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.

Clipping coupons ain’t your granny’s game any more. As smart phones rise in popularity and become incredibly prevalent among many consumers, many new methods of saving money have adapted to this digital lifestyle. It can be hard to know which coupon apps are the best, which you will use, and how much money they can really save you. On top of that, it’s easy to use an app and not know all of its functions. Here are my favorite apps to save money at the grocery store.

Target Cartwheel

Attention Target shoppers, if you’re not using Target’s Cartwheel app, you’re really missing out. Cartwheel actually allows you to scan each item as you place it into your cart and see if there is a coupon available for it. Even if a coupon isn’t available for your item, the app brings up coupons for like products. Even Target’s clearance and One Spot dollar section items occasionally have coupons on Cartwheel. You can increase your savings by stacking your Cartwheel coupon offer with a manufacturer and Target printable coupon. At the checkout, you simply allow the clerk to scan a barcode from the app on your phone to have your coupons deducted from the total. For more ideas on how to save at Target, read: The Best Ways to Save Money at Target.

Meijer mPerks

Meijer has its own coupon app. mPerks is both a coupon and reward app. Like Cartwheel, you can scan each item with the app, searching for available coupons. You can also select rewards good for dollars off your future purchases. You need to register for an mPerks account and anchor it to your mobile phone number. At the checkout, you’ll enter your phone number and a pin you select on the payment kiosk. For more ideas on how to save at Meijer, read: The Best Ways to Save Money at Meijer.

Walmart Savings Catcher

Walmart has a slightly different take on the coupon app. Instead of scanning items to receive money off your purchase, you scan your receipt after checking out. Then Walmart price matches all of your purchases with other stores in your area. If you would have saved more shopping elsewhere, then Walmart gives you the difference on a Walmart gift card. For more ideas on how to save money at Walmart, read: The Best Ways to Save Money at Walmart.

Favado

Even if coupons aren’t your thing you can still save money each time you shop by using Favado This handy app allows you to track sales at any of your favorite grocery stores. Select which ones you shop at most frequently and then have notifications sent to you when sales change. You can digitally organize your shopping list based on what’s on sale and even find printable and digital coupons that will pair well with those sales straight from the app.

Cash Back Apps

There are a number of coupon apps that will allow you to save, no matter where you shop. After checking out, you take a picture of your receipt and then get cash back for certain purchases. Some of the best are Checkout 51, ibotta, Groupon’s Snap, and Savings Star. Each of these apps does about the same job but you will need to examine them closely to see which best fits with your shopping destinations and habits.

Certainly, you can still use more traditional means of couponing and buy your Sunday paper. But if you are comfortable with technology, smart phone coupon apps increase your ability to save and add a convenience factor, too.

What apps to save money at the grocery store do you use and LOVE?

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 on Kindle.

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!

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