4 Necessities You’re Paying Too Much For Right Now — And How to Get That Money Back

It’s not your imagination — the cost of everything is creeping up! But there are easy ways to save hundreds, even thousands, on the four biggest price hikes.

Trim 25 cents per gas gallon.

The price of gas has surged by around 50 percent since this time last year. But you can get up to 25 cents per gallon returned to you by downloading the free GetUpside app to your smartphone. And using it is easy! When you’re ready to gas up, open the app to search for nearby participating gas stations, which include major brands, such as Shell and BP. You’ll get their current prices along with the rebate you’ll earn so you can pick the best deal. Then just snap a photo of your receipt with the app and your rebate will be sent to you via PayPal.

Save 40% on beef and pork.

A USDA report reveals that, compared to last year, pork jumped 11 percent to an all-time high of $4.32 per pound, bacon rose 16.3 percent to $6.22 per pound and lean beef rose 4.6 percent to $5.97 per pound. But you don’t need to give up your meaty meals to save. Simply head to Aldi! The discount grocer buys from local suppliers, lowering costs by trimming transportation expenses. In fact, studies show that Aldi’s meat prices beat Walmart’s by up to 38 percent. Another option: Shrink your meat bill by up to 40 percent by shopping wholesale markets near you, which you can find at Meats.RegionalDirectory.us.

Pay $1,000s less for a car.

There’s a 43 percent drop in new vehicle inventory, which is emptying dealer lots and pushing up the cost of 2021 autos — some above their sticker price. It’s also spurring a 30 percent spike in the price of preowned stock as more folks opt for older models. So how can you save money on your next car? Look for models that are less popular, but offer similar features. For example: The sought-after Kia Telluride is selling for thousands above its sticker price, yet the Chevrolet Traverse offers similar roominess, power and gas mileage for about $10,000 less.

Spend 50% less on furniture.

Indoor furniture prices have spiked 15 percent, and outdoor furniture has gone up 50 percent to 100 percent. The secret to finding furnishings for less? A study from Checkbook.org shows that furniture prices vary by as much as 50 percent from store to store for the same tables and chairs. And though retailers create their own names for each piece, so you can’t find and compare them elsewhere, you can still compare prices by using a visual search engine! Just upload a photo or type in the web address of what you want at Images.Google.com or Bing.com/visualsearch, then click on the stores that offer it for less!

A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman’s World.