I think it is safe to say that my passion for food is something I am not alone in. I’m also a pretty huge fan of finding ways to save money and/or get the best possible deal going for whatever I’m in the market for. So those of you who know about Costco’s deal of a hot dog or polish sausage and a soda for $1.50, with all the “fixins” for the dog included, know that it is a pretty screamingly good deal. If you’re into that sort of thing. Which I am.

Here’s a way to make the deal one step better, though! What I used to do during a Costco visit is go collect whatever items in the store I came for in the first place, go through the checkout line, pay, then go stand in the food court line and buy my hot dog/soda combo. About two years ago, I complained to my sister-in-law that I have to always get cash back at the checkout for my meal at the food court since they only take cash there. She told me you can buy the food at the same checkout you buy everything else at, and then just show the food court worker the receipt for your food. Brilliant!

Then, a couple of months ago, there was an exceptionally long line at the food court. I’d paid for my food already, and there’s a pick up window, and normally I just saw pizzas go out of there but I thought “what the heck” and went and showed the pickup people my receipt. And it WORKED! I know this probably should have been obvious to me to try long before this, but I’m just happy I finally connected things together.

So now I get a hot dog and a soda for $1.50, and I get to skip the long line everyone else is in for their food. Yet one more reason I love going to shop at Costco.