"I don't pay good wages because I have a lot of money; I have a lot of money because I pay good wages." - Robert Bosch

SavingAdvice.com Blog

Bridging the gap between saving money and investing

Heidi Renee Mason

25 Dog Friendly Stores Beyond Service Animals

By 123 Comments

rdog friendly stores
There are a lot of great reasons to have a dog, but if you want to take your furbaby with you to run errands, you might wonder which stores welcome pets, and which ones prohibit them. Check our list of 25 dog-friendly stores – beyond service animals – before you head out with your pup.

More Dog Friendly Stores Than You Think

It wasn’t long ago that dogs weren’t allowed in a retail setting unless they were service animals. The times are changing, and today, many mainstream retail stores welcome your dog to come inside and shop with you. This relaxed pet policy has dog owners everywhere rejoicing. The convenience factor is wonderful, not to mention that you can avoid leaving your pet at home unattended for long periods of time. Although some stores still uphold a strict no-pet policy, more and more retail chains have amended their rules to welcome both you and your dog.

Get a $10 Costco Shop Card

Get Paid to Play with Dogs – Become a Rover Dog Sitter Today!

Stores That Are Dog-Friendly

It’s important to note that the final decision on whether or not dogs are allowed at certain stores is ultimately left up to the individual store manager, so even if a chain is dog-friendly, your local store may not be. It’s always best to call ahead and ask before taking your dog along.

  • Anthropologie is dog friendly.
  • Apple store is dog friendly.
  • Barnes and Noble is dog friendly.
  • Bass Pro Shops are dog friendly.
  • Bebe is dog friendly.
  • Bloomingdale’s is dog friendly.
  • Crate and Barrel is dog friendly.
  • Foot Locker is dog friendly.
  • Free People is dog friendly.
  • Gap is dog friendly.
  • Home Goods is dog friendly.
  • JoAnn Fabrics is dog friendly.
  • Kohl’s is dog friendly.
  • Lush Cosmetics is dog friendly.
  • Macy’s is dog friendly.
  • Marshalls is dog friendly.
  • Michael’s is dog friendly.
  • Neiman Marcus is dog friendly.
  • Nordstrom is dog friendly.
  • Old Navy is dog friendly.
  • PetCo is dog friendly.
  • PetSmart is dog friendly.
  • Pottery Barn is dog friendly.
  • Restoration Hardware is dog friendly.
  • Saks Fifth Avenue is dog friendly.
  • Saturn car dealerships are dog friendly.
  • Sephora is dog friendly.
  • TJ Maxx is dog friendly.
  • Tractor Supply Co. is dog friendly.
  • Urban Outfitters is dog friendly.

Stores That Are Not Dog-Friendly

It’s important to note that stores which are not pet and dog-friendly will still allow service dogs to enter their retail space. They won’t, however, allow pet dogs on their premises.

  • Belks is not dog friendly.
  • Best Buy is not dog friendly.
  • BJ’s Wholesale Club is not dog friendly.
  • Costco is not dog friendly.
  • CVS is not dog friendly.
  • Dillard’s is not dog friendly.
  • Home Depot is not dog friendly.
  • JC Penny is not dog friendly.
  • KMart is not dog friendly.
  • Lowe’s is not dog friendly.
  • Party City is not dog friendly.
  • Rite Aid is not dog friendly.
  • Sams Club is not dog friendly.
  • Sears is not dog friendly.
  • Target is not dog friendly.
  • Walgreens is not dog friendly.
  • Walmart is not dog friendly.

As you can see, more and more retail establishments are realizing that pet owners enjoy bringing their furry friends along on shopping sprees. It’s a great way to break up the monotony of walking your dog on the same trails and sidewalks. It’s also a wonderful tool for pet socialization and introducing your dog to new people and environments. You may also enjoy getting your dog’s expert opinion on a new pair of shoes he can chew, or even a new couch for his daily naps. Shopping with your pet just might become your new favorite pastime.

We would love to make this list comprehensive so dog lovers know where they can and can’t take their pets. If you know of a store that is pet-friendly or one on this list, which is no longer dog friendly, please leave a comment so we can ensure this list is the most up to date.

Have you taken your dog with you shopping? Let us know your experience with specific stores in the comments below! By the way, you can also get paid to play with dogs. Check Rover Pet Sitters!

Give the gift of savings! Learn more

For more on pets and how they can affect your finances check out these articles:

How Much Does a Dog Cost? It’s More Than You Think
Five Ways to Make Money if You Love Pets
How to Save Money on Dog Food


(Photo courtesy of Anders Porter)

Can You Get Better Deals at Costco or Walmart?

By 12 Comments

Can you get better deals at Costco or Walmart.Walmart and Costco are both known for deals. Walmart has everyday low prices, and Costco’s prices are low when you factor in that you are buying in bulk, and therefore are getting a lower unit price. Which place will give you the most bang for your buck, though?

Costco and Walmart have both received press lately on how they treat their employees. Walmart has been criticized for poor treatment of employees, while Costco is praised for nurturing its workers. Does the way the retail giants treat their employees make a difference to the customers who shop there? Is this something the average consumer even considers? Which store really offers the best deal?


Costco: Higher Quality, Higher Price

Costco specializes in bulk items. They tend to offer more organic food items, and the majority of the merchandise in the store is high end and of excellent quality. Customers searching for items of higher quality are often willing to pay a little bit more. Plus, the argument can be made that items of higher quality will last longer, making them a more cost effective purchase in the long run.

Also, the fact that Costco sells the majority of merchandise in bulk means that the actual unit price per item is probably lower. Costco seems to cater to folks in the upper middle class who are out to get a bargain. They do not offer a wide selection of items, but the items they do carry are of the highest quality.

When you buy items that are of higher quality they’ll last a lot longer. Pair this with option of buying in bulk for reduced prices and you have what makes Costco so appealing.

Get a $10 Costco Shop Card

Walmart: Lower Quality, Lower Price

Walmart does not cater to those looking to buy in bulk. Walmart is the place where someone goes to buy one can of soda, not the 48 cans of soda you would purchase at Costco. Walmart is also not widely known for carrying high quality items. Walmart offers a huge selection, and their prices are low. Clothing and furniture items are not high quality, though, and will more than likely not last a very long time.

Walmart does not offer a wide variety of organic or high quality foods either, so those looking to buy organic are probably out of luck. While you can buy items fairly inexpensively at Walmart, the lower quality items are probably going to wear out much sooner than an item of higher quality.

So, even though you may find prices that are lower at Walmart than at Costco it’s not an apples to apples comparison. When you take into consideration the lifespan of the item you’re buying it looks like Costco will be the winner in most cases.

Costco for the Win

All things considered, it seems that the better deal can probably be found at Costco. When you figure in the unit price and factor in that you are purchasing high quality items, it seems that Costco will get you the best deal. It might also be a bonus to shop at the store with the happiest and best-treated employees.

Give the gift of savings! Learn more

Costco or Sam’s Club: Which Is the Better Choice?

By 14 Comments

Costco or Sam's Club: Which is the better option?

When making the choice of which membership warehouse will get your business, does Costco or Sam’s Club win out? Is one better than the other, and if so, which factors play into that decision? Costco and Sam’s Club are similar in many ways. Their appearance on the interior is nearly identical. Both offer discounted merchandise based upon the fact that you are buying in bulk. Both charge a membership fee for the privilege of shopping in their stores. However, in spite of all of their similarities, there are differences as well. Discovering these differences and using them to your advantage will be key in deciding which warehouse giant will get your membership.



Location

Costco stores tend to be located closer to wealthy suburbs and higher-income areas. The vast majority of people shopping at Costco tend to be more interested in higher quality merchandise. Alternately, Sam’s Clubs tend to be located in regions where folks are more budget-challenged and are looking for a better deal on the quantities of items.

Get a $10 Costco Shop Card

Cost Factors

Sam’s Club’s membership fees are cheaper than Costco’s by $10. This may be a huge factor to take into consideration for those who are reluctant to shell out the initial membership fee. Sam’s Club also offers more in-store benefits to their membership, whereas Costco’s benefits are more out-of-store benefits, such as auto insurance and travel discounts. Sam’s Club also offers a cash back option to its highest membership levels, and Costco does too.

As far as prices go, Sam’s Club appears to have overall lower prices. They offer Membership Mark and Dairy Chef foods as their in-house brands. Costco offers Kirkland. However, it seems that even though Sam’s Club’s overall prices are slightly lower, the packaging sizes are often smaller than at Costco. This would technically make Costco’s unit prices cheaper.

Sam’s Club offers its customers more payment methods than Costco, so this could be a slight advantage. Costco often has long waiting lines, whereas Sam’s Club now offers a “Click and Pull” option. With “Click and Pull”, you can place your order online and pick it up at the store the next day. This is a convenience that Costco doesn’t offer.

Return Policies

Costco has its renowned return policy, where they seem to allow you to return virtually anything without a receipt. Sam’s Club has a more traditional return policy, requiring a receipt for a full refund. Costco doesn’t offer delivery or installation services for any in-store purchases. The customer must transport and install items themselves. On the other hand, Sam’s Club delivers and installs furniture and electronics. They also offer 24/7 technical support on electronics purchases.

Costco vs. Sam’s Club: Which is Better for You?

As you can see, the similarities between Costco and Sam’s Club are many. It is important to research each store to see which perks will benefit you the most. Depending on what you hope to achieve with your membership, one may be a clear winner over the other in your opinion. In my opinion, however, this race is too close to call.

Give the gift of savings! Learn more

(Photo Courtesy of Ken Teegardin)

Are Costco Tires a Good Deal?

By 16 Comments

Costco, the warehouse giant, is notorious for saving shoppers money. Customers can find everything from food products to home appliances and electronics. You can get prescriptions, eyeglasses, insurance, and even a car. Did you also know that you can purchase tires for your vehicle at Costco? The question is whether or not it’s a good idea to purchase Costco tires. What are the advantages as well as the disadvantages of such a purchase?

As someone always in favor of the bad news before the good, let’s begin with the disadvantages.


Costco offers no advance appointments for either tire installation or balancing and rotation. This is probably not a deal breaker unless you have one specific day or time-frame in which you are available to get your tires done, or if you are in a hurry.

If you show up to have your tires either installed or maintained, you are at the mercy of that day’s schedule. You may get lucky and have no wait time at all. On the other hand, it’s more likely you may have to wait up to two or three hours. You could spend this wait time shopping inside of Costco, but the downside to that is that you will inevitably spend more money.

Get a $10 Costco Shop Card

Another disadvantage to buying tires at Costco is a lack of selection. Typically, Costco carries Bridgestone, BF Goodrich, and Michelin tires. There is no denying that these are among the top brands of tires, but you will not have the option of choosing from other alternative brands.

As far as pricing, Costco is generally fairly competitive. However, you could probably research and find lower prices at a discount tire shop. You may end up paying the same price, though, once you consider tire disposal and installation fees.

As far as advantages, the number one would probably be the lifetime warranty replacement of tires purchased at Costco. If you experience a flat tire, Costco will attempt to repair the tire or credit you for the amount of tread that is still remaining on your tire if it cannot be repaired. If the tire is fairly new at the time of the flat, Costco will replace it with a new tire.

The other perk that goes hand in hand with this is Costco’s lifetime rotation and balancing service. This could save you money over the course of owning your tires. The issue here, like with getting tires installed, is there is no appointment system. That means if you want to get a quick tire rotation, you don’t know how long it will actually take.

Costco also inflates tires using nitrogen instead of regular air. Tires inflated with nitrogen are said to stay better inflated than those tires inflated with air, and properly inflated tires can help save money on gas. Costco also offers cheaper installation prices in comparison to other tire shops, which could allow for a big savings.

Like most large purchases, there are pros and cons involved when making a decision. It seems that Costco’s competitive pricing and extended warranty and maintenance services may be worth the extra wait time you may experience by not being able to schedule an appointment in advance.

Give the gift of savings! Learn more

Besides tires Costco has other things for your car, check them all out in these articles.

Costco Gas Hours
Does Costco Do Oil Changes?
Costco Gas Calculator: Will I Save Money Buying a Membership if All I Buy is Fuel?

(Photo courtesy of David Goehring)

Is It Better to Keep Your Gas Tank Full or Empty?

By 10 Comments

full tank of gas or empty
With the rising cost of living, it’s getting harder and harder for people to make ends meet. Most of us try to cut corners whenever and wherever possible to save a few bucks here and there. After all, it adds up. One way folks try to save money is by getting the best gas mileage possible when driving their vehicles. Lately, there’s been a lot of debate on whether you should always keep a full tank of gas, or keep your it nearly empty. Which of these is the best practice, and do any of the methods really make a difference?

Full Tank of Gas or Empty?

It seems with overwhelming certainty that the agreed-upon method is to keep your gas tank more full than empty. However, others believe that keeping a gas tank almost empty is best as there will be less weight in the car. Therefore, you’ll get better gas mileage. While this may be true in the short run, in the long run, most experts say keeping your tank full will save you money.

Keeping a full tank of gas is most beneficial to your car over the long run. Your gas tank is an empty space, and whatever space is not filled by gas is filled with air. Air contains water vapor, which can condense on the sides of your fuel tank. This condensation can cause two problems. First, it can cause rust to develop on the sides of fuel tanks which are made of metal, which can cause problems in the future. The water vapors can also mix with the gas in the fuel tank, causing it to work less efficiently. This can be a problem for both plastic and metal fuel tanks.

Get a $10 Costco Shop Card

Why Is a Full Tank of Gas Best?

According to Consumer Reports, gasoline acts like a coolant for your vehicle’s fuel pump motor. If your gas tank is very low, the fuel pump can suck in air. The fuel pump can then become overheated, which may lead to premature wear on the fuel pump, and eventual failure. If your fuel tank has dirt in it, it can become clogged as well. Consumer Reports goes on to advise never running your car below a 1/4 tank full.

It seems it is especially dangerous to run on a low fuel tank during the winter months. Cold temperatures can cause water to form on the gas tank’s empty walls. This water will go all the way to the bottom of the tank (since water is heavier than gas) and make its way into the fuel lines, where it can freeze. This will wreak havoc on your travel plans, not to mention it may cause further costly damage to your car.

Make Sure You Fill Up

So, while having less gas in your tank may make your vehicle lighter, it has the potential to cause a number of serious problems. It appears that the safest and most cost-effective method is to run your car on no less than 1/4 tank of gas at all times. This can help you avoid potential damage to your vehicle, as well as help you avoid the obvious problem of running out of gas on the side of the road.

What do you think? Full tank of gas or empty? Let us know in the comments below!

(Photo Credit: Sean MacEntee)

Give the gift of savings! Learn more

Read More

How to Get Free Gas (Legally)
What Is the Best Type of Gas for My Car?
Costco Gas Station Hours of Operation

Is a Costco Executive Membership Worth the Price?

By 8 Comments

Is Costco Executive Membership worth the price
Costco shoppers have the option of several membership plans. While it is possible to shop at Costco without a membership, this doesn’t work well for those who shop at the warehouse often. For most, it’s a choice of purchasing a regular membership for a $55 annual fee, or bumping it up to the Executive plan, which will run $110.


While the regular membership plan is perhaps sufficient for many shoppers, is there ever a time where it would be cost effective to upgrade to the Executive level? You see signs all over Costco stores urging customers to take advantage of the 2% cash back rewards offered to Executive Members. How much would you need to spend to make the price difference in memberships worthwhile?

Get a $10 Costco Shop Card

At 2% cash back, you would need to spend around $2750 per year ($229 per month) to break even. Some people will do this easily if they are weekly or monthly Costco shoppers. Others may not. The great thing with Costco is that with its 100% customer satisfaction guarantee, if you do not benefit from an Executive level membership they will give you back the difference between the purchase prices of memberships.

Besides the 2% cash back perk for Executive members, there are other benefits to upgrading. Costco members can all benefit from home and auto insurance, but by upgrading to the Executive level, members can receive lower rates. Costco also includes complimentary Roadside Assistance for Executive members who sign up for auto insurance through them (but not for regular members). Costco provides check printing services to their customers and offers a significantly lower rate to those with Executive memberships. There are also the perks of car rental discounts and life and health insurance plans. Costco also offers cheaper home phone plans, as well as auto, boat, and recreational vehicle loans to Executive members.

It seems that the bottom line is for Costco shoppers to consider their monthly and yearly spending habits. If you are likely to spend around $229 each month at Costco, you will break even with the price difference between membership fees and can also benefit from Executive perks. It may be beneficial to some shoppers to upgrade in order to earn some of the perks enjoyed by Executive level members.

After tracking your general purchase history, you will have a better idea of whether or not you will benefit from the upgrade. The good news is that with Costco’s satisfaction guarantee you are really at no financial risk. If you do not get your money’s worth by the end of the year, Costco will simply pay you back the difference in membership prices, although you have to ask for this refund. It appears that the upgrade from a regular membership to an Executive level membership comes with no risk but does carry the potential for great reward.

Give the gift of savings! Learn more