Tips like these helped us pay off $127K in debt. You can read our story in Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After.
Kroger shoppers are fiercely loyal! Even though I don’t shop there regularly, I have found a few ways to save money at Kroger over the years. If you have an additional tip, I’d love to hear it in the comments.
Kroger Plus Card
I don’t know a Kroger shopper worth her salt that doesn’t know she should be using her Kroger Plus Card each time she checks out. If you forget your card, you can also use the phone number associated with it when checking out to get all of the discount prices and log dollars toward those Fuel Rewards (more on that later). Don’t forget to use it, friends.
Load Digital Coupons to Your Kroger Plus Card
You definitely need to take your Kroger Plus Card to the next level and load digital coupons to it. A few words of wisdom when you do so. Don’t “Select All” because you can fill up your card. Only clip what you’ll truly use and need. If you’re also using paper coupons, the digital ones come off first so be sure you know which is the most valuable of the two. You can load coupons from Kroger, Cellfire, P&G eSavers, and Mambo Sprouts. uPromise also offers digital coupons available at Kroger which instead of coming off your bill go into an account that can be transferred to a 529 which can be used to save for college or pay off existing student loans.
Free Friday Download
Every Friday, Kroger offers a Free Friday download. Each week, you can score one product for absolutely free. You only have to “clip” the coupon to your Kroger Plus Card. The coupon can only be claimed on Friday but is good for a couple of weeks so you don’t have to use it that day.
Simple Truth Coupons
Kroger’s organic grocery line Simple Truth also offers occasional coupons both to print or digital clip, depending upon your location and store.
Keep Your Address Current
Be sure that all of your information tied to your Kroger Plus card is up to date. Check online or bop by Guest Services. The more you use your Kroger Plus Card, the more that Kroger will send you physical coupons via snail mail. So you want to be sure that your address and phone number is correct.
Manager’s Specials
It sounds a little 1950s grocery store but your Kroger has an actual manager and they have the ability to run specials that might differ from store to store. If you have time, inquire to speak to a manager and find out if these markdowns are made on a rotating or regular basis. Then build your shopping day around when the best deals will be available.
Use Coupons with B1G1
Grocery stores differ on how Buy 1, Get 1 Free Deals are charged to your bill. At some stores, one item rings up full price and the second item is $0.00. However, at Kroger, the items ring up at half price. This means you can purchase only 1 item and get it at half the cost or if you’re using coupons, you can use 1 coupon on each item lower your total purchase price by double the amount. So for example if bread is B1G1 or 2 for $5 and you have two $1 coupons, you can use one on each loaf of bread, making your price $3 for two loaves of bread.
Fuel Rewards
If you’re going to shop at Kroger, please promise me you’ll take advantage of Fuel Rewards program. For every dollar you spend, you get 1 point. Collect a set number and you can from $0.10 up to $1.00 off per gallon of gas. You can also get 2x the fuel reward points for gift cards purchased at Kroger. During select seasons you might get 4x the rewards for the gift cards. Purchase gift cards as gifts or to use for shopping elsewhere or your dining out budget. I’ve loved seeing people score gas for under a $1 per gallon while prices are low combined with Kroger Fuel Rewards.
Check with Experts
If you shop at Kroger and aren’t familiar with the site Kroger Krazy, you should definitely check it out. There are video tutorials, store match-ups, coupons, unadvertised specials and more.
Catalinas and Receipt Coupons
Like Meijer, at the register Kroger has coupon printers that issue coupons based on what you’ve purchased. Sometimes these coupons can be triggered, sometimes they’re competitor coupons from something you’ve purchased, and sometimes you get nothing at all. It’s like the slot machine of coupon printers. Big money! No Whammies. You also will see a number of local business coupons on the back of your receipt – most likely for restaurants, car repairs, or services like dry cleaning.
Check with Guest Services
On your way out of the store, be sure to swing by Guest services to see if they have coupon booklets. Occasionally you can find Mambo Sprouts paper coupons or others. It never hurts to ask!
Do you go Krogering? What other savings tips would you recommend?
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out Inspiration to Pay Off Debt: 30 Days of Encouragement from the Queen of Free
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal or maybe even something for free, you also help our family pay off our mortgage early. And for that, we royally thank you!
I think you covered everything. Good job!
If you fill out a quick survey from your trip you can get a bonus 50 fuel points (only once per week.) And don’t forget to scan your card when you pick up prescriptions, you get 50 points per script, regardless of how much it costs.