7 Things You Must Buy at Costco While on a Retirement Budget

If you think a Costco membership isn’t a sound investment for retirees, think again. The members-only warehouse club offers major savings opportunities that can easily outweigh the cost of a $65 Gold Star Membership or a $130 Executive Membership.

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It might not be in your best interest to purchase perishables at Costco, but you can save a significant amount of money by shopping in other departments. If you haven’t fully explored Costco and all it has to offer, you might not even know the retailer offers certain product types.

Find ways to stretch your retirement budget even further with these seven products you should start buying at Costco.

At Costco, you can save up to 80% on prescriptions for the family and pets.

For example, members can get 90 tablets of Lisinopril — used to treat high blood pressure — for as low as $8.99. In comparison, this would cost approximately $28.13 at both CVS and Target, according to GoodRx.

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Many Costco stores are equipped with gas stations that offer savings at the pump.

As an added bonus, Kirkland Signature Gasoline contains five times the EPA detergent requirement in both unleaded and premium grades. An attendant is also on-site to provide any assistance needed.

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If you wear glasses or contacts, Costco Optical has you covered. Visit a trained optician at your local warehouse or shop online.

Choose from a huge selection of contact lenses, brand-name designer frames and sunglasses. Optical frames start at just $59.99, and in-store adjustments are always free.

Lenses are made from a single vision high index 1.60 lens material, are scratch resistant and feature an anti-reflective treatment and UV filter. Most major vision plans are accepted.

Costco offers discount gift cards for a variety of restaurants and entertainment options. Whether you want to use them as gifts or purchase them for yourself, there’s a lot of savings to be had.

For example, you can get two AMC Theatres Black Tickets, plus a $20 e-gift card, for $39.99. You can also get a $50 Cinemark gift card for $39.99.

As for dining, certain restaurants including IHOP and Domino’s each offer four $25 gift cards for $79.99. Additionally, you can get five $15 Subway gift cards for $59.99.

If your hearing isn’t what it used to be, the Costco Hearing Aid Center has you covered. Get a hearing screening and save on a variety of hearing aid styles, accessories and batteries.

For example, the Rexton BiCore C R-Li starts at $1,499.99. Additionally, Philips HearLink hearing aids and the Jabra Enhance Pro 20 Micro RIE start at $1,599.99.

Hearing aids clearly are not cheap. Some cost $3,500 or more elsewhere, and Costco’s prices are lower than many, according to the National Council on Aging.

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Sure, it might take you awhile to use a bulk package of toilet paper, but that’s OK. As long as you have the storage space, you can save big on this household essential.

Costco offers a 30-pack (380 sheets) of two-ply Kirkland Signature Bath Tissue for $24.99. In comparison, a 30-pack of Charmin Ultra Soft Toilet Paper is $32.99 at Target.

You have to have clean clothes, but you don’t have to pay a premium to get them that way. Costco offers competitive prices on both name-brand detergents and Kirkland Signature options.

For example, a 145-fluid ounce container of Tide Advanced Power With Oxi Liquid Laundry Detergent — 78 loads — costs $24.99 at Costco. This same item is $35.99 at Walmart.

Disclaimer: Prices and availability accurate as of Feb. 28, 2025, but subject to change and may vary by location.