If you’re looking for a back-to-school gift for a grandkid heading off to college, your best bet might actually be a Costco membership. The popular wholesale club reported that nearly half of its new signups were from Millennials and Gen Z adults in a recent earnings call.
Costco has become a bit of a trend in recent years, with teens and young adults showing off their bulk buy hauls on TikTok or hopping onto fashion trends like the viral Espirit sweatshirt that sold out almost immediately at Costco.
After Costco outranked Walmart as the cheapest grocery store this year, it’s no surprise younger generations are now getting on board with the wholesale club. This makes it the ideal gift for someone heading off to college or recently graduated. It’s both trendy and practical, giving your grandkid or child a way to take advantage of bulk pricing and gas discounts at a time when every penny saved really counts.
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Why younger generations love Costco
The idea of a grocery store becoming trendy might seem odd to you, no matter how much you might understand how much there is to love about it. But the fact that #costcohaul videos are regularly getting over 150,000 views is a sign of the inflation-addled times.
The Costco trend comes as rising grocery prices have more and more young adults struggling to keep up with the cost of living. As a result, more than 60% of working adults have resorted to using credit cards or Buy Now, Pay Later plans to pay for groceries in the past year, according to an Urban Institute survey.
To avoid going into debt to put food on the table, Millennials and Gen Z adults are looking for as many ways as possible to stretch their grocery budget further. If you’re already a Costco member, you know how much the warehouse club can help with that.
But it’s not just the grocery prices drawing in younger customers. The ultra-cheap food court prices are a hit as well. The famous $1.50 hot dog combo is a timeless hit that regularly makes its rounds on TikTok. The food court’s significantly lower prices make it a great way for a college student with limited time or space to cook to grab a quick bite for lunch or feed an entire study group without breaking the bank.
Give your grandkid a Costco membership and a $50 shop card with this deal
To sweeten the back-to-school gift even more, Stack Social is offering a limited-time deal that includes a $50 shop card with the purchase of a Costco Gold Star membership.
All you have to pay is the cost of a one-year membership, and the shop card is free. So your grandkid or child can get a free membership and a little money to spend on their first visit.