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- My husband has tricks that save us $300 or more a month on groceries, from signing up for memberships to stocking up on non-perishables (businessinsider.com)
Local Dad’s Wild Grocery Habits Save Family $300 a Month – And You Can Too!
Move over, extreme couponers! One local dad is taking grocery savings to a whole new level, consistently slashing his family’s food bill by an impressive $300 a month with a set of unconventional, yet incredibly effective, strategies. While some might call his methods “wild,” the results speak for themselves, turning routine grocery runs into a treasure hunt for deals.
“Pears were on sale today, Mom! And we got your favorite protein bars!”
exclaimed one delighted daughter after a recent shopping trip with her dad, Joe. This kind of enthusiasm is a common side effect of Joe’s meticulous approach to grocery shopping, which involves tracking prices across five different stores and optimizing credit card cash-back rewards.
His wife, while occasionally amused by the sheer dedication, can’t argue with the receipts. “Sometimes I get annoyed at how much time and energy he spends grocery shopping,” she admits, “but then I look at the receipts and see how much he saves.” Over the past year, these “wild (but sometimes fun) habits” have accumulated over $3,600 in savings for the family.
So, how does Joe do it? Here are his top five money-saving tricks:
1. The Five-Store Sprint: A Master of Price Tracking
Joe’s typical grocery adventure is a multi-stop marathon. It might start at Aldi for a dozen containers of Greek yogurt, pivot to a Midwest chain like Meijer for a buy-one-get-one-half-off protein powder deal, and conclude at Costco for a bulk supply of protein bars and peanut butter.
He’s a hawk for ads, sales flyers, and coupon programs, always on the lookout for the best prices on family staples and those “nice-to-have” specialty items that would otherwise bust the budget. He also knows his family’s brand preferences inside and out, like Aldi’s string cheese and fish sticks, and pounces when prices drop. This dedication even led to the acquisition of a second fridge, now a dedicated storage unit for dairy, drinks, and stockpiled sale-priced bacon and ground beef.
2. Credit Card Cash Back: The Secret Weapon
Beyond the aisles, Joe’s savings strategy extends to his wallet. He diligently researches credit cards that offer the highest cash back on groceries.
His current favorites include the American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card, which boasts 6% back on supermarket purchases (up to the first $6,000 spent), and the Citi Custom Cash Card, offering 5% back on his family’s highest spending category (which, you guessed it, is always groceries). A local credit union card also provides an additional 2% back at wholesale clubs like Costco.
Combined, these cards net the family over $650 in cash back on groceries annually.
3. Timing is Everything: Riding the Sale Wave
Joe’s shopping calendar is dictated by sales and seasonality. If raspberries hit an incredible $0.99 at Meijer, he’s buying at least six packages – a treat for his wife.
If grapes are the star fruit of the week, then grapes it is. He teaches his children that patience pays off, explaining that they can wait for their desired items to go on sale.
He’s also learned that sales often follow predictable patterns, like monthly protein powder deals or seasonal produce discounts.
4. Membership Has Its Privileges: Don’t Skip the Sign-Up
For Joe, the small amount of time it takes to sign up for store memberships is always a worthwhile investment. He even upgraded to the Costco Executive Membership, which offers 2% back, after calculating that the monthly savings would more than offset the annual fee.
5. Stocking Up: A Pantry Full of Deals
While his wife occasionally grumbles about an overflowing pantry filled with sale-priced olive oil, crackers, and diced tomatoes, she ultimately appreciates the convenience and the knowledge that everything was a smart purchase. This strategic stockpiling ensures they’re always prepared and rarely pay full price.
Teaching the Next Generation of Savers
Perhaps the most valuable “wild habit” Joe instills is bringing his two oldest boys along on his grocery expeditions. These “grocery goose chases” become fun Thursday night or Saturday morning excursions, where the kids learn the art of comparing prices, understanding sales, and making smart financial decisions.
“Oh man, the Goldfish aren’t on sale, we’ll have to wait for next week,” lamented his 6-year-old on a recent trip, a testament to Joe’s effective lessons in patience and budgeting. As a reward for their help and learning, the kids get to pick out their own special treat – a sweet ending to a very budget-friendly shopping spree.