The price of groceries is going through the roof right now, and things will get difficult for many people, especially those with low or fixed incomes. You should know, however, that there are tons of ways that you can reduce your costs and make things more manageable for you and your family. You may have to make changes to your habits, make smarter choices, and think outside the box to make savings, among other things. You should also remember that small savings can add up over time and make a big difference at the end of the year. Let’s take a look at a few ways that you can reduce your grocery costs.
Take Full Advantage of Employee Benefits
One of the first things you want to do is look at your benefits package and see if there are provisions for grocery items. Companies like FirstLine Benefits and many others offer OTC cards that can be used to save on things like food and over-the-counter medication, so check if you could have access to them and use them on as many purchases as you can.
Download Deal Apps
You should also download as many coupon and special deal apps as you can. Some apps will notify you when there’s a sale on particular products at certain stores while others will give you access to physical or digital coupons. Honey is one of the best applications for online purchases, but you can also try apps like Shopper.com or Rakuten. For physical offers, try coupons.com. You also have apps like iBotta that are specialized for groceries and offer a combination of special offers and cashback, so give them a look.
Sign Up for Newsletters and Loyalty Programs
Look at the grocery stores you go to frequently and see if they have a newsletter and/or loyalty program. If they do, you need to sign up immediately. Retailers will usually use their newsletters to advertise special deals and sales and loyalty programs could allow you to save a lot of money depending on their quality. So, look at what different loyalty programs have to offer and do everything you can to redeem as many points as you can.
Invest in a Chest Freezer
Buying in bulk is one of the best and easiest ways to make savings on groceries by taking full advantage of specials. But there are cases where the products in question cannot be preserved for long periods. This is why you should consider looking into buying a chest freezer right now.
A chest freezer will allow you to preserve not only frozen foods but also perishables like meat, among others. Many dairy products can be frozen and still be good, like cheese, for instance. Some vegetables can also be frozen and maintain most of their qualities.
All of these tips will help you save money on groceries. You should also try to learn how to be a savvier shopper, take advantage of deals to the fullest, and consider adopting a more frugal lifestyle as well.