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With gas station prices nearing historic highs and supermarket prices racing to do the same, the inflation we're dealing with today can make sticking to a budget difficult.

The best thing you can do as a consumer is get creative about how you spend, whether that's being more intentional about the frugal habits you choose to use or making sure you're getting the most value out of each purchase you make.

One of my favorite tricks for combatting rising prices is leveraging cash back credit cards. While I use travel rewards cards for all my travel spending, I've found that simple cash back is the easiest way to keep rising everyday prices at bay.

It took some time at the outset to research my different options and decide which credit card mix made the most sense for my spending. But now, all I have to do is make sure I'm swiping the right card at checkout to pocket an extra $315 per year on average.

The gas station and supermarket credit cards I use

As a personal finance writer, I'm all about maximizing rewards. I've got a credit card for just about every spending category, and a catch-all card that earns 2% across the board for any purchases that don't earn better rewards on any other card.

For gas stations and U.S. supermarkets, I use the American Express Blue Cash Preferred and the Costco Anywhere Visa Card. The Amex earns 6% at U.S. supermarkets and 3% at gas stations. It also comes with up to $120 per year in streaming statement credits (distributed as up to $10 monthly credits) that I use to get a Hulu and Disney+ streaming bundle almost for free after the credit. My Costco card earns 5% at gas stations and 2% on anything else I buy from the warehouse club.

Both cards come with more perks and rewards, but those are the primary ones I use.

The Amex also comes with a $95 annual fee(see rates and fees). The Costco card has no fee, but you do need to have an active Costco membership, which costs $65 per year (or more if you spring for the executive membership).

Still, with how much I earn in cash-back every year and the other savings I enjoy as a Costco member, I more than make up for those fees. It's important, however, to review your credit card mix regularly and make sure you're still getting enough value out of any card that carries an annual fee.

How I earn $315 per year with these credit cards

Like many households with a Costco membership, the warehouse club is where I get the bulk of my staples such as flour, meat, frozen veggies and household supplies such as toilet paper and laundry detergent.

It's also the only place I buy fuel because I live a few minutes away from a Costco Business Center, where gas prices are consistently 10 to 20 cents cheaper than neighboring stations.

Whenever I'm shopping at Costco, I swipe my Costco card to get the 5% back on gas or 2% on everything I buy in store. For all my other staples — such as fresh produce, spices and anything else that's not available at Costco or not available in a quantity I can reasonably use quickly enough — I swipe my Amex card.

It's as simple as that. Just by being a little more intentional about which credit card I pull out at the cash register, I earned $315 last year. It was an almost even split of a little more than $150 in cash back from each card. That doesn't include the additional up to $120 in streaming credits I get on the Amex card.

Credit cards can also help with organizing your finances

An unintended benefit of having multiple credit cards for everyday spending is that it makes it easy to see at a glance how much I've spent on different categories of my budget. I only use my Amex and Costco credit cards for fuel and supermarkets. I know whatever the combined balance of those two cards is reflects the total amount I've spent so far on those two things.

For my two-person household, I typically try to keep our gas station and supermarket budget under $800 per month. That's roughly $200 per week.

Each week, I can just glance at the current balance on my Amex and Costco cards and see if I'm on track. If our expenses went above $200 last week, I know this week I'll be looking through the pantry to plan a menu that requires as few new ingredients as possible.

The key to any credit card strategy is avoiding interest

While credit cards can be powerful financial tools, they also carry some of the highest interest rates of any debt instrument you can get. For any of these cash back perks to matter, it's extremely important that you avoid spending more than you can afford to pay off in full at the end of the month.

That's why I have that $800 limit in place and why I check the balance weekly to see how well I'm sticking to it.

If you struggle with impulse buying or get overwhelmed when reviewing your finances, a credit card can be more risk than it's worth. A single month of paying interest might be enough to offset any rewards you would earn for an entire year. Make sure you have a plan and budget in place before you try to leverage a credit card rewards program.

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Trae Bodge is a smart-shopping expert. Find additional savings tips at her website. Here, she tells Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine about her favorite grocery hacks to keep prices low, plus where she thinks grocery prices are headed.

Q: With grocery prices up nearly one-third since 2020, food costs have become a major pain point for most Americans. Do you see prices coming down or moderating this year?

While I see prices stabilizing — barring a weather pattern that affects crops or an illness amongst animals — unfortunately, prices aren't likely to come down anytime soon. So it's important for shoppers to get into the habit of using savings tactics. You don't need to become an extreme couponer or do anything complicated to save. There are lots of little steps you can take that can be quite impactful over a year of shopping.

Q: What tools can shoppers use to learn about sales or increase their savings?

Download your favorite grocery stores' apps. They often have special coupons or promotions available and will alert you to sales. They also use artificial intelligence in a helpful way by serving up offers based on how you shop. You may get a notification when your favorite cereal is on sale, for example.

If you buy groceries online, I also recommend installing a couple of browser extensions, such as CouponCabin, Rakuten or PayPal Honey, which search for available cash-back or discount codes and automatically apply them when you check out.

Another potentially useful app is Flashfood, which partners with retail and grocery stores to help them sell surplus items. You can save up to 50% on overstock items you order with the app and then pick up from a local store.

With the Fetch app, you can scan your grocery receipts to earn points that can be redeemed for gift cards.

Q: Do you recommend using rewards credit cards at the supermarket?

I always shop with the credit card I own that offers the best points or cash back for groceries. As an Amazon Prime Visa cardholder, for example, I use that card at Whole Foods because it pays 5% cash back there. That's 5% I'm getting back on purchases I was already making.

The PayPal Debit Card is fee-free and pays 5% cash back per month in a category you choose, including groceries or restaurants. And the American Express Blue Cash Preferred card may be worth the annual fee ($95) because of its generous benefits — 6% cash back on supermarket spending.

Q: What changes can people make to their shopping habits to save more?

A very easy tweak is to look at your grocery list to see if there are any store-brand options that can replace name-brand items.

From my research, you can save between 25% and 40% just by buying the store brand. Often, name-brand and store-brand items are made in the same factories using the same ingredients.

Also, try to buy in bulk, especially if you're a family of more than two. Usually, the larger the quantity, the lower the unit price is. This is where, if you have a Costco, Sam's Club or BJ's membership, you can potentially save a lot.

But don't buy quantities that are too large. That giant tub of microgreens may be an amazing deal, but if it goes moldy before you're halfway through, you've just wasted money.

Q: What items should people avoid buying?

The whole prepared-food category is a no-no in my book. You're paying too much of a premium for convenience. You'll save so much by doing the chopping, washing or whatever yourself.

You could take this a step further by looking at things that you buy regularly that are easy to make. In my house, we make our own hummus and granola. Buying the ingredients and doing the work at home saves us so much money. A nice bag of granola can be $9, whereas I can make a batch twice as big for half the price, and customize it to the exact flavors I want.

I would also avoid nonfood items, things such as beauty products, office supplies, vitamins and supplements. In my experience, other retailers easily beat the pricing at the grocery store.

Note: This item first appeared in Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine, a monthly, trustworthy source of advice and guidance. Subscribe to help you make more money and keep more of the money you make here.

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Buying in bulk can offer valuable savings, helping to combat the continuously rising grocery prices we're facing and helping you spend less on groceries. Understanding what to buy in bulk is key to getting a good deal, though, since bulk buys can backfire and cost you more.

When buying in bulk, your total spend on an item might be higher, but you should be paying a lower price per unit. Storage challenges and spoilage risks can eat into your savings, highlighting the importance of careful planning and strategic buys.

Deal psychology can also prompt you to overbuy and overconsume. When you're purchasing grocery items that you don't need or wouldn't have otherwise bought, bulk buying isn't saving you money — it's costing you more.

These tips can help you make smart purchase decisions to maximize your savings and avoid costly mistakes.

When buying in bulk saves you money

Buying in bulk works best in certain situations:

• You use the item regularly. Stock up on items you already buy often. Frequent use lowers the risk of waste and ensures the purchase fits your routine.
• Products have a long shelf life: Bulk buying only works if you can use everything before it spoils. Shelf-stable items give you more flexibility and reduce the risk of waste.
• You have storage space. Make sure you have a cool, dry place to store bulk items. Limited space can lead to spoilage or clutter that offsets savings.
• You have checked the price per unit. Sometimes bulk buys are disguised as a good deal. Compare the price per unit to what you'd pay if you bought a single unit of that same item. When buying in bulk, the per-unit price should be significantly lower to justify the purchase.

The best groceries to buy in bulk

You can get the best value by buying certain types of groceries in bulk. Use this list to help focus your shopping.

The worst groceries to buy in bulk

Certain groceries don't work as well for bulk purchases. Buying these items can cause your savings to quietly disappear.

Hidden costs of bulk buying most shoppers overlook

Many shoppers overlook the hidden costs of bulk buying. These costs can eat away at savings or even cause you to lose money on bulk buys:

• Food waste. If part of your bulk buy expires or is otherwise damaged, you're throwing money away.
• Storage containers and space. Be sure to budget the cost of food storage containers into your bulk buying strategy. If you're buying frozen goods, you might need to invest in a chest freezer and the electricity needed to power it, which will eat into your savings.
• Membership fees. Warehouse clubs such as Costco and Sam's Club sell groceries in bulk, but you'll need to buy an annual membership to take advantage of those savings. Look for membership deals, which often crop up in the summer, to save on the cost.
• Time, Buying in bulk takes time and effort, and your time is valuable. The urge to impulse spend in bulk stores can also be expensive, since you might not save as much money as you think you are.
• Price volatility. In today's economy, prices are highly volatile. You might make a bulk purchase, only to find that those prices later drop. Choosing a retailer with a good price match guarantee can help reduce this risk.

How to bulk buy without wasting money

You can save money by strategically buying in bulk. These tips can help maximize your savings so you're not wasting money on bad buys.

• Compare price per ounce or unit. When deciding what to buy in bulk, compare the price per ounce or per unit to verify that you’re actually getting a good deal.
• Start with a short list. Keep it simple. Focus on items you already use and build your bulk purchases from there.
• Use a freeze or portion system. Freeze what you can to extend shelf life. Portion items such as soups and meats before freezing so you can thaw only what you need. Invest in quality freezer-proof containers so you can easily thaw one or two portions at a time, preventing waste.
• Label and rotate. Clearly label what you buy and use older items first. This applies to pantry and freezer goods and helps prevent forgotten food from going to waste. You can buy food labels that make this process easier to help keep you organized.
• Split bulk purchases. Consider sharing bulk items with family or friends. This reduces upfront costs and makes storage more manageable.
• Avoid shopping when hungry. Hunger can lead to overspending. Studies from the University of Minnesota found that hungry shoppers at a mall spent 64% more money than those who were less hungry, suggesting that hungry shoppers are more likely to buy more than shoppers who aren't hungry. Impulse purchases while buying in bulk can be expensive mistakes, so eat a snack or meal before you shop.

Buying in bulk can be a solid strategy to lower your grocery bill, but approach this technique carefully and gradually. Knowing what to buy in bulk and having a clear plan in place can set you up for success and savings.

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Costco has earned its reputation as the go-to store for great deals on quality groceries and household essentials.

Members of the warehouse club get such a good deal on what they're buying that a recent Consumer Reports analysis found that Costco has the cheapest groceries out of dozens of major chains nationwide — to the tune of more than 20% lower prices compared with Walmart.

Many of the best deals found in the store are on bulk buys. For a big family, working your way through a case of 60 eggs before they expire might be no problem.

But once your kids move out and you're down to a two-person household, there are some groceries that you should never buy in bulk because you won't be able to use them before they expire.

With the membership costing either $65 or $130 per year, it's important to make sure you're getting enough value to justify the fee. To help you figure out if your Costco membership is still worth it when you have fewer mouths to feed, here's a breakdown of how to calculate the total value of the savings and perks your membership gives you.

How much do you really save on groceries?

Groceries are about 20% cheaper at Costco than Walmart on average, according to Consumer Reports. Based on that average, you would need to buy approximately $325 worth of groceries per year to break even on a Gold Star membership with grocery savings alone.

For the executive membership, when you factor in the 2% cash back earned at that tier, your annual spend would need to hit $591.

While that doesn't seem hard to reach, you have to be mindful about bulk buying perishable foods now that you won't be using them up as quickly. Moreover, Costco prices might be lower on average, but it's not the cheapest option for every item.

To get the exact amount of savings for your household, look at the groceries you typically buy every month and compare the unit price at Costco with that of other chains in your area.

Which items are actually cheaper per unit at Costco? For the ones that are cheaper, tally up the total savings you're getting each month and multiply that by 12 to get a rough estimate of your annual savings.

Costco gas savings can add up quickly

One of the most popular Costco perks is the ability to save on gas by using the members-only gas station outside each Costco location. Prices vary, but warehouse club gas stations are typically somewhere between 5 cents and 25 cents cheaper per gallon than neighboring stations.

In order to break even on the annual fee with gas savings alone, you would need to buy from 260 to 2,600 gallons of gas per year, depending on which membership you have and how much cheaper Costco gas is in your city.

To get a more precise estimate, check the price difference between Costco and the next closest gas station right now and multiply those savings by the number of gallons you expect to buy in a year.

For example, based on past credit card statements, I estimate that my two-person household uses about 560 gallons of gas per year. Our Costco gas station is currently 10 cents cheaper than nearby stations. We're saving roughly $56 per year on gas. The actual amount will fluctuate throughout the year. It's not quite enough to break even on the $65 Gold Star membership on its own.

Factor in other savings you get as a Costco member

The most straightforward way to calculate the value of your membership is with your everyday savings on groceries and gas. But Costco members also enjoy discounts on other products and services.

While some of those (such as the pharmacy) are perks you don't need a Costco membership to enjoy, others are members' only. Make a list of other perks you use as a member and estimate how much you're saving.

For example, I get my tires at Costco. My most recent set cost $793 for four tires. That includes a roadside hazard warranty, free flat repairs and free rotations and balancing for the life of the tires.

The same exact tires would have cost $824 at Walmart, plus $18 per tire for the service — plus more to add on lifetime balance and rotation, road hazard warranty and flat tire repair.

This set of tires alone netted more than $100 in savings for me. That's enough to cover nearly two years of my Gold Star membership even if I never step foot in the store.

Adding the Costco Anywhere Visa card changes the math

It becomes easier to not only break even but profit from your Costco membership when you add the cash back credit card to the mix. The Costco Anywhere Visa card offers 5% cash back on Costco gas, 4% cash back on gas (and EV charging) outside of Costco, 2% cash back on purchases inside the store, and a few other cash back perks.

Calculating the value of this perk is easy as you'll see an updated cash back balance on every monthly statement.

In my case, I signed up for the card last summer and, between gas and groceries, earned $77 in cash back over six months. At that rate, I estimate I'll get about $150 in cash back this year. Those rewards are more than double the $65 membership fee on their own.

The key with any rewards credit card is to pay the balance in full every month so you aren't paying interest on your spending. Those interest charges will very quickly erode any value you're getting in rewards.

Is Costco worth it for two people?

A two-person or even one-person household can certainly get value out of a Costco membership, but it really depends on what you buy, what services you use and whether you pair your membership with the credit card.

In my case, it's the cash back from the credit card and the other services that really make the membership worth keeping. Without those, the grocery and gas savings alone probably wouldn't be enough to justify the fee, as I would break even at best.

If, after doing the math, you find that you're barely breaking even at Costco each year once your kids are out of the house, it might be time to rethink your membership.

If you have the executive membership, for example, maybe downgrade to Gold Star.

If you have the Gold Star membership and still are barely breaking even, it might be time to cancel and see how your budget looks when you start shopping elsewhere.

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No matter how well you stick to your list, make lower cost substitutes and scour apps for deals and discounts, it feels as if your grocery bill is getting higher and higher.

Typically, no single store has the lowest price in every category. One chain might have the best prices for meat while another offers the best deal on your favorite cheese or cereal.

Usually, the time and gas used to drive from one store to another chasing the lowest prices is one of those frugal habits that aren't worth it. Instead, picking a single store that tends to be cheaper for most things, even if you end up paying a few pennies more on a couple of items, will net you the best savings.

If you're picking just one store, which should it be? That was the question driving a recent Consumer Reports analysis. The nonprofit consumer information organization compared prices at dozens of nationwide chains in six major metropolitan areas to find out which grocery store offered the lowest prices on the same basket of goods.

Shoppers save more than 20% on average by shopping at Costco

Since Walmart is typically the cheapest, the major retailer was used as the benchmark against which all other retailers were compared in the Consumer Report analysis. While it was definitely still one of the lower-cost options, it was beaten by five other retailers.

The cheapest grocery store of all, according to the report: Costco. Prices at the warehouse club were 21.4% cheaper on average compared with Walmart.

With a price difference that dramatic, the savings can more than make up for the annual fee to become a member, especially if you take advantage of special sign-up offers such as the Costco membership deal at Stack Social right now that gets you a Costco shop card worth up to $40 when you join.

Here's how every store that beat Walmart compared with the major retailer on price, according to the Consumer Reports analysis:

• Costco: 21.4% cheaper
• BJ's Wholesale: 21% cheaper
• Lidl: 8.5% cheaper
• Aldi: 8.3% cheaper
• WinCo: 3.3% cheaper

When it comes to price, it's clear that warehouse clubs, especially Costco and BJ's, offer the biggest savings. That's good news for shoppers because these stores require memberships with annual fees to get access to the lower prices.

Knowing that you really are getting meaningful savings on your groceries helps take the sting out of that annual fee.

Another way to make that fee worth it is to stack cash back rewards on top of those savings. By maximizing credit card rewards, you can save even more on groceries each month.

Is Costco really cheaper than Walmart?

To see the difference for myself, I compared a few common grocery staples at Costco and Walmart, using the prices listed online. Here's what I found:

Jif creamy peanut butter was notably cheaper at Costco. A 16-ounce jar cost $2.96 at Walmart, which works out to 18.5 cents per ounce. Meanwhile, you can get two 48-ounce jars for $13.99 at Costco (or 14.6 cents per ounce).

Coffee was also significantly cheaper at Costco. For the comparison, I looked at Starbucks Pike Place Roast K-Cup coffee pods — though you can pay even less per ounce at either retailer if you opt for a bag of coffee rather than individually-packaged pods.

Still, if you love your Keurig, an 88-pack of the Starbucks pods will cost you $76.68 at Walmart. That's a little more than 87 cents per pod. At Costco, however, you can pick up a 72-pack for just $47.99, which works out to 66.7 cents per pod. That's more than 20 cents per pod saved.

Curiously, name-brand olive oil was a few cents cheaper at Walmart. A single 25.5 oz bottle of Terra Delyssa First Cold Press Extra Virgin Olive Oil was $9.98 at Walmart (or 39.1 cents per ounce). A three-pack of the exact same brand and same bottle size costs $34.99 at Costco (or 45.7 cents per ounce).

For these comparisons, I stuck to brands that were available at both Walmart and Costco. If you include store-brand versions, the products might not be an exact match.

But if you're looking for the cheapest possible options at each store, here's how prices compare between Walmart's "Great Value" and Costco's "Kirkland" versions of the same sample groceries compared above:

A 40-ounce jar of Great Value Creamy Peanut Butter is $3.88 at Walmart, which works out to 9.7 cents per ounce. Meanwhile, a two-pack of 28-ounce jars of Kirkland Signature Organic Creamy Peanut Butter is $11.69 at Costco. That's 20.88 cents per ounce, which is double the unit price at Walmart. However, Kirkland's version is organic, so this isn't a perfect match.

It's a similar story for olive oil. You can get a 17-ounce bottle of Great Value Extra Virgin Olive Oil for $5.97 at Walmart, which works out to 35.1 cents per ounce. At Costco, you'll spend $27.99 for a two-liter bottle of Kirkland Signature Extra Virgin Olive Oil. That's 41.4 cents per ounce.

Once again, the Kirkland version here is cold-extracted and the olives are traceable to Italy. The Great Value version is a blend of olives from different countries and does not say it was cold-extracted.

Coffee is still cheaper per unit at Costco, even when grabbing the store brand. A 12-pack of Great Value Classic Roast Ground Coffee Pods is priced at $4.82 at Walmart (or 40.2 cents per pod). But you can pick up a 120-pack of Kirkland Signature Coffee Organic Pacific Bold K-Cup Pods for $44.99 at Costco (or 37.5 cents per pod).

The Kirkland version is organic, so in this case, you're getting an organic, fair trade certified coffee for less per pod than you would spend at Walmart.

The real winner depends on your shopping habits

Overall, for groceries where the brand matters to you, you're usually going to spend less if you shop at Costco. For generic groceries, Walmart's Great Value brand tends to be cheaper (though not always) but also is notably lower quality compared with Kirkland.

If you stack membership rewards on top of cheaper store brand prices, the math might work out in Walmart's favor. But that really depends on what your typical grocery list looks like and what your priorities are. Factor in the annual fee and other perks before deciding whether Walmart+ is worth it over a Costco membership for your family.

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As the rising cost of everyday essentials continues to strain the wallets of Americans nationwide, it's important to trim costs wherever you can.

One of the best ways to cut your monthly budget is by eliminating things that are a waste of money anyway or potentially harmful to your wallet in the long run. By cutting wasteful spending first, you can save money without making sacrifices to your quality of life.

With that in mind, here are some ways you might be spending more money than you need to on your laundry.

1. Using too much detergent

Whether you use powder or liquid detergent, there's typically a little scoop with pre-marked lines. If you're ignoring those lines, you're burning through detergent faster than you need to be.

In some cases, you might be able to use less than the brand recommends. I've been able to fill my scoop to the first line (indicated for smaller loads) even with a full load. My clothes still come out stain-free and smelling fresh.

One general rule is that you need no more than two tablespoons of liquid detergent for any load. Try using smaller amounts with your preferred detergent, and test the results for yourself.

If stretching your detergent so you don't have to buy it as often isn't enough of an incentive, it's also the better option for your clothes. When you use too much detergent, it doesn't get fully rinsed out by the end of the cycle. You can end up with sticky or stiff-feeling fabric.

For these reasons, you might also consider switching to powder or liquid detergent if you use prepackaged pods. That's one more switch that will save money in the long run.

2. Using fabric softener

It smells good. It makes your clothes feel softer. It keeps things from clinging together in the dryer. I get that this is a hard one for many people to give up. But fabric softener is bad for your clothes, bad for your machine and bad for your wallet.

Not only are you spending money on something you don't need, but you're spending it on something that's shortening the lifespan of your machine and your clothes.

The way fabric softener makes fabric feel softer is by depositing a waxy layer onto it that causes it to fluff up or feel smoother. But that same residue makes your clothes less fire-resistant and less able to wick away moisture such as sweat or water after a shower when you're trying to dry yourself off.

That same residue also builds up in your machine, allowing mildew to grow and generally gumming up the works.

Here's what you can do instead:

• If you like fabric softener for the fragrance, get a scented laundry detergent.
• If you like it for the softness, try adding distilled white vinegar to the fabric softener slot instead. It can help with softening and removing odors from your clothes without leaving a residue. Your laundry will not come out smelling like vinegar.
• If you like it for preventing static, either skip the dryer altogether (see below) or scrunch up a ball of aluminum foil and toss that in the dryer with your clothes.
• If you're not ready to give it up altogether, at least cut back. Instead of using fabric softener in every load, limit it to just your clothes or sheets (wherever you want that fragrance most) and maybe only use it every third or fourth time you wash.

3. Using dryer sheets

Dryer sheets are typically a synthetic material soaked in fabric softener (or a chemical solution similar to it). It's bad for your laundry and your machines for all the same reasons that fabric softener is.

They might be slightly less harmful overall compared with liquid fabric softener, so if you have to use one, it's the lesser of two evils. But your wallet and your clothes will be better off if you skip these, too.

4. Skipping out on the routine maintenance

With everything that's already on your list for proper home maintenance, it's easy to neglect your washing machine and dryer. They also don't tend to look dirty or in need of care, even if you haven't done any maintenance or cleaning in years. But neglecting the regular care of these appliances can shorten their lifespan.

For appliances that can easily cost you $1,000 apiece, you definitely want to get as many years as you can out of them. Here's what you can do to extend the life of your washing machine and dryer, according to Whirlpool:

• Remove lint from the lint filter on your dryer after every use. Deep clean it once every six months, more often if you use dryer sheets.
• For front-load machines, leave the doors open at all times to prevent moisture (and mold) buildup.
• Get the hoses and connections inspected (or check them yourself) every five years. You want to replace cracked or fraying parts before they fail and cause water damage in your home.
• Wipe down the door or lid seals on your machine after every use.
• Clean out the inside of both machines, including the lid seals, once a month (or once every 30 wash cycles). If you don't do laundry daily, calculate a rough estimate of how long it takes you to hit 30 wash cycles and set a calendar reminder to clean out your machines at those intervals. For example, if you do laundry three times per week, set a reminder every 10 weeks.
• Clean out the drain pump filter of your washing machine when you clean the inside of your machines.
• Clear out the dryer vent at least once a year. For shorter vents, you can do this yourself with the hose attachment on your vacuum and maybe a dryer cleaning brush. For longer or awkwardly placed vents, you might need to hire a pro.

5. Using your dryer for clothing

One frugal habit that's worth keeping, even if you don't need to pinch pennies, is skipping the dryer. It's rough on fabrics, even if clothing tags say it's safe to toss in there. It also uses electricity when hang-drying is free.

By skipping the dryer — at least for your clothing, if not the rest of your household linens — you can lower your electricity bill and get more wear out of your garments. That's a win-win for your wallet.

If you don't have room for a clothesline outside, you can stick a drying rack in any room of the house. I have been hang-drying my clothes for a decade, and not once have I hung them outside.

They take longer to dry than they would in a dryer, of course. But it's easy enough to adapt to. I do laundry at night, then let them hang dry overnight.

That's also a bonus tip: If you're on a rate plan with peak and off-peak pricing, do your laundry during off-peak hours so you're spending less per load on electricity.

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Tired of watching your grocery bill climb higher each year? You might be tempted to move to a lower-cost-of-living area to help cut your monthly budget.

Whether that move really makes a difference depends on from where you're coming. Even the cheapest city on the list is only paying 9.7% less than the national average on groceries.

If you're moving from San Francisco or another city with the most expensive groceries, the price difference at the store will be more dramatic. But if your current town is close to the national average already, you might hardly notice a change in your monthly spending.

With that in mind, I analyzed the latest grocery pricing data from the Council for Community and Economic Research to find the cities where people pay the least to feed their families.

I then compared those grocery budgets to median household income data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-Year Data (2009-2023).

Take a look at which cities are spending the least to keep their fridges stocked.

Cheap groceries aren't always affordable groceries

It's important to note that cheap doesn't always mean affordable. With a wide variation in incomes from one town to the next, groceries are a much bigger strain on the budget in most of these towns, even if they're paying below the national average.

That's because prices alone can't tell you how affordable groceries would be if you moved to one of these cities.

Financial experts typically suggest you keep your grocery budget at 15% or less of your take-home pay. When you factor in median household income, not one of the 10 cities below met that recommendation, despite paying less than the national average to put food on the table.

1. Grand Forks, North Dakota

• 9.7% cheaper than national average
• Median household income: $63,627
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,154
• Grocery spend to income: 21.76%

Residents of Grand Forks are enjoying the lowest grocery bills in the United States. With a median household income of $63,627, groceries still take up more than 15% of their household income, despite being the cheapest in the country. However, food is more affordable here than it is in most other cities on this list.

2. Minot, North Dakota

• 8.9% cheaper than national average
• Median household income: $73,219
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,155
• Grocery spend to income: 18.94%

Minot might only rank second place when looking at the prices on store shelves, but the North Dakota city ranks first among the cities on this list for affordability.

With a median income of $73,219, the typical Minot household spends less than 19% of earnings on groceries. That's still higher than the 15% recommended cap — but it's a lot less strain on the wallet than many other cities on this list.

3. Jonesboro, Arkansas

• 8.9% cheaper than national average
• Median household income: $51,672
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,164
• Grocery spend to income: 27.03%

Jonesboro, Arkansas is an excellent example of why cheap doesn't always mean affordable. At 8.9% below the national average, grocery prices here are exactly the same as what Minot residents are paying.

But the dramatic difference in median household income makes those prices far less affordable to Jonesboro residents, where groceries eat up over 27% of their budget.

4. Ponca City, Oklahoma

• 8.6% cheaper than national average
• Median household income: $55,941
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,179
• Grocery spend to income: 25.29%

Groceries are 8.6% cheaper than the national average in Ponca City, OK. Residents here earn $55,941 per year and spend $14,148 of that on food. Once you account for housing and other fixed expenses, that makes the budget tight when it comes to long-term savings goals or any leisure activities that might be hoping to enjoy.

5. Joplin, Missouri

• 8.4% cheaper than national average
• Median household income: $52,097
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,177
• Grocery spend to income: 27.11%

Coming in at 5th place, Joplin pays 8.4% below the national average at the grocery store. On average, a typical household here will spend $14,127 per year to keep food in the pantry, which represents more than 27% of that household's income.

One other point to note is that Missouri is one of the 10 states that still taxes groceries, with a 1.225% food sales tax — and cities and counties can also charge their own tax rates. Joplin has a sales tax rate of 3.125%, although some areas of the city have lower rates due to special taxing districts.

6. Meridian, Mississippi

• 8.3% cheaper than national average
• Median household income: $36,562
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,187
• Grocery spend to income: 38.96%

While the prices seen on store shelves are low compared to the national average, groceries are the least affordable in Meridian, MS. With the typical household spending about $1,187 per month on food yet only earning a median household income of $36,562, keeping your family fed is expensive here.

The typical household will see nearly 39% of their income going toward food. After other household expenses, that doesn't leave much leftover for saving or leisure.

7. Springfield, Missouri

• 7.8% cheaper than national average
• Median household income: $54,414
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,182
• Grocery spend to income: 26.07%

If you live in Springfield, MO, you're paying 7.8% less than other cities to put food on the table. With a median household income of $54,414, however, that's not exactly affordable. A typical household is putting over 26% of their income toward food right now.

8. Fayetteville, Arkansas

• 7.7% cheaper than national average
• Median household income: $66,237
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,179
• Grocery spend to income: 21.36%

In Fayetteville, you can expect to spend 7.7% less than the national average on groceries. That translates to a monthly food bill of $1,179 for most households in the city. With one of the higher median household incomes among cities on this list, that grocery bill makes the family budget tight. But, it's not nearly as strained as budgets in some of the other cities on this list.

9. Pittsburg, Kansas

• 7.7% cheaper than national average
• Median household income: $43,419
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,184
• Grocery spend to income: 32.72%

Residents of Pittsburg, KS are fairing only slightly better than those living in Meridian, MS. While they enjoy the ninth cheapest groceries in the nation, a low median household income means those cheap groceries are still eating up over 32% of their income.

10. Tupelo, Mississippi

• 7.7% cheaper than national average
• Median household income: $66,257
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,180
• Grocery spend to income: 21.37%

Elvis Presley's hometown is also home to some of the cheapest groceries in the nation. With food prices coming in at 7.7% below the national average, residents of the fabled Mississippi town spend about $1,180 on food every month on average.

With a relatively high median household income compared to other cities on this list, that food budget accounts for just a little over 21% of a typical family's income. That's still higher than the 15% cap many financial experts recommend, but it's a lot less of a strain than it is in Meridian, MS where residents pay slightly less for groceries but take home about half the median income compared to Tupelo.

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If you're planning a post-retirement move and looking for the cheapest places to retire, the grocery prices in these cities might make you reconsider.

Grocery prices are surging everywhere, but some cities have been hit harder than others. To figure out which places are feeling the pinch the most, I analyzed the latest grocery pricing data from the Council for Community and Economic Research to identify the 10 cities where residents are paying even more than the national average at the grocery store.

I also gathered data on median incomes for each city to estimate how much of a household's income was going toward putting food on the table, and the numbers might surprise you.

How high grocery costs stack up against expert recommendations

Financial experts typically recommend that you spend no more than 10% to 15% of your take home pay on groceries. That's your after-tax income.

Almost none of these cities met that benchmark. Using pretax income data, nine of 10 cities had average monthly grocery costs that exceeded 15% of household income — meaning the share of take-home pay going toward food is even higher.

The USDA's monthly cost of food reports outline what a balanced, nutritious diet should cost nationwide. Based on the latest USDA food plan report, a four-person household should spend from $1,013.20 to $1,668.20 per month, depending on how thrifty they want to be.

But in all these cities, the average monthly grocery bill is closer to the USDA’s "liberal plan," the agency's most generous estimate for a healthy monthly food budget, than it is to the "thrifty" estimate.

See which cities made the list and how much residents spend to keep their kitchens stocked.

Honolulu, Hawaii

• 36.3% more expensive
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,674
• Median household income: $86,169
• Grocery spend to income: 23.32%

Living full-time in paradise will cost you. Residents of Honolulu pay 36.3% more than the national average to eat.

On average, households earn $86,169 per year and spend $20,094 of that on groceries every year. That's over 23% of income going toward food.

Juneau, Alaska

• 28.9% more expensive
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,627
• Median household income: $101,661
• Grocery spend to income: 19.21%

Three Alaskan cities made the list for most expensive groceries, and Juneau's food bill was the highest of the three. Residents here pay 28.9% more than the national average. A typical household brings home $101,661 before taxes and spends $19,524 of that on groceries.

That makes it even less affordable than Honolulu in terms of how much income goes toward food, with grocery spend accounting for 19.21% of a household's income.

Fairbanks, Alaska

• 25.9% more expensive
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,566
• Median household income: $73,534
• Grocery spend to income: 25.56%

Fairbanks might only have the second-most-expensive groceries in Alaska, but income here is spread thinner than it is anywhere else in the state. With a median household income of $73,534 and an average annual grocery bill of $18,792, the typical household spends 2% of its earnings on food.

That makes this the least affordable city for groceries on this list.

Anchorage, Alaska

• 25.1% more expensive
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,569
• Median household income: $105,356
• Grocery spend to income: 17.84%

Alaska's capital isn't faring much better than Juneau or Fairbanks. With prices here 25.1% higher than the national average, Anchorage residents spend $18,831 per year on groceries on average. That's 17.84% of the median household income of $105,536.

San Francisco, California

• 19% more expensive
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,469
• Median household income: $139,801
• Grocery spend to income: 12.61%

San Francisco wouldn't be most people's first thought when it comes to "affordable." It's one of the most expensive cities in which to live. But when you compare the average grocery spend with the median income in the city by the bay, the typical household spends just 12.61% of its earnings to keep the fridge stocked.

That makes it the only city on this list where a household earning the median income for the region can follow the recommendation to spend 15% or less of their budget on food.

Oakland, California

• 19% more expensive
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,436
• Median household income: $102,235
• Grocery spend to income: 16.86%

San Francisco might stand out for the "affordability" of groceries, but its neighbor to the east tells a different story. At 19% above the national average, prices are technically the same in Oakland as they are in San Francisco.

But when you factor in the lower median household income, the cost to keep a household fed takes up nearly 17% of that income. That's close to the 15% recommendation, but still reflects a slight strain on the wallet.

San Diego, California

• 15% more expensive
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,429
• Median household income: $109,132
• Grocery spend to income: 15.72%

Surf's up, and so are grocery prices in San Diego. Residents here see price tags that are 15% above the national average. Fortunately, they also enjoy one of the higher median household incomes among the cities on this list.

When factoring in their income, a San Diego household spends just 15.72% of their budget on food. That's almost in line with expert recommendations of 10% to 15%.

Alexandria, Virginia

• 14.6% more expensive
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,398
• Median household income: $124,593
• Grocery spend to income: 13.46%

While grocery prices are nearly 15% above the national average in Alexandria, VA, incomes are also high in the Washington, DC suburb. With households earning a median income of $124,593 and spending $16,776 per year on food, a typical Alexandria family's monthly grocery budget is right in line with expert recommendations.

San Jose, California

• 14.5% more expensive
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,407
• Median household income: $148,226
• Grocery spend to income: 11.39%

While San Jose, CA faces grocery prices that are 14.5% higher than the national average, most residents can shrug those above average prices off.

With a median household income of $148,226 and an average grocery spend of $16,884, San Joseans earn the most and spend the least on food compared to every other city on this list. Groceries take up just 11.39% of a typical household's pre-tax income.

Miami-Dade County, Florida

• 14.4% more expensive
• Average monthly grocery spend: $1,393
• Median household income: $76,184
• Grocery spend to income: 21.94%

The typical household in this Florida beach town earns $76,184 per year and spends $16,716 of that on food. That's nearly 22% of a household's income going toward stocking the pantry.

Between above average grocery prices and a lower median household income, Miami-Dade is the third least affordable city on this list — outranked only by Fairbanks, AK, and Honolulu, HI.

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It’s always a good time to get a good deal. But as tariffs take effect on some imported goods — and as the Trump administration continues to negotiate tariffs with other countries — you may be especially interested right now in how you can save money while you shop.

Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine has taken the time to assess how you can find deals this year on investments, groceries, electronics, clothing, cars and travel, as well as how to take advantage of credit card perks — with a special emphasis on finding deals for products and services most prone to rising prices as the trade war evolves. In this article, we look at deals on groceries. (See below to find links to our other articles about deals.)

Egg prices grabbed headlines earlier this year when they shot up because of an avian flu outbreak, but prices on many other grocery items have risen, too.

U.S. food prices increased by 23.6% from 2020 to 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service.

You can use apps and websites such as Flipp and Flashfood to save money at the grocery store, says Phil Lempert, food-marketing expert and founder of SupermarketGuru.com, a food-industry website.

With Flipp, you can enter your ZIP code to see digital versions of weekly circulars from nearby supermarkets. You can also use Flipp to add coupons directly to your account with the loyalty programs of some stores.

With Flashfood, stores including Giant, Giant Eagle and Meijer offer discounts of up to 50% on meat, produce and other items that are nearing their sell-by dates.

And through the Ibotta app, you can get cash back on certain items purchased at many grocers.

Lempert also recommends shopping at discount food chains such as Aldi and Trader Joe’s. You may save up to 30% on purchases at these stores compared with other supermarkets, he says.

In addition, consider buying store-brand versions of foods, which may cost 20% to 30% less than name brands.

Take advantage of your supermarket's rewards program

If you’re a member of your grocer’s loyalty program, you may get discounts on certain purchases or collect points that you can redeem for groceries, gas or other items.

Albertsons, which owns Safeway, Vons and Jewel-Osco, has a free program that offers one point for every $1 you spend on groceries. Every 100 points you earn is worth a $1 discount at checkout or a 10-cent discount on fuel at participating gas stations.

After you sign up for Kroger’s free rewards program, you’ll get access to weekly specials and sales, and you can clip coupons through your digital account with Kroger.

Plus, collect one point for every dollar you spend on groceries and general merchandise at the store; points are exchangeable for discounts on fuel at participating gas stations.

Join a CSA

If you buy a lot of fruit and vegetables, signing up for a community-supported agriculture program may be a cost-effective way to get your produce.

With a CSA, you buy a share of a local farm’s harvest. In return for an annual membership fee, which may run a few hundred dollars, you’ll get a variety of fresh produce weekly or biweekly from the farm throughout the harvest season.

You can search for a CSA near you with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s local directory and at LocalHarvest.org.

Note: This item first appeared in Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine, a monthly, trustworthy source of advice and guidance. Subscribe to help you make more money and keep more of the money you make here.

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If you're exhausted by high grocery prices, you're not alone. Overall, food prices have surged 31% since 2019. While inflation has steadied somewhat, rising 2.4% year-over-year in June, that really only means your already-high grocery bill is getting higher — just at a slower pace.

When you zoom in on specific items, the story is more complicated. Overall food inflation might be dipping closer to the Federal Reserve's 2% target, but certain goods are still seeing double-digit inflation. According to the latest CPI data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, egg prices are up 27.3% year-over-year, while coffee and ground beef are up 16.3% and 10.3%, respectively.

Rates were held steady, as expected, at the July Federal Reserve meeting, which concluded Wednesday.

Now, you might be wondering if there's any hope for an upcoming cut in the federal funds rate, and if a cut would bring grocery prices down. Here's a breakdown of the relationship between interest rates and food prices, along with a more in-depth look at why prices are so high and the future outlook for your grocery bill.

Does the federal interest rate impact grocery prices?

What impact, if any, federal interest rates have on grocery prices is tricky to pinpoint. The basic principle behind how the Federal Reserve works is that interest rates control the money supply. When rates are high, money is expensive to borrow, so consumers tighten their belts in an effort to spend only the cash they have on hand and avoid using credit or taking out major loans. When rates are low, the opposite happens.

In theory, then, high interest rates should curb inflation by decreasing demand as consumers spend less. In reality, the actual impact the federal funds rate has on inflation varies depending on the market you're talking about and the underlying causes of inflation.

In the case of groceries, the impact is, at best, subtle and indirect. No matter how expensive money is to borrow and no matter how high grocery prices get, people need to eat. While there are ways to save on groceries by shopping sales or opting for generic alternatives to name-brand products, there's only so much cost-cutting you can do here because you still have to eat.

That's led to a somewhat disturbing trend of more and more shoppers turning to buy now, pay later (BNPL) apps and services like Klarna or AfterPay to finance their grocery purchases. A recent LendingTree survey found that 25% of BNPL users are using the short-term loans to pay for groceries, citing the need to "bridge" the gap from one paycheck to the next.

On the business side, interest rates could indirectly affect grocery prices by raising the cost of the money retailers use to pay for inventory. If retailers are hit with higher interest rates on loans and credit used to keep shelves stocked, they may pass some of those higher costs on to you. But calculating just how much of today's sky-high grocery prices are the result of higher borrowing costs isn't straightforward and will vary from one retailer to the next.

To whatever extent higher borrowing costs are inflating grocery prices, a rate cut might help bring your bill down, assuming retailers choose to pass those savings on to you.

Why are groceries so much more expensive?

Even if interest rates are partly to blame for rising grocery prices, other factors have had a much bigger impact on your bill.

It's also important to keep in mind that while the federal funds rate can impact grocery prices, grocery prices also impact the federal funds rate. The Fed looks to prices and inflation to decide what to do to best help the economy. For example, they raised interest rates in the wake of the pandemic because prices were high.

With that in mind, here are some of the key drivers of past and future inflation on your grocery bill:

• Supply chain disruptions. The pandemic broke down already weak supply chains, creating shortages and sending prices soaring faster than they had since 1979. While things have since stabilized, an FTC report published last year found that retailers have kept their prices high despite no longer facing those same supply chain issues.
• Extreme weather. As the climate warms, searing heat and more frequent natural disasters are decimating crops worldwide. This can create a ripple effect of shortages, impacting not just the cost of that produce item, but any of the packaged foods that use that ingredient.
• Tariffs. It's hard to keep track of what's going on with President Donald Trump's tariffs. But, so far, shoppers have already seen costs go up on certain specialty foods like coffee, chocolate and produce that can't be grown in the United States. Depending on where trade negotiations end up, more foods could see tariff-related price increases or the ones already facing tariffs could become even more expensive.
• Farm worker shortages. One side effect of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown is a shortage of farm workers in the United States. According to the USDA, 42% of farmworkers are undocumented immigrants. With many either deported, detained or too scared to show up to work, crops are going unharvested. This will lead to a combination of food shortages and more dependence on imported crops (which may carry tariffs).

How to save on groceries

You might not have much control over macroeconomic policy or global weather patterns, but there are simple strategies you can use to counteract those soaring grocery bills.

Here are some of the most effective methods to try:

• Join your grocery store's loyalty program. These are often free to join and come with special deals and early alerts to upcoming discounts.
• Use cash back cards with elevated rates for groceries. While no credit card offers enough cash back to make up for the 31% inflation in grocery prices since 2019, some have surprisingly generous rewards, especially on groceries. Earning those rewards helps put some of that money back in your pocket. See our best cash back credit cards of 2025.
• Take advantage of deals to stock up on non-perishable items. If your favorite shelf-stable foods or household essentials are on sale, stock up. Just make sure not to stock up more than you can comfortably store at home.
• Plan meals with overlapping ingredients. You can often save by buying larger quantities of ingredients or at least minimize waste by using up what you've already bought. If you're buying a pound of carrots for a recipe that only needs one, look for another recipe to use up the rest of that bag.
• Join a warehouse club to take advantage of bulk discounts. Costco or Sam's Club are both known for everyday low prices on groceries and household essentials. If you haven't already joined one, do your research and compare the perks and products offered by each. You should also check which one has a location closest to you.

Like everyone else who needs to eat, we'll continue to keep an eye on grocery prices and look for ways to save, while remembering just how many factors go into the price of eggs.

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"I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so...This will be a very good move by them — You'll see. It's just better!"

That was President Donald Trump, in a recent post on his social media platform, touting that Coca-Cola would reportedly introduce an American-made version of its iconic soda sweetened with cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup.

Some versions of Coke already use cane sugar, including Coca-Cola sold in Mexico.

Coca-Cola has since revealed that it will launch an offering made with U.S. cane sugar as part of its product line.

“This addition is designed to complement the company’s strong core portfolio and offer more choices across occasions and preferences,” Coca-Cola reported in its Q2 2025 earnings release.

Still, the announcement has reignited debates about U.S. sugar policy and, in some cases, soda taxes.

Will consumers bear the costs of Trump’s push for cane sugar Coke? Here’s more of what you need to know.

Cane sugar vs corn syrup: Which is healthier?

The cane sugar Coke debate raises a key question: Why do many U.S. sodas use high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) instead of cane sugar? Well, it primarily comes down to cost and policy.

• Since the 1980s, U.S. rules, tariffs, and quotas have led to cane sugar being more expensive.
• Corn is subsidized by the federal government, which helps make HFCS cheaper for soda companies.

Taste-wise, some people say sodas with cane sugar, like “Mexican Coke,” taste cleaner or more natural. Others feel that HFCS-sweetened sodas are slightly sweeter.

But from a health effects perspective, both sweeteners are similar, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Specifically, the food agency reports that cane sugar (sucrose) and HFCS both contain about equal parts glucose and fructose, just arranged differently. On its website, the FDA states:

“We are not aware of any evidence... that there is a difference in safety between foods containing HFCS and those containing similar amounts of other nutritive sweeteners like sucrose.”

Meanwhile, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has said that “sugar is poison” when referencing health risks supposedly posed by high-fructose corn syrup.

Kennedy also applauded news that fast-food chain Steak ’n Shake would begin offering Coca-Cola sweetened with real cane sugar instead of corn syrup, tweeting “MAHA is winning” to endorse his so-called “Make America Healthy Again” campaign.

However, the main advice from many nutrition industry experts is to limit added sugars in your diet, regardless of the type.

Will cane sugar Coca-Cola cost more?

Cane sugar generally costs 20% to 40% more than HFCS, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data.

As mentioned, the price difference largely stems from import restrictions, tariffs, and higher production costs for cane sugar compared to subsidized domestic corn used to make HFCS.

Recent data show refined cane sugar priced at over 50 cents per pound. That’s roughly 12% higher than high fructose corn syrup.

Some industry groups explain that cane sugar also requires more processing than HFCS.

For example, the Sugar Association reports that the crystallization and refining process from fibrous cane stalks is energy-demanding, while HFCS production, although complex, is less energy-intensive.

If Coca-Cola were to swap out HFCS for cane sugar even partially, that ingredient cost increase alone could potentially push soda prices up by around 10%. Additional expenses could come from production changes and supply chain adjustments.

Corn Refiners Association President and CEO John Bode said the following in a statement on the organization's website regarding potential product reformulations:

“Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesn’t make sense….[It] would cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, depress farm income, and boost imports of foreign sugar, all with no nutritional benefit.”

Note: Coca-Cola has not released specifics regarding the price of any potential cane sugar version of its popular soda in the U.S.

Soda tax adds another layer in some cities

Beyond ingredients, local soda taxes (also known as sweetened beverage taxes) in several U.S. cities, like Philadelphia, Seattle, and Chicago (Cook County), can also impact the total price you pay at the register.

These taxes typically add 1 to 2 cents per ounce or levy extra sales taxes on sugary beverages, regardless of whether sweetened with cane sugar or HFCS. And soda/sweetened beverage taxes don’t change based on which sweetener is listed on the label.

Supporters say city-level soda taxes help curb excessive sugar consumption due to health concerns, like obesity and diabetes.

• Data show that purchases of sugary beverages declined, on average 27% due to the levies.
• Additionally, some areas reported public health improvements, including weight loss, lower rates of tooth decay and improved pregnancy outcomes.

However, critics argue that soda taxes disproportionately impact working families.

Also, some studies suggest that soda taxes alone may not lead to substantial changes in body mass index (BMI) or obesity prevalence due to factors like consumer substitution to other unhealthy foods and broader lifestyle issues.

Notably, as of 2025, at least three states — Arizona, Michigan, and Washington — have passed laws that specifically ban local governments from imposing new soda taxes.

What all this means for soda lovers

President Trump’s call for cane sugar Coke has sparked some debate about U.S. soda preferences. While the sugar switch resonates with some, the real impact may be felt more in consumers’ wallets than on their taste buds.

Cane sugar tends to be more expensive and could lead to potentially higher costs for consumers. If your goal is health-conscious consumption, many experts say the key is to moderate overall sugar intake, regardless of the sweetener used.

Ultimately, knowing the different factors at play can help empower you to make informed decisions about the sweetened beverages you buy.

Regarding a new Coke product line, the company has suggested that it may be introduced this fall. Stay tuned.

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Shoppers nationwide will soon have more options for their grocery shopping with 41 Trader Joe’s stores opening in 2025. Known for its quirky culture and affordable prices, Trader Joe’s stores may be part of a chain, but they deliver an experience that feels more like stopping into a local family-owned store.

The stores are smaller than many other grocery stores and have no self-checkouts, making for a more intimate shopping experience that many shoppers prefer.

In fact, in a ranking of the best and worst grocery store chains, Trader Joe's made the top of the list for the best chain in the United States.

Update: As of September 4, 21 of the 41 announced Trader Joe’s stores have already opened, while the rest remain forthcoming with no opening dates announced yet.

Where are the new Trader Joe’s stores opening?

According to Trader Joe’s store locator, new stores are scheduled to open in these locations in 2025:

Alabama

• Hoover, Alabama: 1771 Montgomery Highway - Now Open

Arizona

• Goodyear, Arizona – Address coming soon

California

• Northridge, California: 9224 Reseda Boulevard - Now Open
• Sherman Oaks, California: 14140 Riverside Drive - Now Open
• Tarzana, California: 18700 Ventura Boulevard - Now Open
• Tracy, California: 2530 Naglee Road - Now Open
• Yucaipa, California: 31545 Yucaipa Boulevard - Now Open
• Costa Mesa, California – Address coming soon
• La Verne, California – Address coming soon

Colorado

• Westminster, Colorado: 9350 Sheridan Boulevard - Now Open

Connecticut

• Hamden, Connecticut – Address coming soon
• Shelton, Connecticut – Address coming soon

District of Columbia

• Washington, DC: 5335 Wisconsin Avenue NW - Now Open
• Washington, DC: 701 Monroe Street NE - Now Open

Florida

• Melbourne, Florida – Address coming soon

Georgia

• Peachtree City, Georgia – Address coming soon

Louisiana

• New Orleans, Louisiana: 2501 Tulane Avenue - Now Open

Maryland

• Rockville, Maryland: 225 N Washington Street - Now Open

Massachusetts

• Boston, Massachusetts: 1999 Centre Street
• Newton, Massachusetts – Address coming soon

Missouri

• Columbia, Missouri – Address coming soon

New Jersey

• Iselin, New Jersey: 675 US-1

New York

• Glenmont, New York: 388 Feura Bush Road
• Miller Place, New York – Address coming soon
• Staten Island, New York: 6400 Amboy Road
• Williamsville, New York – Address coming soon

Oklahoma

• Broken Arrow, Oklahoma – Address coming soon
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: 6920 Northwest Expressway

Oregon

• Gresham, Oregon – Address coming soon

Pennsylvania

• Berwyn, Pennsylvania: 550 Lancaster Avenue
• Exton, Pennsylvania: 125 West Lincoln Highway

South Carolina

• Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: 115 Sayebrook Parkway

Texas

• Kingwood, Texas – Address coming soon
• Bee Cave, Texas – Address coming soon
• McKinney (West), Texas – Address coming soon
• San Antonio, Texas: 117451-10 West

Utah

• Holladay, Utah – Address coming soon
• Ogden–Riverdale, Utah – Address coming soon

Virginia

• Virginia Beach, Virginia – Address coming soon

Washington

• Bellingham, Washington: 4255 Meridian Street - Now Open
• Lacey, Washington – Address coming soon

Visit the company’s announcements page for the most recent store openings and updates.

Where have new Trader Joe’s stores already opened?

The grocery chain’s expansion is already well underway. As of early September, Trader Joe’s has opened new locations across multiple states, including Alabama, California, Colorado, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Washington and the District of Columbia.

Several other locations are still in the works, with openings yet to be announced. These include stores planned for Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New York, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.

While Trader Joe’s has confirmed the cities, specific opening dates and addresses have not yet been released.

What makes Trader Joe’s different?

If you don’t yet have a local store and haven't had the experience of shopping at Trader Joe’s, you may not yet be aware of why this national grocery store chain has developed such an enthusiastic following.

“Through our rewarding products and knowledgeable, friendly Crew Members, we have been transforming grocery shopping into a welcoming journey full of discovery and fun since 1967,” says the Trader Joe’s website.

Rather than stocking multiple brands of products, these stores feature only items under the Trader Joe’s brand. There are no sales, coupons, loyalty programs or membership cards to worry about, which makes shopping easy and straightforward.

Trader Joe’s is able to forego those money-saving specials because the company works to deliver consistently low prices through its unique approach. The company buys direct from suppliers when possible, and also buys in volume to ensure they get the best prices.

Additionally, while many other grocers charge suppliers fees for putting items on the shelf, resulting in higher prices, Trader Joe’s doesn’t follow this policy.

The result is a competitively-priced shopping experience that boosts customer trust and brand loyalty. But, with so many loyal Trader Joe’s shoppers, the stores are often crowded, making the addition of these new stores a welcome announcement for many shoppers.

Trader Joe’s expansion shows no signs of slowing down

If a location isn’t yet opening up near you, keep checking the Trader Joe’s website.

The fact that Trader Joe’s is opening new stores while so many other stores are cutting back on spending and closing locations indicates that the retailer is thriving.

Chances are, we may see even more new locations in the future.

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Tax season might be finished, but your tax breaks and certain federal benefits for next year are still uncertain.

Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives recently adopted the U.S. Senate’s amended budget resolution for President Donald Trump’s "one, big beautiful" tax policy package.

The blueprint mandates $4 trillion in spending cuts, while offsetting at least $1.5 trillion of the federal budget through cuts to such federal programs as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over a decade.

The projected federal cuts could impact as many as 41 million U.S. households that received SNAP benefits last year. In November, more than 79 million people were enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Despite opposition and concerns from several government officials and policy analysts, GOP lawmakers in the House and Senate are figuring out what will be included in Trump’s tax mega-bill, and which safety-net programs and popular tax breaks will be on the chopping block to make it happen.

Here’s what you need to know about Trump’s highly anticipated bill.

What’s included in Trump's tax cuts?

When Trump stepped into office for his second term, it was clear that his administration would have to tackle tax policy immediately. About seven years ago, Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) into law, which became the biggest tax overhaul since the Reagan era. But many of the TCJA’s key provisions are set to expire at the end of 2025.

As reported by Kiplinger, the TCJA impacted millions of taxpayers across the U.S., as it nearly doubled the standard deduction, repealed personal and dependent exemptions, and increased the Child Tax Credit (CTC). It also created a $500 tax credit for dependents.

The TCJA also doubled the estate tax exemption, cut the maximum income tax rate to 21%, and more. Many of those provisions are set to expire by the end of this year, so the Republican-led Congress needs to act fast.

What does Trump want to include in his ‘beautiful’ tax policy bill?

• First, the Trump administration is calling for a permanent extension of the TCJA, and adding polices such as no taxes on tips, overtime pay and Social Security benefits for retirees.
• Trump also proposed a deduction for auto loan interest for American-made cars.
• The bill might include changes to the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions.

Aside from major tax cuts, which some analysts argue benefit the wealthy, the legislative package also aims to impose policy changes on border security and energy. One proposal includes eliminating the $7,500 federal tax credit for EV purchases.

For recent updates, read Trump’s ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ With Trillions in Tax Cuts

SNAP and Medicaid programs face massive cuts

The budget plan that House Republicans adopted to extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts calls for slashing at least $1.5 trillion in federal spending in the next decade. Now, GOP lawmakers are deciding what’s on the chopping block.

The House budget resolution targets two major programs, which reportedly include:

• Medicaid cuts: Federal cuts of up to $880 billion (or $88 billion per year) in Medicaid in the next decade. Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides comprehensive health coverage for children and adults with limited income.
• States pay for SNAP: Federal cuts of at least $230 billion from Agriculture Committee programs through 2034 by making states pay for a portion of SNAP. SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, is a federal anti-hunger program that provides monthly funds to help low-income households purchase nutritious food.

According to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), it’s “unrealistic” to assume that most or all states could match the missing portion of federal funds. In fiscal year 2024, tax revenue fell in 40 states after being adjusted for inflation, with many states reportedly projecting looming budget deficits.

As an example, if Pennsylvania had to cover at least 10% of SNAP benefits last year, it would have had to pay nearly $427 million for families to not lose their food benefits. That’s about 1.5 times what the state spends on its entire community college system, the CBPP found.

“Let’s be clear: In this budget framework, there is no way to cut $1.5 trillion in spending while protecting health coverage through Medicaid and food assistance through SNAP,” said Sharon Parrott, CBPP president, regarding House passage of the congressional budget resolution.

Parrott says Congress should reduce Trump’s tax cuts and pay for them with “responsible, targeted revenue” and require corporations and the wealthy to pay their fair share.

At the same time, Rep. Alma S. Adams (D-N.C.) characterized the GOP budget blueprint as “disastrous.”

Can tariffs fund Trump’s tax cuts?

Trump has suggested that tariffs would cover the cost of the bill. However, economists say that Trump’s tax cuts are projected to cost more than tariff revenue can generate.

According to the Penn Wharton Budget Model, enacting Trump's major tax cuts would cost $7.7 trillion, including eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits, income tax on tips, and overtime pay.

• The Yale Budget Lab estimates that Trump’s tariffs as of April 15 raise up to $2.4 trillion in the next decade, with $631 billion in negative dynamic revenue effects.
• The Tax Foundation projected that some of Trump’s universal tariffs alone would raise $3.4 trillion.

That doesn’t count potential economic downturns, which forecasters say could be unraveled by the Trump administration’s recent tariff announcements and escalating trade war.

A poll of more than 300 of the United States' top executives found that more than 60% expect a recession or economic downturn within the next six months due to tariffs. That’s up from 48% who said the same in March.

“This budget architecture was terrible a couple of months ago,” added Parrott. “It is a far worse plan at a moment when the president’s tariffs, chaotically crafted and applied, have caused business uncertainty to soar and raised the risk of a recession, higher unemployment, and surging prices.”

What’s next

As reported by Kiplinger, tariffs on imported goods are regressive taxes that raise prices for U.S. businesses and consumers. It’s clear that tariffs on their own won’t be enough to fund Trump’s planned tax cuts.

Looking forward, Republican lawmakers will have to weigh which popular tax breaks and deductions could be eliminated or reduced to make their budget work. Federal spending cuts worth trillions of dollars could also impact social programs such as Medicaid and SNAP, putting at risk millions of households that depend on those benefits for health care and food security.

Stay tuned to Kiplinger as we report on how Trump’s tax policy agenda could impact you.

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If you’re tired of spending a fortune every time you go to the grocery store, this viral budgeting method could help. The 6-to-1 grocery method, popularized on TikTok by Chef Will Coleman, can help make grocery shopping easier and put more money in your pocket.

Even though inflation is cooling, grocery prices remain elevated, putting a strain on many household’s budgets, and the last inflation report actually showed a jump in food prices. The food at home index rose 0.4% in September, with a 2.3% increase for all food items over the previous year. Meats, poultry, fish and eggs rose 3.9% over the previous year.

High prices have led many individuals to try alternative budgeting methods, like the 60/30/10 method, to more effectively manage their money. The 6-to-1 grocery method tackles one particular aspect of your spending — grocery shopping.

The 6-to-1 grocery method

The 6-to-1 grocery method provides structure to your grocery list, making shopping easier and more cost-effective. Next time you go to the supermarket, you’ll buy six vegetables, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces/spreads and one "fun" item as a treat.

“This makes grocery shopping way easier, way cheaper and you get in and out, so you’re not there all day long,” Chef Coleman says in a TikTok explaining the method.

Before you go to the store, you may want to have an idea of some meal concepts you plan on cooking in order to narrow down your choices, but the method itself is meant to provide flexibility.

You might choose to buy what’s on sale (even if it’s not the vegetables or meat you initially planned on purchasing) to further increase your savings. Maybe you need to opt for frozen veggies instead of fresh ones. Or maybe you have a large family and need to increase the quantity of food you buy. Overall, the method is supposed to be adapted to your personal preferences and needs.

Tom Jauncey, CEO at Nautilus Marketing told Kiplinger he saves $50 a week by using this method and recommends it for individuals who want to streamline grocery shopping while saving money.

Health.com provides a great example of what a 6-to-1 grocery list looks like and what meals you can make with those ingredients.

Using the above ingredients, you can make the following five meals.

Of course, you likely have other essentials on your list that aren't included in the method. For example, I burn through coffee beans so quickly that I usually grab a bag every other time I grocery shop. In cases like this, you don't have to sacrifice or eliminate these purchases entirely but rather incorporate them into the overall 6-to-1 plan. Think about what is essential and what you can get by without.

Not only can the method help you save money and eliminate impulse purchases, but it also reduces food waste, saves time and makes it easier to eat healthy.

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If you’re looking to save on groceries and household items, joining a warehouse club can help. But which one should you join? If you’re looking for the one with the cheapest membership cost, it’s likely Sam’s Club — especially now thanks to the retailer’s new deal. Owned and operated by Walmart, which is already known for its low prices, Sam’s Club offers even further discounts on a variety of items, especially when you buy in bulk.

Sam’s Club, which operates over 600 locations nationwide, has two membership tiers — Club and Plus. While both memberships offer instant savings, same-day delivery, members only fuel savings and more, the Plus membership also adds on a number of other benefits, including pharmacy and optical savings and free curbside pickup.

Both memberships are available at a discount right now.

Sam's Club membership deals

Club membership: Typically, a standard Club membership costs $50 a year, but thanks to the company’s new promotion, if you open a Club membership and set it for auto-renewal anytime until February 28, 2025, you’ll save 50%.

This means you’ll pay only $25 for a year-long membership. However, the offer is only available to new members or former members who have not been a member for the last six months prior to the current date. Those with a current membership are not eligible.

To score the discount, you’ll need to sign-up through this link.

If you’re torn between joining Sam’s Club or Costco, this new deal can definitely help you narrow down your decision. Costco’s basic Gold membership costs $60.00 annually and its Executive membership costs $120 a year. Even with this Costco membership deal, which offers $20 to $40 off a membership, you’ll still end up paying more than at Sam’s Club.

And with a Sam’s Club credit card, you can save even more. In fact, the Sam's Club Mastercard was also ranked as a winner in the fuel category of Kiplinger’s 2024 best cash back credit cards. With it, Sam’s Club members will earn 5% cash back on up to $6,000 spent each year on gas or EV charging, then 1% for the remainder of the year. Plus, you’ll get a $30 statement credit when you open a new account and make $30 in Sam’s Club purchases within 30 days, helping you save even more.

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Grocery and household retailer Aldi has introduced a new line of discount wines — the California Heritage Collection — to compete with Trader Joe's Charles Shaw wine, aka Two Buck Chuck.

Aldi is known for its selection of groceries, pet supplies, personal care items, home décor and household necessities, all at discount prices. As of February 16th, Aldi now offers the California Heritage Collection a collection of discount wines to complement its already available collection of moderately-priced wines.

Aldi's line of nine red and white wines gives shoppers the opportunity to sample California wines year-around without the high price tag. The Collection features a variety of popular grapes, including Merlot, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, all priced for $4.95 each. 

Here's the full list of what just hit the shelves:

• California Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon
• California Heritage Merlot
• California Heritage Pinot Noir
• California Heritage Chardonnay
• California Heritage Moscato
• California Heritage Pink Moscato
• California Heritage Sweet Red
• California Heritage Brut Sparkling
• California Heritage Extra Dry Sparkling

The California Heritage Collection expands Aldi's globally-sourced wines found in its Specially Selected Wine Collection, which were introduced in September 2023. As noted by the grocer in a press release, most of these wines are priced under $10. 

A few of the wines available in the Specially Selected Collection include:

• Argentina: Uco Valley Malbec - $7.99
• Italy: Alto Adige Pinot Grigio - $9.99
• France: Côtes de Provence Rosé - $9.99
• New Zealand: Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc - $9.99

"As more people are opting for value and the steady growth in wine sales, Aldi saw an opportunity to bring another wine option to consumers, sourced right here in the United States," said Arlin Zajmi, director of national buying at Aldi, according to Eat This, Not That! "The California Heritage Collection was created to bring famous California vineyards directly to Aldi shoppers, without the high California vineyard price tag."

Besides wine, Aldi also offers other alcoholic beverages, such as hard seltzer, hard cider and beer. The grocery chain doesn't sell liquor. But not all Aldi locations sell alcoholic beverages, as certain states and cities do not permit the sale of alcohol in grocery stores. Check your local store for availability.

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Do you have a favorite grocery chain you do all your shopping at? Or do you choose where you shop based on which stores have the best prices? A new study from Solitaired has determined both the best and worst grocery store chains, along with the worst individual grocery stores across the country. The results may surprise you.

For the study, Solitaire compared Google reviews from the 100 most populated cities in the United States in 2023, focusing on the first 30 grocery store results in each city. They used these 3,000 individual grocery store review pages in order to determine where certain grocery stores stood out or fell short for their customer service, prices, speed of checkout lines and food quality. Here’s what they found.

Best grocery chains

Starting off on a positive note, these are the best grocery store chains across the country, along with their average star rating.

• 1. Trader Joes: 4.638
• 2. Costco: 4.600
• 3. Wegmans: 4.600
• 4. Publix: 4.510
• 5. Central Market: 4.491
• 6. HEB: 4.478
• 7. WinCo Foods: 4.464
• 8. Lidl: 4.443
• 9. Aldi: 4.439
• 10. The Fresh Market: 4.433

When comparing the top individual grocery stores in the U.S., nine out of ten were Trader Joe's. Coming in second place was Central Market in Fort Worth, TX. Based on the results above, your nearest Trader Joe’s is probably one of your best options when it comes to grocery shopping. However, while you’ll likely have a positive customer experience at Trader Joe’s, you may find it lacking on one department — produce. According to Eat This Not That, several customers have issues with Trader Joe’s produce section, encouraging shoppers to focus on TJ’s frozen foods and to go elsewhere to buy their fresh vegetables. Additionally, they found that assessments of Costco’s produce were divisive, citing both positive and negative reviews.

Before you go: check out these 18 things you should know before shopping at Trader Joe’s.

Worst grocery chains

On the other hand, these are the grocery chains that ranked at the bottom of the list, along with their average star rating.

• 1. King Soopers: 3.938
• 2. Save A Lot: 4.019
• 3. Kroger: 4.023 stars
• 4. Walmart: 4.024
• 5. Giant Eagle: 4.040
• 6. ACME: 4.063
• 7. Safeway: 4.071
• 8. Piggly Wiggly: 4.075
• 9. Jewel-Osco: 4.140
• 10. Fred Meyer: 4.170

When looking at the top worst specific grocery stores across the country, six out of ten are Walmart locations, although Giant Eagle Supermarket in Pittsburgh, PA was found to be the worst store overall. Safeway in Denver, CO also made the list, as did Kroger in Columbus, OH.

Although the low prices may be attractive to many customers, Walmart scored the top spot on Eat This Not That's list of worst grocery chains for fresh produce, and was on the bottom of the American Customer Satisfaction Index ranking of general merchandise retailers for 2023.

Meanwhile, grocery prices continue to rise, making it even more frustrating for shoppers dealing with poor store conditions. Essentials like eggs, dairy and meat have seen price hikes, forcing consumers to stretch their budgets further. If you're looking for ways to cut food costs, check out Egg Prices Soar: Use These Cards to Lower Food Costs for credit card strategies that can help you save.

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Amazon has begun to make hundreds of its Whole Foods 365 private-label products available for nationwide shipping via its website, a move that comes just days after reports surfaced of the company's plan to open up its Amazon Fresh delivery service to non-prime members.

The world’s largest e-commerce company has unveiled a new store design for Amazon Fresh, the brand name for its online and physical grocery store. While anyone can shop at an Amazon Fresh store, until now only prime members were able to place grocery orders for delivery. 

Amazon has also announced that Fresh is now offering grocery delivery to non-prime members in 12 metro areas: Austin, Texas; Boston; Charlotte, N.C.; Dallas-Fort Worth; Denver; Nashville, Tennessee; Phoenix; Portland, Oregon; Richmond, Virginia; Sacramento, California; San Diego; and San Francisco.

Higher fees for non-members

Delivery fees will be higher for non-Prime members than those with Prime accounts, who are also eligible for the added perk of free shipping as well as a savings of up to 15% on recurring orders by using Subscribe and Save.

For non-Prime members, delivery fees will be  $7.95 for orders over $100, and $10.95 for deliveries of $50-$100. The fee for deliveries of under $50 is $13.95. Pick-up orders are free for select metro areas. Prime members pay $4 less in each of those tiers for delivery but pay nothing for orders over $150.

In a blog post, Claire Peters, Amazon Fresh worldwide vice president, provided details of Amazon Fresh grocery stores in Chicago that have undergone the design refresh. She said the design emphasizes the company's expanded selection of products, lower prices and greater convenience.

Amazon has added hundreds of new national and private label products, Peters said. It has continued to lower prices while addsing thousands of items and tripling the size of its promotion plan to deliver millions of dollars in savings to customers, she added. The company has also expanded its checkout options, including an updated Dash Cart and self-checkout kiosks.

“We’re always looking for more ways to make grocery shopping easy, fast and affordable for all of our customers, and are excited to offer Amazon Fresh grocery delivery to customers without a Prime membership in a dozen U.S. cities,” Peters said.

Amazon acquired Whole Foods in 2017 and has slowly brought the two brands closer with promotional offerings including Prime Member Weekday Deals, cash back offers and free Amazon pickups and returns in-store at Whole Foods locations.

•  33 Best Amazon Prime Benefits to Use in 2023
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As if grocery prices weren’t high enough, some states levy a “food tax” which adds an extra financial burden on families.

As many as 18 million households experience food insecurity in the U.S., according to the latest government data, with another 6.8 million unable to afford enough groceries due to insufficient funds. Although 82.1% of the U.S. population can afford food, rising grocery prices in 2025 could cause a shift in those numbers.

Some folks have it worse than others, as a handful of states continue to charge a food tax, sometimes adding up to 10% or more at the checkout. That means some families spend more than $10 on sales tax for every $100 of groceries they buy.

If you live in one of these states, you could be paying significantly more on your grocery bill, which can quickly add up for families already feeling the effects of inflation.

Here’s a look at which states still have a food or grocery sales tax in 2025.

(Note: Local sales tax may still apply in some states that have exempted groceries at the state level.)

New: First the Penny, Now the Nickel? The New Math Behind Your Checkout Total

Food Tax

Why states tax groceries 

Grocery taxes can generate significant revenue for states, which is allocated and often used, to fund essential departments such as education and transportation.

Of the 10 states that still tax groceries, less than a handful impose reduced rates.

Additionally, two recently states eliminated their grocery taxes — with one having repealed its tax this year.

• Some states offer a grocery tax credit that helps offset taxes paid throughout the year.
• Lawmakers in several states have introduced bills to reduce or eliminate taxes on groceries over the past few years.

Here are the states that still impose a statewide tax on groceries as of January 2026.

Alabama

Alabama still taxes groceries, but the state passed legislation to reduce Alabama's grocery tax by 2%. The first 1% cut reduced the state's tax rate from 4% to 3%.

The second 1% tax cut occurred in September 2025, so as of 2026, Alabama’s state grocery tax stands at 2%.

Overall, the food tax reduction doesn’t apply to local tax jurisdictions. So, in areas where the local and combined sales tax rate is 10% (such as Montgomery), Alabama residents still pay a 9% tax when they visit the grocery store.

Related: Will a $1,000 Overtime Deduction Restore Your Take-Home Pay?

Hawaii

Although Hawaii doesn’t technically have a sales tax, the state does have an excise tax, which is passed to consumers and reflected in retail prices.

This tax applies to groceries. The tax rate averages 4% in Hawaii, according to Tax Foundation data.

However, eligible residents may claim a Hawaii grocery tax credit to help offset the tax on groceries. There are several requirements for claiming the state's grocery tax credit, and federal adjusted gross income (AGI) is a factor.

• For the previous tax year, single filers with an AGI of $40,000 or more ($60,000 for joint filers) couldn’t claim the credit.
• Those those listed to claim the credit, must have been in Hawaii for more than nine months of the taxable year to be eligible.

Idaho

Idaho taxes groceries at the full 6% state sales tax rate. However, the state offers a grocery tax credit. The refund averages $155 for most Idaho residents, according to the Idaho State Tax Commission.

Idahoans may also receive a credit for each qualifying dependent. Part-year residents may receive a partial grocery tax credit.

Note: An initiative to get a repeal the state's 6% grocery tax on most food items on the November 2026 ballot is currently circulating in Idaho. Stay tuned.

Mississippi

Mississippi recently reduced its sales tax on groceries in July, from 7% to 5%.

The decrease follows a measure that passed earlier this year, which is set to reduce the tax to 2.5% by 2036, decreasing by 0.2% annually. Still, some lawmakers are unsure whether lowering grocery taxes will support revenue growth.

Separately, efforts to reduce the state’s income tax have also been successful. As a result, some Mississippians began paying less income tax last year.

Missouri

Missouri is another state with a reduced tax on groceries. The state currently imposes a 1.225% food sales tax, at least through December 31, 2026, and cities and counties can charge their own sales tax rates.

Local tax rates alone can exceed 8% in some areas of the state, according to the Tax Foundation.

According to local reports, some Missouri lawmakers are considering eliminating the grocery tax to support low-income families.

No concrete proposals have been pushed forward, so for now, Missourians are stuck with grocery taxes.

South Dakota

A four-year “tax holiday” reduces South Dakota’s sales tax rate, including the tax on groceries, from 4.5% to 4.2%. This temporary tax cut took effect on July 1, 2023.

As of February 2026, there is active legislation (SB 195) being discussed to make the 4.2% rate permanent, as it was originally a temporary "holiday" scheduled to revert to 4.5% in 2027

Some South Dakota lawmakers want to repeal the state’s grocery tax, but efforts have so far not been successful.

Tennessee

Tennessee’s tax on groceries is 4%, but local jurisdictions can add up to 2.75% in local sales taxes.

A couple of years ago, state residents received a three-month break from the state-wide sales tax on food.

WKRN reported that Tennessee families were able to save at least $100 during the three-month break for tax-free groceries. If the state eliminated its 4% tax rate on grocery items, the average family could save up to $400 annually.

Utah

Although the state’s portion of the grocery tax is 1.75%, Utah residents are charged a 3% tax on groceries statewide. A bill passed by lawmakers would eliminate the 1.75% state portion of the tax.

However, for this change to take effect, voters had to approve the measure in November 2024. The ballot measure failed, as education leaders cited concerns that the lack of grocery taxes would impact education funding.

States that recently eliminated grocery tax

Arkansas

In Arkansas, the state sales tax on groceries is eliminated as of 2026. The former 0.125% rate was the lowest tax rate of the states that taxed groceries, and accounted for about $10 million in annual revenue.

That being said, the state does impose a 6.5% sales tax on most purchases outside of groceries.

Gov. Sarah Sanders said in her State of the State address last year that she wanted lawmakers to eliminate the state-level grocery tax.

Illinois

Illinois had a 1% state tax on grocery items last year, but changes have been implemented as of January 1, 2026.

• Starting January 1, 2026, Illinois eliminated its 1% sales and use tax on food intended to be consumed off-premises.
• The tax break doesn't include alcoholic beverages, foods infused with adult-use cannabis, soft drinks, candy, or food prepared for immediate consumption.

Still, local governments will have the option of imposing the 1% tax by ordinance.

This isn't the first time Illinoisans have had tax-free groceries. The state temporarily rolled back its 1% rate on food tax for one year, which ended on July 1, 2024.

Kansas

Kansas eliminated the grocery tax in January 2025. This comes after gradually reducing the tax over the past year.

Kansas grocery tax was 2% (reduced from 4%) last year, but the reduction did not apply to local tax rates.

For more information, see Kansas Food Tax Cut: How Much Will You Save?

Oklahoma

Oklahoma eliminated its 4.5% statewide grocery tax on August 29, 2024. According to state lawmakers, each family could save as much as $648 a year once the tax cuts are enacted.

Still, Oklahomans are not entirely off the hook. Grocery shoppers can expect to pay a sales tax on some items since the tax cut doesn't include all foods.

For more information see Why You'll Still Pay Oklahoma Grocery Tax.

Local sales taxes, as high as 7% in some areas, will still apply once the Oklahoma grocery tax cut takes effect.

• Why You’ll Still Pay Oklahoma Grocery Tax
• Kansas ‘Food Tax’ Cut: How Much Will You Save?
• Ten States With the Highest Sales Taxes

As prices continue to rise on things like coffee, beef, and household goods, more people are turning to discount retailers to save on groceries and other consumables. When it comes down to the battle of two of the retail behemoths, Amazon vs Walmart, shoppers are asking which one has the cheaper prices online.

According to a consumer reports analysis, Walmart is no longer the cheapest grocery store. But it's still home to some great bargains, especially if you opt for generic brands. Still, are those bargains better than one of its biggest rivals, Amazon?

Here's how Amazon and Walmart stack up overall on prices.

Amazon vs Walmart: Who has the cheapest prices?

For the ninth year in a row, the online retailer beat Walmart on pricing in the annual Price Wars study by Profitero, an internet commerce analytics platform. The report pitted Amazon and Walmart against each other, along with a handful of other key retailers.

The report found that, in addition to grocery prices, Amazon had the lowest prices on video games, appliances, fashion and sports and outdoors. But it held only a narrow lead in beauty and toys.

Profitero compared online prices of approximately 10,300 items across various leading online retailers.

The report concluded that in all 16 product categories analyzed, Amazon had lower prices than Walmart and 12 other U.S. retailers, including Best Buy, Chewy, CVS, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Gamestop, GNC, The Home Depot, Kohls, Lowes, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Petco, PetSmart, Target, Ulta, Walgreens, Walmart and Wayfair.

How much lower? On average, the study found Amazon’s prices were 14% lower than competitors.

But only a 4% gap separated Walmart's and Amazon's prices across identical items. So, it's still likely worth checking both retailers to compare the specific items you are purchasing to make sure you're getting the best deal.

In fact, in almost every category, Walmart came in second place just behind Amazon. With a gap that narrow, there's still likely to be an item here and there that's cheaper at Walmart.

With a gap that narrow, the decision could come down to which shopping membership you have or whether what you're ordering qualifies for free shipping without the membership. If you have to pay for shipping on your order, that added fee could easily erase the savings you'd get from choosing Amazon.

Are groceries cheaper at Amazon or Walmart?

While the study didn't analyze fresh produce, meat and other common grocery items, it did look at some categories that might end up in your grocery cart. Packaged foods, for example, were 15% cheaper on average at Amazon than any other retailer. Though, they were only 5% cheaper than Walmart.

Household supplies like cleaning products and toilet paper tended to be 8% cheaper on average (and only 4% cheaper compared to Walmart).

The biggest price gap was in vitamins and supplements. At Amazon, you can expect to pay about 31% less on average for the same product. Though, that's only a slightly better deal than Walmart, where vitamin and supplement prices were just 2% higher than Amazon on average.

While it wasn't included in the study, Amazon does offer fresh grocery delivery as well. Delivery isn't free and order minimums can be high, but you can get your meat, produce and other fresh items delivered via Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods and have groceries at your doorstep in as little as one hour.

If you're not a Prime member, charges vary between $4.95 and $13.95 for 2-hour delivery depending on basket size. Additional fees are charged for rush and one-hour orders. Prime members can get these same services for cheaper.

But Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods aren't necessarily cheaper than Walmart. And, once you tack on the delivery fees, you're likely to end up spending more than you would have at your nearest Walmart.

Still, it's a convenient option, especially for Prime members. And, for those who value quality and premium brands above finding the lowest possible price, Amazon's fresh grocery options can be a good deal.

Walmart Plus has cheaper grocery delivery

A Walmart Plus membership has numerous benefits for members, and the retailer offers grocery prices that are generally lower than at Amazon’s Whole Foods Market.

Walmart has also made strides over its competitors (Target included) in its local produce and organic offerings, which has helped it attract wealthy shoppers to its stores.

It has also added household essentials like pet food and cleaning supplies. Overall, Walmart offers more brands, with over 175,000 items available in-store.

When it comes to grocery delivery fees, Walmart beats Amazon. Walmart Plus members get unlimited free delivery on orders worth $35 or more. Combine that easier-to-meet minimum order with the fact that Walmart Plus is cheaper than Amazon Prime, and Walmart definitely wins when it comes to cheaper delivery fees.

That includes same-day delivery where available. The only catch: delivery scheduling is on a first come, first serve basis. So the fastest delivery available to you depends on how many other shoppers are fighting for those same-day time slots.

In-store, Walmart Plus members also get access to the scan-and-go service. Just scan the items you want to buy with your phone, pay with a credit or debit card, and head to the self-checkout when you’re done.

Then scan the QR code that’s generated by the app, get your receipt and let a store associate know you’ve already paid.

A Walmart Plus membership costs $12.95/month or $98/year, but right now you can try Walmart Plus Free for 30 days.

In comparison, Amazon Prime, which you need to use with Amazon Fresh, costs $14.99 per month, or $139 per year.

Amazon vs Walmart vs the rest of the pack

The competition between Amazon and Walmart is fierce. The study showed that the two companies have identical prices across identical products 75% of the time. Other retailers are catching up too. Chewy matched Amazon's price 93% of the time on identical items while Home Depot did so 60% of the time.

Against Amazon, Target saw mixed results in its performance, with prices 13% more expensive than Amazon overall. Target continues to close the gap on Amazon with their home furnishings and toys and games priced competitively.

Only a 1% price difference separated Chewy from Amazon in pet supplies, making it the most hotly-contested category in the study. Meanwhile, CVS was 52% more expensive than Amazon for health & personal care items on average. Walgreens was 48% more expensive.

Overall, Amazon continues to be an incredible value across the board. And if you have an Amazon Prime membership, you can save on shipping, returns and more on the streaming side with music, audio books and shows.

While Amazon has been successful, the gap is slowly closing. Chewy has been nipping on Amazon's heels for awhile, and on the fashion end, Nordstrom has really stepped up its game, becoming a quality second option tied with Walmart.

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When your shopping list is long and time is short, it’s tempting to make a single stop at the warehouse club. Face it: Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s stock everything from groceries and cleaning supplies to electronics and clothing — often in bulk quantities and often at good prices. Plus, you feel the need to shake your money’s worth out of the annual membership fee you're paying.

You can make it easier for your warehouse club membership pay for itself by taking advantage of periodic membership deals. For example, you can save on a Costco membership right now.

We’ve written plenty about how warehouse clubs are a great place to stock up on toilet paper, various kitchen pantry staples and even wine. For one, there some things you can get without a membership.

But for those items that are member's only, it's still worth thinking twice before tossing it in your cart. There are three big reasons why.

First, buying certain items in bulk is a waste of money if you won't use the product before it spoils or expires. Next, warehouse clubs only carry certain brands so you may be missing out on savings on products where you're not picky about brands.

Lastly, you’re missing out on the money-saving power of weekly sales and coupons — Costco and Sam’s Club don’t accept manufacturer coupons. While BJ’s does, there are certain restrictions that make it harder to maximize savings.

“It's understandable that a lot of people are in a state of mind of stocking up after the past couple years — but don’t let that lead to wasted money and wasted product,” says Kristin McGrath, an editor and shopping expert at Offers.com. “Having stuffed cupboards can also make it difficult to verify what you have, meaning you're likely to accidentally double-buy something and end up wasting more money.”

Here’s a look at 22 common items stocked by warehouse clubs that you might want to pick up somewhere else.

Yes, you can find name-brand cereals at warehouse clubs. However, budget-conscious shoppers know they can grab the breakfast staple for less elsewhere. Top U.S. cereal makers Kellogg’s, General Mills and other cereal manufacturers regularly pass along discounts to grocers who pass them off to customers.

The major manufacturers also make available coupons that can be used at your local grocery store or big-box retailer — but not at Costco, Sam's Club or BJ’s — says Cindy Livesey, founder of LivingRichWithCoupons.com. The warehouse clubs don't take manufacturer coupons.

Not into clipping coupons? Find them instead on the manufacturer’s website or Facebook page. Also, you can stack these coupons with any sale your local retailer is promoting.

“This allows you to get a better deal at the grocery store than what you'd find at a warehouse club,” Livesey says.

Don’t be fooled by the discounted prices you might see on designer clothing items (think: Nicole Miller, DKNY or Calvin Klein) at Costco, Sam’s Club or BJ's.

“If you’re after actual designer apparel, know that the items sold in bulk stores are often more-cheaply-made versions of what's sold in high-end stores,” says McGrath of Offers.com. "If the label or look makes you happy, these could still be solid buys. Just be aware you’re not saving hundreds of dollars on an actual designer-quality item.”

The designer clothing and accessories you’ll find at warehouse clubs are typically constructed using lesser-quality materials and are designed specifically for lower-tier retailers, she adds.

If you’re simply on the hunt for a basic T-shirt or pair of jeans and don’t care about labels, warehouse clubs will offer competitive prices, McGrath says. Just remember that you aren’t getting the same pair of designer jeans that you’d find at Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom.

Remember, warehouse clubs sell a limited roster of brands. "While you might be saving money by buying in bulk versus what you’d pay for that same brand at a non-warehouse store, you might also get pushed to buying a more expensive brand because that’s what the warehouse club has available," says McGrath.

If you wouldn't buy that brand normally, you'd be better off buying lower-priced brands at big-box stores, she adds.

Also, be cautious when purchasing skincare products containing sunblock from a warehouse club, warns smart shopping expert Trae Bodge of TrueTrae.com. SPF degrades over time, and Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s usually sell these types of items packaged in sets of two large containers. Before buying, check the expiration date and decide whether you’ll use the product often enough to finish the bulk supply before it expires.

Skincare products containing SPF have a shelf life of up to three years if stored properly, according to Mayo Clinic. So unless you frequently use these types of skincare products or are sharing them with someone else (say, your spouse or kids), you may want to steer clear of buying them in bulk, Bodge says.

You’re better off purchasing a smaller bottle that you know you'll finish before it expires. Pick these smaller bottles up from your local drugstore, where you can take advantage of weekly sales, coupons and loyalty discounts.

Ground spices have a shelf life of two to three years for peak freshness and flavor, according to manufacturer McCormick. If you’re buying standard-size spice bottles (which usually range from 0.6 ounces to three ounces at a traditional grocery store or big-box retailer), finishing them within that timeframe is realistic.

However, when you buy spices in bulk at warehouse clubs, in sizes ranging from six-ounce bottles to five-pound containers, it can take much longer to finish them off – especially if it’s a spice you don’t use often, says TrueTrae.com’s Bodge.

Spices don’t necessarily “go bad” over time, she explains. Instead, the aroma and flavor intensity gradually degrades over time. So that cinnamon apple pie you make that everyone looks forward to at the family reunion may not be as flavorful if the ground cinnamon in it is several years old.

Unless you regularly cook with certain spices (say, curry, cayenne or chili powder), Bodge recommends buying them from your local grocer in smaller sizes so you don't end up wasting money or disappointing diners.

Says McGrath, “Even if you frequently cook in bulk, you’re likely not saving much by purchasing copious amounts of bulk spices.” Looking for bargains on said spices? Grocery deep discounter Aldi has a fine line of organic spices that are a steal at everyday low prices.

For peak flavor, buy whole spices, like cinnamon sticks or whole peppercorns, and grind them as needed. When stored properly, whole spices can maintain their flavor and aroma for up to four years.

For families with young children, shopping at a warehouse club can offer huge savings. But defaulting to Costco, Sam's Club or BJ’s without doing your due diligence could cost you — and this is especially true when it comes to diapers and baby supplies.

We looked at prices for store-brand diapers. Here's what we found.

At Costco, a 192-count package of Kirkland Signature size 1 diapers costs $34.99 (18 cents per diaper). By comparison, at Walmart, you can get a 162-count box of size 1 Parent’s Choice diapers for $17.48 (10.8 cents). Based on unit price, Walmart offers a better deal.

When looking for deals on other baby supplies, such as wipes and diaper ointment, consumers can score big using Amazon's Subscribe and Save program, Offers.com’s McGrath says. The program allows parents to set up auto-delivery on everything from lotion to hair-care products. Amazon Prime members qualify for 20% off diapers and other related products when ordering at least five items per month, she notes.

“You can even skip a delivery if necessary or you need to change diaper sizes. You’re not committed to the size of a giant box of diapers you purchased in bulk a month ago at a warehouse club,” McGrath adds.

Perhaps you’re a new parent or a grandparent who wants to help out. So you think, “diapers? (No!) “How about baby formula?” (No, again). Not from Costco, Sam's Club or BJ's anyway.

“Unless you have multiples, buying too much formula at once can be a mistake,” says Bodge. “Your instinct may be to stock up, but remember that soon enough, your little one will start eating solid foods and eventually wean off the formula. You can give it away or donate it, of course, but be mindful of the use-by date.”

Liquid cleaning products tend to lose their efficacy over time. Huge bottles of liquid dish soap or laundry detergent may not be a smart money-saving strategy — especially if you end up having to use twice the amount of product to get the desired result with a single wash.

“Unless you do a lot of laundry [or wash dishes by hand] very regularly, it is best to buy liquid detergents in smaller quantities,” TrueTrae.com’s Bodge says.

If you prefer to shop exclusively at warehouse clubs rather than making multiple trips to several stores, consider buying powder-based cleaning products instead, Bodge recommends. When stored properly in a cool and dry place, they have an unlimited shelf life.

Adds consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch, “Studies show that dollar store cleaners work just as effectively as name brands so you can save yourself even more by picking up your various bathroom and counter spray cleaners there. Otherwise, you may be able to find better discounts at your local big box store when the brand name is on sale and also stacking a manufacturer coupon or store coupon.”

Before stocking up at warehouse clubs on household products you only need infrequently, consider the size of your home, Offers.com’s McGrath suggests. Buying carpet/upholstery cleaner, plumbing clog remover, air fresheners and other seldom-used products, either in multi-packs or in large containers, will just take up valuable storage space underneath your kitchen or bathroom sinks, she adds.

You might even forget you stored them there and end up not using them at all. For everyday shoppers, big-box retailers are the better option for purchasing these types of household products in smaller quantities, McGrath advises.

If you’ve ever suffered from an unexpected headache only to discover that you're out of ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol), stocking up on a bulk-size bottle of pills during your next warehouse club trip may seem like a smart precaution.

But keep in mind that unless you have a medical reason to use such products daily or have multiple people in your home using them, you might not get through that entire 750-count bottle of pills before they expire, warns consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch.

Pain meds can lose potency over time. This can make them less effective per the recommended dosage. Advil recommends consumers stop using any expired bottles of their products for just that reason.

“To save money, purchase the generic version from your local big box store or drugstore in smaller containers,” says Woroch.

Like to keep your pantry stocked with snacks for binge-watching a new streaming series or powering through all nine seasons of “The Office” again? Then you may be enticed to buy that huge tub of hummus or Buffalo wing dip at your warehouse club of choice.

Yes, you get more for the money. However, will you be able to eat that entire 40-ounce container of hummus by the time you’re done catching up on “Yellowjackets” in just two days? Let's hope not.

Unless you’re buying food for a party or have a large family, you should only buy refrigerated hummus, cheese dip and salsa in smaller quantities, consumer savings expert Woroch recommends. These perishable food items go bad after a specified amount of time once opened.

Remember, the expiration or use-by date on these foods refer to its unopened shelf life. Once you break that seal, you usually need to finish off the container within a few days. For example, the packaging on Sabra brand hummus containers includes a disclaimer that states it should be consumed within seven days after opening.

On a unit-price basis, you might end up spending more at a traditional grocery store, but you're more likely to finish the smaller container. If you’re dead set on scoring a deal, pay attention to weekly sale ads at places such as Target or Walmart, which regularly offer discounts on chip dips and spreads, Woroch notes.

If the apocalypse ever happens, those six-pound cans of beans you’ve got stashed in your kitchen pantry may come in handy. Otherwise, you’re better off buying regular-sized canned goods from your local grocery store that you’ll actually finish, suggests LivingRichWithCoupons.com’s Livesey.

According to the Canned Food Alliance, canned goods can last up to two years after the date of purchase, so shoppers should stock up in moderation. It's also a good idea to periodically go through your pantry and pull out any close-to-expiring cans so you can be sure to use them before they go bad.

Some grocers even offer exclusive deals on canned items at various times of the year when prices are slashed, Livesey says. She notes that ShopRite grocery stores (located in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania) offer a two-week-long sale known as the “Can, Can Sale” twice a year. It includes deep discounts on canned goods and other kitchen and household items.

Kroger, a national grocery chain, also hosts “Mega Event” sales that require shoppers to buy a certain amount of select items (including canned goods) in order to get $1 off each item.

So here’s where using coupons and stacking them with discounts at supermarket chains when they have sales is a money-winning method compared to warehouse shopping.

If you're planning to stock up on chicken, beef or seafood during your next warehouse club visit only to stash it in the freezer when you get home (with no immediate plans to use it), reconsider.

Unless you're prepping for a large family gathering or have a house full of kids, there's a good chance you might forget it's even there. By the time you do remember, that four-pound bag of tilapia may be covered in freezer burn.

There's nothing wrong with stocking up on meats you cook regularly — especially if you like to meal prep. But for lesser used meats, opt for smaller quantities at your local grocers. You'll be less likely to overbuy.

When you do buy meats in bulk, don't stick the bulk package straight in the freezer. Instead, separate it into smaller portions. That way, you can defrost just what you need for your next meal, without exposing the whole package to frequent temperature fluctuations.

Also, be sure to keep an eye out for weekly sales at your favorite grocery chain or coupons in the Sunday paper.

For example, in central Virginia, we regularly see buy-one-get-one-free deals on packages of sausages, bone-in chicken breasts, pork tenderloins and spare ribs at the regional chain groceries. If you're lucky enough to have a dedicated, independently-owned butcher shop, your deals may be even greater.

Fresh fruits and vegetables can be expensive — especially if you're buying organic versions from specialty supermarkets. Local farmers' markets wind down as the colder weather rolls in and the recent tariffs are making some products more expensive.

But before you plunk down your hard-earned cash on big boxes of fruits and veggies, ask yourself some questions first, says TrueTrae.com’s Bodge. How many people in your household will eat those items? Will they be able to finish them all before the produce starts to go bad?

If you answered no to the latter question, your money is better spent buying the smaller package that you'll actually finish.

Notes Woroch, "Unless you’re preparing for a large gathering or party, buying fresh produce in bulk can be a risky move since these foods have a short shelf life and may spoil before you eat them. Be especially careful when buying fruits and vegetables that spoil faster than others such as berries, bananas and avocados."

As you walk the aisle of your favorite warehouse clubs, those huge packages of pretzels, cheese curls or organic tortilla chips might tempt you. But be cautious, experts advise.

"These snacks are typically a good deal, especially if you have several people eating them at home or if you’re planning a party, but if it’s just you and your partner/roommate at home, they can either lead to overindulging or go stale before you have a chance to finish the container," says TrueTrae's Bodge.

Remember, snack food companies typically discount food items for supermarket chains, especially around holidays. Said supermarket chains pass the deals on to you. There are also coupons, which often become plentiful seasonally. But warehouse clubs mostly shun coupons.

Stocking up on toothpaste can be a money-smart move no matter if you're single or have a family. That's because it has a longer shelf life than other personal care items. Toothpaste containing fluoride can last up to two years, according to Colgate.com. If you often find yourself running out at the worst times, buying toothpaste in bulk at your favorite warehouse club may seem like a no-brainer.

But you'll want to comparison shop before throwing that multi-pack into your cart the next time you're at Costco. You'll likely find better deals at your local drugstore or big-box retailer, especially if you shop weekly sales, stack coupons or remember the old retail trick of looking at the lowest shelves, where the cheaper brands live.

Keep in mind you'll need to be flexible on the brand and can expect variations in product size versus what's available at a warehouse club.

Vitamins, herbal supplements and the like can be pricey, especially if purchased at a pharmacy or specialty store. If you're only concerned about price, then, yes, most warehouse clubs will offer better deals on bulk-size quantities.

However, there's another factor to consider before you buy, suggests TrueTrae.com’s Bodge. "Unless more than one family member is sharing the vitamins with you, they may expire before you finish the bottle," she says.

While vitamins don't necessarily "go bad" after their expiration date, they can lose their potency, according to Healthline.com. (Chewable vitamin tablets and vitamin gummies degrade faster.)

So if you're taking a dietary supplement to manage a nutrient deficiency, taking expired pills may not be as effective.

To help ensure you get your money's worth, Bodge recommends checking the expiration date, then calculating how long it will take to finish that bulk-size bottle or two. If it's after the expiration date, you may want to buy those supplements in smaller quantities elsewhere. Doing this math helps avoid having to toss out half-empty bulk-size bottles of vitamins, which amounts to money wasted.

When it comes to personal care items, it can pay to comparison shop before committing to a bulk-size package of a desired item. While warehouse clubs are known for their deep discounts, you might still score better deals on the same brand-name products known for quality at other retailers.

This includes razors, which TheKrazyCouponLady.com’s Demer says are almost always cheaper at a big-box retailer or drugstore during their weekly sales or when you use a manufacturer's coupon.

Cooking oils — think: extra virgin olive, avocado and sesame — can be costly, especially if you’re buying organic. That prompts some warehouse club shoppers to purchase one of those behemoth containers (usually around 2 liters) filled with their cooking oil of choice.

Compare the per-unit price of the warehouse club’s oil and smaller quantities at traditional grocers — the bulk-size version is typically the better overall deal.

Before you buy, think about how often you’ll actually use that oil, experts say. Cooking oils have a much shorter shelf life than other kitchen pantry staples such as dry noodles or canned sauces.

An opened bottle of olive oil can last about three months when stored in a pantry and four months when stored in the refrigerator, according to FoodSafety.gov.

If you cook often or have a family, you’ll probably finish one of these large bottles before it starts to spoil. If you’re cooking just for yourself or a significant other, it’s much more cost-effective to buy smaller bottles of cooking oil when they go on sale at your neighborhood grocer.

Skip the books section the next time you're checking out the floor displays or searching online at your favorite warehouse club. In addition to offering a limited selection of books, warehouse clubs usually won’t beat the prices on Amazon, according to the smart shopping experts we talked to.

If you happen to see a book that really piques your interest, LivingRichWithCoupons.com’s Livesey offers this pro tip: “While at the store, use the Amazon app to scan the book to see how much it sells for before buying it from the warehouse club.”

If you’re not a regular Amazon shopper and don’t have the app downloaded on your smartphone, check prices using the secondhand book site ThriftBooks.com, says Woroch.

"Although you may find a small discount on various books sold at warehouse stores compared to a local bookstore, you can often find better deals elsewhere," Woroch says. "For children’s books, head to a discount retailer like TJMaxx and HomeGoods to scope out their selection at up to 60% off," plus, via Thriftbooks, you can even apply a coupon from CouponFollow.com for more money off.

From summertime picnics to holiday gatherings, it's good to have disposable plates, cups and utensils on hand. Warehouse clubs aren't the best place to score those restaurant-size packages of disposables.

"I can tell you from experience that buying these items in bulk is not a great idea unless you entertain outdoors a lot," says Bodge. "We are a family of three, and while we picnic a fair bit in the summer, and have gatherings in our yard occasionally, it’s going to take years to use up those items that I bought at Costco. So, while they saved me money when I bought them, they are now taking up precious real estate in my already-crowded basement. I would have been better off buying them at the grocery store."

My ophthalmologist's office, like so many others, has an eyeglass store attached to it. My ophthalmologist said I should get my eyewear at Costco. So I have, for many years.

Others say to get your prescription glasses at warehouse clubs with caution.

"I am a huge proponent of the budget-friendly eye exams available at many wholesale warehouses (membership is not required, in many cases)," said Bodge. "But I have found the selection of glasses to be wanting. The prices are decent, but there are glasses online at sites like Zenni and EyeBuyDirect.com that are more stylish and affordable. And these sites have virtual try-on.

If you visit Costco, Sam's Club or BJ's on a random Saturday or Sunday on an empty stomach, you'll probably walk out feeling stuffed. That's because they are back to offering free food samples that you can enjoy as many times as you want.

Members can score sample-size versions of everything from mini quiches to potstickers. While this is a tasty perk, warehouse clubs are hoping you'll like these free goodies so much that you'll impulsively toss a bulk-size package or two into your shopping cart.

But if you do, warns Offers.com's McGrath, "this becomes a much bigger investment than your average grocery store impulse purchase." Not only will you need to find space in the freezer or cupboard to store your bulk purchase, but if your family ends up not liking that 48-count box of snack bars you bought on a whim, you may never finish them by yourself, she notes.

Just ask the huge bag of potstickers I bought on a whim two months ago after sampling them at Costco. It hasn't been opened yet.

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If anyone is looking for online bargains across product lines including groceries, housewares, small appliances, prescription drugs, auto supplies, sporting goods, clothing and electronics, Walmart is a likely destination. The powerhouse retailer was built from the ground up to be a low-price leader, especially when Walmart supercharged in the 1980s with its Supercenters, marrying full-line supermarkets with selections from nearly every other retail category. Just ask all the mom-and-pop shops Walmart wiped away when it landed its megastores in small town America.

It's tough to beat the low-price behemoth. Or is it? We found 14 items that tend to be less expensive, of better quality or both from retailers other than Walmart. And this info may come in especially handy for those who have upped their online shopping game during the pandemic. Check out the list.

In case your back has been turned, we have a little news for you: Retailers are already starting to stock their shelves with an abundance of toys in anticipation of ... yup, the holiday shopping season. Already. If you're one of those thrifty folks who shops year-round for Christmas bargains, you will find some at Walmart. But you'll also find some clunkers.

And during the pandemic, board games, a must for quarantines, have been hot items -- so much so that we've seen prices double on some traditional board games since we last researhed this story.

As far as traditional or rebooted board games, you are better off buying them elsewhere, including Amazon.com. For example, "The Game of Life," selling for $33.06 at Walmart online, was available for $19.99 on Amazon. "Sorry" was $9.47 on Amazon, while Walmart was selling it for $9.97. The "Monopoly" classic game (with new token lineup), was $28.91 at Walmart. Amazon pitched it for $19.91.

If you're counting your pennies while toy shopping, you save a few buying the 894-piece Lego City Police Station on Amazon.com, where it was selling for $200 (double the price it was a year ago). It was $209.99 at Walmart.

Over the many years I've covered Walmart as a retail journalist, one thing has remained consistent as the chain has grown to roughly 5,000 U.S. locations today: It does not do produce well. That may be reason enough to get your greens elsewhere, though Walmart does try. And over the last few years, it's accelerated its selection of organics, including fresh produce.

But competitors, even deep-discount ones including Aldi and Trader Joe's, edge Walmart out. Smart shopping expert Trae Bodge at TrueTrae.com agrees that "Walmart is not known for their pricing on organic foods, so you might do better at a Trader Joe’s or Aldi. Amazon Prime members should also check Whole Foods as your membership qualifies you for exclusive discounts on select items. Also, if you shop at Whole Foods with your Amazon Prime Rewards Visa card, you’ll receive 5% cash back on your purchases.

Prices were a mixed bag for Walmart vs. Aldi. Some examples: Walmart was selling Marketside organic baby spinach for $4.18 for 11 ounces or 38 cents per ounce. A 5-ounce package of Aldi's Simply Nature organic baby spinach was $2.49 or about 50 cents per ounce. Organic bananas were 58 cents per pound at Walmart. They were 57 cents a pound at Aldi. And if you portion right at Trader Joe's, organic bananas are 25 cents each. (Learn the story behind why Trader Joe's sells bananas individually, not by the pound.)

Walmart is a reliable resource for small pieces, like a side table for a dorm room or home office, says Bodge. However, "I wouldn’t recommend buying an important staple piece, like a couch, dresser or dining room table at Walmart. The quality just won’t be there. My suggestion would be to consider those larger, staple items as more of an investment and spend more so it will last you many years."

If you're nuts for nuts, you'll find them at Walmart. You'll also find them for less elsewhere.

Walmart was selling Great Value whole natural almonds for $8.86 for 25 ounces (about 35 cents an ounce). At Aldi, nearly a pound (14 ounces) of Southern Grove almonds go for $4.65 (about 33 cents an ounce). Prefer cashews? Walmart's Great Value deluxe whole cashews were $13.38 for 30 ounces. Southern Grove deluxe cashews at Aldi were $5.25 for 10 ounces, with 30 ounces costing $15.75, and Walmart the clear winner in cashew pricing.

"Walmart sells dozens of different gift cards, which is convenient, but you’re not always getting the best deal," says Bodge. Sure, it's a fast and convenient way to find a last-minute greeting-card stuffer for a friend or relative at no upcharge. But when you're talking savings, look elsewhere.

For example, Bodge cites two she found to be less expensive on the gift card website GiftCardGranny, where shoppers sell unwanted gift cards and bargain-hunters buy them: "There are Dunkin' Donuts gift cards available at 16.2% off. For movie buffs, Fandango gift cards are full price at Walmart, but just under 9% off at GiftCardGranny."

Walmart is known for its low prices on apparel, but Walmart should not be your go-to for formalwear, says Bodge.

"They excel in casual apparel, but I find the style and quality to be lacking when it comes to dressy clothing and shoes," says Bodge. "Of course, if you find something there for a one-time-only occasion, like prom or a birthday party and the price and fit are right, why not?

Don't cry over spilled milk ... unless it's organic and you didn't shop for the least-expensive carton.

Over in the dairy case, Walmart was selling Great Value organic whole milk for $5.68 a gallon or 4.4 cents per ounce. However, Aldi continues to wow us as it expands its collection of organics, and they continue to rock things in the cold case. Aldi was selling its Simply Nature organic whole milk for $2.89 for a half-gallon, or $5.78 for a gallon. Both stores, like other supermarket chains, are constantly in a pitched battle over milk prices, with Aldi usually on top. Not in this run.

If the shoe fits, buy it ... elsewhere.

"Walmart has some trendy shoe options, but I haven’t found the selection or the quality to be that good," says Bodge. "They do offer deep end-of-season discounts, though, so if you find a pair that fits well and is on sale, I say go for it!"

When it comes to shopping for batteries, which you'll likely be doing a lot of in the coming months, we usually steer you in one direction: warehouse clubs. We've steered you away from dollar stores, for various reasons, and Walmart isn't the best place to shop for batteries for one reason: batteries are far less expensive in bulk at warehouse clubs, including Costco.

For example, Walmart was selling Duracell AA batteries for $5.14 an 8-pack, or about 64 cents per battery. At Costco, a 40-pack of Duracell AA batteries was going for $14.99, or 37 cents per battery. If you can live without the name brand, we've seen Costco's Kirkland Signature batteries selling for just 35 cents apiece if you buy a 48-pack for $16.99.

If you're shopping for a new-to-you apartment or house, or looking for a wedding gift, small appliances are very much in need. Be cautious in your pricing of small appliances. Walmart can have some seemingly good prices, especially on name brands that are made especially for Walmart. But the prices don't always hold up as you shop around.

It pays to compare prices on small appliances online before you commit to a retailer. Walmart was selling an 8-Slice extra wide convection countertop toaster oven online for $105.35. Amazon was selling it for $69.99.

You might be able to find a good vacation read at Walmart, but they are not known for their broad selection of books. You’ll have much more to choose from at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or better yet, your local bookstore, says Bodge. There's not much depth.

But in terms of best-sellers price-wise, Bob Woodward's "Rage," was selling for $17.78 on Amazon and at Walmart. It was selling for $22.50 at Barnes & Noble.

In our price-comparison shopping ventures, we've found Walmart sometimes undercuts even dollar stores on some items, especially seasonal items. But with gift bags and wrapping paper? Not so much.

You can find gift bags of all shapes and sizes at Dollar Tree, all for a buck. Rolls of wrapping paper also sell for $1 at dollar stores. Thrifty gift recipients can re-use both. Walmart was recently selling gift bags for between $1.48 and $5.48, depending on size, and rolls of wrapping paper for between $3.48 and $4.98.

Is fresh ground beef a staple of dinnertime in your household? Walmart isn't the least-expensive retailer in that sector. Once again, a familiar discount supermarket is undercutting Walmart.

Online, Walmart was selling a pound of 73%-lean ground beef for $3.58. Aldi's 73%-lean fresh ground beef was priced at $2.79 a pound.

Bodge isn't big on Walmart's electronics. "While Walmart is very competitive when it comes to pricing of electronics, they don’t always have the lowest price," says Bodge. "Prior to investing in a 4K TV or a Google Home device, take a look at the same item at competitors, like Amazon, Best Buy, Target or New Egg. You just might find a lower price elsewhere."

It won't be easy comparing model-to-model. Often, manufacturers will have product lines made specifically for one retailer (which is a reason price matching can be a challenging task). And if you stroll into a Walmart electronics department, you'll see a confusing array of name brands mixed in with budget lines of TVs from the likes of RCA, TCL and Sceptre. The specially tuned screens look good in the stores -- they're designed to -- but how will they look at home? What's the warranty? What's the track record of that off brand?

One final note: If you aren't in a hurry Walmart always has killer prices on select electronics during the holidays when it rolls out doorbuster deals.

The coronavirus outbreak has forced many consumers to rethink how they'll carry out everyday household errands without putting themselves in harm's way. In recent weeks, grocery stores have been wiped out by frantic shoppers stocking up on essential items such as toilet paper and disinfectant wipes. But as more consumers adhere to shelter-in-place recommendations and more stores limit access, online grocery shopping is fast trending up.

In fact, GroceryDive.com reports that Instacart, Walmart Grocery and Shipt have all seen surges in average daily app downloads in the last month. Instacart led the way with a 218% increase, followed by Walmart at 160% and Shipt at 124%.

Suddenly, the dynamics of online grocery shopping have changed dramatically -- even for longtime customers. We've talked with industry insiders and smart shopping experts about what consumers can expect these days when ordering groceries online. Here's what they had to say.

Consumers frantically stocking their pantries in recent days have shared horror stories about orders canceled without warning due to high volume. The sudden uptick has resulted in popular online grocers, such as Peapod and Fresh Direct, experiencing technical and logistical issues that have caused delays, according to GroceryDive.com. Simply put: These services, especially those in major cities, are struggling to meet the demand, says Jeff Wells, a senior editor for the website. As of March 18, a Kiplinger colleague scheduling a Peapod order faced a 10-day wait for his groceries.

Unfortunately, consumers looking to avoid in-store crowds don't have much recourse in a situation like this, says Saundra Latham, a staff writer for Cheapism.com. Recent mishaps have even forced some grocery delivery services to post disclaimers on their websites warning shoppers about delays (some lasting several hours or days) and limited inventory. Customers who opt to shop for groceries online will need to temper their expectations and be prepared to try a few different services to secure needed items, she advises.

In-store shoppers who've registered for their favorite grocer's loyalty program know they can rely on weekly sales to score deals. You can also save the same way online, and many grocery delivery services offer extra discounts exclusively for newbies. For example, on Safeway.com first-time shoppers get $20 off their order, plus free shipping. The site usually charges a $9.95 delivery fee for orders under $150, in addition to a service fee that ranges from $3.95 to $4.95 depending on your location. These discounts can be beneficial if you're testing out different services for the first time to find the best online grocery delivery service for your household, says consumer-savings expert Andrea Woroch.

If you've decided to use an online grocery delivery service for the first time due to the coronavirus outbreak, you'll need to get comfortable real quick with someone else doing your grocery shopping for you. This means you won't be able to carefully examine your own fresh produce or pick the gallon of milk with the expiration date that's farthest away, Cheapism.com's Latham reminds shoppers. So you run the risk of receiving a couple bad apples or a carton of eggs with a few that are broken.

This is why you'll want to take a quick look at your ordered items before the delivery driver pulls off. (That's a lot easier said than done if you choose to have your order left at your front door to maintain your "social distance.") Some online grocers allow you to return items you're dissatisfied with on the spot for a full refund. Others provide a customer-service hotline where you can file a complaint. Pro tip: To avoid potential mishaps altogether when ordering produce and the like, consider ordering frozen versions where possible. If you're particularly health-conscious, many stores including Safeway and discount grocer Lidl offer frozen organic fruits and vegetables with no added sugar or salt.

TOOL: Stimulus Check Calculator

The groceries you'll order online and get from a packing facility are no cleaner than the groceries you'd pull from the store's shelves yourself.

If you prefer fresh produce but are concerned about germs (because who knows how many hands touched the tomato that made it into your shopping bag), thoroughly rinse your delivered fruits and vegetables with soap and water before stashing them in the refrigerator, ConsumerReports.org recommends. The site also urges shoppers to do the same for other items that might be stored in non-porous containers before placing them in your cabinets. You'll also want to wipe down any countertops or surfaces where you unpacked your grocery items.

Most online grocery delivery services tack on fees at checkout. You'll pay a delivery fee, which covers the cost of transporting your items to your home. And there's a service fee, which covers processing and preparing your order for delivery.

For example, at Kroger, which doesn't have a minimum order amount, the delivery fee ranges from $9.95 to $11.95 depending on your location. On Instacart.com, which has a $10 minimum order amount, the delivery fee varies depending on the size of your order. Using Instacart, we added a bottle of minced garlic, a one-gallon jug of organic milk and a carton of organic brown eggs from a Washington, D.C.-area Wegmans to our virtual shopping cart. The groceries themselves cost $18.07, plus a $7.99 delivery fee and a $2.00 service fee, which brought the final total to $28.06.

You'll also need to factor in a tip for the driver. When checking out online, most online grocers have a field designated for the tip. Etiquette experts recommend tipping at least 10% of your grocery costs (fees not included).

With the onslaught of online grocery orders in recent days, many delivery services are scrambling to keep popular items in stock. You'll need to be flexible. You might end up having to swap out your favorite brand of organic milk or chocolate-chip cookies for another version if the one you love is not available, says Cheapism.com's Latham.

In the midst of this global pandemic, online grocery delivery services are making an effort to prevent the spread of the virus. A few grocery delivery platforms, including Instacart and Amazon Fresh, allow customers to have their orders dropped off at their front door. In other words, you won't ever have to interact with the delivery driver, which could potentially lead to the spread of the virus.

On Instacart, you simply select the “leave at my door" delivery option, which is available in select cities, at checkout. When the driver arrives at the designated time, he'll leave the groceries at your front step. You can even leave instructions for him to send a photo confirmation once the order has been delivered. Amazon Fresh's doorstep delivery option is available in all cities where the service operates. To find out if Amazon Fresh delivers to you, go to Amazon.com/Fresh.

We've entered uncharted territory. Online grocery delivery services that we would normally recommend without pause are experiencing major hiccups due to the overwhelming number of new customers. If you're struggling to get your favorite and necessary groceries delivered, consider supporting your neighborhood supermarket or co-op, advises Kyle James, founder of Rather-Be-Shopping.com. "Many local grocers are offering curbside pickup for those more at risk who need help," he adds.

To find out if your favorite mom-and-pop grocer is offering such services, call and ask. Going this route still allows you to adhere to social distancing and limit your interaction with large groups in a public space. And with so many small businesses being forced to shut their doors, it'll give you an opportunity to support local businesses in your community.