I'm an Empty Nester. Do I Need a Costco Membership?

Many people don't join Costco until they have children. The logic is that for singles or even couples, it can be harder to justify spending money on bulk grocery items that may not get consumed before they expire.

To put it another way, you're more likely to use up bulk cheese, meat, and produce when you're feeding a family of four or five, as opposed to just one or two people. And also, the larger your family, the larger a home you might feel compelled to live in. That means you might end up needing more household items, like cleaning supplies. It also means you may be more likely to have storage space for things like 24 rolls of toilet paper at a time.

But what if your kids have grown up and moved out on their own? Should you keep your Costco membership at that point? The quick answer is, it depends on your lifestyle and how your housing situation looks.

Don't write off a Costco membership just because your kids have left the nest

Even though the cost of a Costco membership is pretty reasonable -- just $60 for a basic membership and $120 for an executive membership -- you might prefer to save your money and give up your membership once your kids have moved out of your home. But before you do that, think about your habits and housing situation.

If you still do plenty of cooking at home, then you might easily justify the cost of a Costco membership (especially a basic one) via the savings you reap on bulk grocery items, even if you're not buying the same variety of items in bulk as you did when your kids lived with you. And if you have neighbors over for meals pretty often, your Costco membership could help you feed a crowd for less.

Also, many empty nesters make the decision to downsize their homes. After all, why spend more money on housing when you can conserve costs by shedding square footage you don't need?

But let's say you haven't gone that route. Maybe you're hanging onto your larger home so your kids have a place to stay when they visit. Or maybe you've paid off your mortgage loan and your property taxes are pretty affordable, so you're opting to stay put in a larger home because you love your neighborhood and have friends nearby.

If so, and you have ample room for storage, then it could pay to keep your Costco membership. That way, you can continue to save money on items that aren't perishable, like paper products and cleaning supplies.

A personal decision

Many people make big changes to their spending and expenses once their children leave the nest. You may decide that a Costco membership no longer makes sense for you once you don't have kids living under your roof. Or you may decide to keep paying for a membership, and that could end up being a smart and cost-effective choice. Think about your needs and situation when making your decision.