5 Ways to Save Money at Your Favorite Stores

Saving money is at the top of everyone’s minds right now. The current global COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 has forced many people to reevaluate their priorities, including their financial situation. Unfortunately, millions of people have lost their jobs or are afraid of potential layoffs. This economic uncertainty is causing us all to look for new ways to save money.

Regardless of your employment situation or income, it’s smart to learn about new ways to save money and spend less, especially during this coronavirus pandemic. So how can you save money at your favorite stores and reduce the cost of everyday shopping?

You could spend your time cutting coupons and scouring the newspaper for weekly deals, but there are better ways to save more money. Retailers, including your favorite shops, have exclusive deals and coupons - you just need to know where to look.

Here are six money-saving tips that will stretch your dollar and help you save money - and earn a little extra - during COVID-19.

1. Signup to Use PrizeRebel

PrizeRebel.com allows you to complete surveys and offers and in return for giving your opinion, you will receive free gift cards from hundreds of brands such as Etsy. Simply browse our rewards catalog and you can choose from gift cards from Amazon or Apple Itunes. There is simply no better way to save at your favorite stores than by using gift cards provided to you PrizeRebel delivered digitally and ready to use!

2. Download the App

There’s an app for everything these days, including many of your favorite stores. The most important reason to download their apps is that retailers offer exclusive deals through them.

Some of the most downloaded apps in the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store are for food chains. For example, Starbucks and Subway both have exclusive apps. Even better, both let you collect points from purchases.Make note of all the places that you frequent and see if they have an app. Before you know it, your quick stops will add into noteworthy savings and your next venti latte might be free.

Apps are unlike other marketing channels because many are GPS enabled. Your phone and the app know when you are nearby a certain store which can trigger location-specific exclusive deals. Without the app, you wouldn’t know.

Downloading a store’s app is also a great way to keep your coupons organized. The app updates automatically so you don’t need to worry about coupon expiration dates. Many apps filter which deals are expiring soon or alert you if one is about to time out.  It’s also much easier to show your phone screen at checkout than search the depths of your purse for a cutout coupon!

3. Sign Up for Emails and Alerts

You might think your email inbox is already too cluttered with sales emails, but hear us out! Email is still the highest converting marketing strategy for brands, so sales emails are not going anywhere. Sign up for your favorite store’s email newsletters because like apps, emails can contain exclusive deals - like birthday coupons! In addition, many sites offer a welcome bonus, like a discount code for your first purchase.

Another reason to subscribe to emails is for customized alerts. Some websites allow you to set notices for price changes of certain items. For example, CamelCamelCamel and Brickseek let you track the prices of products on Amazon. The moment the item goes on sale, ping! Your friendly email reminder will let you know it’s a good time to buy.

4. Stretch Your Dollar with Price Matching

The big chain stores like Target, Walmart, WholeFoods, and Kroger all have robust shopping websites in addition to their brick and mortar stores. If you’re going to make a larger purchase, it’s worth doing a price check.

Compare the cost in-store to that on their website. If it’s cheaper online, many stores will honor that price.To take it a step further, some stores even price match other retailers. Walmart.com has a classic price matching policy that honors the price of other retailers on identical items.

If you’re in a store, a little kindness to your local retail staffer goes a long way since they don’t make the rules. While price matching is possible, there are understandable limitations so please be respectful at all times! With that positive attitude, the world is your oyster and many deals you find online can be scored in person.

5. Check Out Discount Sites 

On the topic of websites, specialized discount sites are a treasure trove of deals. Saving money during COVID-19 has become a top priority for households nationwide and discount sites help make it easier than ever.

Some popular discount sites like Slickdeals, Coupons.com, and Coupon Surfer share thousands of manufacturer’s coupons. Manufacturer’s coupons can be applied at any store, so that makes shopping more flexible. For extra grocery savings, Kroger digital coupons offer a bounty of savings on everyday items. These digital coupons are easy to browse online so you can find your favorite products and save on items you buy regularly.

Another way to save money is through discount sites like DanDeals. This website shares coupons but also credit card point deals. Credit cards are a complex financial topic, but with a little self-control they can be valuable players in your money-saving strategy. Many popular credit cards offer 1-2% cashback on everyday purchases and may even award up to 5% at certain retailers. Since you’re already spending, it’s smart to leverage credit card points to save along the way!

6. Make Some Extra Cash

A penny saved is a penny earned, but isn’t it nice to earn a little extra? Whether you are in between jobs or just looking for another income channel, you can earn legitimate money from home. How? PrizeRebel.com.

PrizeRebel is a rewards site where members take surveys online. After completion, PrizeRebel members can claim payment through Visa Gift Cards, PayPal, Amazon gift cards, and other incentives. PrizeRebel works with over 100 merchants and offers 500+ types of rewards. That’s a lot of savings!

During COVID-19, there is no better time to learn and try these money-saving tips. Dedicating just a few minutes a day browsing deals online or using a rewards site like PrizeRebel adds up quickly. With these five simple strategies, you will save more money during this pandemic and for years to come!