Using CalFresh EBT at Costco - can I shop there with my benefits?

Yes! Costco does accept EBT/CalFresh. I use mine there all the time. You can buy any food items that are normally eligible for CalFresh (no prepared hot foods, alcohol, etc). But you DO need a Costco membership - they won't let you in without one, even if you're using EBT. The basic membership is around $60/year, but honestly it pays for itself if you shop there regularly.

costco is GREAT for ebt but watch out! they don't take ebt for EVERYTHING in the store. like the hot dogs and pizza at the food court is a no-go with ebt. also the rotisserie chickens aren't covered even tho there so cheap. but all the regular groceries work fine with ebt just swipe like normal. if ur card doesn't work for some items you'll need a second payment method for those things.

The MEMBERSHIP FEE is the real issue here. $60/year might not seem like much but when you're on CalFresh every dollar counts! I tried splitting a membership with my sister but Costco caught on and wouldn't let us both use it. So frustrating that you need to PAY just to use your BENEFITS that you're ENTITLED to. The system is designed to keep poor people poor!!

For a single person, I'm not sure Costco makes the most sense with CalFresh benefits. I've found that: 1) The package sizes are often too big for one person and food might spoil, 2) You might spend too much of your monthly benefits at once, and 3) You'll need storage space for bulk items. I'd recommend checking out discount grocers like Grocery Outlet or Aldi first - they accept EBT with no membership fee and often have great prices on smaller quantities.

I found it SO ANNOYING trying to reach someone at the county office to ask questions about where I could use my CalFresh benefits when I first got approved! I was on hold forever and kept getting disconnected. Finally used a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to a real person at my county office right away. They confirmed Costco takes EBT and answered all my other questions too. You can check out how it works at claimyr.com or see their demo at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 - saved me hours of frustration!

i've been on calfresh for 5 yrs and used to think costco was worth it but then i did the math... even with the "savings" from buying in bulk, after paying the membership fee I wasn't actually saving much. plus i kept buying stuff i didn't really need just cuz it seemed like a good deal. my advice is track ur actual spending for a few months before deciding if its worth it.

One thing nobody mentioned - if you have a friend or family member with a Costco membership, they can buy you Costco gift cards (called Shop Cards). You can use those to enter and shop at Costco WITHOUT a membership! So you could potentially use your EBT at Costco this way without paying the membership fee. Just have someone who has a membership buy you a Shop Card in whatever amount, then you can go in and use your EBT plus the Shop Card.

btwwww i forgot to say costco sometimes has these special food stamp deals that don't get advertized! like last month they had this thing where if u spent $200 on ebt they gave u a $25 gift card to use on non-food stuff. i got cleaning supplies with mine. ask at customer service if they have anything like that going on!!!!

Just so you're fully informed, here are the main items you CAN buy with EBT at Costco: - Fresh produce, meat, dairy - Canned and packaged foods - Bread and cereal - Snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages - Seeds and plants that produce food Items you CANNOT buy with EBT at Costco: - Hot prepared foods (rotisserie chicken, food court items) - Vitamins and medicines - Non-food items (toilet paper, cleaning supplies) - Pet food - Alcohol and tobacco Hope this helps with your planning!

Another option to consider if you're on a tight budget is Sam's Club - they also accept EBT and their membership fee is usually about $15 cheaper than Costco (around $45/year for basic membership). The selection isn't quite as good as Costco but still decent for bulk shopping. Also, some locations offer free one-day passes if you want to check it out first before committing to a membership. You just pay a 10% surcharge on purchases, but it's a good way to test if warehouse shopping works for your needs and budget!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who's been using CalFresh for about 2 years now. I actually started with a Costco membership but ended up canceling it after 6 months because I realized I was spending my entire monthly benefit allocation in one trip, which left me scrambling at the end of the month. Now I stick to smaller stores like Trader Joe's, Safeway, and local markets where I can better pace my spending throughout the month. The psychological aspect of having food security all month long vs. having a full pantry for 2 weeks then running low is really important to consider. For me, the peace of mind of spreading my benefits across multiple shopping trips was worth more than the bulk savings. Just something to think about based on your own situation and spending habits!

Hey @Nia Thompson! Just wanted to share another money-saving tip that might help you stretch your CalFresh benefits further. Before you decide on Costco or any warehouse store, check out your local food banks and pantries - many of them don't have income restrictions and can supplement your grocery budget significantly. I use CalFresh plus visit my local food bank twice a month, and it's made a huge difference in making my benefits last the whole month. The food bank near me even has fresh produce and sometimes bulk items similar to what you'd find at Costco. It's worth looking into while you're figuring out your shopping strategy! You can find local food banks through 211.org or by calling 2-1-1.

As someone who just went through the CalFresh application process myself a few months ago, I totally understand wanting to maximize those benefits! Here's what I've learned: Yes, Costco accepts EBT, but honestly for a single person just starting out, I'd recommend trying regular grocery stores first to get a feel for your spending patterns. I made the mistake of getting a Sam's Club membership right away and ended up blowing through half my monthly benefits in one shopping trip because everything seemed like such a good deal. Now I shop at places like Aldi (amazing prices, no membership needed), WinCo (employee-owned, great bulk bins), and even Walmart for certain items. Once you get comfortable managing your monthly benefit amount and know your actual consumption patterns, then consider if a warehouse membership makes sense. Also, don't forget to check if your area has any farmers markets that accept EBT - many offer matching programs where they'll double your EBT dollars for fresh produce!

Another thing to keep in mind about Costco and EBT - they often have really good deals on frozen fruits and vegetables in bulk, which can be a great way to get nutritious food that lasts longer than fresh produce. I've found their frozen berry medleys and vegetable mixes to be much cheaper per pound than buying fresh, and they don't spoil as quickly. That said, I'd echo what others have said about trying regular stores first. When I was new to CalFresh, I found it helpful to shop at stores with good sale cycles like Safeway or Kroger where you can stock up when things are on sale without needing a membership. Plus many regular grocery stores have their own bulk bins for things like rice, beans, and nuts where you can buy just the amount you need. Once you get comfortable with your monthly budget and know what you actually use, then you can better evaluate if a warehouse membership would save you money in the long run!

Welcome to CalFresh! I just want to add that many grocery stores also have senior discount days or special EBT customer appreciation events that can help stretch your benefits even further. For example, some stores offer 5% off your entire purchase on certain days if you're using EBT. It's worth asking customer service at whatever stores you end up choosing. Also, download store apps like the Safeway app or Target Circle - you can often stack digital coupons with your EBT purchases to save even more. I've found that combining these strategies (shopping sales, using apps, hitting discount days) can be just as effective as warehouse shopping without the upfront membership cost. Good luck with your CalFresh journey!

Hey! I'm pretty new to CalFresh too (just got approved last month) and went through the same questions about where to shop. After reading through everyone's great advice here, I'd definitely recommend starting small and getting familiar with your spending patterns first. I tried a few different approaches and found that Grocery Outlet has been amazing for stretching my benefits - their prices are seriously competitive with warehouse stores but no membership required. Plus they have a lot of name-brand items at deep discounts. I also discovered that my local WinCo has an incredible bulk section where you can buy exactly the amount you need of things like rice, beans, oats, and nuts. It's like getting the warehouse experience without having to buy huge quantities or pay a membership fee. My advice would be to give yourself a couple months to figure out your actual consumption habits and spending rhythm before deciding on Costco. Once you know your patterns, you'll be able to make a much more informed decision about whether that membership fee is worth it for your specific situation. Welcome to the CalFresh community!

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who's been using CalFresh benefits for about 18 months now. I actually started with a Costco membership because I thought bulk buying would automatically save me money, but I quickly realized a few things: 1) As a single person, I was wasting a lot of food because I couldn't finish everything before it spoiled, 2) I was spending almost my entire monthly benefit in one trip, leaving me stressed about food security for the rest of the month, and 3) My small apartment couldn't handle storing all the bulk items properly. What works much better for me now is shopping at multiple smaller stores throughout the month - I hit up Trader Joe's for certain items, Sprouts when they have good sales on produce, and Food 4 Less for basics. This approach helps me pace my spending and ensures I always have something to eat. I'd really recommend trying regular grocery stores for your first few months to get a feel for your actual eating patterns and spending rhythm. Once you have that data, you'll be in a much better position to decide if a warehouse membership makes financial sense for your specific situation. The membership fee might seem small, but when you're on CalFresh, every dollar really counts!

I've been using CalFresh for about 3 years now and wanted to share some additional insights! Yes, Costco accepts EBT, but here's what I wish someone had told me when I started: consider trying ethnic grocery stores in your area - they often have incredible prices on staples like rice, beans, and spices without any membership fees. Many Asian, Mexican, and Middle Eastern markets have bulk bins and wholesale-style pricing that rivals Costco. I get 20-pound bags of rice for under $15 at my local Asian market, and the produce is usually much cheaper than mainstream stores. Plus, these smaller markets are often more flexible about letting you buy smaller quantities from bulk items. It's worth exploring what's in your neighborhood before committing to a warehouse membership. You might be surprised at the deals you can find at local ethnic markets, international food stores, or even discount chains like 99 Ranch or El Super if you have them in your area!

I've been on CalFresh for about 8 months now and wanted to chime in with my experience! I actually did get the Costco membership early on, and while it does accept EBT, I learned some things the hard way. The biggest issue for me was portion control - not just with food spoilage, but with my monthly benefit spending. I'd walk in planning to spend $80 and walk out having spent $180 because "bulk is better," right? Wrong! What really helped me was starting with a grocery spending journal for the first 2 months. I tracked every purchase, what I actually ate vs what went bad, and how much I was spending per week. This gave me real data to work with. Now I do a hybrid approach - I kept my Costco membership but only go once every 2-3 months for specific non-perishables like canned goods, pasta, and frozen items. For fresh produce and regular shopping, I stick to places like FoodMaxx, Smart & Final (which has some bulk options without membership), and my local farmers market. The key is having a plan and sticking to your budget, regardless of where you shop!

As someone who's been navigating the grocery budget game for a while, I'd suggest starting with a "trial run" approach before committing to any memberships. Here's what worked for me: I spent my first month shopping at different stores to compare prices on the same items - like a gallon of milk, loaf of bread, dozen eggs, etc. I made a simple spreadsheet tracking prices at Walmart, Safeway, local stores, etc. This gave me a baseline to see if Costco's bulk pricing would actually save me money after factoring in the membership fee. Also, many libraries have free guest passes to Costco that let you shop for one day (you pay a 5% surcharge but no membership fee) - perfect for testing it out! You could try this approach to see if their prices and portion sizes work for your situation before investing in a full membership.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who works at a grocery store and sees CalFresh customers every day! One thing that might help you decide is to think about your transportation situation too. Costco locations are often in more suburban areas and you might need a car to get there easily, plus you'd need a way to transport bulk items home. If you're relying on public transit or walking, smaller local stores might be much more practical for regular shopping trips. Also, I've noticed that many of our CalFresh customers do really well with our weekly sales - we rotate different staples on deep discount each week (like rice one week, pasta the next, etc.) and they stock up during those sales cycles. It's like getting bulk pricing without needing a membership or buying huge quantities all at once. Most grocery stores have apps now that show you the weekly ads in advance so you can plan around the best deals!