Costco’s biggest spenders will soon be getting more bang for their buck.

Three months after the retailer extended hours at its North American gas stations, Costco has announced that shoppers who pay for its $130 Executive Membership will be able to enjoy early access to its warehouses.

Stores will now be open to Executive Members beginning at 9 a.m., giving them an extra hour in the store before Gold Star members are let in.

The new change was announced a little over a week after CEO Ron Vachris said on the company’s May 29 earnings call that customer response to the gas station changes has been exceedingly positive.

“The combination of expanded gas station hours, new gas station openings and lower prices at the pump have led us to having two of our all-time highest gallon weeks in the U.S. during the last month,” Vachris said.

Executive Members make up 73% of Costco’s sales despite representing only 37.6 million of the company’s 79.6 million memberships, according to Costco data. The cheaper Gold Star membership costs $65 per year.

Costco raised the price of its Executive and Gold Star memberships last year.

The main selling point of the Executive Membership is the 2% cash back reward given on every dollar spent at Costco. If you’re a Gold Star member thinking about upgrading, you’d need to spend at least $3,250 per year for the membership to start to be worthwhile. Anything below that, and you’ll end up spending more money overall with the higher annual fee.

The Executive membership also offers additional savings on Costco services like their bottled water delivery and pet insurance. If you buy your home or auto insurance through Costco, the Executive membership will get you some exclusive benefits such as roadside and lockout assistance.

If you’re on the cusp of a $3,250 annual spend but also use those services, it might make the membership worthwhile. Costco promises to refund the difference in cost between a Gold Star membership and an Executive membership in your first year if you aren’t satisfied.

Are you ready to buy a house? Take Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course How to Buy Your First Home. Expert instructors will help you weigh the cost of renting vs. buying, financially prepare, and confidently navigate every step of the process—from mortgage basics to closing the deal. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through July 15, 2025.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.

As a child, I was often curious about my father’s absence. My mother navigated those awkward questions with grace, never speaking negatively of him, even on Father’s Day. She’d soften the truth without burdening me with the complexities of his situation: “He loves you, even if you can’t see him.”

Her words resonated deeply, illuminating feelings I didn’t fully comprehend until I became a father myself. Now, as a therapist and the author of “Present: The Crisis of American Fatherhood and the Power of Showing Up,” I’ve dedicated over a decade to supporting fathers who want to reconnect with their kids.

Many of these dads are often misunderstood. They face barriers like divorce, incarceration, substance use, unemployment and mental health challenges. A common narrative paints them as uncaring simply because they aren’t physically present.

So let’s pause and challenge this assumption. One phrase I hate hearing on Father’s Day is, “You should step it up.” (A similar one is, “Why aren’t you more present?”) Instead, we should acknowledge these fathers. A simple gesture can go a long way: “You are important, and we celebrate you today. Support is here if you ask for it.”

Here are a few things I’ve learned over the last decade in working with dads.

It’s tempting to join the chorus of voices that equate physical absence with emotional unavailability or lack of interest. Yet, if we take a moment to reflect on that first time we held our children, we realize that no father dreams of being apart from their child, especially on special days like Father’s Day.

For many dads, the day is a painful reminder of their absence, and acknowledging them can provide a much-needed lifeline. As a therapist, it would be remiss of me not to say that it is okay to go to therapy as a man.

Just like athletes rely on coaches and teammates, parents need their own support systems.

Do you have someone to call when you’re feeling under the weather? If not, consider finding a trusted doctor. Do you have a friend you can lean on when you’re feeling down? If not, think about reaching out someone you’ve always felt comfortable talking to.

Every parent, especially fathers facing challenges, benefits from a supportive community. Parenting isn’t something we can do effectively in isolation.

For many, this involves grappling with past choices, regrets and the journey toward reconciliation.

Instead of labeling themselves as “bad fathers,” many dads might shift their narrative to: “I am an imperfect father who tries my best.” This re-translation of self-perception is crucial for healing. They might acknowledge, “I’ve made mistakes, but I’m working on making things right.”

When you confront your past, you can set the stage for growth and connection.

Recent studies, including a working paper from economists at the University of California, Merced, the U.S. Census Bureau and the University of Maryland, reveal the profound effects parental separation has on children, particularly due to divorce.

Factors such as lost financial resources, changes in neighborhood quality and reduced parental involvement account for a significant portion of the negative outcomes children face. Despite the challenges, one truth remains: Separated or struggling parents, whether mothers or fathers, always want the best for their children.

Two narratives can coexist — one of struggle and one of care. Dads may be distant for various reasons, but that doesn’t mean they don’t love and want to support their children. Recognizing the duality in these stories enables us to approach Father’s Day with empathy and understanding.

Let’s rewrite the narrative surrounding fathers, especially those who are struggling or absent. Let’s offer recognition and support. A simple acknowledgment can remind these fathers that their roles matter and that they are not alone in their journey.

By understanding that all fathers, regardless of their struggles, want to do their best for their children, we can help create an environment where all dads feel valued and supported.

Such acknowledgment transforms Father’s Day into a celebration not just of fathers, but of the unbreakable bond of love and dedication they strive to uphold even in their weakest moments.

Charles C. Daniels Jr., PhD, is the co-founder and CEO of Fathers’ UpLift, a nonprofit that provides mental health counseling to help fathers overcome barriers that prevent them from being in their children’s lives. He is a visiting scholar at Yale University and the author of ”Present: The Crisis of American Fatherhood and the Power of Showing Up.” Charles graduated from Bethune-Cookman University and holds a PhD in clinical social work from the Simmons University School of Social Work.

Are you ready to buy a house? Take Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course How to Buy Your First Home. Expert instructors will help you weigh the cost of renting vs. buying, financially prepare, and confidently navigate every step of the process—from mortgage basics to closing the deal. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through July 15, 2025.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.

The U.S. Senate voted on Wednesday to advance the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins, known as the GENIUS Act, setting it up for a final floor vote in the coming days.

The legislation aims to regulate the roughly $238 billion stablecoin market, per CoinDesk data, creating a clearer framework for banks, companies and other entities to issue the digital currencies.

The bill has bipartisan support, as well as criticism from both parties, making its fate in the Senate uncertain.

Here’s what to know about what’s included in the bill and how it could impact investors — even those who don’t hold crypto.

A stablecoin is a type of cryptocurrency that is pegged to another asset, typically the U.S. dollar, which makes it less volatile than other cryptocurrencies tend to be. 

The currency is used in a number of ways, including for payments and futures trading. Since they’re also more predictable than regular crypto tokens, traders also use stablecoins “to sit out times of volatility or market downturns,” says Nic Puckrin, a crypto analyst, investor and founder of The Coin Bureau.

“Stablecoins are also being used increasingly in emerging markets, like Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa, to hedge against monetary instability, as well as for cheap cross-border payments,” he adds.

“The use cases are very broad, and new ones are emerging all the time.″

Ultimately, the GENIUS Act could make stablecoins more mainstream by bolstering trust in the currency and encouraging more competition in the market, Puckrin says.

“Right now, [the stablecoin market] is, for all intents and purposes, a duopoly. The market is nearly entirely dominated by Circle’s USDC and Tether’s USDT,” Puckrin says.

Since the bill will create a clear pathway for banks and other entities to begin issuing stablecoins, “we’ll likely see a flood of them rush into the market at the start,” he says.

Big banks are gearing up to create their own coins. And while they may not all be successful, Puckrin says they will give consumers more options to find a stablecoin and issuer that works best for their needs.

Proponents say it will help safeguard investors and regulate the stablecoin market by ensuring issuers have the reserves needed to give stablecoins their value. 

“If we fail to act now, not only will these benefits slip away — we will also fall behind in global competitiveness,” Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), who introduced the bill, said in the Senate on Wednesday. “Without a regulatory framework, stablecoin innovation will proliferate overseas — not in America!”

Puckrin agrees stablecoin regulation could be a boon for the U.S. and its position in the global economy.

“Congress has also realized that instead of threatening the U.S. dollar, stablecoins can help cement its global dominance, because 99% of stablecoins are pegged to USD,” he says. “With the dollar struggling to maintain its role in the global economy, the GENIUS Act could just be the thing that saves it.”

Some supporters acknowledge the bill isn’t perfect, but think it’s better than not having regulation on stablecoins at all.

“The general outlook is that [the bill] will do better than anything that is currently happening,” says Bezalel Eithan Raviv, CEO of blockchain security firm Lionsgate.

“It’s a step in the right direction for everyone. There are ways to make it better. There are ways to make everything better. But this is the first one. Let’s give it a try, and it will ripple in many ways.”

Critics of the GENIUS Act argue it compromises crypto’s decentralization and could enable corruption, such as officials favoring specific stablecoins under new regulations.

“We need guardrails that ensure that government officials aren’t openly asking people to buy their coins in order to increase their personal profit or their family’s profit,” Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore), who opposed the current version of the bill, said during Wednesday’s session.

“Where are those guardrails in this bill? They’re completely, totally absent.”

Some critics also say the bill gives too many entities the ability to create new stablecoins which could make enforcement of the regulation standards more difficult.

“As long as issuers are clearly following the rules and regulations, more competition in the stablecoin landscape is both welcome and necessary,” Puckrin says.

During the GENIUS Act’s passage through the House, some members sought to attach amendments, including proposals from the Credit Card Competition Act. The latter, introduced in 2023 but previously stalled, aimed to boost credit card payment competition by requiring issuers to allow more than two networks (beyond mainly Visa and Mastercard) to process transactions.

Some legislators saw enough similarities between the credit card and stablecoin marketplaces to justify adding the CCCA to the GENIUS Act, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) nixed that plan, fearing the CCCA’s inclusion could cost votes in favor of the larger bill.

Still, the GENIUS act could impact retailers outside of crypto, Puckrin says.

“We’ll likely see stablecoins increasingly adopted as a digital alternative to the U.S. dollar, so banks, fintechs and merchants will be forced to offer stablecoin payment options,” he says. “Eventually, payment networks like Visa and Mastercard will have to do so as well, which will lead to lower fees. The CCCA proposals are an inevitable evolution of the GENIUS Act. It will just take a little longer if it isn’t written into law.”

Are you ready to buy a house? Take Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course How to Buy Your First Home. Expert instructors will help you weigh the cost of renting vs. buying, financially prepare, and confidently navigate every step of the process—from mortgage basics to closing the deal. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through July 15, 2025.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.

In blue zones, communities known for having the highest life expectancies in the world, longevity researcher Dan Buettner says breakfast is a top priority. Based on his time and research in places like Okinawa, Japan and Sardinia, Italy, Buettner suggests that first meal of the day may be crucial to living a long, healthy life.

“We have a saying, ‘breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper,’” Buettner, who coined the term “blue zones,” told CNBC Make It last year.

“In blue zones, they are eating the biggest meal of the day for breakfast and then eating smaller meals as the day progresses, oftentimes eating an early dinner and then not eating until breakfast the next day.“

But the breakfasts eaten by residents in blue zones aren’t at all like what Americans typically eat to start the day, he notes.

“People should avoid most of what is marketed to us in America as breakfast foods such as pop tarts, sugar laden cereals, yogurts and granola,” Buettner says.

“Instead, people should take a page out of the blue zones and eat a hearty, healthy breakfast.”

Buettner suggests going for these foods in the morning to mirror the way the world’s longest-lived people eat:

• Beans
• Vegetables
• Rice
• Fruits
• Miso
• Oats

“I often start my day with a minestrone stew full of vegetables and beans,” Buettner says.

“I challenge everyone reading this to try eating minestrone stew or rice and beans as their breakfast for a week and see how they feel.”

Want to boost your confidence, income and career success? Take one (or more!) of Smarter by CNBC Make It’s expert-led online courses, which aim to teach you the critical skills you need to succeed that you didn’t learn in school. Topics include earning passive income online, mastering communication and public speaking skills, acing your job interview, and practical strategies to grow your wealth. Use coupon code MEMORIAL to purchase any course at a discount of 30% off the regular course price (plus tax). Offer valid from 12:00 am Eastern Time (“ET”) on May 19, 2025, through 11:59 pm ET on June 2, 2025. Terms and restrictions apply.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.

It’s harder than ever to buy a home, and even those who manage to do it often have regrets about their purchase.

Some 45% of homeowners have regrets about their current home, according to a recent survey from Bankrate. Their most common complaint: frustration over the price of maintenance costs and hidden fees.

A typical American homeowner spends over $18,000 on non-mortgage home expenses every year, according to Bankrate’s June 2024 Hidden Cost of Homeownership Survey. In some states, such as Hawaii and California, the fees stack up even higher, reaching around $29,000 every year, per Bankrate’s estimate.

These charges, such as internet bills, property taxes and maintenance, often aren’t front of mind when purchasing a property. But for those who buy a home at the high end of their budget, they can pose a major uphill battle.

That’s why it’s important to factor ongoing homeownership costs into your budget, as well as any offer you make on a property, lest you “get out over your skis,” says Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst at Bankrate.

Without a significant financial buffer, he says, you could end up with surprise costs that force you to forego necessary home upgrades or repairs, or even cause you to fall into debt.

Here’s how experts say to deal with these sneaky costs.

One way to avoid surprise maintenance costs is to get a thorough accounting of the home’s potential defects, according to Zillow, a residential real estate platform.

At the very least, completing a home inspection will help you enter homeownership with a more complete understanding of what work your home may need, Zillow says. Your inspector may find small, non-deal breaker repairs like plumbing drips or loose handrails, but it’s also possible that they uncover bigger issues like foundation cracks. In that case, you’ll likely need a second inspection from a specialist.

The upside of paying extra for inspections is that you may be able to negotiate repairs into your sale price or have them corrected by your seller, which could save you money up front and down the line, according to Zillow.

But, even if you handle repairs early, upkeep will inevitably be required. While it may feel easier to delay updates until things reach their breaking point, Zillow says it’s more cost effective to opt for regular, ongoing maintenance instead.

To do this, try adding a few regular home maintenance tasks to your seasonal to-do lists, Zillow says. For example, by making an effort to budget out the time — or cash — for a major gutter cleaning in the fall, you may be able to save yourself from an expensive roof repair project by clearing out leaves before they cause a clog.

Bankrate’s Hamrick says all prospective buyers should consider their full range of financial needs and goals before rushing into homeownership. In the meantime, “there’s no shame in renting,” he says.

“We live in a highly competitive society and economy, and I think all too often people are being overly severe with their judgements about themselves,” Hamrick says. “They should give themselves some grace and time if the time currently isn’t optimal for buying a home.”

Move at your own pace in the buying process, and make sure you’re confident that it’s the best next step for you, he says. After all, deciding you’re ready to buy a home isn’t just about having enough cash savings to handle up front and ongoing costs, but also about ensuring you’re prepared to tackle the full range of responsibilities that come with owning a property.

To get a fuller picture of what you can afford, it may make sense to consult a financial professional who can help you assess your home-buying budget.

Are you ready to buy a house? Take Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course How to Buy Your First Home. Expert instructors will help you weigh the cost of renting vs. buying, financially prepare, and confidently navigate every step of the process—from mortgage basics to closing the deal. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through July 15, 2025.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.