Holly Reihl said she spends several hours a week looking for digital coupons, and her hard work has paid off.
If you feel like you’re paying a lot more for the same groceries than just a few years ago, you’re not alone.
Hollie Reihl has been using coupons since 2017. She lives in the Valley with her family of three (her husband and daughter) and has seen the price hike first hand.
She said she spends several hours a week looking for digital coupons.
The work pays off: Reihl keeps her budget to feed her family at around $150 per month.
While inflation has eased a bit, food prices are still over 20% higher than when inflation began to rise three years ago. From 2019 to 2023, the USDA said food prices increased by about 25% nationally.
We spoke with Reihl to find out how she accomplishes what seems impossible, and here’s what she recommends to reduce costs:
Tips and Tricks from a Valley Mom
Reihl said she can meet her family’s food needs, from meat to cheese, eggs, milk, fruits, and vegetables, simply by putting in a little effort to find the best possible deals.
1. Find what’s free:
When it comes to doing your weekly shopping, Reihl starts by looking for what she can get for free.
One of her credit cards offers DashPass for free. Reihl said that DoorDash then offers deals to keep using their services. This week, she used her $10 quarterly DoorDash credit at a DashMart, the company’s grocery store. There, she found a party tray with deli meat for $12.
“I can use my $10 discount on that, pay $2, and probably make at least 10 lunches for my daughter,” Reihl explained. “And then all lunches for the week for $2. Then I just add a banana or something and she’s all set.”
This is a huge saving considering that average lunch food prices range from $5 to $10 per pound.
2. Apps, Reddit, and Discounts
App developers like it when people use their product. Whether through re-subscription offers or publicly posted codes, they will often go out of their way to keep you with them.
Riehl said she found a referral code on Reddit to get HelloFresh free every week, where she only pays for shipping. That means her weightlifting husband has no issue with meal prep.
Another favorite app of Reihl’s to save money on grocery shopping is Ibotta. Signing up is free and there are cashback offers whenever you shop at a store or online. Once her Ibotta earnings reach $20, she can withdraw the money to her bank account or a gift card.
“There’s a lot of money in there,” Reihl said. “In the five years I’ve had it, I’ve earned over $6,000 just with that cashback app, just with that.”
Reihl said another discount site she likes is called Aisle. It offers significant discounts when purchasing specific products and scanning the receipt. There’s also Social Nature, which allows you to try natural products and earn cash rewards.
Another app that allows Reihl to save money is Misfits Market, where she can find high-quality meat for her family.
3. Choose Your Stores Wisely
Many local stores will have their own rewards programs and offers to lure shoppers back.
When choosing a local grocery store to shop at, one of Reihl’s favorites is Safeway. It’s on her direct route home and saves her time and money. The current week’s deals at Fry’s also included strawberries for $0.97 and a free package of Sargento cheese. At Basha’s, shoppers can sign up to receive weekly offers via text message sent directly to their phone.
One of the best savings Reihl recently found was on breakfast.
“There are Cheerios for $1.99 when you buy three,” Reihl explained. “Plus, there’s a coupon in the Safeway app that allows you to get an additional dollar off when you buy three. Plus, there’s an Ibotta rebate. That brings the price down to $3 for three boxes of Cheerios when the retail price is $5 for one box.”
It doesn’t even have to be big brand stores. There’s a bakery near her house that offers discounted fresh bread one day a week, and she can stop by to buy it when she has time. It’s all about finding what’s right around the corner.
Reihl said her final tip for finding deals is to call the feedback line of her favorite products to tell them what she likes about the food she eats.
From Riehl’s experience, many companies offer customers offers and discounts for products they like. Reihl added that two major brands that did this for her were Smuckers and Kind Bars.
But even keeping that in mind, Riehl says there’s no need to limit yourself to one brand, app, or even location. Compare prices, keep your eyes open, and find the right approach for you!
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