Short answer NO. I suggest mentoring someone younger, and helping your neighbors sorting out how to live the fullest at 70, 80 or 90 and above. We all need a community of generous people.
You are one very lucky person. My $3M policy went up 104% this year due to a very heavy load on the insurer pay out about $1.75 for every $1 taken in, due to big rewards on lawsuits in 2025, due to fires and the like.
Mark important article. Before 70 years old, I tackled every home issue, except like a new roof. I have been there done that, but when in my 70's my wife would not allow me on the roof etc. The solution is a local Handy Man, who can take care of just about any household chore for $50 per hour, a REAL bargain. Check for one with your neighbors who has a proven reputation.
My first hearing aids cost $6000 elsewhere, I trusted Costco and my less than $1700 hearing aids, are better and you just let them in the holder that charges them daily, no more batteries to buy, further savings. I am very satisfied. My eyeglasses are not cheap but $300 less than at my Eye Doctor's office. Lots a ways to save at Costco.
Back 10 years ago I complained because my car needed top tier gas, and Costco did not have it. Then within a year, they started ads about Top Tier gasoline ever since. Really, they listen to customers, even have a suggestion box. I enjoy al aspects of Costco and if you purchase wisely you are guaranteed savings!
Keep writing fun Articles, but I am on the LIKE it side for Costco. I save more than the entrance fee, yearly and get the absolute lowest gas prices all year long, the wait is minimal for me. Here is the scoop: The Store Markup Cap (Product Margin)StratrixCostco has a strict, hard-capped internal policy on how much they are allowed to mark up an item:
Reddit
Name Brands: Maximum 14% markup.
Stratrix
Kirkland Signature (House Brand): Maximum 15% markup.
Food Republic
For context, traditional supermarkets and department stores regularly mark up goods by 25% to 50% (or more). If Costco negotiates a lower price with a supplier, they don't pocket the difference to increase their margin—they immediately pass the savings onto the consumer by dropping the shelf price.
Tasting Table
2. Company-Wide Gross MarginBecause of those strict markup caps, Costco's overall gross profit margin sits right around 12.8%. Traditional competitors operate with much higher buffers:
GuruFocus
Walmart: ~25% gross margin
Investing.com
Target: ~28% gross margin
Investing.com
3. The Real Profit EngineAfter paying for employee wages, warehouse utilities, and logistics, Costco actually makes very little money (often near 0%) from selling the physical products on the floor.
Instead, over 70% to 80% of Costco's net profit comes strictly from membership fees.
As I look at Costco, and really like that I can return anything, no receipt needed, at almost any time, a year or more, except electronics which is 90 days, but the the warranty is 2 years not one! Lots of pluses for their customer service, which is excellent. Although they tempt you, remember, you get to decide, I never bought a 3 foot bag of popcorn, but must admit, I like their large selection of everything. The price is right, and the hot dogs with a soda, is the deal of the decade. A member for 22 years and counting.
Comments
Short answer NO. I suggest mentoring someone younger, and helping your neighbors sorting out how to live the fullest at 70, 80 or 90 and above. We all need a community of generous people.
Post: Haunted Head
Link to comment from July 11, 2026
Most of us are very thankful immigrants and Proud to be an American. Thanks for the reminder.
Post: Happy 250th Birthday America
Link to comment from July 11, 2026
Thanks Andrew for these wonderful tidbits about Jonathan. We treasure your brother, and all his wonderful wisdom.
Post: Every Writer Has a Beginning: Organ Transplant Fails
Link to comment from July 11, 2026
Please look harder and find a local handyman your neighbors been using for a reasonable price. If I could do that so can you.
Post: Reluctantly Saving Money
Link to comment from July 11, 2026
You are one very lucky person. My $3M policy went up 104% this year due to a very heavy load on the insurer pay out about $1.75 for every $1 taken in, due to big rewards on lawsuits in 2025, due to fires and the like.
Post: Reluctantly Saving Money
Link to comment from July 11, 2026
Mark important article. Before 70 years old, I tackled every home issue, except like a new roof. I have been there done that, but when in my 70's my wife would not allow me on the roof etc. The solution is a local Handy Man, who can take care of just about any household chore for $50 per hour, a REAL bargain. Check for one with your neighbors who has a proven reputation.
Post: Reluctantly Saving Money
Link to comment from July 11, 2026
Note, I take my $100,000 RMD in Nov and pay the IRS and State of MO taxes via Vanguard at time of RMD, never had any issues about timing any taxes.
Post: Don’t Let a Roth Conversion Trigger a Penalty
Link to comment from July 11, 2026
My first hearing aids cost $6000 elsewhere, I trusted Costco and my less than $1700 hearing aids, are better and you just let them in the holder that charges them daily, no more batteries to buy, further savings. I am very satisfied. My eyeglasses are not cheap but $300 less than at my Eye Doctor's office. Lots a ways to save at Costco.
Post: Frittering away Frugality
Link to comment from July 11, 2026
Back 10 years ago I complained because my car needed top tier gas, and Costco did not have it. Then within a year, they started ads about Top Tier gasoline ever since. Really, they listen to customers, even have a suggestion box. I enjoy al aspects of Costco and if you purchase wisely you are guaranteed savings!
Post: Frittering away Frugality
Link to comment from July 11, 2026
Keep writing fun Articles, but I am on the LIKE it side for Costco. I save more than the entrance fee, yearly and get the absolute lowest gas prices all year long, the wait is minimal for me. Here is the scoop: The Store Markup Cap (Product Margin)StratrixCostco has a strict, hard-capped internal policy on how much they are allowed to mark up an item: Reddit
- Name Brands: Maximum 14% markup.
- Stratrix
- Kirkland Signature (House Brand): Maximum 15% markup.
- Food Republic
For context, traditional supermarkets and department stores regularly mark up goods by 25% to 50% (or more). If Costco negotiates a lower price with a supplier, they don't pocket the difference to increase their margin—they immediately pass the savings onto the consumer by dropping the shelf price. Tasting Table 2. Company-Wide Gross MarginBecause of those strict markup caps, Costco's overall gross profit margin sits right around 12.8%. Traditional competitors operate with much higher buffers: GuruFocus- Walmart: ~25% gross margin
- Investing.com
- Target: ~28% gross margin
- Investing.com
3. The Real Profit EngineAfter paying for employee wages, warehouse utilities, and logistics, Costco actually makes very little money (often near 0%) from selling the physical products on the floor. Instead, over 70% to 80% of Costco's net profit comes strictly from membership fees. As I look at Costco, and really like that I can return anything, no receipt needed, at almost any time, a year or more, except electronics which is 90 days, but the the warranty is 2 years not one! Lots of pluses for their customer service, which is excellent. Although they tempt you, remember, you get to decide, I never bought a 3 foot bag of popcorn, but must admit, I like their large selection of everything. The price is right, and the hot dogs with a soda, is the deal of the decade. A member for 22 years and counting.Post: Frittering away Frugality
Link to comment from July 11, 2026