3 Costco Perks That You're Not Using

Some time ago, an experimental horror novel, House of Leaves, told the story of a strange house whose rooms kept expanding on the inside even as the house remained unchanged on the outside. This, to me, is the best metaphor for how I've experienced Costco. Materially, the Costco warehouse hasn't changed, and yet I keep discovering new products inside. If you don't see it yourself, just take one look at its site map online and your local Costco warehouse will suddenly grow a few hundred square feet.

In the midst of all these products, you could easily feel so overwhelmed as to leave Costco's labyrinths unexplored. And while just shopping regularly at Costco often means improving your grocery budget and personal finances -- for most people -- some perks could help you save even more. Like these three.

1. Costco "Special Events"

Costco "Special Events" are a savings perk that often go unnoticed. They're basically roadshows that bring discounts and special products to your local Costco warehouse for a limited period and while supplies last. For instance, at my local store in Portland, our Special Events in October include discounted Lovesacs, Pure Fiber bedding, and massage chairs.

To be fair, these aren't always products that you want or even need. That said, Costco does schedule Special Events well in advance, so you can peruse its calendar, get a sense for what will be on sale, and plan for certain big purchases when the deal is ongoing.

2. Discounted sports tickets

If you're a college football fan, Costco could become your new ticket venue. While Costco doesn't sell tickets for every university's team, it sells them extremely cheap for those it does. To give you an idea, here's how much you'll pay for five different college football games.

You can also find tickets for other sporting events, like NFL games and races.

3. Rental car booking

"Wow, renting that car was so easy!" -- said no one, ever, unless they're using Costco's travel portal.

Indeed, if you dread renting a car because of the hassle these companies subject us to -- from prices never being exactly as they're advertised to getting a different car than the one you rented -- Costco's rental car service might give you a new experience. I wouldn't say you'll have a flawless transaction, as Costco doesn't rent out cars itself but connects you with the very companies you're trying to avoid. But Costco does give you honest prices, lets you compare multiple companies online, and has no cancellation fees.

Plus, if you're an Executive member, you'll get 2% in cash back on your purchase.

Bonus: Costco shopping app

Another perk you might not be using is the free shopping app. You can compare gas prices at different warehouses, check your rewards balance, look up previous orders, make shopping lists, and store your membership card. It lacks the powerful tools of other shopping apps, but it's decent for a company whose tech-savviness has long lagged behind.

All in all, Costco has more hidden perks than you might realize. To get the most value out of your membership, take a look at Costco's site map for yourself -- or pay close attention to the various service booths you'll find throughout your local store -- and see what perks you might be missing.