Floridians spend $7,000 a year on groceries, Here are apps, other ways to help you save

Lianna Norman, Palm Beach Post
·3 min read
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Florida’s inflation rates soared past national averages back in the fall of 2021 and have stayed higher than the rest of the nation, according to data from the Joint Economic Committee of Congress.

As a result, housing crises are gripping many of Florida’s 67 counties and prices for almost everything are rocketing – including groceries.

The average Floridian spends nearly $7,000 on groceries every year, with meats, fruits and vegetables racking up the highest price tags, according to the newest available data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2020-21 consumer survey.

Here’s a short list of some services that could help you cut costs on groceries. One of them is made just for Floridians.

Ways to coupon and save money on groceries online

  • Checkout 51: Checkout 51 has a four-star rating on Apple’s App Store. Checkout 51 makes it possible to save at almost any grocery store. The app is free and once you download it, you select your grocery store to see a list of current offers. Anytime you buy something that’s on Checkout 51’s list, you can get cash back. You can cash out by Paypal or by check when you reach $20 in cash back.

  • Fetch: Like Checkout 51, Fetch accepts scans of receipts from many stores in exchange for rewards. But instead of rewarding you with cash back through Paypal, you can get gift cards once you’ve earned a set amount of points. You can usually earn about 25 points per receipt, sometimes more with special offers. One thousand points are generally equal to about $1.

  • Misfits Market: Misfits Market isn’t a couponing service like the other apps. This grocery service helps cut costs as an alternative to shopping at the grocery store. Misfits Market sells non-GMO and organic produce for up to 40% cheaper than it retails for in grocery stores. Misfits Market is able to cut down on the cost by selling cosmetically imperfect foods that have nothing wrong with them and would be otherwise thrown away by grocers.

More on sky-high prices: Florida has the highest inflation rate in the country. Here's why

Is there a grocery savings service just for Floridians?

Yes! Martie is a discounted online grocery store just for Floridians. Martie sells and delivers surplus grocery and household items for up to 70% cheaper than grocery store prices.

The grocery savings and delivery service has just expanded to service the Miami, Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville areas.

Do loyalty programs actually work for saving on groceries?

How well a store’s loyalty program works for saving you money has to do with your spending habits, according to Experian. If you’re aware that loyalty program deals and discounts may entice you to buy more or different products than you typically do, then loyalty programs could help you save on groceries.

The store where you’re a member may offer great deals in comparison to its own original prices, but it may be worth it to shop around to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.

Lianna Norman covers trending news in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at lnorman@pbpost.com. You can follow her reporting on social media @LiannaNorman on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Groceries are getting expensive, here are some ways to cut costs