Save Money on Gas, Groceries, and Travel With Inflation-Busting Tips
Frustrated by rising prices? We have some simple solutions.
Tired of continually rising prices taking a bigger bite out of your wallet? Great news! We found some simple ways you can save money on everything from groceries to cars, despite spiking inflation!
Pay less for groceries
By now you’ve probably seen that “shrinkflation” (smaller packages that cost even more money) has hit virtually every supermarket. But you’ll still be able to find bigger products for less cash at discount stores like Grocery Outlet, Big Lots, and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. The reason? Once manufacturers introduced smaller package sizes for cereal, paper towels, and other items, they had to stop selling the larger ones. So discount chains bought them up at a bargain and are passing the savings on to you!
Bonus tip: Want to save on dinner? Many stores (including BJ’s, Costco, Giant Eagle, Meijer, Publix, and Sam’s Club) have kept the price of their rotisserie chicken the same as a way to keep you coming back for more!
Save big on gas
Dread filling up these days? Some superstores are making it easier by increasing their gas discounts to subscribers and members. For example, Costco recently lowered the price of their already discounted gas even more, now beating other gas stations by about 30 to 56 cents per gallon. And Walmart+ subscribers not only get a discount of up to 10 cents per gallon on gas at Walmart gas stations but now also get the same Walmart+ discount at more than 12,000 Exxon, Mobil, and Murphy stations around the country.
No memberships? Download the free cash-back Upside app to earn up to 25 cents per gallon back at thousands of participating gas stations. To use it, link a credit card you use to pay for gas, open the app and claim a discount offer, swipe your card to pay, then upload your receipt by snapping a picture of it. Your money is deposited into your Upside account!
Nab a bargain on airfare
The price of tickets has spiked by 37.8 percent due to demand for flights. Luckily, many actually drop by 10 percent and up to 50 percent for all sorts of reasons. Sign up to receive free email alerts notifying you about reduced fares from your departing airport to favorite destinations at AirfareWatchdog and Kayak, so you can jump on a deal when it’s released! Also smart: Try ultra low–cost carriers (ULCCs), which offer tickets for as little as $70 round-trip. You pay for the seat alone, then for extras (like checked luggage) if you want them. A few ULCCs to try: Frontier, Allegiant, and Sun Country.
Cut the cost on a new car
A shortage in electronic chips and labor has pushed car prices so high, most new car buyers are paying around $1,030 over sticker price. A simple trick to saving: Visit a dealership in the last week of the month and ask if they have “pre-registered” vehicles. These are cars, trucks, and SUVs that the dealership bought as a way to meet manufacturer sales targets at the end of the month and quarter. Like most new cars, they have little mileage and are in pristine condition. But the dealership is the first “owner,” which means they’ll sell it to you with the discount you’d get if it was used, saving you 5 percent to 15 percent on average.
Bonus savings!
The latest government reports show some popular goods and services cost less than they did a year ago! These include smartphones (down 19.9 percent), TVs (down 9.5 percent), sporting events (down 10.8 percent), cruises (down 5.3 percent), video cameras (down 5.2 percent), and jewelry (down 1.2 percent). On top of this, you’ll find prices slashed on bedding, outdoor furniture, and small appliances at Target, and Walmart is lowering prices on apparel and home goods.
A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman’s World.
