Feeling the Grocery Pinch? 3 Simple Ways To Cut Food Costs
Inflationary pressures tied to supply‑chain disruptions, energy costs, labor shortages and global instability have pushed prices higher across nearly every sector, including groceries.
Until prices ease, here are smart ways to save at the checkout.
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1. Supermarket and Coupon Apps
Traditional couponing might not yield the same amount of savings as it once did. Most grocery stores now have their own apps that download the most recent -- and largest -- coupons directly to your phone.
There are also proprietary apps that do the couponing for you. Ibotta, for example, can earn you cash back on a variety of different stores, including chains like Kroger, Food Lion, Walmart and Target. You can also use it at Walgreens and Amazon for non-grocery purchases. The app scans offers for you from the stores you want to shop, and you can link your own supermarket's loyalty card to the app. When you buy a product with a cash-back offer, the cash will just show up in your linked PayPal or Venmo account.
Another app, SnipSnap, allows you to search online for coupons and download them individually to your phone, eliminating the need for a stack of coupons.
2. Bulk Buys
Buying in bulk can save you money on nonperishable products you always need to have on hand. Keeping a rolling inventory for these constant, easy-to-store items will ensure you always get them at a discount.
3. Sale Cycles
Supermarkets typically rotate sale items from week to week, cycling through products within a particular category about every six to eight weeks, according to several popular shopping blogs. One week Tostitos might be on sale, and the next week Lay's, and then through other brands and back to Tostitos. Keep track of your store's sales cycle so you know when to restock your favorites at the lowest possible price.
One big tip and rule of thumb for grocery shopping is don't shop on Sundays., as they have some of the heaviest foot traffic. Save shopping for mid-week -- perhaps the day of your store's weekly sale -- when fewer people are in the stores.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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