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Many shoppers join Costco to save money on groceries, household essentials, and other goods. However, it costs money to become a member. You'll pay anywhere from $60 to $120 to shop at Costco -- which is an extra expense that impacts your checking account.

However, thanks to a current promotion, some people can earn a $20 Costco Shop Card after becoming a Costco member. This offer is available to students and people in certain professions. Let me explain the steps you need to take to benefit from this membership offer.

Take these two steps to earn $20 to spend at Costco

Are you considering joining Costco and want to see if you qualify to earn a $20 shopping credit? These are the steps you'll need to take.

1. Confirm that you're a college student or work in one of the following roles

• Teacher
• First responder
• Medical professional (hospital worker, nurse, medical provider)
• Government employee
• Military member

2. Visit the Costco current promotions page to verify your eligibility and join Costco

You can review the promotion details by looking at current promotions on the Join Costco section of the Costco website. I'll outline more specifics about this unique offer below.

This membership offer could be a win for your wallet

Costco's current membership promotion could provide some new members a $20 credit to spend on purchases at Costco or Costco.com. The following people may be eligible to receive a free Costco Shop Card after joining:

• College students
• Teachers
• First responders
• Medical professionals (hospital workers, nurses, medical providers)
• Government employees
• Military members

Eligible shoppers who purchase a Costco Gold Star membership ($60), provide a valid email address, and enable auto-renewal with aVisa credit card or debit card will receive a $20 digital Costco Shop Card. To qualify for this offer, you must be a new member or have not been a member for at least 18 months.

New members who meet these conditions will receive their digital Costco Shop Card by email within two weeks of signing up.

To take advantage of this promotion, you must first verify your eligibility using ID.me or UNiDAYS, which are identity verification tools. After selecting an eligible offer on the Costco membership promotions page, you'll be taken through the verification process.

After completing the verification process, you'll receive a promo code to enter during membership enrollment. You can then sign up as a member and set up auto-renewal.

Is a Costco membership worth it?

For many people, a yearly Costco membership is well worth the cost. The popular warehouse club sells bulk goods and other discount buys. Taking advantage of deals here could help you keep more money in the bank.

But before joining, make sure a membership card will benefit your household. Consider your shopping habits and verify whether there's a Costco location near your home. If you must travel far to shop, joining may not be worthwhile.

You should also consider whether you have enough storage space at home, because many items sold at Costco are bulk buys. Finally, look at Costco's current product offerings to see if they are items you're already buying. You can browse products on the Costco website or mobile app.

Making careful buying decisions can benefit your personal finances. Consider your financial situation and needs before spending money on a Costco membership. And if it just doesn't work out with Costco, rest assured that the warehouse club offers a money back guarantee on its memberships.

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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Natasha Gabrielle has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.