If you're feeling the pain of high grocery prices, you're not alone.
🚨Inflation is a problem: Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows food prices have exploded from before the pandemic … up over 25.1%!
This means that your cart of groceries, which was $80 in February 2020, now costs you $100.08 — and you feel that struggle every time you check out.
You're no fool: You look for deals, clip coupons, and buy in bulk. But it just doesn't feel like enough.
So what can you do? This list offers ideas to improve your finances outside the grocery store. Read it to ensure that you're not missing out on money — because you can't afford to right now.
- Most grocery chains offer free loyalty programs with member-only pricing — no paid membership required. Simply signing up at stores like Kroger, Safeway, or Publix can shave off your total at checkout.
- Store-brand products can help you save significantly compared to name brands, and the quality is often just as good. Aldi, Trader Joe's, and Costco's Kirkland line are all worth trying if you haven't already.
- Many stores will match a competitor's lower price if you ask. Target, Walmart, and Best Buy all have price-matching policies. Just show the ad or pull it up on your phone at the register.
- Timing your shopping around seasonal markdowns can make a big difference. Buying grills in September, winter coats in March, or patio furniture in October can help you score because stores need to clear space for the next season.
- TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Ross get new shipments during the week, so saving your shopping trip during the weekdays can give you a better selection at already-discounted prices.
- Stacking your store's rewards program with a cash-back credit card means you save twice on the same purchase. A card that earns cash back on groceries adds up quickly over a year.
- Warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam's Club can be worth the membership fee, especially for household staples, paper goods, gas, and pharmacy items where the per-unit savings really add up.
- Senior discount days are more common than you'd think. Stores like Kohl's, Ross, Goodwill, and many local grocery chains offer senior discounts on specific days of the week.
Knowing about these hacks could help you save even more money on your weekly grocery haul or next shopping trip. And since you’re already thinking about how to maximize your money, check out these offers from our partners below.
Set up direct deposit and complete qualifying activities - pocket $500
If you aren't banking with Truist, you're missing out on a boost of extra cash just by following a few simple steps.
Earn a bonus of $500 after you open a new Truist One Checking account online, in a branch, or by phone between July 14, 2026 and February 2, 2027 using a valid promo code.1 <p><u><b>Terms and Conditions: Truist Checking $500 Offer: </b></u></p><br> <p><b><u>Offer Information</u></b>: Open a new Truist One Checking account or Truist Marquee Checking account online, in a branch or by phone from 7/14/26 through 2/2/27 and earn $500 after you complete the following qualifying activities within 120 days of the account opening (the day after your account is opened is considered day 1). All required transactions for qualifying activities must post to the enrolled account within the 120-day qualification period.</p><br> <ul> <li>Receive at least two qualifying direct deposits* totaling $2,000 or more, <b>AND</b></li> <li>Complete at least 20 qualifying debit card purchases**</li> </ul> <p>Enrollment in the promotion is required (see Enrollment Instructions). A valid promo code must be applied at account opening to enroll in the promotion and cannot be added after the account is opened. Promo codes are single-use only, should not be shared, and once redeemed, the promo code will no longer be valid.</p><br> <p>*A qualifying direct deposit is an electronic credit (greater than $5.00) deposited into your new checking account via ACH. Person-to-person payments (such as Zelle®), Real Time Payments (RTP), pre-authorized transfers made from one account to another, or deposits made via a branch, ATM, online transfer, mobile device, debit/prepaid card number or the mail are not eligible direct deposits.</p><br> <p>**Qualifying debit card purchases include any purchase made with a Truist debit card and posted to the new checking account within 120 days of account opening. ATM withdrawals using your debit card are not qualifying transactions. Zelle® transactions are not qualifying transactions. Bank fees are not included.</p><br> <p><b><u>Offer Eligibility</u></b>: Clients that are the primary account holder on an existing personal checking account with Truist or who have closed a personal checking account with Truist on or after 7/14/25 are not eligible to participate. Offer valid for Truist One Checking accounts and Truist Marquee Checking accounts only. The new checking account cannot be changed to an account type not included in this client offer. Primary account holder must be 18 or older at the time of account opening. Truist employees, Directors, Officers, and Local Boards/Advisors are not eligible. Offer is available only to U.S. residents with a valid U.S. taxpayer identification number. The client must have a physical address in: AL, AR, FL, GA, IN, KY, MD, MS, NC, NJ, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV or DC.</p><br> <p> </p> <p><b><u>Reward Processing</u></b>: The reward will be deposited to the new checking account within 10 business days after the qualification requirements have been met. The Promotion is only applicable once per checking account and per client. Truist may report the value of any offer reward received to the IRS as required by law. Any applicable taxes are the responsibility of the recipient. Reward forfeiture will occur if at the time of attempted payout the new checking account: (1) has a $0.00 or negative current balance or (2) is restricted or closed. An account is considered restricted if it has a temporary or permanent block that prevents credits from posting to the account. </p><br> <p><b><u>Other Terms</u></b>: The minimum opening deposit for Truist One Checking is $50. The minimum opening deposit for Truist Marquee Checking is $100. The offer is non-transferable, may not be combined with any other checking offers, is subject to change, and may be discontinued at any time. Truist reserves the right, in its sole discretion: 1) to prohibit a reward payout for any offers claimed through third-party websites with no affiliation or prior authorization from Truist; and 2) to disqualify any account if Truist suspects accounts are being opened for the purpose of exploiting this promotional offer. For Truist Marquee Checking, the Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is 0.01% for all balances $0.01 and above. The APY is accurate as of 7/14/26 and subject to change at any time, including after account opening. Fees may reduce earnings. All standard account terms and conditions apply.</p><br> <p><b><u>Enrollment Instructions</u></b>: Online: A valid promo code must be entered in the promo code field during account opening and the offer must be accepted when presented. <b>By Phone or In Person</b>: Request enrollment in the promotion using a valid promo code during account opening. Once enrolled in the promotion, progress updates are available through Truist Online and Mobile Banking or by calling 800-423-0948.</p><br> <p>Version 2 06032026</p><br> <p class="">Truist Bank, Member FDIC. ©2026, Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, Truist Purple and the Truist Logo are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation.</p> To earn the $500 bonus, your account needs to receive at least 2 qualifying direct deposits totaling $2,000 or more and complete 20 qualifying debit card purchase transactions within 120 days of account opening. The reward will be deposited to the new checking account within 10 business days after the qualification requirements have been met and verified. Terms apply.
This is a great way to supercharge your earnings. It basically takes no extra work at all other than following the steps above. Plus, your new account offers benefits like no overdraft fee and options to avoid a monthly maintenance fee on top of the bonus.
See if your credit card debt is eligible for this debt relief program
If you have a lot of debt, getting rid of it can feel stressful (and nearly impossible). Here’s the problem: the longer you put off tackling it, the harder it may get to fix. If you don’t take control of it early on, it can add undue stress to your life for years. But what if there was a way to get rid of unsecured debt?
Freedom Debt Relief could help. If you have more than $30,000 in debt from credit cards, medical bills, collections, or personal loans, their certified debt specialists may be able to help you resolve your debt for less than you owe — with one affordable monthly deposit.
Best of all? There are zero upfront settlement fees, and you could reduce debt in as little as 24-48 months2 <p>Freedom Debt Relief (FDR) enrolls only unsecured debts, such as unsecured loans and credit cards. Any claims including “debt-free” statements are only referring to enrolled debt. FDR is not a loan and does not provide relief for federally backed student loans or secured debt, such as auto loans or mortgages. All estimates for FDR’s services are based on prior results, which will vary depending on your specific enrolled creditors and your individual program terms, including your ability to maintain your program deposits. FDR’s services are estimated to resolve your debt faster and for a lower amount than your current monthly minimum payments. Not all FDR clients are able to complete their program for various reasons, including their ability to save sufficient funds. FDR does not guarantee that your debts will be resolved for a specific amount or percentage or within a specific period of time. FDR is not a lender, creditor, or debt collector and is not a credit repair organization and does not provide or offer services or advice to repair, modify, or improve your credit. FDR does not assume your debts, make monthly payments to creditors or provide tax, bankruptcy, accounting or legal advice. FDR’s services are not available in all states and some programs may be offered through a law firm for legal services. FDR’s fees may vary from state to state. Please contact a tax professional to discuss potential tax consequences of less than full balance debt resolution. The use of FDR services will likely adversely affect your creditworthiness, may result in you being subject to collections or being sued by creditors or collectors and may increase the outstanding balances of your enrolled accounts due to the accrual of fees and interest. However, negotiated settlements FDR obtains on your behalf resolve the entire account, including all accrued fees and interest. It is expected that you read and understand all program materials prior to enrollment. C.P.D. Reg. No. T.S.12-03825.</p> . To get started, just answer a few simple questions and get connected with a Certified Debt Consultant. It only takes a few minutes to see if you qualify, and the consultation is completely free!
See if your $30k+ in credit card debt is eligible for Freedom Debt Relief
On average, debt settlement saves clients around 32% of their enrolled debt after fees, according to a 2023 study by the Association for Consumer Debt Relief. The consultation costs nothing. People who enroll and complete the program could reduce debt in as little as 24 to 48 months.
Sources: Association for Consumer Debt Relief (2023)
Take advantage of massive discounts on travel and restaurants
Think AARP is only for retirees? It’s not — anyone can join! And there’s a good chance you’ve been missing out on huge perks. An AARP membership gets you massive discounts on:
- Restaurants (save up to $450 per year!)
- Airfare, hotels, cruises and rental cars
- Meal deliveries
- UPS shipping
- Eyeglasses and even prescriptions that aren't covered by insurance
Plus you'll also get insider info on health and wellness and you can add a partner for free. That’s twice the perks for just $15 for the first year (only $1.25 per month!). It basically pays for itself.
How to become a member today:
- Click the link below, select your free gift, and click "Join Today"
- Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
- Start enjoying your discounts and perks!
Get 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $15 the first year with auto-renewal
Turn your home’s value into extra cash
If you want to pay a large expense now, like a home improvement project or credit card debt, you may have considered using your home equity as leverage to borrow a large sum of money.
But with interest rates rising in recent years, a cash-out refinance or home equity loan may not make financial sense.
Here’s a potential solution: Get a home equity line of credit (HELOC) instead.
Using LendingTree’s simple HELOC matching tool3 <p>LendingTree, LLC is a Marketing Lead Generator and is a Duly Licensed Mortgage Broker, as required by law, with its main office located at 1415 Vantage Park Drive, Suite 700, Charlotte, NC 28203, NMLS Unique Identifier #1136. LendingTree, LLC is known as LT Technologies in lieu of true name LendingTree, LLC in NY. LendingTree technology and processes are patented under U.S. Patent Nos. 6,385,594 and 6,611,816 and licensed under U.S. Patent Nos. 5,995,947 and 5,758,328. © 2026 LendingTree, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This site is directed at, and made available to, persons in the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii only. Terms and Conditions may apply. </p> (yes, the company from the commercials), you can compare rates and see what works for you.
How a home equity line of credit is different: Your line of credit acts similar to a credit card, where you can withdraw funds when you need them, and you’re only responsible for minimum monthly payments for what’s called the “draw period,” which is usually 10 years. After this borrowing period ends, you pay off the rest of your balance during an extended repayment period, which is usually 20 years.
Plus, as a revolving line of credit, rates are usually variable, so you won’t be locked into a fixed rate if they ever go lower.
To get started:
- Check out LendingTree’s HELOC matching tool.
- Answer a few questions.
- Be matched with personalized offers for you.
Earn as much as $1K doing simple online tasks
Is there such a thing as easy money? If you know your way around the web, there certainly is.
That’s because data is currency these days, and many companies are willing to pay cash for it — up to $1,000.
Finding these companies can be time-consuming on your own. But a company called Freecash has compiled all sorts of quick cash tasks from about a dozen advertisers and market research companies thirsty for more data. Freecash has paid out over $100 million to users since 2019, and has over 100,000 five-star reviews on Trustpilot.
You can pick and choose your tasks and complete them at your convenience. The coins you earn from each completed task can be converted directly into things like Visa gift cards, Amazon gift cards, cryptocurrency or cold-hard PayPal cash.
Signing up for a Freecash account is easy and if you’ve got enough free time on your hands, you can join the ranks of Freecash users making more than $1,000 in extra cash.
Sign up here to see how much you could earn.
Don’t pay a CENT to contractors for home repairs until you do this
Sounds crazy. And maybe you’re not even sure if this is real. But … you’re probably curious anyway. Choice Home Warranty makes it so you might be able to save $100s in home repairs!
They’ve been around since 2008 (so you know they’re legit) and they offer affordable plans to cover appliances and systems in your home that could break down from routine wear and tear.
Think of it like this: Say your air conditioning unit breaks down during a heatwave. Instead of paying $1,500 for repairs, you may only need to pay a $100 service fee with Choice Home Warranty, and their techs come and fix it ASAP. This could save you $1,400 almost instantly!
Choose a plan here and you can still lock in their ultra-low 2026 rates (for a limited time). Then, whenever a covered system in your home breaks down, all you have to do is make your claim online or give them a call. Their team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.4 <p>CHW reserves the right to offer cash back in lieu of repair or replacement in the amount of CHW's actual cost (which at times may be less than retail) to repair or replace any covered system, component or appliance. In the event that CHW makes such payment, CHW will provide written notification of the basis for the amount of the payment. First Month Free with purchase of any single payment home warranty plan. The product being offered is a service contract and is separate and distinct from any product or service warranty which may be provided by the home builder or manufacturer.</p>
Choose a plan from Choice Home Warranty here and lock in 2026 rates
P.S. Use the links above and you’ll get $50 off and 1 month free. We don’t know how long this will last, so take advantage of it today before it disappears.
Save potentially $1,000 or more on home insurance
If you want better or more affordable home insurance, there is ONE thing you should never skip in the process of finding a policy: Getting multiple options from a variety of home insurance providers.
Too many homeowners skip this step — not realizing that they could save potentially $1,000s over the lifetime of owning their house just by switching. And yes, you can switch your home insurance at any time.
Provide Home Insurance is a company that matches you with home insurance options from a variety of lenders to meet your home insurance needs … including lower overall cost or better overall coverage.
Just answer a few questions, and they will find options that are right for you. And heads up — the insurance company you choose may call you. Do NOT ignore the call, as they want to work with you to find the best rate possible.
Pay no interest on balance transfers into 2028 with this no annual fee card
If you're struggling to pay down high interest debt, this might be the exact thing you need. There's a card that allows you to completely pause the interest on balance transfers into 2028 ... and the best part is that it could be easier than you think.
The Chase Slate®(Rates and fees) is an extremely powerful card that gives you 0% intro APR for an astounding 21 Months on balance transfers (then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable). That's right — you can now transfer crippling high interest debt to this card and let your payments go directly to paying down your balance, without piling on additional interest charges — all with no annual fee.
But it doesn't end there, because this card comes with an additional perk: If you have a large purchase coming up, finance it easily with 0% intro APR for 21 Months on purchases. After the intro period, the APR for balance transfers and purchases is 18.24% - 28.24% Variable. Don't delay — apply for the Chase Slate®, finance the large purchases you've been waiting on, and pay down crippling high interest debt!
Earn a $200 bonus with this incredible cash back card (no annual fee - do not skip this!)
The Chase Freedom Unlimited®(Rates and fees) lets you earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
In addition to the welcome offer, this card lets you earn cash back on everything you buy. Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
And it gets better (really): This card also gives you 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. That means you could finance large purchases or pay down high-interest debt for over a year. After the intro period, the APR is 18.24% - 27.74% Variable. Oh, and the annual fee is $0. It's almost a no-brainer to apply. Click below to get started.
Good or excellent credit (typically 670 or higher) is recommended.
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