Shopping at these 3 stores could save you a lot of money in 2024
There is good news on the inflation front. Inflation appears to be easing. The consumer price index in November rose at an annual rate of 3.1%, lower than in recent months.
But despite this, you may still want to save money while shopping regularly in 2024. If this is your goal, here are three stores you can add to your rotation.
1. Costco
It’s especially good for: Large families, people with plenty of storage space, people who cook a lot
Costco is known for its bulk products in a variety of categories ranging from household essentials to food. Buying items your family uses regularly in bulk can result in big savings at Costco.
For example, 60 Chewy granola bars at Costco.com (which tend to have higher prices than Costco stores) cost $11.99, so the cost per bar is $0.20. At popular grocery chain Stop & Shop, a box of eight costs $3.99 (about $0.50 per bar).
Of course, for a Costco membership to make sense, you need to make sure you have enough storage space to store the bulk purchases you bring home. However, a Costco membership can be a huge help if you have a larger family or someone who cooks a lot and can buy bulk groceries fairly quickly.
Costco’s basic membership currently costs $60 per year, and the Executive membership, which earns you 2% of your purchases, costs $120. But you might be surprised at how quickly you can get the cost of your membership back, especially if you shop at Costco often.
2. Aldi
It’s especially good for: People who are not picky about brands, people who have flexible schedules and have time to visit the store multiple times
Most of the items you see in Aldi stores are made by brands you’ve probably never heard of. But that’s why Aldi can offer competitive prices on the items they stock. So, if you’re not that into brands, Aldi is a good option.
That said, one of the problems you may run into when shopping at Aldi is that the store’s stock isn’t always consistent. If you have a tight schedule and little time to go to the grocery store, Aldi may not be for you. But if you have a more flexible schedule and don’t mind going to the store twice a week instead of once, the savings you can make at Aldi can be huge.
3. Dollar Tree (or your local dollar store)
It’s especially good for: Teachers, parents of school-age children
If you’re buying something you hope will last a lifetime, your local dollar store may not be the best option. However, if you need an inexpensive item for a school project, birthday party giveaway, etc., you may want to consider purchasing from Dollar Tree or your local dollar store chain.
You can also find big savings as a teacher by purchasing your classroom supplies at the dollar store. Teachers routinely reach into their pockets to stock their classrooms. And while teachers can deduct up to $300 in unreimbursed classroom expenses on their taxes, many teachers inevitably end up spending more. So it makes sense to pay less when purchasing things like crayons, stickers, and small classroom rewards.
Even if the cost of living shows signs of cooling off, it’s a good idea to save every penny you can. Shopping at these retailers in particular could benefit your personal finances in 2024.
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