Whether you’re new to EBT, or a longtime Costco member, you’re probably wondering if Costco will take your EBT card. Also, does EBT at Costco work just like it does at the grocery store? I’ll breakdown all of your questions, and also talk about the EBT product exclusions at Costco so you can shop smart and not have any surprises when you get to the checkout aisle.

Does Costco Take EBT Cards and SNAP?

Yes.

All Costco warehouses are obligated to accept both and they make it pretty easy to do so.

What Exactly is the Difference Between SNAP and EBT?

Think of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) as an upgraded version of food stamps.

But now, instead of carrying around the physical “stamps”, you’ll get your food benefits in the form of an EBT Card (Electronic Benefit Transfer), which you essentially use like a debit card at Costco.

This is very brief explanation of EBT, if you need more information CLICK HERE.

See Also: Does Sam’s Club Take EBT? We Break It ALL Down

Will Everyone in Line Know I’m Using an EBT Card?

No.

It makes sense that some EBT card users would rather not announce to the entire store that they’re using government assistance to buy their groceries.

Fortunately, the way Costco checkout aisles are setup, you really can’t see what payment method the customer in front of you is using, so it’s my opinion you have NOTHING to worry about.

Do I Have to be a Costco Member to Use my EBT Card?

Yes, but here’s a clever workaround…

If you have a friend who’s a Costco member, ask them to buy you a Costco cash card for a agreed upon amount, then repay them.

A seamless way to repay them is by withdrawing cash from your EBT card’s “Cash Account” at any ATM.

See Also: Not a Member? 8 Cool Things You Can Still Do at Costco

Can I Shop With a Member, But Use My EBT Card?

Yes.

You can definitely shop with a family member or friend, use their Costco card for entry, but pay with your EBT card.

The cashier will scan the Costco membership card, then you simply pay with your EBT card, grab your receipt, and head out the door.

Costco does NOT ask cashiers to match the name on the membership to the name on the card being used to pay.

With that said, I’m told by Brittany in the comments that you MIGHT have a problem trying to use someone else’s EBT card if they are not with you.

She was trying to buy groceries for her mom, with her mom’s EBT card, and the cashier wouldn’t let her.

I’m guessing your mileage may vary depending on how close the cashier is paying attention. Let me know in the comments if you’ve had any experience with this.

What CAN I Buy at Costco with EBT?

According to the USDA, here are the main things you CAN buy with your EBT card at Costco.

– Meat, Fish, Chicken

– Fruits and Vegetables

– Dairy Products

– Breads and Cereals

– Non-Alcoholic Drinks

– Snack Foods

– Seeds and Plants for your Garden

See Also: Here’s Exactly How Costco Grocery Delivery Works

What CAN’T I Buy at Costco with EBT?

And of course there are some regulations that don’t allow you to buy the following items with your EBT card at Costco.

– Alcohol – Beer, wine, and hard liquor.

– Tobacco Products – Cigarettes and chewing tobacco.

– Health Products – Vitamins, medicines, and supplements.

– Live animals –  Except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store

– Hot Foods – This includes prepared foods from the Costco Food Court that are hot at the point of sale.

– Pet Foods – Includes fish food and hamster food.

– Household Items – Includes cleaning supplies and paper products.

– Hygiene Items – This includes diapers, feminine hygiene products, and cosmetics.

– Electronics

– Jewelry

How Do I Buy Items From Both Lists?

If your Costco purchase includes approved and non-approved EBT items it’s totally doable but you need to be organized.

I suggest separating items in your cart and making 2 separate purchases.

UPDATE: Thanks to a commenter, I’m told there is NO need to separate your purchases.

Specifically, they said, “You can use your EBT card first, and then pay the balance in whatever method you want. A cashier might tell you what the balance is after EBT, but they might say nothing at all if you see it and start paying the balance first.”

PRO TIP: ALWAYS PAY WITH YOUR EBT CARD FIRST

The key here is to Use Your EBT Card First and the whole transaction will go really smooth. Thanks to a loyal reader for this great tip.

Can I Use EBT Funds at the Food Court?

No….well maybe

As mentioned earlier, the food court at Costco serves mainly hot food which is a no-no for EBT.

But then I recently saw this TikTok video of a mom successfully buying 2 steaming hot pizzas at the food court.

So I’m not sure if this was a glitch at her particular Costco or if you can buy hot food nationwide at the Costco Food Court.

WHAT ABOUT COLD FOOD AT THE FOOD COURT?

As for cold food at the food court, it seems that your mileage will vary. Some folks online seem to think it will work at the checkout register but not the self-ordering kiosk. Others think that EBT has banned all premade meals, hot or cold, with the only exception being cold meals that are designed to take home and eat. Your best bet is to try your EBT card at the self-ordering kiosk and if it isn’t accepted, simply cancel the order or use a different payment method.

Can I Use My EBT Card at Costco’s Self-Checkout?

Yes.

Essentially your EBT card works like any credit card or debit card, so you can definitely use it in the self-checkout aisle at Costco.

It’s worth noting that if you try to buy something that isn’t allowed (see section above), you’ll get a message on the checkout screen informing you that it’s not an approved item.

In this case, you’ll either have to split your purchase into TWO separate transactions -OR- ask the employee in charge of the self-checkout aisle for help completing the purchase using TWO payment methods.

Can I Buy the $4.99 Rotisserie Chicken with My EBT Card?

No.

Since their rotisserie chicken is piping hot, you cannot use your EBT on it.

BUT…did you know that Costco sells bags of their rotisserie chicken meat that’s been deboned for you?

It’s definitely more expensive, but you absolutely can buy that since it’s sold cold.

Is It Worth Joining Costco in Terms of Savings?

Depends.

A Costco membership currently costs $60 and if you know the best items to buy, in terms of savings, a membership is totally worth it.

But if you walk into Costco without a plan, it becomes very easy to overspend.

Costco is the king of tricking your brain into thinking you’re getting a good deal so be sure to compare prices with your local grocery store.

See Also: 7 Ways to Essentially Get a Costco Membership for Free

Can I Use My EBT Benefits Online at Costco.com?

No.

Unfortunately, EBT Cards are NOT an accepted payment method on the Costco website.

Is Costco an Approved WIC Retailer?

Short answer…it depends.

From doing a little bit of research, it appears to depend on your specific city and state as to whether Costco is a WIC approved retailer.

SEARCH FOR YOUR CITY AND STATE

I found a great resource HERE that let’s you do a town search so you can see all the WIC approved stores in your area.

Can I Buy Gas at Costco with my EBT Card?

No.

But you can make an ATM withdrawal with your EBT card and take cash out of your “Cash Account” and use that to buy gas at Costco.

Be sure you understand the cash withdrawal limits on your EBT account before doing this as it might not be worth the savings.

See Also: 7 Things You Gotta Know About Buying Costco Gas

Is the Return Policy Different for EBT Purchases?

No.

The same great Costco return policy exists on all EBT purchases.

This policy even extends to food and grocery items.

So if you’re not completely satisfied with an item, you can bring it back to Costco at ANY time for a full refund or exchange.

Can I Use the Business Center with my EBT Card?

Yes.

As long as you’re buying EBT eligible items from the Costco Business Center you’re good to go.

Thanks to commenter Joanne for setting me straight on this one.

EBT eligible items that the Business Center sells includes snack foods, non-alcoholic beverages, and meats.

Can I Use My EBT Card for Costco Grocery Delivery?

No.

Costco recently unveiled their new at-home Grocery Delivery service but because you have to utilize the Costco website to place your order, you CANNOT use your EBT card to make your grocery delivery order.

Ask the Reader: Have you ever used your EBT card to make a purchase at Costco? Was it an easy process and was your privacy protected?

By Kyle James

Amazon has always delivered to my house on Sunday, so I was amazed when a friend told me he NEVER gets Amazon deliveries on Sunday. It made me wonder why, and so the idea for this article was born. Here’s everything you need to know (and more) about Sunday delivers from the online retail giant. I hope this information answers all of your questions.

Does Amazon Deliver on Sunday?

Yes…but not everywhere.

I hate the word “but” as it often causes confusion, but in this case, it’s the best word for the situation.

The bottom-line is that Amazon partners with UPS and USPS for “final mile” delivery, so it depends if they support Sunday delivery in your area.

But if you live in an area that has Amazon delivery drivers, which is becoming the norm these days, then they will deliver your Sunday packages to your front door.

See Also: Not Getting 2-Day Prime Shipping? Here’s What To Do About It

Is There Any Way to Check My Address for Sunday Delivery?

Unfortunately, Amazon does NOT have a public list of addresses that qualify for Sunday delivery.

That would be REALLY handy if they did. 

But as a general rule, they deliver on Sunday to most locations with one major exception:

– Rural Areas: If you live way out in the country, there’s a great chance you WON’T see Sunday Amazon deliveries.

From my introductory paragraph, my friend lives about 8 miles from the nearest post office and I’m sure that’s the reason he doesn’t get Sunday deliveries.

See Also: Want to Make an Amazon Return After 30 Days? Here’s How To Do It

Is There a Way to Check for Sunday Delivery from the Amazon Website?

Yes.

When checking-out on the Amazon website, look under the “Choose your Prime delivery option” to see if delivery on Sundays is available.

Hint: You’ll probably need to do this on a Thursday or Friday to have Sunday show as a delivery day option.

Does UPS or USPS do their Sunday Deliveries?

Both.

In my town, Amazon deliveries that happen on the “7th day of the week” originally was done by the USPS but has recently been transitioned over to Amazon owned “delivery vans”.

It’s worth nothing that UPS is still contracted to do Sunday deliveries in many larger towns and cities.

Do You Have to Be an Amazon Prime Member?

No.

All Amazon shoppers qualify for Sunday delivery, it doesn’t matter if you drop the cash on the annual fee for Prime or not.

See Also: 9 Prime Perks from Amazon You’re Probably Not Fully Using

What Time Do They Deliver on Sunday?

It totally depends on where you live on the route.

I live early on my mailman’s route, so I tend to get deliveries before noon on Sunday.

Does the USPS Deliver to the Cluster Box or Home Address on Sunday?

I have a cluster box on my street where we get our mail delivered, and that is where the USPS delivers our Amazon packages on a Sunday.

UNLESS the box is too big for a secure “package box” in which case it gets delivered to our front door.

But these days, Amazon delivery drivers have been delivering our Sunday packages and they come straight to our house.

Does Amazon Deliver on Easter Sunday?

Yes.

Surprisingly, Amazon does deliver on Easter Sunday.

I know this from personal experience from last year as I remember giving our delivery guy a tip for making a delivery on Easter.

Because Easter is not considered a U.S. Federal holiday, they will still deliver.

But if Christmas, New Year’s Day, 4th of July, or Columbus Day fall on a Sunday, you will NOT get your package.

Is 1-Day Delivery Available on Sunday?

Yes.

If you’re shopping on Amazon on a Saturday, you’ll often see the 1-day delivery option available.

Obviously this is only the case if you live where 1-day shipping is available and if your specific address is contracted for Sunday deliveries.

What About Amazon Delivering on Saturday?

Amazon always delivers on Saturday if you live where you get mail delivery on Saturday.

But if you don’t get Saturday mail delivery, and USPS delivers most of your Amazon packages, you probably won’t get Saturday package delivery.

Also, it’s worth noting that if you already get Amazon deliveries on Sunday, then you’ll definitely also get Saturday deliveries.

Ask the Reader: Do you not get Amazon deliveries on Sunday? Do you think it’s because you live in a rural area? Let me know, I’m very curious.

By Kyle James

I’m a big fan of Target savings hacks, whether it be saving money or time, I’m ALL IN and love researching new Target tips and tricks to pass along. This article falls into the “saving time” category and answers the question of does Target take Apple Pay? I breakdown exactly how it works from both the in-store and online perspective so you can quickly pay for your stuff and get on with your life.

So….Does Target Accept Apple Pay?

Yes.

Apple Pay was introduced at Target way back in 2017 and provides a very convenient way for shoppers to pay for their items.

How Exactly Do I Make It Happen?

When you get to the checkout counter, and are ready to pay, just follow these 3 steps.

1. Pull out your iPhone and double tap the ON/OFF button on the side of your phone to activate Apple Pay.

2. Choose which credit or debit card you want to use and TAP IT to bring it forward.

3. Hold your iPhone near the contactless terminal until it vibrates and you see a Green Checkmark or Done message on your phone’s display.

See Also: 5 Brilliant Ways to Save Money at Target

Can I Use Apple Pay with the Target App?

Yes.

As you can see by the screenshot above, from the Target App, you’re given the option of of picking Apple Pay at checkout.

Tap the Apple Pay button and you’re quickly taken to Apple Pay to complete your purchase.

Makes for any easy to way to shop and pay.

Can I Use Apple Pay on Target.com?

Yes…but only in certain circumstances.

Specifically, in order to use Apple Pay on Target.com, you MUST be on an Apple device like an iPhone, iPad, or MacBook.

You also need to use the Safari browser to access Target.com.

If you use Chrome or Firefox, unfortunately Apple Pay will NOT show up as an option at checkout.

See Also: 7 Clearance Tips To Save HUGE at Target

Is There a Spending Limit?

No.

There is no spending limit when using Apple Pay.

The only limits would be those imposed by your credit card company or debit card (your bank).

Can I Use Apple Pay at Self-Checkout?

Yes.

As a matter of fact, the process is identical to buying your stuff from a “regular” checkout aisle.

Just double tap the on/off button on the side of your iPhone and put it directly above the contactless terminal to complete your purchase.

Are There Any Products Excluded from Apple Pay?

No.

Products that come to mind include alcohol and cigarettes but you can absolutely buy them using Apple Pay.

See Also: Want to Use Apple Pay at Walmart? Here’s a Way to Make It Happen

What Other Forms of Payment Does Target Accept?

In addition to Apple Pay you can use the following forms of payment.

– Target RedCard: Includes Target Debit Card, Target Credit Card, and Target Mastercard.

– Credit Cards: American Express, Discover, Mastercard, and Visa.

– Debit Cards: Must have a Visa or Mastercard logo on it.

– Target Gift Cards: Includes Target eGift Cards and mobile Target Gift Cards.

– 3rd Party Gift Cards: Must be from Visa, Discover, AmEx, or Mastercard.

– 3rd Party Installment Plans: Includes Afterpay, Klarna, Zip, Affirm, and Sezzle.

– PayPal

– Cash

Can I Use Google Pay at Target As Well?

Yes.

In addition to using Google Pay at Target, you can also use Samsung Pay and “any other contactless digital wallet”.

It should also be noted that Google Pay and Samsung Pay can ONLY be used in-store and not at Target.com

And now let’s get to a time saving hack.

Hack #1: Use Your Apple Watch to Pay

If you don’t want to reach into your pocket to grab your iPhone, just pay with your Apple Watch.

Specifically, after you have Apple Pay set up on your iPhone, and within the Apple Watch app, it becomes very easy to use your Apple Watch to pay at Target.

To make it happen just follow these 4 steps:

1. At checkout, approach the contactless terminal with your Apple Watch and tap the side button.

2. A picture of your card will appear on your watch.

3. Next, hold Apple Watch to the card reader.

4. You’ll then hear a beep or feel a vibration on your wrist and a “Paid” message will appear on the watch face.

Ask the Reader: Do you use Apple Pay when shopping at Target? If so, have you ever had any problems with it? 

By Kyle James