7 Amazing Costco Buys That Cost Less Than $20

Between paying for back-to-school expenses and awaiting costly energy bills as we close out the last month of a doggedly hot summer, many of us could use a break for our budgets. Costco's competitively low prices can help you save on everyday products, but let's face it -- some deals are simply better than others, especially when they cost less than $20. Whether you're shopping for school lunches or getting ready for Labor Day weekend, here are some of my favorite Costco items currently under $20.

1. SunChips (30 count): $18.99

These are great for school lunches and great for Labor Day parties. This box of SunChips comes with the classic flavors -- Original, Harvest Cheddar, Garden Salsa, and French Onion -- and is priced at about $0.63 per bag.

2. Kirkland beef hotdogs (36 links): $18.19

Cookouts with friends and family need not blow your budget. These three 1.5 pound bags of dogs may not be as cheap as Oscar Mayer hotdogs, but they're thicker and may leave you more satisfied with less links consumed.

3. Golden Star mandarin orange cups (20 count): $10.39

Great for school lunches, this twenty pack of 4-ounce cups is a good price when bought at Costco stores. In comparison, you can find the same twenty pack on Gold Star's Amazon store for more than triple the price.

4. Corn on the cob, fully husked (8 count): $10.39

If you're going to grill out with hotdogs, you might as well throw on some corn while you're at it. These 8-count packs are $10.39 online, but you'll likely find them cheaper in store. While you're there, you could also pick up some bulk-sized butter packages for less than $20.

5. Hillshire Farm lunch meat (96 deli slices): $16.79

These packages come with Oven Roasted Turkey Breast, Honey Ham, and Smoked Turkey Breast. With food inflation being particularly unkind toward meat, buying deli meats in bulk could be a way to fight back.

6. Noka superfood smoothies (12 count): $17.99

Noka Smoothies are a healthy alternative to high sugary pops, but they're pretty pricey at the grocery store. Costco gives you an excellent deal on a package of 12 strawberry-pineapple smoothies, which comes out to about $1.50 apiece. Throw in some organic apples ($5.49) or dried apricots ($10.99) to give your kids (or yourself) some more healthier snacks.

7. Kraft macaroni and cheese (18 count): $18.99

The classic after-school snack or dinner, this package of 18 boxes comes out to about $1.06 per box, which is a cheaper price than in many grocery stores. For example, my local Fred Meyer store sells Kraft Mac & Cheese for $1.25 a box, while my local Target sells boxes for $1.19.

Use your rewards card for extra savings

Costco only takes Visa credit cards, but that doesn't mean you can't earn extra rewards on your spending. You could use the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi for an extra 2% back, which becomes 4% when you pair it with a Costco Executive Membership.

However you decide to pay, these seven Costco deals can help you save on everyday spending and give your personal finances some much-needed assistance. Don't forget to check Costco's website every now and then to see what Member-Only savings events might be going on, especially near holidays like Labor Day.