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Costco employees holding a jar of money

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APRIL 2022

Invest where you work

Working for a thriving company is a good feeling. You’re part of a winning team. Your hard work is making a difference. And at Costco, there’s something else to feel good about: You can share in the profits you helped build — through the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).

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Costco employees holding a jar of money

What is an ESPP?

The employee stock purchase plan, or ESPP, is a benefit Costco* offers that allows employees to buy shares of company stock without having to pay commissions. In Costco’s case, fees and commission for these purchases are fully paid by Costco. Employees who choose to participate generally make contributions to the plan through payroll deductions. The deductions are held in the plan until a set purchase date. At that point, they’re invested in the company’s stock.

*At Costco, employees who are 18 or older are generally eligible to participate. Participation in the ESPP is entirely voluntary.  

What are the advantages of an ESPP?

With an ESPP, the brokerage fees and commission are paid by Costco. Brokerage fees and commission can be as high as 2% of the stock price. So, for example, if you buy ten shares of Costco stock at $500 per share, the fees and commission would be around $100.

When participants enroll, they can choose either a percentage or flat dollar amount to be withheld from their paychecks. These deductions accumulate during the offer period. Then, on set purchase dates, the company uses the funds to buy stock for plan participants.

A qualified ESPP can offer some tax benefits. When you sell the stock: 

  • If the stock has increased in value, the gain will also be taxed as ordinary income. 
  • If you hold the stock for more than a year, it will be taxed at the typically lower capital gains rate.   

Source: NerdWallet. ESPP: What to know about employee stock purchase plans. 

The following resources are available to help you learn more about your Costco Employee Stock Purchase Plan. These resources are confidential and available to you at no extra cost.

 

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person looking through binoculars into the distance

TAKE ACTION

APRIL 2022

Start preparing for retirement

Take a moment to focus on your financial well-being and make the most of your Costco Retirement Plan,* administered by T. Rowe Price.

*For Mainland and Hawaii employees, the plan is called the Costco Retirement Plan. For employees in Puerto Rico, it’s called the Costco Puerto Rico Retirement Plan. 

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Make saving for retirement a priority

Whether your retirement is decades away, or just a few years down the road, use this list and your Costco Retirement Plan to get ready. Start by visiting RPS.TRowePrice.com to view your Costco Retirement Plan.

Add an extra layer of security for your plan account by setting up multi-factor authentication. Multi-factor authentication helps keep your financial information secure by requiring two or more forms of authentication to verify your identity.

Name your beneficiary, the person (or persons) you choose to inherit your assets if anything should happen to you. If it’s been a while, check to ensure your beneficiary information is up to date.

Update your email address to receive timely newsletters and valuable saving insights.

Contribute enough to get the full matching contribution. Review your contribution now.

See if you qualify for the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit (Saver’s Credit). For low- to moderate-income employees who qualify, the Saver’s Credit means you can get a tax credit based on your tax filing status, adjusted gross income and how much you contribute. 

Make sure your T. Rowe Price Automatic Increase is turned on, so your contribution will be increased by 1% each year.

Strive to save 15% of your annual pay — it’s OK to work your way up to the suggested target gradually.

If you’re age 50 or older, consider making catch-up contributions. This allows up to an additional $6,500 (for 2022) to help you move closer to your retirement goal.

Get your financial house in order

Learn to budget, free yourself from high-interest debt and aim for higher savings goals with help from SmartDollar®.

Build an emergency fund equal to three to six months’ expenses to help you in case there are unexpected changes in your income.

Make a budget that matches your lifestyle and gives you room to save.

Create a plan to pay down credit card debt; paying off small balances first can motivate you to keep going.

Use your emergency fund instead of credit cards to offset surprise costs.

The following resources are available to help you get started on your retirement plan. They are confidential and are available to you at no extra cost.

 

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Take action

TAKE ACTION

MARCH 2022

6 simple ways to stay hydrated

Are you drinking enough water? You might be getting less than you need. Your body is roughly 60% water, so even being slightly dehydrated can affect how you feel and function. By staying hydrated, you can improve your mood, energy level and immunity, as well as digestive and skin health. Drinking more water can even help you lose weight, thanks to the feeling of fullness it gives you. Ready to get started? Read on for some ideas that can help you stay hydrated — and start reaping the benefits.

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cool glass of water with lemon slices

1. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.

By the time you feel thirsty, you’re already a bit dehydrated. On average, health experts recommend that you drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day. Try to sip water steadily throughout the day, and drink more than you usually do when the weather is hot, especially if you’re active. If you need a nudge, download one of the free, well-rated hydration tracker/reminder apps available from the App Store® or Google Play™.

2. Add a splash of flavor.

If plain water tastes boring to you, add some flavor with fresh fruits, sliced cucumber, mint or a little fruit juice. You can also try clear soups, ice pops or sports drinks (especially if you’re exercising). All of these are great sources of fluids to keep you hydrated. Just make sure to limit caffeine and alcohol, which can cause you to become dehydrated.

3. Eat your water.

Certain fruits and vegetables contain plenty of water — and healthy nutrients. Watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, peaches and pineapples are fruits with high water content. Water-rich vegetables include cucumbers, leafy greens, radishes, celery, zucchini and tomatoes.

4. Stay cool.

Excessive heat causes your body to lose fluids. On very hot days, stay indoors and turn on the air conditioner. If you don’t have air conditioning at home, go to a place that does, like a shopping center, movie theater or public library. And plan outdoor activities for the early morning or evening.

5. Dress for the weather.

When the temperature soars, wear light, loose-fitting clothing that lets your skin breathe. Dark colors absorb heat, so stick with lighter shades. And avoid sunburn, which can increase your skin temperature and make it harder to stay cool.

6. Sip when you’re sick.

If anyone in your family is ill, pay attention to how much they’re able to drink — especially young children and the elderly. Fevers, vomiting and diarrhea cause dehydration. So when you or a family member experiences these symptoms, drink plenty of fluid.

Source: Scripps Health. 6 simple ways to stay hydrated.

Ready to take some other simple steps to improve your health habits and reduce your risk of chronic disease? Your Costco benefits can help.

 

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Learn the basics

a person eating chocolate and squeezing stress ball at computer

LEARN THE BASICS

MARCH 2022

Video: Take the stress out of eating

Staying at a healthy weight is key to good health. So why is it so challenging? Maybe it’s not a matter of how hard we try. Maybe it’s stress. In this one-and-a-half-minute video, discover how hidden stresses, hormones and other factors may be influencing your choices. And learn how to deal with them successfully.

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Show transcript

Source: TIME Health. Here’s Why You Stress Eat — And How To Stop Doing It. 

If stress eating is a problem for you or a family member, your Costco benefits can help. Check out the helpful resources below for more information.

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nutrition facts on a package seen through a magnifying glass

EXPLORE MORE

MARCH 2022

How to read a food label

Walk down any supermarket aisle, and you’ll see products with enticing labels. But the real story is on the back of the label. Checking labels may take more time when you’re shopping, but it’s worth it. You’ll feel better knowing you’re making a healthy choice for yourself and your family. And you can teach your kids to be smarter consumers by sorting out nutrition facts from empty claims.

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nutrition facts on a package seen through a magnifying glass
sample label for granola

Serving information

Take a look at the serving size and the number of servings per container. The calories and other nutritional information are based on one serving.

2

Calories

Calories are a measure of how much energy you get from a serving of this food. If you ate the entire package of granola, you’d get 1,400 calories. The average number of calories your body uses is 2,000 per day. (The total varies by age, sex, weight, height and activity level.) Eating too many calories per day is associated with being overweight and obese.

Nutrients

Section three shows key nutrients that can impact your health. As a general guideline, nutrients to get less of include saturated fat, sodium and added sugars (sugars that are added during processing). Nutrients to get more of include dietary fiber, vitamin D, calcium, iron and potassium.

% Daily value

The %DV shows how much a nutrient in a serving of a food contributes to your total daily diet. It can help you determine if a serving of food is high or low in a nutrient. If it contributes less than 5% of your DV it’s low. If it’s more than 20% it’s high.1

Looking for ways to improve your diet and overall health? See the resources below for more information, including Costco benefits that can help.

1 U.S. Food & Drug Administration. How to understand and use the nutrition facts label.

 

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person prepping a meal at home

EXPLORE MORE

MARCH 2022

Meals for a healthier wallet

The benefits of home cooking are well known. You can use healthier ingredients, control portion size, limit sugar and salt, and avoid food allergies. By cooking together, you can also teach your kids the basics of healthy living, while sharing a fun family activity. And you can demonstrate how to stretch your food dollars with careful planning and savvy shopping.

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Savor these 6 budget-friendly shopping tips.

1. Plan ahead

Before you head to the store, create a shopping list based on your weekly menu plan. Never shop when you’re hungry. Be sure to check your refrigerator and cupboards to see what you have on hand before you head to the store. And try to limit your shopping trips to once a week. 

2. Stock up on seasonal produce

Food in season is typically priced to sell. Corn on the cob, for example, can cost 10 times less in the summer than it does in the winter. So, think about buying produce in season and freezing what you don’t use. See what’s in season right now in your state by visiting SeasonalFoodGuide.org.

3. Make the most of leftovers

Using leftover vegetables, poultry or meat in soups, stews, salads and casseroles can help stretch your food dollars. For example, enjoy roast chicken one night, use the leftovers for chicken enchiladas the next night and make chicken stock from what’s left. For more tasty leftover tips, visit Chowhound.com.

4. Choose store brands

Whenever possible, buy store brands, such as our own Kirkland Signature™ brand, which are typically higher in quality and lower in price than national brands. They’re all required to meet the same grocery industry standards, but store brands cost less.

5. Try frozen, dried or canned

Produce is typically frozen, canned or dried at the peak of ripeness when nutrients are plentiful. With frozen foods, you can use only the amount you need, carefully reseal the package and return it to the freezer. Canned foods are often sitting in a bath of juice, syrup or salty water, so just rinse them before using. And dried fruits are concentrated in flavor and a great substitute for fresh fruit.

6. Shop at Costco

As you know, at Costco, we sell high-quality food in bulk at low costs per unit and pass the savings along to members. Whether you’re single or have a large family, you can save money by buying grocery items in bulk, including perishable items like fresh produce, meat, poultry, fish and more. Just divide up and freeze what you don’t use.

Sources:

NerdWallet. How to Save Money on Groceries.
WebMD. 10 ways to save money on food shopping.

Thinking about making some positive changes in your eating and spending habits? You’ll find the help you need for your journey with your Costco benefits.

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Costco employee and 5 icons

TAKE ACTION

FEBRUARY 2022

Five steps to help lower your cancer risk

Cancer is a scary word and an all-too-common disease. But with your Costco benefits, you’ve got resources that can help you spot cancer in its early stages, cope with a diagnosis or avoid it altogether.

According to the American Cancer Society,1 nearly half of all cancers are preventable. Want to learn how to lower your risk? Read on.

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How can you help avoid preventable cancers?

1. Stay at a healthy weight.

Being overweight can increase your risk for a wide range of cancers. Eating a healthy diet — rich in fruit, veggies and whole grains and light on red meat and processed meats — can help you stay lean. The resources available through your Costco benefits can connect you to health professionals who can help you get to a healthy weight.

2. Get moving.

Regular physical activity can help lower your risk for cancer and other diseases. It can also help you maintain a healthy weight, sleep better, and reduce stress, depression and anxiety.

Try 30 minutes of jogging or simply walking around your neighborhood. If you love it, you’re more likely to stick with it.

3. Don’t smoke, vape or chew tobacco.

If you don’t use tobacco and other products that contain nicotine, don’t start. If you do, even if you only smoke occasionally, it’s never too late to quit. Ready to get started? Check out: Quit tobacco for good.

4. Protect yourself from the sun and avoid tanning bed use.

When you’re outside, cover up and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more on exposed skin. Also learn how to give yourself a skin exam, and report any suspicious spots to your dermatologist.

5. Get preventive care.

Start with a primary care provider (PCP) who can see you regularly, get to know your health history, provide preventive services and manage your care.

Costco employees and their family members enrolled in Costco medical plans can also take advantage of no-cost preventive services* from in-network providers, including:

  • Routine wellness exams $0 
  • Colorectal cancer screening $0 
  • Breast cancer screening (mammogram)  $0  
  • Prostate cancer screening (PSA test)  $0  
  • Covered vaccines  $0 
  • Routine eye exams $0 
  • Dental exams/cleanings (2 per year) $0 

*Employees covered by Aetna SelectSM and Aetna Select part-time: Please go to an in-network provider to get these no-cost preventive services.

1American Cancer Society. More than 4 in 10 cancers and cancer deaths linked to modifiable risk factors.

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Take action

TAKE ACTION

FEBRUARY 2022

Quit tobacco for good

Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of disease, disability and death in the United States.1 It’s a major risk factor for lung cancer, mouth cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, stroke and erectile dysfunction.

Even if you only smoke, chew or vape occasionally, you should quit. Light smoking can shorten your life. People who averaged one cigarette per day over their entire lives were 64% more likely to die earlier than people who’d never smoked, a study found.2 And your health will start to improve immediately. You’ll also notice improvements in your financial well-being — cigarettes can cost an average of $10.45 a pack.3 Think what you could do with all that extra money! If you’ve tried to quit before but weren’t successful, it’s time to try again.

1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health effects of cigarette smoking; Smoking and Reproduction.

2WebMD. Can you get away with social smoking?

32021 SalesTaxHandbook.

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Tips to quit tobacco

Get ready

List your reasons for quitting and post them so they’re visible. Set a quit date within the next two weeks. Clear your home, car and office of cigarettes, chew, lighters, ashtrays, pipes and vape pens. And don’t let people use tobacco in these places.

Line up support

Tell friends and family you’re going to quit. Consider counseling. Join “quitter” social media groups. Or find support groups in your community.

Relax and distract

Stay busy. Drink plenty of water. Change your routine. Do something to reduce stress: listen to music, exercise, dance. Plan something enjoyable to do every day.

Make it easy on yourself

Ask your health care provider or the Tobacco Cessation Program about quit aides you can use. This may include the nicotine patch, nicotine gum or nicotine nasal spray. Avoid drinking alcohol. Focus on why you’re quitting. And if you slip, remember there’s no reason to feel ashamed. Just try again. Your life is worth it!

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

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Take action

TAKE ACTION

FEBRUARY 2022

Exposing skin cancer

What’s the #1 cancer diagnosis among Costco employees and their family members? Skin cancer.1 Roughly one in five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives,2 and it can affect anyone, regardless of skin color. The good news is that skin cancer is treatable and, in most cases, preventable. Avoid sun exposure, stay away from tanning beds, wear sunscreen and learn to do a skin self-exam to spot signs of cancer early.

Doctors recommend doing a skin cancer self-exam about once a month. The best time is right after your shower or bath. If you see something new, changing or unusual, get checked by a dermatologist right away. It could be skin cancer.

1Skin cancer diagnosis January 2021–June 2021 among employees and their family members covered by a Costco medical plan through Aetna®.

2Skin Cancer Foundation. Skin Cancer Facts & Statistics.

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How to perform a skin self-exam 

Examine your body in a full-length mirror.

Examine your body (front and back) in the mirror, then look at the right and left sides with your arms raised.

Look at your underarms, forearms and palms.

Bend elbows and look carefully at underarms, forearms and palms.

Look at your legs, between toes and the soles of your feet.

Look at the backs of your legs and feet, the spaces between your toes, and the soles of your feet.

Use a hand mirror to examine your neck and scalp.

Examine the back of your neck and scalp with a hand mirror. Part hair for a closer look.

Use a hand mirror to check your back and buttocks.

Finally, check your back and buttocks with a hand mirror.

Source: American Academy of Dermatology Association. Detect skin cancer: how to perform a skin cancer self-exam.

 

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Learn the basics

LEARN THE BASICS

FEBRUARY 2022

Managing cancer’s financial challenges

There’s a lot to think about when you’re diagnosed with cancer — and your worries don’t end with physical and emotional issues. You may need to keep working throughout your illness in order to pay your bills, including medical expenses. Now’s the time to explore your options and learn how your Costco benefits can help.

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Tips to help you stay financially healthy during cancer treatment

Breathe, but think ahead.

Give yourself time to deal with your diagnosis and prepare for the road ahead. Whenever you talk to your doctor or their office staff about what to expect, timing and other concerns, have your questions ready and take notes.

Get support with financial planning.

Talk to a financial consultant. Through Resources For Living® (RFL®), you can get a free 30-minute consultation for each issue you’d like to ask about, including:  

  • Creating a budget and managing expenses  
  • Understanding bankruptcy options and requirements  
  • Avoiding foreclosure and handling creditors  
  • Making the most of your insurance coverage 
  • Keeping your retirement plan on track through tough times 
  • Estate planning 
  • Medicare/Social Security information and more