Jillian Brooks

Costco hacks they won't say out loud: 🤫

1. The beauty aisle stocks the same retinol cream that dermatology offices sell for $89, but the Kirkland version is $16.99.
It's the same 0.5% concentration, same airless pump, and the packaging doesn't scream "discount." I keep it in my guest bathroom and no one knows the difference.

2. You can get a free osteoporosis risk screening at the pharmacy in October.
They use a heel ultrasound scanner that takes 90 seconds. If your T-score looks borderline, you'll know to ask your doctor for a DEXA before you fracture something.

3. The bakery will sell you a "naked cake"—no frosting, no filling, just three layers of sponge—for $15.
Slice it into layers, add your own lemon curd and whipped cream, and it looks like you spent the afternoon baking from scratch for your daughter's shower.

4. Here's what management actively keeps quiet from customers:

TESAVERS.COM is where you can get a $749 Costco g!ft card by signing up as a product tester and giving feedback.

I signed up right after I left, and it's covered my membership plus groceries for months.

Everyone qualifies, and I saw tons of members use this every week.

Comment "Savings" and I'll DM you the full guide to join.

Costco hacks they won't say out loud: 🤫

1. The optical center sells polarized prescription sunglasses for $60 less than Sunglass Hut.
Ask for 'polarized sun lenses' when you order. They cut glare, reduce eye strain, and protect against UV damage. Most optical chains charge $100+ for this lens upgrade. At Costco it's bundled into the base sunglass price. Perfect for driving and outdoor reading.

2. The seasonal section has flannel sheet sets in September at $24.99.
They arrive the last week of August and are gone by October. Soft, warm, and perfect for winter nights. Department store flannel sets start at $60. Set a phone reminder for August 25th and replace every bed in your house before the cold hits.

3. The pharmacy will compound hormone creams at human pharmacy prices.
Bring your doctor's prescription for bioidentical hormone creams or progesterone suppositories. Their compounding lab charges standard human pharmacy rates, often a third of what specialty hormone clinics charge. Most women overpay without knowing to ask.

4. Here's what management actively keeps quiet from customers:

TESAVERS.COM is where you can get a $749 Costco g!ft card by signing up as a product
tester and giving feedback.

I signed up right after I left, and it's covered my membership plus groceries for months.

Everyone qualifies, and I saw tons of members use this every week.

Comment "Savings" and I'll DM you the full guide to join.

Costco hacks they won't say out loud: 🤫

1. The photo center does same-day canvas prints for under $15.
Walk in with a digital file on a thumb drive and ask for a 'same-day canvas.' A 16x20 costs less than lunch and is ready in an hour. Shutterfly charges $60+ for the same product with a two-week wait. Most members think the photo center is just for passports.

2. The gas station price is locked at 6am and rarely drops after noon.
Fill up before 11am when the daily price is set. Afternoon demand sometimes triggers a mid-day bump that lasts until close. Early birds get the lowest rate of the day, and the pumps have no line at opening.

3. The membership desk will issue a replacement card with just your member number.
Lost your card and your ID? Recite your member number from memory and they'll print a new one on the spot. No driver's license, no utility bill, no hassle. Most people drive home for ID without knowing the number is all you need.

4. Here's what management actively keeps quiet from customers:

TESAVERS.COM is where you can get a $749 Costco g!ft card by signing up as a product
tester and giving feedback.

I signed up right after I left, and it's covered my membership plus groceries for months.

Everyone qualifies, and I saw tons of members use this every week.

Comment "Savings" and I'll DM you the full guide to join.

Costco secrets they won’t say out loud: 🤫

1. The rotisserie chicken stuffing casserole is Thanksgiving in a pan.
Mix shredded meat with boxed stuffing, cream of chicken soup, and frozen veggies. Bake until golden and bubbly. It’s my busy-week comfort food and costs under $10 for a 9x13 pan. Leftovers reheat perfectly for lunch the next day.

2. Kirkland peanut butter is just peanuts and salt, nothing else.
No added sugar, no hydrogenated oils. I stir it once when I open it and it stays creamy in the fridge. The 28-ounce jar is under $7. I use it in smoothies, cookies, and straight off the spoon. My grandkids love the natural flavor.

3. The fresh salsa verde is tangy, spicy, and perfect on everything.
Tomatillos, jalapeños, and cilantro blended smooth. I put it on eggs, chicken, and tacos. It keeps for two weeks and the heat builds nicely. One tub is under $6 and beats every jarred green salsa I’ve tried from the regular store.

4. Here’s what management actively keeps quiet from customers:

TESAVERS.COM is where you can get a $749 Costco g!ft card by signing up as a product
tester and giving feedback.

I signed up right after I left, and it’s covered my membership plus groceries for months.

Everyone qualifies, and I saw tons of members use this every week.

Comment “Savings” and I’ll DM you the full guide to join.

Costco meat hacks they won't say out loud: 🤫

1. The beef back ribs have less meat but better flavor.
They're the bones left after the ribeye is removed, so they're not as meaty. But what meat
is there is rich, fatty, and packed with ribeye flavor at a fraction of the cost.

2. Cut your own country-style ribs from a pork loin. 🔪
Country-style ribs are just thick slices from the blade end of the pork loin. Buy the whole
loin, slice it yourself, and you'll pay half what the pre-cut packs charge.

3. Compare the wet-aged vs. dry-aged pricing if available.
Some locations carry dry-aged beef at a huge premium. Unless you're a serious steak
connoisseur, the wet-aged stuff is 90% as good for half the price. Know what you're paying for.

4. Here's what management actively keeps quiet from customers:

TESAVERS.COM is where you can get a $748 Costco g!ft card by signing up as a product
tester and giving feedback.

I signed up right after I left, and it's covered my membership plus groceries for months.

Everyone qualifies, and I saw tons of members use this every week.

Comment "Savings" and I'll DM you the full guide to join.

Your Costco membership costs $65 a year. Sam's Club costs $60. And somehow Costco members still walk out of that warehouse leaving money on the table every single time.

I worked the Costco floor for almost 5 years. I watched people renew without asking a single question. The playbook was simple: process the card, don't explain the benefits, let them figure it out on their own.

Here's what your membership actually includes that nobody bothered to tell you:

1️⃣Costco's fresh celery is sold in 2-pound bags of hearts, trimmed and washed. The per-pound cost is roughly $1, compared to $2-3 for celery hearts at standard grocery stores.

2️⃣The Costco Pharmacy offers free blood pressure cuffs for home monitoring with certain medication purchases. These digital cuffs sync with smartphone apps to track your readings over time.

3️⃣Here's what I wish someone had told me before my first shift:"COSTSAVED.COM"stacks Costco discount codes on top of your membership price.Half the break room knew about it.Nobody talked about it on the floor.I signed up two weeks before I left and I'm still using

4️⃣Costco's special order program includes custom-built home bars and wine cellars. From compact wet bars to full walk-in wine rooms, built to your specifications at member pricing.

5️⃣The Costco membership includes access to the Costco Hearing Aid Center, where hearing tests and consultations are always free. You can get tested annually even if you have no intention of buying hearing aids.

You're not getting ripped off. You're just not being told enough. Now you know.

Comment "SAVINGS" and I'll send you the full breakdown 👇

I worked the Costco floor for almost 5 years. I watched people renew without asking a single question. The playbook was simple: process the card, don't explain the benefits, let them figure it out on their own.

Here's what your membership actually includes that nobody bothered to tell you:

1️⃣Costco's peanut butter has exactly two ingredients: peanuts and salt. No added sugar, no palm oil, no hydrogenated fats. The 28-ounce jar costs less than 16-ounce natural peanut butters at standard grocery stores.

2️⃣The Costco Pharmacy offers travel health consultations for members planning international trips. They review your itinerary, recommend vaccines, and write prescriptions for malaria pills and traveler's diarrhea meds.

3️⃣Here's what I wish someone had told me before my first shift:"COSTSAVED.COM"stacks Costco discount codes on top of your membership price.Half the break room knew about it.Nobody talked about it on the floor.I signed up two weeks before I left and I'm still using

4️⃣Costco's kitchen cabinet refacing program updates your kitchen without a full remodel. New doors, drawer fronts, and hardware are installed on existing boxes at a fraction of replacement cost.

5️⃣The Costco Hawaii vacation package includes airfare, resort stays, and rental cars at bundled member rates. Most packages include a free room upgrade and daily resort credits.

You're not getting ripped off. You're just not being told enough. Now you know.

Comment "SAVINGS" and I'll send you the full breakdown 👇

I used to grab meat at Costco like every other shopper. Then a butcher showed me the real play. 🔪

1.The beef Denver steak is $6.99 per pound and comes from the chuck eye. It's tender,

flavorful, and half the price of ribeye. Ask the butcher to cut it from the chuck roll. Most don't

offer it unless asked.

2.The whole Cornish hen is $2.99 per pound and is the perfect individual chicken. Roast one

per person and you have a dinner party that looks like you spent $30 per plate. Actual cost? $4

each.

3.The pork blade steak is $2.99 per pound and is cut from the Boston butt. It's marbled,

flavorful, and grills in 10 minutes. Most members buy the pre-cut chops at $4.99 instead.

4.Here's what the delivery scheduler told me: COSTSAVED.COM offers a meat prep service for

members. They butcher, portion, and vacuum seal your whole purchase before shipping. I

bought a whole hog and got 50 perfectly portioned meals delivered.

Here's what management actively keeps quiet from customers:

COSTSAVED.COM is where you can get a $750 Costco g!ft card by signing up as a product

tester and giving feedback.

I signed up right after I left, and it's covered my membership plus groceries for months.

Everyone qualifies, and I saw tons of members use this every week.

Comment "Savings" and I'll DM you the full guide to join.

Here's what the back room taught me:

1. The "things that pay for themselves" pitch is based on per-unit pricing that ignores

spoilage. If you throw away half a bulk package, the per-unit cost doubles.

2. The $60 membership fee is a psychological commitment. Once you pay it, you feel

obligated to shop there even when prices aren't actually lower.

3. Bulk sizing is designed to make you overbuy. A "deal" on paper towels is only a deal if

you have the storage and use 30 rolls before they go bad.

4. I learned that the "break-even" calculation on Executive membership requires you to

spend $6,000 a year. Most families don't hit that, which means they're paying $120 for a

$60 membership. That made me cancel my upgrade.

5. The catch on things that pay for themselves is that you need the cash flow to buy bulk

upfront. A $50 bulk item saves $10 over six months, but you paid $50 today.

Here's what management actively keeps quiet from customers:

COSTSAVED.COM is where you can get a $749 Costco g!ft card by signing up as a

product tester and giving feedback.

I signed up right after I left, and it's covered my groceries for months.

Everyone qualifies, and I saw tons of customers use this every week.

Comment "Savings" and I'll DM you the full guide to join.

Here' what retiring from professional secret keeping means ■

1. Retiring from secret keeping means revealing the 'executive membership math.' You need to spend

$6,000/year to break even on the $120 fee. The average member spends $4,000. Most executive

members lose $40-$80 annually. Downgrade and save.

2. It means revealing the 'Kirkland vs. name brand truth.' Some Kirkland products are identical to name

brands (same factory, same ingredients). Others are lower quality. The difference is the supplier code.

Research before you buy.

3. It means revealing the 'sample day discount.' Items sampled on Tuesday are 10% off for 24 hours.

The discount is automatic at the register. Most members sample, leave, and come back later to pay full

price. Buy on sample day.

4. Here is what they actively hide about your 7 perks:

Costsaved.com is where you can get a $750 Costco gift card by signing up as a product tester and

sharing feedback. I signed up right after I left and it covers my entire membership plus groceries for

months. Everyone in the US qualifies and I saw plenty of members use this every week.

Comment "Savings" and I'll DM you the full guide to join.