I love Costco. I mean what other store can you walk-in for toilet paper and dog food, and walk-out with $10 Adidas sweats, a box of Snickers, and a camping chair that would make Edmund Hillary jealous. So when my frugal hero Clark Howard walked around a Costco warehouse with their former CEO Craig Jelinek, I was all ears. I knew some good insider savings tips would be the result of the conversation. Here are a few of the key takeaways that can help you save some money on your next trip to Costco.

1. Many Kirkland Products are Made by Name-Brands

I’ve written about this before, but it was still awesome to have the Costco CEO confirm it.

Many Kirkland Signature items are indeed made by top name-brands and repackaged specifically for Costco.

Jelinek confirmed to Howard that Kirkland batteries were actually manufactured by Duracell, making them a great value in my book.

Pretty sure I’ll only be buying my batteries from Costco this point forward.

Other Kirkland Signature items to consider are diapers (Huggies), tuna (Bumble Bee), vodka (Grey Goose), scotch (Macallan 18), and craft beer (Gordon-Biersch).

See Also: Buy the Identical and Cheaper Versions of Name Brands

2. Smart Bulk Buying

Jelinek also confirmed that in recent years Costco has listened to their loyal customers and broken down quantity sizes into more usable portions.

He used the 15lb bag of grapefruit as an example. It was simply just too damn BIG and would end up being wasted by many.

So Costco cut the size of the bag in half and sales went way up.

The same can be seen with frozen chicken breasts, frozen fish, and even things like peanut butter and condiments.

Instead of one HUGE jar of Skippy, they sell it in a 2-pack that allows you to store the extra one in the pantry until you need it.

The result is a store where bulk buying really does make sense and won’t lead to a lot of waste.

3. When Does Costco Beat Sam’s Club on Price?

I thought it was interesting that the Costco CEO admitted that their pricing is not much different than Sam’s Club on things like toothpaste, shampoo, shaving cream, and the like.

So where does Costco win the warehouse club battle?

According to Jelinek, “If you look at toothpaste and things like that, you’re not going to see a big difference between us and our competitors, if you look at the meat, you look at the bakery, you look at the apparel, look at the detailed things – the flowers. You see a big difference.”

See Also: Costco Employees Tell Me The BEST Day to Shop

4. Merchandise Changes REALLY Frequently

The CEO also told Howard that one of the things that shoppers dislike about Costco is seeing the same stuff on Costco shelves month-after-month.

So a ton of merchandise gets moved out of the warehouse after just 3-4 months.

Bottom-line to us Costco shoppers? Once something’s gone, it’s gone forever. Shop accordingly.

5. How To Keep Your Spending In-Check?

Costco makes it really easy to overspend.

Have you ever noticed that they put the “cool” products up front so you have to walk buy them to get to the staples? It’s not on accident.

This makes it very easy to buy the stuff you had no intention of purchasing, but clearly CANNOT live without.

“One of the things we like is when people come in and say, ‘I hate you guys. I came in to buy three things and I spent $300.’ That’s kind of a good thing if you’re selling merchandise,” Jelinek said.

Not so good if you’re living on a budget.

Clark actually has a really good tip to help out.

He recommends shopping without a cart and buying only what you can carry.

This obviously won’t work on every trip to Costco, but if you’re only running in for a few things, it’s great advice.

See Also: How to Essentially Get a $60 Costco Membership for Free

6. So What’s the CEO’s Favorite Costco Item?

As a well dressed fellow, his favorite item is the Kirkland Signature dress shirt, which sell for $19.97.

He said it’s a very well-made shirt with buttons that will never break.

I actually own one of these shirts and it’s by far the thickest dress shirt I own.

Bonus: Low Markups at Costco

Jelinek also dropped the bomb that the most they’ll markup Kirkland products is 15%, while the vast majority of Kirkland stuff is set at a fairly low 14% markup.

By contrast, grocery stores like Safeway and Kroger often have a store-brand markup in the 20-30% range.

Ask the Reader: How do you save money at Costco? Or do you prefer to shop at Sam’s Club or Amazon for everyday products?

By Kyle James

I have to admit, it always feels good when I buy an item that’s made in the good ol’ USA. Not only do I know that I’m helping keep jobs in America, but I’m almost always getting an item that’s much higher quality and designed to stand up to the test of time.

So with that in mind, I figured it was time to do some research and find all of the popular clothing, apparel, and shoe retailers and brands that are 100% made in the U.S.A.. Hope this list helps you shop America first.

Apparel Brands Made in the USA

• All American Clothing – As the name would suggest, the high-quality apparel at the All American Clothing Company is made right here on home soil, guaranteed. Free shipping on $99 or more too.
• All USA Clothing – This company, based in Keego Harbor, Michigan, is 100% American made, with pride.
• American Giant – I love how they cut costs by not having any brick & mortar stores or billboard advertising. “The savings we get from cutting store and marketing costs, we redeploy into producing great product in the USA.”
• American Trench – Score free shipping and free returns from American Trench.  They’ve manufactured all of their clothing in the USA since 2012.
• Askov Finlayson – Their pants are WAY expensive but they’re made in the US and you’ll score free shipping on $100 or more.
• Battenwear – Very popular jackets, cardigans, vests, bags, hats, and pants all USA made.
• Black Halo – You’ll get free ground shipping on any order. They make stylish apparel for women.
• Buck Mason – With a name like Buck Mason, their clothing has to be made in the USA. They sell a full line of stylish men’s apparel and outerwear.
• Bullet Blues – They sell designer jeans and apparel, all made with quality in the United States.
• Columbiaknit – “Located in the beautiful state of OREGON, USA. A locally owned company, taking pride in making beautiful, durable, high quality garments. The entire process from knitting of the fabric, through cutting, sewing and shipping  is done in our Portland factory.”
• Dehen 1920 – These guys have been around for over 100 years making quality varsity jackets, sweaters, and even uniforms.
• Emerson Fry – Beautifully designed women’s apparel designed and made in the United States.

See Also: Companies That Back Up Their Products With a Lifetime Guarantee

• Epaulet – Score free shipping on $50+ and shop from stylish apparel for men and women.
• FairEnds – Popular seller and designer of cool hats, t-shirts, and accessories. All made with care in California.
• Flynn Skye  –  Stylish American-made women’s clothing, specializing in jumpers, bodysuits, tops, and bottoms.
• Gitman Bros. – From their webiste, “Our shirt factory is located in Ashland, PA and our neckwear factory in Pilot Mountain, NC. Our wholesale showroom and corporate office is located in New York City.”
• Grown & Sewn – Popular clothing for men and women. All orders come with free shipping within the U.S. – all clothing is made in the good ol’ US of A as well.
• Hackwith Design House  – Free shipping when you buy 2 or more items.
• Hanky Panky – They sell American made lingerie and sleepwear and offer free shipping on $75 or more.
• Hart Schaffner Marx – From their site, “Since our beginning in 1887, we have devoted ourselves to dress men around the world in well-crafted, understated, elegant clothing proudly made in the USA.”
• Hickey Freeman – Fine suits, tuxedos, dress shirts, and ties, all made right here in the US.
• Hill-Side, The – Great collection of wool blend jackets, vests, shirts, and more.
• Imogene and Willie – Back in in 2009 they set up shop in Nashville, Tennessee, in a 1950s service station. Ever since they’ve been selling their American-made jeans to the style conscious.
• Karen Kane – Free ground shipping on all orders. I like their philosophy too, “clothing that lasts longer than a single season and can far outlive any trend it represents.”
• LC King – Handmade clothing made in Bristol, TN for four generations.
• Levi’s Vintage Clothing (LVC) – The Levi jeans that are made in the USA are way high-quality when compared to the jeans made overseas.
• Loggerhead Apparel – With a name like Loggerhead, their clothing must be made in USA. Also, if you spend $75 or more you qualify for free shipping.
• Michael Stars – Clothing for men and women, all made in the US with pride. “Approximately 75% of our garments are cut and sewn right here in Los Angeles, the birthplace of Michael Stars. 60% of those garments are locally washed and dyed.”
• Nanette Lepore – They sell very stylish dresses, tops, jackets, coats, sweaters, and bottoms. They also offer free shipping on $250 or more.
• New England Shirt Co. – Very popular shirts that were actually featured in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
• Outlier – Cool clothing company who makes technical clothing designed for the office and the outdoors.
• Pendleton Woolen Mills – I own a Pendleton shirt and it’s one of my favs. Be sure to collect free shipping on $150+ with code FREESHIP.
• Rogue Territory – Very cool denim line that morphed into a full collection of rugged apparel.
• Schott – These guys make really high-quality leather jackets and accessories.
• SportPort – All of their athletic compression clothing is made in “America by employees in clean and safe working environments while earning a fair wage, unlike other manufacturing countries who tolerate the exploitation of their workers, including children, in unsafe conditions for low pay.”
• Tanner Leather – Very nice leather belts and leather accessories, all made in Portland, Oregon.
• Taylor Stitch – “Overbuilt clothing for every occasion.” Cool tag line and very cool styles at Taylor Stitch.
• Todd Shelton – “Premium Clothing for Men and Women – Made in USA”
• True Religion – The jeans at True Religion are made in the USA and are hand built to stand up to all conditions.
• Unis – Popular and trendy clothing that comes with free shipping on $250 or more.
• Velva Sheen – “Simpler, Better for everyday basics.”
• Wild Fox – “The contemporary women’s line designed in sunny L.A. has embodied the effortlessly yet edgy ethos of California, since it was launched in 2007.”

Shoes/Footwear Brands Made in the USA

• Alden of New England – “Alden is now the only original New England shoe and bootmaker remaining of the hundreds who began so long ago.”
• Allen Edmonds – Allen Edmonds has been handcrafting fine welted “Made in the USA” shoes since 1922. They stand behind every pair of shoes they make and offer free shipping and returns too.
• Capps Shoe Company – Their shoes are made by highly skilled American men and women and come in over 105 sizes, ranging from 4 to 13 and widths from 5A to 2E
• The Frye Company – Their “Made in the USA” collection of shoes is very popular as each pair is designed to last forever (or close to it).
• Lucchese Boots -The Lucchese family has been making high-quality boots for over 130 years, all in the United States. Free shipping on $100 or more too.
• Munro Shoes – If you’re looking for a comfy pair of work shoes that are made in the USA. Look no further than Munro.
• Oakstreet Bootmakers – All boots are hand-crafted in America. Get free shipping on all domestic orders.
• Quoddy – Some of the most comfortable handmade slippers in the known world.
• Rancourt and Company – Handcrafted in Maine since 1967. Be sure to sign-up for their newsletter and get 10% off your first order.
• Red Wing Heritage line – Since 1905, each Red Wing shoe is handmade by an American who takes pride in their work. They also offer free shipping and free returns on every purchase.
• Russell Moccasin Co. – Based in Berlin, Wisconsin, Russell Moccasin has been handmade in America since 1898.
• SAS Shoes – SAS stands for San Antonio Shoemakers and they’ve been producing very high-quality shoes since 1976.
• SOM Footwear – SOM, also known as Sense of Motion Footwear, is proudly made in the USA. Colorado specifically. All of their shoes come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Ask the Reader: What apparel or shoe brands are made in the USA that I may have missed? Let me know in the comments and I’ll take a look.

By Kyle James

Photo credit to Harika Reddy.

Since Kroger is the biggest grocery store chain in the country, I figured it was time to do some research and figure out some of the best ways to save money at Kroger. Hacks that’ll save you money in a variety of ways, including at the gas pump, as well as in every section of the grocery store.

The Kroger family of stores actually includes a bunch of grocery stores. Specifically City Market, Dillons, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs, Harris Teeter, Smith’s Food and Drug, and of course Kroger Supermarkets. These money-saving hacks should work at all of these stores.

Loyalty Always Rules the Day

If you want to save money at Kroger, the first thing you’ll need to do is get your hands on a free Kroger Plus Card.

The only way to currently get their rewards card is in the actual brick & mortar store.

Just ask any cashier and you’ll have to fill out a little paperwork, literally takes 1 minute.

They’ll ask for your name, address, and email address, that’s it. You’ll immediately get your Kroger rewards card and can start saving.

By having a loyalty card from Kroger you’ll be able to nab a bunch of exclusive savings.

Perhaps the biggest is the ability to load manufacturer coupons to your card via the Kroger site.

Then just swipe your card at checkout and automatically get your coupon savings.

Also, once you have your Rewards Card, be sure to sync it with a free online account at Kroger.

By linking the two you’ll be able to download digital coupons to your rewards card, build your shopping list, manage prescriptions online, track fuel points, and more coolness.

Score up to a $1 Off a Gallon of Gas

The Fuel Program at Kroger, via your Kroger loyalty Plus Card, is a dang easy way to save at the pump.

Here’s how it works:

1. $1 in Groceries = 1 fuel point.
2. 100 fuel points = 10¢ per gallon discount , 200 fuel points = 20¢ off/gallon, and 1,000 fuel points = $1 off/gallon.
3. Double fuel points for Gift Card purchases. For example, $25 in Gift Cards = 50 fuel points.
4. Fuel points apply to a maximum of 35 gallons on one purchase of fuel at a Kroger Fuel Center or Shell gas station.
5. 100 fuel point limit on a single fill-up at participating Shell gas station.
6. However, up to 1,000 fuel points can be redeemed for up to $1 off per gallon at a Kroger Fuel Center.
7. A Single Prescription filled = 50 fuel points.
8. There is NO limit on the number of fuel points you can earn.
9. IMPORTANT: Fuel points earned in the current month will expire at the end of the next month. Fuel points do not combine across months. Use them or lose them.

Simply scan your Kroger Plus Card at the pump and redeem your gas savings.

Buy Gift Cards for 2x Fuel Points

The next time you’re shopping for a gift card, or two, consider buying them from Kroger and score 2x fuel points.

So if you buy a $50 gift card you’ll score 100 fuel points to be used towards a discount at the gas pump.

Also, keep an eye out for special promotions throughout the year where Kroger offers 4x fuel points on gift card purchases.

It makes for a great time to stock-up for Christmas gifts and even things like birthday and teacher’s gifts.

Kroger sells a HUGE selection of gift cards for retailers, restaurants, movie theaters, hotels, and online services.

You can either buy them online or in-store and you’ll collect your fuel points either way.

If you ever have questions about fuel points earned on your gift card purchases, call Kroger directly at 1-800-576-4377.

See Also: Kroger Does NOT Take Apple Pay…But Here’s a Workaround

Grab Friday Freebies

Did you know that you can get a FREE item at Kroger, or any Kroger owned grocery store, every single Friday?

That’s right, according to Kroger, “Every Friday, you can download a digital coupon for a FREE item.

This offer is available exclusively to Customers with a Kroger.com account.”

Just visit this page to get your free item Friday coupon.

You need to load the “free item” coupon to your Kroger Plus Card on a Friday, but you have a couple weeks to redeem it in-store.

In recent weeks, the Friday freebie has included a free Dannon yogurt, free Hershey candy, and a free can of premium dog food. Gotta love free.

Kroger “Generic Brand” Guarantee

If you buy a Kroger brand item and are not completely satisfied for ANY reason, they’ll let you return it for a full refund or exchange to the national brand.

This is Kroger’s famed “Quality Guarantee”.

From the Kroger site, “Simply return the product, packaging and receipt to your nearest Kroger store.

The customer service staff will assist with a refund, exchange, adjustment or credit to a Kroger Gift Card. Some exclusions apply.”

The Kroger brands that come with this awesome guarantee include Kroger, Big K®, Wholesome@Home™, Fresh Selections by Kroger®, Home Sense®, Comforts for Baby®, Private Selection™ and Simple Truth®.

See Also: Kroger Employee Discount: Family Members get 15% Off Too

Always Stack Coupons at Kroger

Kroger stores are SUPER coupon friendly.

They’ll actually let you stack a manufacturer coupon with an in-store Kroger paper coupon to really maximize your savings.

From their internal Coupon Policy, here’s the full scoop…

• Coupons will be limited to no more than five (5) paper manufacturer coupons for the like products, each coupon value considered one (1) coupon in the same transaction.
• Coupons will be limited to redemption from products currently on-hand at the store location.
• Limit one (1) manufacturer coupon (paper or digital) per item purchased.
• All coupons will be accepted at face value.
• Expired coupons will not be accepted.
• Only Pharmacy competitor coupons will be accepted.

It’s also worth noting that Kroger has the right to accept, decline or limit the use of ANY coupons.

This will typically happen when you print out blurry or out-of-proportion Internet coupons so be careful.

Loyal reader Robin also piped in on this topic, “I also get paper coupons mailed to me. Some of them are for free items. And sometimes I get free ones in their digital coupons, aside from the Free Friday item. My most recent paper ones were for a free miracle whip and 1 box of any style/size Kroger breakfast cereal. Most recent digital free ones were a free Coffeemate Creamer and a pckg of Keebler cookies. Plus they give you manufacturer AND store coupons, which can be stacked. Pair those stacked ones with sale items and you can score free (or close to it) items.”

Gotta love free, or close to it.

See Also: All the Retailers That Let You Stack Coupons

Order Online…Pick Up In-Store

Kroger has this really cool, yet often overlooked feature called Pickup.

Pickup allows you to shop online for over 40,o00 products, including fresh meat and produce, select when you want to pick-up your order, and then swing by your local store and pick it up curbside.

The best part? You don’t have to get out of your car.

You also don’t have to pay for your item until you pick it up (credit card is required).

Pickup is a fantastic option for seniors, parents with a newborn at home, and of course, lazy people like me.

See Also: 6 Smart Ways to Save Cash at Publix

Look For “Manager’s Special” Tags

Kroger is famous for having managers that actually manage their stores. Crazy concept, huh?

Managers will find products that just aren’t selling, and are often nearing their “sell by date”, and mark them WAY down for a quick sell.

This is good news for us shoppers as these “Manager’s Specials” provide a great opportunity to stock-up and save.

Look for the special stickers on the shelf or on the product itself that let you know about these specials.

The spots in Kroger where you can almost always find these specials is in meats, dairy, and the bakery.

I also have it on good authority that you should shop at Kroger on Monday or Tuesday to find the most “Manager’s Specials” in the store.

Over 60? Shop on Thursday and Save

A big chunk or Kroger owned grocery stores offer a senior discount when you shop on a Thursday or Wednesday.

You typically have to be at least 60 years of age to qualify.

I have heard the discount can be anywhere from 5% to 10% of your total grocery bill.

The actual discount depends on the Kroger location and specific policy.

On your next visit, simply ask about a senior discount and hopefully you can start saving some money right away.

I’ve always believed that it never hurts to ask as the worst thing they can say is “Sorry, we don’t offer a senior discount.”

See Also: Senior Discounts: 70+ Places Where Older (Yet Wiser) Folks Can Get a Discount

“5 For $5” Hack

Kroger is famous for offering bulk savings like “5 bottles of Gatorade for $5”, or “10 protein bars for $10”.

But what they don’t advertise is the fact that you don’t have to buy that exact amount to get the deal.

For example, you could choose to only buy 2 bottles of Gatorade and get them for $2.

So the take-away here is DON’T get tricked into buying more than you’ll actually use.

Kroger Free Wi-Fi Rocks

When using your smartphone inside Kroger (maybe you’re using apps like Ibotta, Checkout 51, or the Kroger app) be sure you take advantage of their free Wi-Fi and save your data for when you get in the car and drive away.

Ask the Reader: What hacks and tricks do you use at Kroger grocery stores to save money?

By Kyle James

Photo by Nicholas Eckhart.