Retirement income usually doesn’t change too much. When you’re younger, you get pay raises from time to time. After retirement, that’s not as common.
You might see your Social Security income get a slight cost of living increase, but it’s not a guarantee. It’s also unlikely that the increase will be enough to cover the rising costs of health insurance, prescription medications, and heating/cooling bills.
If your parents start to struggle with monthly expenses, groceries are the one area that can be easy to reduce expenses. With these tips, they can lower their monthly grocery bill.
Buy Some Items in Bulk
Some groceries are best purchased in bulk. If your parents have the room to store them, they’ll save money buying larger quantities. Paying $5 per 4-pack of toilet paper isn’t as good a deal as $15 for a 24-pack roll.
If your parents eat brown rice, they may find it’s a lot less expensive to buy a 10-pound bag of brown rice, divide it into storage bags or containers, and store the extra stock in a freezer until it’s needed. The same is true of bulk meats, cereals, and baking items like flour or sugar.
Your parents don’t want to buy items in bulk if they won’t use it in time. For example, a $4 case of eggs is a great deal. If they only use a few eggs a week, most of the eggs will spoil before they use them all. You could buy it and split it with them. Otherwise, it’s better to pass on a deal like that.
Store Rewards Apps
Some grocery stores have taken the initiative to create rewards programs that users can access on an app or website. You download manufacturer coupons, receive custom coupons targeted to your shopping habits, and earn cashback rewards that are good towards future purchases.
For example, Hannaford applies a cashback reward to all purchases of store brands. Four times a year, those cashback rewards are credited from your next grocery purchase. Free items, dollar off coupons, and other discount offers are added monthly. When you purchase the items, enter your rewards number at the register and get the discount.
Rebate Apps
Another way to get money back on grocery purchases is through a rebate app. Join one or several. Ibotta and Rakuten are examples. When you make qualifying purchases, scan your receipt and the money is added to your balance. When there’s enough to meet the minimum payment limit, the company mails you a check or sends you the funds via PayPal.
Have you looked at your parents’ shopping habits? If they’re forgetful and keep buying the same items over and over, they’re wasting money. It’s advantageous to have a caregiver take them shopping or do the shopping for them.
Senior care services like grocery shopping and errands will help tremendously. Call a senior care agency and learn more about these services.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Senior Care in Charleston, SC, contact Heart of the Carolinas Home Care at 864-991-3116. Providing Home Care Services in Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer, Anderson, Spartanburg, Mauldin, Seneca, Laurens, Charleston, Columbia and the surrounding areas.
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