Hacks to Save on Household Items and Groceries
Cutting back on groceries, one of the most expensive bills each month can help fund other important necessities such as paying off debt, saving for retirement, or even saving to fund a home improvement. Whatever your needs are, there are many ways and tools that can help you make the most of your money.
In the midst of so much financial uncertainty, there is always the potential to save on everyday items. As we spend money on everyday necessities it could be useful to learn how to get cash back.
According to the data from digital marketing firm Catalina, customer spending at grocery stores jumped 6% from $310 to $330 per month on average, however, supermarket trips dropped nearly 11% compared to a year ago.
Sign up for Grocery Reward Cards
There are specific rewards credit cards that can earn you up to 6% cashback. These cards are designed to help grocery spenders earn money back from just buying everyday essential items.
The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express can earn you 6% cashback at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases. According to American Express, “if you spend $125 every two weeks at U.S. supermarkets, you can get $195 cash back per calendar year.”
There is also the American Express Gold Card where you can earn up to 4x membership rewards points at supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases. They also include 4x on points when spending at participating restaurants.
The best card to use for online shopping would be Amazon’s Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card can earn you 5% cash back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market. When signing up for the card, Amazon will reward you with $100 instantly for just signing up.
Sign Up for Loyalty Programs
Most grocery stores offer loyalty programs that you can join for free like Ralphs or Vons. These programs can offer members-only discounts where it will be deducted at checkout. They are exclusive deals and offers made for members of loyalty programs.
Most grocery stores now have apps that you can download right onto your phone. You can easily sign up for loyalty programs to your preferred groceries right on their websites or on your phone.
Loyalty programs offer exclusive deals and also allow you to digitally download coupons right into your account so it’s ready to use when you go in-store. You can browse through all the discounts that the store currently holds and get this loaded on your digital loyalty card.
Target utilizes this tactic for every receipt you scan they’ll let you know on past purchases what items are now on sale. With the Target Circle app, you can earn up to 1% when you use your phone at checkout or just scan your receipts in through the app. The app will even list your recent purchases and calculate how much you cash back you were rewarded for that shopping trip. They also list exclusive offers to earn Target Giftcards on regular priced items.
With the Vons rewards program, you can earn 1 point for every $1 dollar spent. Those rewards can then be used to receive free groceries or 10 cents off per gallon at any Chevron station.
Through these apps, you can also create a shopping list before heading to the store to keep you on track of your expenses.
Join a Wholesale Club
You can rack up savings when you buy in bulk like Sam’s or Costco. This is especially great if you have a larger family. However, price check with regular items and with things you absolutely need before buying so much of something you’ll never use.
Signing up with a wholesale club does require membership fees but if you frequently need to buy groceries this would be an option to consider. If you sign up with Costco’s executive member rewards card you can earn up to 2% cashback on purchases and additional benefits and discounts.
Use Rebate Apps
Rebate apps are designed to give you cash back on groceries for free such as Ibotta and Rakuten. Some apps allow you to scan in a receipt or give you cash back based on redeeming a specific offer.
Ibotta allows you to redeem up to three offers per receipt to use on groceries. Ibotta has more than 1,500 brands and retailers that offer exclusive offers and deals all on this one app. From the app, you link your loyalty accounts or submit a receipt and qualifying purchases can earn you cashback within 24 hours. The app will even alert you when you're near an Ibotta retailer to earn you cashback that same day.
Another similar app that allows you to earn is Checkout 51. The app lists savings opportunities that users can redeem and then can be submitted through a receipt. Once you upload your receipt, you can start to earn your money back. The app will release your funds once you hit the $20 dollar mark.
Rakuten is another savings app for online shoppers. Rakuten immediately applies coupon codes at checkout online and having it in your browser extension will alert you when cashback is available.
Buy Groceries Online
Many grocery stores now offer delivery services to get your groceries right to your door without having to go outside. With the current circumstances, this offer may be more appealing than ever before.
More often than not, physically going to the store there is the potential of going over your initial budget for your shopping trip. By shopping online, it eliminates impulse purchases, and before you submit your order, you also able to check your pantry to double-check you have what you need. You’ll spend less when you aren’t browsing.
By signing into a loyalty rewards program you able to shop knowing exactly what offers you qualify for and see directly how it can affect your overall total.
Finding ways on how to cut back on one of the most expensive bills for most families will save you money each month.
Learning how to save can help utilize those expenses for more important needs such as paying off debt or saving for retirement.
There are always ways to cut back whether using your phone or writing a list. However, you choose to start, it's important to learn how to best utilize every dollar you spend to ensure you effectively making use of every dollar.