Our grocery budget is higher than anyone’s I know.

We have different priorities for sure and food is high on the list. We don’t cut corners. We like all-natural and homemade. We like to cook and eat together. I’m home with the kids seven days a week and we all eat three meals a day together. Aaron joins us after work each night for weekday dinners and helps cook meals on weekends. See what we eat every week. See an example of our grocery expense a few years ago.

I’m not into couponing and most of the items I regularly buy aren’t in regular coupon circulars anyway.

I want to be a good steward of our financial resources and I want to teach my kids about budgeting and being good stewards as well. It’s a constant balance between spending more on the better quality and healthier options and trying to save money where it counts.

I primarily shop at Kroger since that’s our closest store. I buy several things at our base commissary each month, like bacon and sausage, because they’re remarkably cheaper and tax-free. We buy all our meats at a local butcher shop. I occasionally shop at our local Walmart. I shop at Costco every few months to stock up on a few items. I buy cat food and litter and wild bird seed at Chewy because it saves me time and money and I don’t have to lift the bags except to drag them into my house. And I shop online for lots so I don’t have to interact with too many people. I also like self-checkout when I can!

I usually check these FREE apps on Thursdays when they update.

How to Save Money while Shopping:

Ibotta

This is my favorite service where you upload your receipts for 287 participating stores and receive instant rebates.

It’s most convenient on mobile where you can you access the camera to take pics and upload the receipt.

For Walmart and some other stores, you just scan the QR code on the receipt and it’s smart and does the rest for you!

You choose your store and the items you’ve purchased each week to receive cash back on those purchases.

Sometimes, there are offers on “any item” or “any brand” and those are wonderful.

There are bonuses each month or so that you can earn more.

You can use this app to earn even more when you shop online.

Some of the deals are combos, like you buy a certain brand of crackers and any kind of cheese.

There are great rebates on baby items.

You can cash out once you’ve earned $20. They send via Paypal.

I love love LOVE that it offers deals at military commissaries.

I’ve earned over $70 this year with iBotta.

Sign up for Ibotta now!

Checkout 51

This is another service where you upload your receipts for participating stores and receive instant rebates.

This app has improved a great deal in the last few years. They are consistent with a few brands but offer great deals on those. You can link brand accounts to save even more. I love that they offer Back to Nature and Bob’s Red Mill and other more natural organic product deals.

You can add loyalty cards to the app for a few participating stores. Sometimes, you can earn on several items at once.

It’s also most convenient on mobile where you can you access the camera to take pics to upload your receipt.

You choose the items you’ve purchased, upload your receipt, and receive cash back on those purchases.

You can cash out once you’ve earned $20.

I’ve earned over $20 this year with Checkout 51. They only mail checks, which I don’t really like.

Sign up for Checkout 51 now!

eBates

I’ve earned over $150 shopping online for things I would buy anyway.

I use eBates when I buy floral arrangements for my mom or friends.

I use it when I’m buying needed items at Kohl’s or Lowe’s or Walmart and use the ship to store option. It saves me time and earns me money!

It’s free and even has a nifty little Chrome plugin so it manages coupon codes and alerts you if there’s a better deal at a competing store.

You can link a credit or debit card to earn cash back when you shop in-store!

Join eBates now!

Coupons

I don’t do many coupons and I don’t follow my favorite brands on social media or subscribe to newsletters to get updates and deals. I know that there are some good options out there on some items.

I like the Kroger app for in-store coupons for things I’m going to buy anyway. Kroger also mails me coupons periodically for items I’ve bought in the past.

I have apps for Hobby Lobby, Joann, and Michael’s too for their weekly coupons.

I check the Kohl’s app for coupon codes before buying.

And I use the Chick-fil-A app to earn free items!

Loyalty Cards

These irritate me to no end, but I try to remember to use them. It seems that every store has a loyalty card these days and some of the perks are barely worth it. I like the Kroger card to save on gas and store brand items. If the store has an app that I can link the loyalty card to, I am much happier.

We move so frequently and the cards aren’t always transferrable or the store isn’t in our new city or state. Then we have to start all over again.

What unique ways do you save money?

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How We Save Money
How to Set a Budget
5 Money Tips
5 Frugal Tips for Buying Kids Clothes
Losing Control
A Frugal Birthday
Shopping in Germany
Obstacles to Being Frugal During the Holidays
How to Have a Debt-Free Christmas

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