Use apps to find savings
We live in the age of technology so why not use it in our favor? Sometimes, it can be your best ally in discovering the best deals, which is not always as easy as most of us think.
Jill Cataldo, founder of the nationally syndicated newspaper column Super-Couponing Tips, recommends Flipp, a free app that collects all of the store circulars in your proximity in one easy-to-use space.
“Use it to plan your weekly grocery trips, and you’ll enjoy its coupon-matching feature too, which automatically points out additional discounts available on what you’re buying at the supermarket,” she said. “You can save 20 percent to 70 percent off each item by using the app, which can add up to hundreds of dollars over the year.”
Sign up for loyalty programs
Grocery stores do their best to make you buy more but also to turn you into their loyal customer. Hence the loyalty programs.
Your job is to find out which stores offer these types of loyalty programs before you leave on your next shopping trip. You might have instant savings or through future coupons, and the benefits could effortlessly save you $20 or more for each shopping trip.
Save more with points
If you really want to take your savings to the next level, start earning points on your groceries. There are many banks and financial institutions that offer credit cards that reward you for using them to pay your grocery bills.
For instance, the Bank of America Cash Rewards Credit Card earns you 2 percent cash back on grocery store and wholesale club purchases, 3 percent on gas plus 1 percent on all other purchases. Add all of that and you’ll get a pretty nice amount in savings!
