This Costco deal on Groupon continues only through the end of today. I’m amazed there are people who still don’t have a membership – out here, anyway! Get all your household shopping done (buy a car!) and enjoy lots of samples. Groupon deal costs the same as buying directly from Costco, but you get shop cards plus travel promo codes. The $130 Executive membership is also available and that one snags not only the gift card, but you also earn 2% back on purchases, a nice benefit (This is the card we have and sigh, use heavily). Your $65 yearly Gold Star Membership Package includes:
A membership card for the Primary Cardholder and one additional Household Card for anyone living at the same address, over the age of 16
A $50 Digital Costco Shop Card (valid at Costco locations and Costco.com). A One-Year Costco Gold Star Membership
Costco is good for more than toilet paper and eggs; gas is always cheaper so fill up before or after you shop. Pita and I drove to SIU over COD’s Spring Break for a personalized campus visit. Went to Avis, where basic economy was almost $600 for the week. They suggested checking Costco online because of travel discounts; I did and saved over $200 (Budget, Enterprise & Avis were all listed using my zip code). Membership also entitled us to add another driver for free instead of paying their usual extra charge. I would NEVER have thought about this, and that one tip paid for a yearly membership at either level!
There’s one Saturday Sampler this week, a 23.7 oz bottle of Gatorade Water. Add by Sunday and redeem by Monday. Click on the 
According to the full ad this week (not the one in the mail or paper), there are TWO Saturday Samplers this week: a 12 oz bottle of Ardor Energy Sparkling Water and a 20.2 oz bottle of Eternal Alkaline Water. Add by Sunday and redeem by Monday. Click on the 
One Save insert in this week’s paper (6/1). Not all papers carry the same coupons or values, so this national list might show coupons not found in the Chicago Tribune. I tossed all my inserts a few weeks ago – hadn’t clipped a coupon in years. and when I think of the stacks I used to maintain …
There’s one Saturday Sampler this week, a 9.5 oz bottle of Starbucks Frappuccino Gelato. Add by Sunday and redeem by Monday. Click on the 
Frankly, the only shopping I do at Walgreens is when clearance and coupons line up, otherwise I sort through pretty decent Dollar Tree choices. I saw decent digital coupons for Maybelline, along with some nice clearance eye liners (they also had mascara, but I didn’t need), so grabbed two and hit the road. Total shopping trip time was probably 20 minutes, including driving. OOP was $1.72, including high tax. So definitely cheaper than Dollar Tree :). Check out your local store’s selection (online, then put in the cart so you remember what you’re looking for).
Pita and I spent wonderful hours at the new Hokusai & Ukiyo-e | The Floating World preview today – official opening is May 31st. Absolutely stunning! They’ve taken over the entire main floor of the MAC and converted it into set designs, redecorated a theater to represent an Edo village, set up a children’s learning center and an entirely manga-themed offering, complete with video clips playing favorites like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. Even Einstein Bagels has been converted into Edo Eats! Check out their 
