membership? ›After completing your purchase you'll receive an email with your new membership number. Please note, membership cards will NOT be mailed to you. You can obtain your new membership cards by visiting the membership counter of your local Costco.
What is a Costco shop card? ›Costco has created another convenient way for members to pay for their purchases, a Costco Shop Card. Costco Shop Card features include: A convenient payment option in our warehouses, gas stations, and on Costco.com. Costco Shop Cards can be reloaded with value at any Costco Warehouse.