Company savings: BJ’s Wholesale Club

Customers at BJ’s Wholesale Club can pay for their items with manufacturers’ coupons, something that can’t be done at Costco.

According to a 2017 earnings call, as reported by Eat This Not That!, this wholesale store also offers the biggest selection of items which is double that of what Costco and Sam’s Club offer.

The store sells 7,000 products in-store.

However, there are so drawbacks to these stores since they don’t have a large food court, like Costco does, and they have fewer locations.

Nutritionist reveals additional tips

In addition to her common-sense tips, Alissa also revealed two things you should always be looking for to maximize savings at the grocery store.

• Buy local and in season whenever possible
• Look at the label information to check the cost per unit of what you are buying.

Avoid last-minute counter purchases

Something we are all guilty of from time to time is making those last-minute purchases, like candy or chocolate, while waiting to pay at the counter.

However, nutrition expert Alissa Steinberg warned that those purchases will cost you in more ways than one, as they’re often more expensive, and less nutritious.

Seek out longer-lasting vegetables

Nutrition expert Alissa Steinberg said to look for veggies that will stay fresh on your countertop, or in your fridge, for longer periods.

That includes things like squash, cabbage, leeks, carrots and Brussel sprouts, which are generally cheaper than some other vegetables and fruits.

Bring a list when you shop

With a list, you are less likely to get derailed from what you need for the coming days.

You’ll also avoid buying things that you might already have in your pantry.

Never shop on an empty stomach

Alissa Steinberg, a registered dietitian based in Canada, who goes by the TikTok moniker Healthyu dietitian, advised filling up your stomach BEFORE you hit the store to fill up your cart.

That way you avoid a hunger binge run, where you end up spending more than you intended.

Habits to avoid: Buying name brands

Sticking to name brands is one of the biggest mistakes a person can make, according to savings expert Joel Larsgaard.

“Advertising sticks in our brain and we’re prone to buying name brands,” he said. “If your gut reaction is to go for a name brand, pause and give it a second thought.

There are multiple brands in stores that offer equal or better quality than name brands that can save you as much as 20 to 40 percent.

Also, several stores offer money-back guarantees, so you can try products out risk-free.

Habits to avoid: Too much meat and dairy

Items such as meat and dairy products have gone up in price, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Food Price Index.

“I think there’s a problem with too much meat in our diets in general,” said savings expert Joel Larsgaard.

“Can we have one meatless meal a week? How about skipping the bacon?”

Also, animal food production emits greenhouse gases twice as much as plant-based foods, meaning that cutting back on meat isn’t just good for your health, it’s also good for the planet.

Habits to avoid: Eating too much

“As Americans, we’re prone to eating too much in general,” said savings expert Joel Larsgaard.

It’s better to be more mindful when it comes to portion sizes and only shop for the amount you will eat.

Anything extra that you do buy should go into the fridge or freezer right away.

With stores like Costco, it’s easy to buy items in large quantities for cheap, but that deal only works if the money isn’t being wasted.

Habits to avoid: In-store shopping

Curbside pickup is both convenient and it keeps your shopping focused so you aren’t buying unnecessary items, said savings expert Joel Larsgaard.

“When we go into the store, we’re more susceptible to the end cap displays or a sale on something, and we end up putting a bunch of other things in our cart that we didn’t necessarily go in there to purchase,” he said.

Doing your shopping online and picking it up curbside “is a time saver for one, and it’s going to ensure that you’re only going to get the stuff on your list.”

Some stores might have a fee for pickup, however, it’s usually minimal and would likely be offset by the money you’re saving.

Aimless shopping stats

Aimless shopping usually results in buying things you don’t need, meaning you’ll be wasting food and money.

According to the USDA, an estimated 30-40 percent of food produced in the US gets thrown out.

The average family of four will waste almost $1,500 worth of food each year.

Travel tips: Book rental cars in advance

If you need a car to get around, this is something you will want to do sooner rather than later.

Next Vacay founder Naveen Dittakavi recommends doing it at least a few weeks before traveling.

He said: “With the current demand for travel in recent months, brokers are ramping up prices and leaving travelers paying a steep price for car hire once arriving in their destination.”

Travel tips: Consider the time of year when booking

Even if you are desperate to go to Paris or Venice, you may want to choose a different destination depending on the time of year.

Next Vacay founder Naveen Dittakavi explained: “There are many variables that go into what city will be the cheapest place to fly into at any given time – from seasonality to flight time.

“When looking for tickets, you’ll want to keep these things in mind, and if you’re flexible, you can adjust your plans accordingly to make sure you find the cheapest flights anywhere.”

Travel tips: Book through the airline directly

While third-party websites can sometimes offer cheaper fares, they can make it much harder if you run into any problems such as delayed or canceled flights.

Next Vacay founder Naveen Dittakavi explained: “I’d recommend booking through the airline as there is a chance that the airline will go above and beyond for you if you book with them.

“An airline is more likely to have a team to quickly deal with the issue either in-person or via a call service.

“With a third party, it’s likely the best option they could give is to refund you, which isn’t helpful if you’re just looking to get to a destination.

“The airline, on the other hand, will do everything in its power to get you to your destination”.

Travel tips: Fly between Tuesday and Thursday

When you choose to fly could save you hundreds of dollars, even if you change the date by just a few days.

Founder of Next Vacay Naveen Dittakavi. said: “When looking for flights, you should avoid flying on weekends.

“Tuesday to Thursday are the better days to fly and you want to avoid flying during peak season, so summer is obviously going to be more expensive around the holidays when the flight prices get bumped up.”

How much it costs to run a washing machine, continued

The average cost per load at home due to water and energy costs is 97 cents, according to The Simple Dollar.

However, it can vary between states due to different costs of energy and ClearlyEnergy has put together a handy guide on how.

For example, New York works out as the most expensive at up to $1.13 per load, while it costs 66 cents in Albany, according to its research.

How much it costs to run a washing machine

How much it costs to run a machine depends on the price you pay for energy, and how much it uses per kWh.

Assuming you have a washing machine in your home, keep in mind that a majority of the energy used by washing clothes goes to heating the water.

In other words, you can save a load by changing the temperature settings.

Glassware at the Dollar Tree

The Dollar Tree also sells discounted bourbon glasses and pilsner glasses that have an elegant style without the hefty price tag.

“These look just like the ones you’d be served a beer in from your favorite pub, but you won’t break the bank buying a set,” deals expert Julie Ramhold explained.

“They’re perfect for enjoying your favorite local craft beer, and no one will know how little you had to spend on them.”

The store’s entire glassware section is a great place to find stylish yet cheap drinking glasses.

These glasses are perfect for enjoying alcoholic drinks at home or could be the perfect gift for someone else.

Kitchen supplies at the Dollar Tree

The Dollar Tree alternative for charger plates is sold at a discounted price and is made completely out of plastic.

Their charger plates look way more expensive than they actually are.

The store also offers other quick kitchen items like coffee mugs.

“The first thing that comes to mind when I think of dollar store items that look more expensive is coffee mugs,” Brooke Grasley, founder of Restore, Decor & More, told GoBankingRates.

“You can find some really great-looking coffee mugs at the dollar store, and they don’t have to be cheap-looking either.”

Reduce spending at restaurants

Tiktoker @caseyyisfetchh shared four ways to save money when eating out.

She recommended the following:

• Sign up for loyalty programs
• Take advantage of birthday freebies
• Fill out the surveys on receipts
• Check out Restaurant.com.

How to apply for PF’s High School Summer Pass

Pre-registered high schoolers will receive a reminder on May 16 to formally sign up for the program at PlanetFitness.com/SummerPass.

Teens under the age of 18 must register online or in-person with a parent or guardian.

In addition, everyone who signs up by May 16 will be put into the Planet Fitness High School Summer Pass Sweepstakes.

In each state, winners will get a $500 scholarship, with one lucky winner receiving a $5,000 scholarship at the conclusion of the summer.

Scholarships can be utilized for academic or sports programs and activities.

Save money at the gym

Planet Fitness is offering free workouts to high school students between the ages of 14 and 19 at any of its 2,200 facilities in the United States and Canada.

The goal of the High School Summer Pass project is to encourage high school students to be active and prioritize fitness.

According to a Planet Fitness survey, 93 percent of American teenagers want to keep active during the summer but lack the desire and resources to do so.

The High School Summer Pass is a great option for teens who want to continue active when school sports, gym lessons, and other extracurricular activities cease.

Best days to save at Target

Knowing Target’s schedule might help you get the best prices because most Targets mark down various categories on specific days for clearance.

Christy Palmer, founder of the All Things Target blog, said: “For instance, you’ll find the best deals on clearance electronics on a Monday and sporting good clearance on Thursday.”

Here is a list Yahoo News shared with a schedule that’s good for most Targets:

• Monday: Electronics, accessories, kids’ clothing, books, baby, stationery
• Tuesday: Domestic goods, women’s clothing, pets, market (food items)
• Wednesday: Men’s clothing, health & beauty, diapers, lawn & garden, furniture
• Thursday: Houseware, lingerie, shoes, toys, sporting goods, decor & luggage
• Friday: Auto, cosmetics, hardware, jewelry

Use simple items for meal prep to save

Getting the goods you’ll need to get started with whatever meals you’re creating for the week is half the fight of meal planning, GoBankingRates reports.

Some products must be purchased fresh, while others, such as spices, cereals, and pasta, can be purchased in bulk and kept on hand at all times.

Plan your meals around these simple, low-cost ingredients.

Consider homemade macaroni and cheese and Instant Pot dishes that use flavorful seasonings.

Save $5,000 with this hack

Tik Tok creator @emlucin shared a video on how to save $5,000 by using notepads and a box.

She told her followers to find a money tin or box, label it with their saving goal, get sticky notes along with a second box, and label each note with numbers one through 100.

Then, she said that the notes should be folded up and put into the second box.

The final step is to pull a note per day for 100 days to save $5,000 quickly.