How to Outsmart Inflation at the Pump and the Pantry

Rising costs are hitting home. Between ongoing overseas conflicts impacting oil supplies and grocery prices climbing nearly 3% this year, your wallet is under pressure. It's time to get strategic and stretch your dollars using smart strategies.

Master the grocery aisles

Grocery inflation is settling, but "surveillance pricing"—where stores use your data to potentially show you higher prices—is a new concern. To protect your budget:

• Audit Your Pantry Before you leave the house, inventory what you already have. Use tools like the FoodKeeper App to understand shelf life and reduce waste.
• Stick to the List Never shop while hungry. Create a strict meal plan for the week and buy only what is on your list to avoid expensive impulse buys.
• Embrace Store Brands In most cases, generic or store-brand products are identical in quality to name brands but cost 20% to 30% less.
• Compare Unit Prices Don't just look at the total price. Check the unit price (price per ounce or pound) on the shelf tag to see if the bulk size is actually a better deal.
• Apps and Loyalty Maximize grocery savings by signing up for free store loyalty programs at grocers like Giant, Safeway, Lidl, or Target. These apps generally provide points-based systems, gas rewards, or weekly digital coupons--some that aren't that aren't available to the general public--to reduce shopping costs.

Beat prices at the pump

With the national average for regular gas recently surging past $4.00 per gallon due to global instability, efficiency is more than a habit—it's a necessity.

• Drive Efficiently Rapid acceleration and heavy braking waste fuel. Maintain a steady speed and stay at or under the speed limit to improve your gas mileage.
• Lighten the Load Remove unnecessary cargo from your trunk and take off roof racks when not in use. Extra weight and wind resistance force your engine to work harder.
• Maintain Your Vehicle Keep your tires properly inflated and stay on top of oil changes. A well-maintained car can be up to 4% more fuel-efficient.
• Combine Errands Cold starts use more fuel. Plan your "loop" so you complete all your errands in one trip rather than taking several short trips throughout the day.
• Use Fuel Finders Use apps like GasBuddy or AAA Fuel Price Finder to locate the cheapest station on your route. Additionally, warehouse clubs like Costco often offer the lowest per-gallon prices in town.
• Stack Your Rewards Don't just settle for one program. Combine grocery loyalty points with warehouse club memberships (such as Sam's Club or Costco) and gas-specific apps like GasBuddy.

More tech

Your smartphone is your most powerful budgeting tool. Beyond shopping apps, consider these strategies:

• Browser Extensions Install PayPal Honey or Capital One Shopping to find hidden promo codes.
• Subscription Cleanup Subscriptions have a way of sneaking up on you when you're not closely reviewing your monthly statements. A subscription tracker such as Rocket Money can identify and cancel those recurring grocery charges you forgot about.
• Smart Credit Use a card that offers discounts on specific high-frequency spending categories such as gas and groceries to lower the cost of these daily essentials.
• Use AI Ask ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude to find the cheapest local gas prices. Or, to create a meal from existing home ingredients to avoid buying more expensive pre-made food.