I posted last year about this time regaling you with the joys of the Costco Amex card, where they send you a rebate check once a year. Well, I got my Amex bill a couple days ago, and it was sure cause for a party! I got a nice check for $432.22. So, after Megan’s basketball game in Lehi today (WIN!!! Hooray! 20 to 18, so they play again on Tuesday! I just had to sneak that in. Not that I’m a proud parent or anything. Shucks!), we stopped at Costco, and let it rip.
I haven’t been to Costco much this year, because I’ve been really trying to use coupons and shop sales, and since the new Smiths by us gives a discount on gas, I have been gassing up there and haven’t needed to go to Costco for all my gas. But, if I have four hundred dollars to spend at Costco, I am up to the challenge. First off, I bought two swim suits for the girls. I don’t know if they’ll fit and all that, but for $11 each, I can afford to bring one back if it doesn’t work out. We stocked up on lots of frozen items, got a pizza, got me some sugar free hot chocolate so I can enjoy a chocolate-y treat, batteries, milk, eggs, flour, dino nuggets, etc., etc. I did allow Megan one splurge item that she asked for. Sweedish Fish. They were $5 and change for the whole bag, and she did so well at basketball, I couldn’t say no.
My grand total at Costco today? $300. Gasp. I haven’t spent that much in one shopping trip in…well.. a long time. But after I gave them my check, they still had to give me $130 back!
Yes, when I look at my cash back earnings summary, it makes me choke a little. I mean, we spent $1,888.79 on gas in the past year (@3%, that adds 56.66 to our rebate). We also spent $1,295.46 eating out. Ouch! That’s the one I’d really like to cut back on. Traveling–we apparently spent $975.28 on travel. Hmmm. I don’t remember GOING anywhere last year, but Ryan sure did. So, maybe that’s from his card.
Anyway, we use this card for most of our purchasing, so it’s fun to get the little rebate each year. I think getting the rebate is actually even more fun than if they just knocked $400 off our bill this month, because then I get to shop and it feels like free money. Fun! Shopping with Free Money!!
Why, yes, I DID just go see Confessions of a Shopaholic last night. Why do you ask?
We don’t have a Costco near us (the nearest is about 60 miles away) but I hear they have better stuff than Sam’s. Maybe we’ll get one near us soon!
Oh, and free money (which I guess it is, if you’d have spent the money you used to get the rebate anyway) is always the best kind!
Did you also know that you can cash the check and that you don’t have to spend it at Costco? I love that Todd puts all his travel expenses on ours too–it is so fun to get big FREE checks in the mail. Now time to do taxes, bet that won’t be a big check. Maybe I will need to give them my Costco check.
Love it! It is a happy, happy day! At dinner tongight I asked my family “did you know this sirloin tip roast was FREE? And the bread? Oh, and the yummy potato wedges???? All FREE?????” Our rebate paled in comparison to yours, however….$400? Fantastic! I bow before the master….
Wow! We don’t have a Costco AmEx, just a Capital One rewards business card, and we’re due to get $100 back on that around our birthday. But $400! Wow! What’s the percentage back on that baby?
You get 3% back on gasoline and travel, 2% back on eating out, and 1% on everything else.