Stephanie Nelson | 

7 Best Ways to Save on Groceries in 2018

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1. Download Coupons.com and go digital with load-to-card and cash-back offers.

Coupons.com offers a free app you can use to print coupons from your phone or your computer. More recently, Coupons.com expanded into load-to-card coupons and cash-back offers, so now there are two ways you can use the Coupons.com app to save, in addition to the traditional way of printing your coupons.

To use load-to-card offers, sync each of your favorite stores’ loyalty cards with the app, and when you shop these stores, your discounts will come off automatically at the register.

To use cash-back offers on the Coupons.com app, just take a picture of your receipt or scan the QR code. If you’re familiar with Ibotta, Coupons.com’s cash-back feature is their play to compete with Ibotta.

 

2. Use the Kroger store app and you’ll have digital coupons at your fingertips.

Speaking of your favorite stores, Kroger is one of a few stores (Meijer and Albertsons are other, more local stores) that have their own app. If you shop at a grocery store with an app, take advantage of the store offers you can find inside the app.

The Kroger app has quite a few manufacturer coupons in addition to store coupons, and you can stack those easily. Use the Coupons.com app for a manufacturer coupon if you can’t find it in the Kroger app. You can combine those offers as long as you’re not trying to use two like coupons (can’t use two manufacturer coupons together).

Plus one of the coolest things about the Kroger store app is that you can use it even if you shop online and pick up your order using Clicklist. They’ll accept your coupons and in-app offers curbside!

3. Use Walmart Savings Catcher to effortlessly price match to other grocery stores in your area.

Savings Catcher is the biggest no-brainer when it comes to grocery savings. All you have to do is scan your receipt’s QR code after you check out, and Savings Catcher will search competitors in your area to see who has the lowest price. And if any price beats the Walmart price you just paid, Savings Catcher gives you the difference! Just snap a pic as you’re pushing your cart out the door, and wait a few days to see what Savings Catcher found.

This is great because it’s zero effort on your part. But also because you don’t have to worry that you’re not getting the lowest everyday price. You can let Walmart do the heavy lifting to make sure you are!

 

4. Take a picture of your receipts, and Fetch Rewards will give you gift cards.

With Fetch Rewards, you don’t have to take any action before you go shopping. Upload your grocery receipt to the app when you get home, and earn points that translate into gift cards.

You’ll earn points based on what you buy, and 1,000 points translates to $1. You can redeem your points as soon as you’ve earned 3,000 points (yep — a $3 gift card to retailers like Amazon, CVS or Target). Hoard your points and you’ll get more retailer options for your gift card reward.

For context, you can earn 400 points when you buy a jar of Miracle Whip and 1,000 points when you buy a bag of Kraft shredded cheese. Fetch Rewards doesn’t care where you shop; scan any receipt. Note that you must snap a picture of your receipt within 14 days or it won’t be valid.

TIP: Enter promo code KRAZY when you download the Fetch Rewards app to earn 2,000 bonus points! That’s a free $2.00 bonus! Just remember to enter the promo code before you add your first receipt.

 

 

5. Know what to buy and what to skip at warehouses like Costco.

It’s easy to assume you’re saving money when you buy in bulk at Costco. But your best bet is to use a lot of self-discipline when you walk into those stores! Focus on items that actually are a great deal. For Costco, that’s Kirkland toilet paper (it often beats the price of TP with coupons!), Tillamook cheese, baking supplies, and diapers.

 

6. Don’t buy name brand items that have a store version made by the same manufacturer.

Stores like Trader Joe’s, Costco and Walmart are notorious for selling a generic version of brand name items. When you know what to look for, you can skip the brand label and pay less. Trader Joe’s has a generic-but-identical version of Stacey’s Pita Chips, Annie’s Mac & Cheese and Pacific Soups. Costco’s Kirkland batteries are the same as Duracell; Kirkland tuna is Bumblebee. And Walmart sells generic spices that are made by McCormick.

 

RELATED: These 10 Store-Brand Items Are Made by Name Brands

 

7. Give Whole Foods a shot for organic produce, meat and dairy.

Since Amazon bought Whole Foods last summer, we’ve seen a real drop in prices on tons of items in the produce, meat and dairy category. From a $0.40 drop in a carton of eggs to a $4.00 drop in organic rotisserie chickens, Amazon and Whole Foods are hoping to make organic food more affordable. Here are the items they’re starting with:

  • Whole Trade bananas
  • Organic avocados
  • Organic large brown eggs
  • Organic responsibly-farmed salmon and tilapia
  • Organic baby kale
  • Baby lettuce
  • Animal-welfare-rated 85% lean ground beef
  • Creamy and crunchy almond butter
  • Organic Gala and Fuji apples
  • Organic rotisserie chicken
  • 365 Everyday Value organic butter

 

UP NEXT: 14 Ways I Stretch Our Family’s Single Income

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