In the last Making Cents letter, our focus was on climbing gas prices and one way you can save at the pump. But as we’ve seen, gas isn’t the only thing going up. Inflation is at four-decade highs, and it clearly shows at the grocery stores. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, one of 12 U.S. Reserve Banks, in May 2021, the average price for a whole chicken was $1.48 per pound. Just a year later, it cost $1.82. That’s almost a 23% price hike! I could go on and on, but I want to share about solutions, not problems. So, here are some ways to save at the checkout… Coupons Nothing extraordinary here. You probably know about coupon-clipping already. But I’ll admit, I am horrible at this. To the point that I don’t even bother… at least for right now, that is. See, for me, it’s hard to find coupons for items, keep them, and use them when the time is right. Back when I used to try… I ended up with just a few coupons posted on my fridge. And by the time I thought about using them, they’d already expired! It just wasn’t my thing. But that doesn’t mean it couldn’t be yours… If you’ve ever watched the show Extreme Couponing, you know it can really pay off. I just watched an episode where two sisters had so many coupons, that they paid only $21 for nearly $1,500 worth of groceries and household items, once everything was all said and done. Watch it here if you don’t believe me…
So, if you already have a tendency to look through weekly ads and such—and you’re very organized and willing to put in the time—coupon-clipping may be worth your while. Shop Around Another way to save? “Shopping around.” Now, you may think I mean comparing prices at different grocery stores. And although that is definitely an option and something you should do if you don’t already, that’s not exactly what I’m getting at right now. Ever heard of, “BOGO”? BOGO, or buy one, get one, is a great way to save on groceries. Usually, grocery stores will have a certain timeframe they’ll offer these deals. They typically last no longer than a week, and if you buy one, you either get the next one free or half off. So, what do I mean when I say “shop around”? Structure your shopping around the deals. Once again, like coupon-clipping, this isn’t my cup of tea. But it could be yours. You can plan your meals for the next week or so around current deals and sales in the stores you shop at. If this week, you can get a whole chicken on sale, but next week, it’ll be regular price, you’d save money if you bought the chicken now. And of course, that may mean you’ll be eating chicken this week as opposed to something else. Essentially, you’re waiting and deciding not to buy certain products until they go on sale. If that sounds like your speed, this method could save you a nice chunk of change. There’s an App for That, Too Now, this last way to save is my favorite and the one I use the most. I’m talking about cash-back apps. Apps like Ibotta and Checkout 51. The one I like to use is Fetch Rewards. It’s extremely easy to use and I can use it for more than groceries, too. I’ve also used Fetch Rewards for restaurants and regular items that you can find at supermarkets. Once you register and create an account, all you do is take a picture of your receipt or upload an e-receipt when you’re done shopping, and you get points based on how much you spent. Once you reach a certain threshold, you can use them to buy specific brand-name items during a future trip to the store. There’s even ways to use points toward airline or cruise line tickets. This app gives me options, plus it requires little effort or memory from me. And that’s what I like. It may be right up your alley. But again, it may not be for you. The point is, there are several ways to save at the grocery stores. I’ve named three. You just have to find what works best for you.
With gratitude,
Melody C. Stampley, MS
Writer, Editor, Financial Coach
