Fall is almost here! This is the time of year when I always get excited to start saving money. With the holidays around the corner, there are some great fall savings opportunities. This is also a great time of year for stocking up on items you’ll need for Thanksgiving, Halloween and Christmas. While there’s still plenty of time left in the season, here are some tips to help you save money on everything from toys and games to clothes and electronics.

Fall savings are out there

Fall brings a lot of great things: Cooler weather (for most), Halloween parties, pumpkin spice everything, and some pretty good sales because it’s almost Christmas time. Retailers are getting ready for the big shopping season and we should, too.

Get a head start 

Now that it’s September, you might be thinking that Christmas and New Year’s are both still a ways off, but think again: Halloween and Thanksgiving are right around the corner, heralding in holiday celebrations. 

With these back-to-back holidays, we think one of the best ways to save money this fall and beyond is to plan and prepare. Take a little time to note your usual celebrations. Do you host Thanksgiving? Visit Grandma for Christmas? Co-host a big New Year’s Eve celebration with your bestie? Write these things down and start thinking about what you need between now and the New Year.

When you take the time to really think about the things you’ll need for your celebrations, you’ll be ready to take advantage of savings now. And you’ll be glad you did when these holidays roll around faster than you can say “jack o’ lantern.”

Stock up on the items you’ll need to celebrate the season 

• Start buying gifts for friends and family –
  If you start now, you can spread out your spending over the next few months. You can also increase your chances of getting your hands on those hot new items everyone wants for Christmas..
• Get ready for company-
  If you’ll be hosting holidays this year, it’s a good time to take inventory and see what you need to make your guest’s stay comfortable. Maybe you need to get a couple of air mattresses. You can also decide if it’s time to update your dinnerware or freshen up the living room with some new curtains or throw pillows.
• If you’ll be going over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house, this is the best time to start planning your trip.  Will you be looking for deals on airline tickets? Hotels to stay in on your road trip? If you start looking now, you can maximize your savings and your choices. (Remember the days leading to Thanksgiving and Christmas are some of the busiest flight days out there and some airlines charge a surcharge because of it.)
• Spruce up your home and your yard. Want to put some fun Halloween decorations out this year? Or maybe Thanksgiving? Do you need to replace your Christmas lights or maybe your tree? Planning ahead can really help you budget and save.

Be sure to keep track of some great deals in your area and online.

When it comes to saving money, it’s always a good idea to be aware of what’s out there. There are several great ways for you to find deals and sales in your area and online.

One option is using coupon websites like SelectAware.com. We will give you access to all kinds of discounts on items and services. You can also sign up for  our newsletter that will let you know about new and special promotions, which can help save even more money! We always bring you the best coupons as well as other types of savings such as free shipping codes or other offers.

Fall savings can mean year-round savings

There are plenty of fall savings out there, and you should take advantage of them. Maybe your favorite retailer is putting food storage containers on sale because of all the yummy holiday eats. If the deal is amazing, you can stock up on enough to last through the next year. Or maybe you find an amazing discount code for wrapping paper – pick up enough to get you through a year of birthdays and gift-giving holidays.  Remember, snowmen are cute, but you can also buy solid colored wrapping paper. 

The fall savings season is a great time to save money and buy things you need on a regular basis throughout the year. 

So, there you have it! These are just a few ways to save money during fall savings season. If you’re looking for a way to get started on some of these tips, start by checking out our site.  Search for the things you need and see what savings you can come up with! Happy shopping and saving, everyone!

In today’s economy, it is more important than ever to save money on groceries. The cost of food continues to rise, and it’s difficult to make ends meet. However, with a little planning and some creative shopping strategies, you can easily reduce your grocery bill by 20-50% or more. In this article, we will discuss 10 different ways that you can save money on groceries. Let’s get started!

1. LISTS
   Use a list and stick to it. This may seem like an obvious one, but it’s worth mentioning. Make sure you have a list of everything you need before you go to the grocery store. This will help you avoid impulse purchases, which can add up quickly.
2. OUT OF STORE SHOPPING
   Another great way to avoid impulse purchases is to use grocery pickup or delivery. There are usually some fees associated with this, but for many people, this is offset by avoiding impulse buys.

   You can also purchase groceries online. Online groceries can offer significant savings on many things, and often offer coupons. Staying out of the store when possible will help you avoid the temptation of buying things you don’t really need–potentially saving you a significant amount of money.

3. FIND THE BEST DEALS
   Comparison shop at different stores. Not all stores are created equal. Some stores will have better prices than others, so it’s important to do your research. Most grocery stores have an online presence, so comparing prices before you shop is easy. Once you know the best place for each item, create lists for each store. One word of warning: If the amount of savings is very minor, consider whether your cost in time and gas is worth the second trip. It may not be worth driving 10 miles to save 3 cents on a few different items.
4. COUPONS
   One of the oldest and most familiar ways to save money on groceries is to use coupons. You can find coupons for the things you buy in a variety of places, including SelectAware.com, the Sunday paper, online, and in store flyers. Be sure to take advantage of all the coupons you can find, and you’ll be surprised at how much money you can save.
5. LOYALTY & REWARDS
   Does your favorite store (or stores) have a loyalty or rewards program?. Many stores offer these. For every dollar you spend, you earn points. These points can be redeemed for coupons, discounts, and free merchandise. Be sure to watch for specials, like members-only discounts or double points opportunities. Points may be added by swiping or scanning a card or using an app.
6. SALES AND CLEARANCE ITEMS
   Most stores have some type of sale or clearance section where you can find deeply discounted items. By paying attention to these sections, you can score some great deals on food and other household items.
7. WHOLESALE CLUBS
   Join a wholesale club. Wholesale clubs like BJs, Costco and Sam’s Club offer great deals on groceries and other household items. Besides saving by purchasing larger sizes or in bulk, you can often find coupons and discounts in store or on the apps of these clubs, saving you even more. Membership fees are typically very reasonable, and you’ll more than make up for it in the savings you’ll enjoy.
8. STORE & GENERIC BRANDS
   It is worth your while to check out store branded and generic items at your grocery store. You may be surprised at the quality and savings. Many times store brands are manufactured by the same company as the name brand product.
9. REBATES & REWARDS CREDIT CARDS
   There are a few different rebate apps that give you cash back for your grocery purchases. Ibotta is one of the most popular ones. All you have to do is select the items you purchased and then take a photo of your receipt. Once you reach $20, you can cash out through PayPal or Venmo. Another option is Fetch Rewards. With this app, you just scan your grocery receipts and earn points. You can then redeem those points for gift cards to your favorite stores. Rakuten is another rebate app that gives you cash back for online grocery shopping. You can also use coupons and promo codes with Rakuten to save even more money.

   Rewards credit cards can be used for your groceries; each purchase adding to the cash back or miles or a vacation-whatever reward you’ve signed up for. There are also grocery specific rewards cards that give up to 6% cash back. Just take care to pay your balance every month or you’ll find your savings being dwarfed by interest payments.
   

10. AVOID PRE-PACKAGED/CONVENIENCE FOODS
    It’s no secret that pre-packaged convenience foods are, well, convenient. They can save some time in the kitchen, but often, you buy that time by spending more money. Always check the unit price (per pound, per ounce, each, etc.) to know if pre-shredded cheese, cut-for-you vegetables, or other convenience foods are worth the time they save.
    

    BONUS!
    

11. MENU PLANNING
    One way to save money on groceries is to plan your meals. This can help you avoid buying things you don’t need and wasting food. When you plan your meals in advance, for a week or two or a month, you’ll know exactly what you need to buy. You’ll also be able to plan leftovers or double and then freeze some items, allowing you to cook once and eat twice! You can use a simple planner to plan your menus day-by-day.

    Weekly meal planning can also help you take advantage of sales and coupons. Once a week, look through sales flyers from your favorite grocery stores and create your menu from there. If chicken breasts are on sale, you may want to serve chicken several times. Just be sure to choose a variety of recipes to keep it fresh. Planning your menu ahead not only saves you money, but has the added bonus of avoiding one of the most dreaded questions of all: What’s for dinner?

So there you have it! 10 (11!) different ways that you can save money on groceries. As you can see, there are a variety of ways to save money on groceries. With SelectAware.com, you can find coupons, deals, and discounts to save you money on most of the things you buy. So start saving today!