3. Become a sale shopper
Speaking of essentials, now is the time to get more serious about becoming a bargain hunter. This doesn’t mean that you need to do “extreme couponing”, but rather pay more attention to sales and allow them to guide where and when you shop. Taking advantage of price matching policies is another smart way to save. It may mean being able to score an item you need at a steep discount or getting reimbursed if a recently purchased item goes on sale later.
4. Maximize loyalty and reward programs
Speaking of grocery stores, many consumers participate in membership programs offered by their go-to or main grocery store, Jewel, Mariano’s, Kroger, Aldi, all have some really cool programs. Take a few minutes to actually look at your store’s app or website before you go shopping and see what the deals are. Use them to inspire your shopping list and earn extra points to put towards future spending.
And don’t forget about credit card points or rewards you’ve accumulated. You may be able to redeem them for cash back, travel discounts and more. Furthermore, some credit card companies run occasional promos for cashing in points on things like merchandise or gift cards that could come in handy and help you save.