Menu x
open search articles form x
Advertiser and Editorial Disclosures

12 Ways to Tackle High Grocery Costs You Won’t Hear About From Your Grocery Store

A carton of eggs
Last updated May 12, 2026 | By Team FBZ

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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 qualifying direct deposit - pocket up to $350

If you aren't banking1 through Chime®, you're missing out on a huge boost of extra cash just by following a few simple steps.

Earn a bonus up to $350:2To qualify, open a new Chime Checking Account here. Earn $100 with a $200+ direct deposit in your first 30 days. Receive a $200+ direct deposit in the next calendar month to get an additional $100. In your third calendar month, receive a $200+ direct deposit and get the final $150. Full bonus earned!

This is a great way to supercharge your earnings, and basically takes no extra work other than following the steps above. Even better, Chime Checking offers no monthly fees, no overdraft fees, no minimum balance requirement, and no foreign transaction fees.

You can also get paid up to 2 days early3with direct deposit, access over 47,000 fee-free ATMs,4enjoy fee-free overdraft up to $200,5and 24/7 live support, with a real human.

Open your account and set up direct deposit to earn a $350 bonus

This plan helps protect select Ohio homes from many expensive appliance and home repairs (see if you qualify)

Everyone talks about home insurance, but hardly anyone talks about this. If you live in Ohio and own your home, you could save $1,000s on home repairs without much work at all.

American Home Shield is currently helping homeowners slash appliance repair bills. Instead of paying $1,000s, you pay for a monthly plan and a simple one-time service fee per covered repair.

Getting a monthly plan could help you tap into immense savings for nearly any system or appliance in your home that’s covered.

Not everyone is eligible for this plan so here’s how to check:

  1. Click the link below and enter your name, address, phone number and email.
  2. Hit the “Get Free Quote” button.
  3. If you qualify, select a plan.

Complete this short form to see if you qualify

P.S. Use the link above, and you'll get 50% off your first year on select plans!6

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.

If you’re over 50, take advantage of massive discounts and financial resources

Over 50? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on:

  • Restaurants (save up to $450 per year!)
  • Meal deliveries
  • Airfare, Hotels, Cruises and Rental Cars
  • Eyeglasses and even prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance

Plus you’ll also get insider info on social security, job listings, caregiving, and retirement planning.

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 tool7 (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:

  1. Check out LendingTree’s HELOC matching tool.
  2. Answer a few questions.
  3. Be matched with personalized offers for you.

Visit LendingTree

Pay no interest into 2027 with this no annual fee card

If you're struggling to pay down high interest debt (or you're planning a major purchase this year), this might be the exact thing you need. There's a card that allows you to completely pause credit card interest into 2027 ... and the best part is that it could be easier than you think.  

Discover it® Cash Back(Rates and fees) is an extremely powerful card that gives you 0% intro APR for an astounding 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. (Then APR is 17.49% - 26.49% Variable.) That's right — you can now finance large purchases you've been sitting on without paying massive interest. Or, 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. The Discover it® Cash Back card also lets you earn 5% on cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. This practically doubles its value at the end of your first year.

Apply now for the Discover it® Cash Back card

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 low monthly deposit.

Best of all? There are zero upfront settlement fees, and you could reduce debt in as little as 24-48 months8. 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

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.

Enter your zip code to get started

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.

Click here to Apply Now to the Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Save On Your Auto Insurance
O&O Auto Insurance
  • You could save up to $600 with some companies
  • Compare dozens of providers in under 5 minutes
  • Fast, free and easy way to shop for insurance
  • Quickly find the best option for you
Get a quote now