Courtney Frazer, Bankrate.com
High food prices make American families feel in trouble. Grocery trips are about 20% more expensive than they were four years ago. Not only is it costly, but shoppers are also dealing with the “reducing” of products shrinking in size while maintaining price range.
Other than choosing a popular brand or skipping the meat, there are other ways to store it. Smartphone apps help you save on monthly grocery bills with loyalty programs, cashback rewards, digital coupons and app-only savings.
Top Food Saving App
1. I’m not going to
Ibotta is one of the most popular cashback apps available. He is known for providing cashback rewards for everyday purchases at major retailers such as Walmart, Costco, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. The app is easy to use, but you need to plan ahead. Users select offers before shopping, then scan receipts to earn rewards.
Browser extensions allow cashback on online grocery purchases, while partnerships with retailers offer exclusive deals on mandatory household items.
Strong Points
Easy to use interface
Multiple redemption options including PayPal and gift cards
• Wide range of acceptance in major retailers
• Bonus rewards to achieve certain goals, such as trying new products or completing a certain number of offers in a month
Cons
•Pre-selection offer required
• It takes time to reach the minimum cash out
• Interface can be overwhelmed by numerous offers
2. Get rewards
Fetch allows users to earn points on receipts from grocery stores, pharmacies and even gas stations, making it a versatile option for shoppers. Earn points from over 600 brands including Huggies, General Mills, and L’Oréal.
Unlike some other cashback apps, Fetch does not require users to select offers before shopping. Instead, you can scan eligible receipts to earn points automatically. This can be redeemed for gift cards to major retailers such as Amazon, Target, and Starbucks.
Strong Points
• No pre-selection of offers required
Compatible with hundreds of retailers
•Bonus points available through referrals
Cons
Limited revenues for generic brands
• Gift card redemption only
• No direct cash rewards
3. Flip
Flipp is like a digital coupon clipper. Edit weekly ads and sales from major stores such as Whole Foods and Walmart in one easy-to-use app. Search for specific items, compare prices in stores, and check out the best current promotions based on your shopping list to help you with your strategic grocery plan.
Strong Points
•Gives optimal matching for sales, easy access to local deals and promotions
Integrate with loyalty programs to allow users to clip digital coupons directly from their ads
• Reduce the need for multiple apps by combining local trading and digital coupons in one place
Cons
Focusing on weekly ads with no cashback or rewards
•Cannot include all local stores
•Trades are limited to certain weekly promotions
4. Check out 51
Checkout 51 offers weekly cashback transactions in a variety of stores and brands. It works similarly to Ibotta in that users need to select an offer before shopping, but with slightly different choices of offers.
After purchasing a product of your choice from brands such as Kellogg’s or Nestle, you can earn cashback from stores such as CVS or Dollar General, then upload it to your receipt. The app relishes its offers every Thursday, allowing you to get new savings opportunities every week.
Strong Points
Simple and user-friendly interface
Works in multiple stores and brands
•Seasonal promotions often increase the cashback rate for certain items
Cons
• Limited cashback options for fresh food
Minimum high cash out
• A quick receipt upload is required to avoid any cashback opportunities for eligible items.
5. COUPONS.COM
Coupons.com streamlines the use of digital coupons by connecting with a store loyalty card for automatic savings at checkout. The platform offers both digital and printable coupons at a variety of brands and retailers, including Amazon and Thrive Market, as well as popular restaurants such as Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Pizza Hut. If you enjoy the simplicity of using coupons without the hassle of clipping, this is a solid option.
Strong Points
• Auto-discount application with loyalty programs
• A wide variety of frequently updated coupons
•Convenient and user-friendly, no need for physical coupons at participating stores.
Cons
•Limited to specific partner stores
•Some coupons have a limit or expiration date
• You need to track coupon terminology
6. Kroger App
The Kroger app offers exclusive discounts, digital coupons and personalized savings offers to shoppers who frequently visit Kroger and its related stores such as Harris Teeter and Ralph’s. The platform is integrated with the store’s loyalty program and includes fuel rewards for additional savings.
Strong Points
•Customized offers based on purchase patterns
Integrated fuel rewards for additional savings
• Users can scan receipts to earn additional rewards on specific items and increase overall value
Cons
Limited to Kroger and related stores
• Not all promotions are available on all local stores
• Some advantages may be too many store-specific
7. Target Circle
Target Circle combines retailer loyalty programs with exclusive discounts and rewards. Members can save money with a variety of food items and other household essentials. This app frequently has special offers and bonuses for members.
Strong Points
•Seamless online and in-store integration
• Easy to use both in-store and online shopping.
•Enable users to participate in community support by voting for charities
Cons
Limited to target store
• Repayments are only possible on the target store and may expire
•Some offers have minimum purchase requirements
8. RetailMenot
Retailmenot offers a variety of coupons and cashback opportunities for restaurants and local services. The platform supports over 20,000 stores and restaurants, allowing users to purchase in-store and online.
Strong Points
•A wide range of discounts across multiple categories
• In addition to in-store and online coupons, cashback portal for additional savings
• User-friendly for easy access to transactions for different needs and preferences
Cons
Coupon values may vary and some offers may come with restrictions
Limited cashback features
•Not all coupons are guaranteed to work in all stores
9. Crazy Coupon Lady
The Krazy Coupon Lady’s app makes you feel like you’re a secret. The app shows users how to combine deals to get groceries and household items (along with many other products) for free. For example, if you combine store coupons with transactions in another cashback app, you won’t be spending anything on the item.
The deals are for different stores, so you’ll need some work, but if you have the time, this app might be worth it.
Strong Points
•Trades are verified by the KCL team
• Search by your favorite store or the type of product you are looking for
• Create a shopping list to track transactions
Cons
• No cashback rewards are provided
• Get some work to track all the opportunities to save money
• There are many pop-up ads on the website
10. It’s too good to go
Good To Go is a unique app that helps you save money by discounting surplus from local restaurants and bakeries. Users can pick up these surplus meals at discounted prices, making them both budget-friendly and eco-friendly.
Strong Points
• Provides a unique savings model focused on reducing food waste while offering affordable diet options
•Contribute to sustainability efforts by reusing food that is environmentally friendly and otherwise wasted.
Various dining options for local businesses
Cons
• Limited availability of city-centric markets
•Dieting options are unpredictable as users get surprise bags
Next Steps
As food prices continue to rise, these money-saving apps offer practical solutions to further grow your grocery budget. The best approach is to combine several apps based on your shopping habits. You can use flips to get cashback apps like Ibotta and purchase rewards, as well as store-specific apps for retailers that sell frequently and frequently.
You can start by downloading one or two apps to suit your shopping pattern and then tracking your savings for a month. Remember that the biggest savings come from strategic planning. You can convert it to hundreds of dollars saved each year just a few minutes before each shopping trip where you shop to load or check out offers.
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