Minnesotan thinking about moving to Montana

[MTSilvertip]

Got the Helena Brewers, a farm team for Milwaukee.
Got the Helena Bighorns, league champions.

There's also an arena football team.

[MnRaiders85]

Thanks for the info! For some reason when I look up sports teams for Helena, nothing really shows up. I love hockey so Id definitely would go to Bighorns games

[historyfan]

You might find Helena more to your liking. I prefer it to Missoula or Bozeman.

As a side note, we've been Costco members since 1992. Besides the great deals, we appreciate the way the employees are valued. & we always seem to receive a year end dividend check back larger than our annual membership fee.

[MnRaiders85]

Thanks for the recommendation! Sounds like I might of underestimated Helena a bit, I checked out the bike helena site this morning to see the mountain biking scene there. That's awesome to hear that the executive program is going well for you..or it seems!

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by MTSilvertip

We've got one in Helena, I've only been in there twice.

The Big Lots we just got is the place for excellent prices

I know Costco has a lot more stuff and a bigger selection of frozen meats etc, but I never really liked the idea of paying for a membership just for the priviledge of shopping at a particular store.

Costco is in Billings, Bozeman, Helena, and I don't go west of the Divide so dunno if that part of the state is even still attached. Member since ...1991?? at the time membership was still limited to businesses and certain employee groups (and the entire state of Alaska). I had to show 'em a business card to sign up.

Costco has saved me tens of thousands of dollars over the years (over $2000 per year just on dog food, or about four times that if I had to switch brands). When the "Executive" membership came out a few years ago, the manager actually pursued me through the store waving the form -- apparently I'd been in there a bit too often... So I pay $110 for the Executive membership, which comes with a 2% rebate -- and I usually get back $200 or more every year (the least I ever got back was something like $160). Effectively Costco pays me to shop there. (And I run it all through a Costco-branded American Express card which pays another 2% back, and 3% for gas -- and Costco gas is usually a few cents below retail. So in total I get back close to $500 per year.)

Protip for Exec members: put your spendiest relative on your Costco card as your free second member.

Not to mention I'm so used to their prices that I'm shocked when I go in a regular retailer. I figure if it's something I use all the time, I might as well buy 8 cans at half price, instead of one full-price can eight times. They sold me a $700 fridge for $400, and a $500 washing machine for $270. It kinda spoils ya.

Sam's Club is actually better for grocery staples; Costco tends to have larger packages and sometimes slightly better merchandise, but also has shifted toward more yuppie stuff. Prices are just about neck-and-neck. (Tho gas and meat are usually cheaper at Sam's, and they generally have better meat too.)

And that's why I figure if you can't buy it at Costco or Sam's Club, you can't buy it.

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by MTSilvertip

There's also an arena football team.

<pricking ears> There is?? Cool!