Making Mealtime Meaningful: Discover how we're giving back with the 12T Cares program →

Costco is an awesome store but there are certain rules that need to be followed before you are able to set foot in there.

For example, they do not let just anyone walk in there. You need to be able to flash the membership card that you already paid for before they let you in. That’s all well and good. We are more than happy to just pay for the membership straight up.

Photo: Flickr/Mike Mozart License: CC BY 2.0

However, there are others who may find themselves in different situations and that is fine. That’s why this woman is here to make sure that you are able to shop there, regardless of your membership status. So, how is this woman getting all of this bang for her buck without having to fork over the $60 per year that it costs to shop there?

No worries, she is here to tell you her secret and it is not nearly as complex as you might think. The hack comes to us courtesy of @littlebirdie_toldme on TikTok.

Photo: TikTok/@littlebirdie_toldme

Her video is filled with tips and tricks that are designed to save you money. After all, is there anyone out there who wouldn’t like to be able to save a dollar or two along the way?

“Do you want to shop at Costco without the membership?” she asks in her video.

Photo: TikTok/@littlebirdie_toldme

Non members are actually able to purchase “shop cards,” which function in the same manner as a gift card. You can spend $25 to $999 on one of these cards, which allows you to purchase anything within the store (including….wait for it….a membership!).

There is one catch, though. You are going to need an existing member to buy the card for you before you can shop. From there, the cards cannot be used to buy gas and they are not eligible to be used for online purchases. That does not matter to the people that use them, as they are taking the time to sing their praises.

@littlebirdie_toldme

Did you know you can shop at Costco without a membership? Here is how! #costco #shoppinghacks #giftcards #savingmoney #shoppingtips

♬ original sound – Little Birdie

They’re a game changing item because they allow people to enjoy the Costco experience without making the same level of commitment.

“I am so happy that Costco offers non-members Costco shop cards. I give these to friends as a gift so they can give Costco a try without committing to a year-long membership. They all tell me they’re easy to use too,” one viewer writes.